Guide
GKS Graduate Scholarship (GKS-G): The Complete Guide
The Korean government's fully funded scholarship for a master's, PhD, or research program. Here is the whole thing: who qualifies, the two tracks, what it pays, and how the spring application calendar works.
The Global Korea Scholarship Graduate program (GKS-G, historically KGSP) is the postgraduate side of Korea's flagship government scholarship. It fully funds a master's degree, a doctoral degree, or a shorter research program for international students, and the graduate living stipend is higher than the undergraduate one. If you want a funded research career in Korea, this is the headline program. This guide is the overview; each section links to a deep dive.
- GKS-G fully funds a master's, PhD, or research program, including tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, and a year of Korean.
- It runs on a spring calendar. Deadlines fall around February and March, months before the autumn GKS-U undergraduate cycle. See the GKS-G timeline.
- Two tracks, like the undergraduate program: the embassy track and the university track. Read the eligibility guide to see which fits you.
- You must be under 40 (with limited exceptions) and meet the GPA cutoff.
- The study or research plan carries real weight at graduate level, more than at undergraduate. See the documents guide.
- An advisor matters more than a ranking. How to choose is in the universities guide and the wider graduate school in Korea guide.
What GKS-G funds
Like the undergraduate program, GKS-G is genuinely fully funded:
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programs | Master's, doctoral, and research programs |
| Tuition | Fully covered |
| Monthly stipend | Higher than the undergraduate allowance; set each cycle |
| Korean language year | One funded year, unless you are exempt by TOPIK level |
| Airfare | Round-trip economy |
| Extras | Settlement allowance, medical insurance, research and thesis support, degree-completion grant |
The exact amounts are in the GKS-G benefits guide. As with all GKS figures, they are set each cycle, so confirm them in the current year's official guidelines.
How long it lasts
| Program | Total funded period |
|---|---|
| Master's degree | 3 years (1 year Korean + 2 years degree) |
| Doctoral degree | 4 years (1 year Korean + 3 years degree) |
| Research program | 6 months to 1 year |
Every scholar normally starts with the funded one-year Korean language program, unless you already hold a high enough TOPIK level to be exempt. The Korean language programs guide shows how that year works.
The two tracks
GKS-G uses the same two-track structure as the undergraduate program:
- Embassy track: you apply through the Korean embassy in your country, which recommends you to NIIED. It is country-quota based.
- University track: you apply directly to a participating Korean university, which recommends you.
The full comparison logic is the same as for the undergraduate program; see the embassy track vs university track guide, and the GKS-G universities guide for choosing schools.
How to apply, in order
- Check you qualify: the under-40 age limit and the GPA cutoff in the eligibility guide.
- Choose your track and universities, and identify potential advisors. See the universities guide.
- Prepare your documents, especially the study or research plan and recommendations. See the documents guide.
- Apply within the spring window. See the GKS-G timeline.
What to do next
- Start with the GKS-G eligibility guide.
- Understand the money in the GKS-G benefits guide.
- New to Korean grad school generally? Read graduate school in Korea.
- For the wider GKS picture, see the Global Korea Scholarship overview.