Guide
Want to study in Korea from the Philippines?
You study in English already, so the language barrier is mostly handled. The real question is how you fund it. Here are all the ways, plus the documents and the Manila embassy route.
Korea wants international students, and for Filipinos the language worry that stops many applicants is largely already handled: you can study in English. So the real work is funding. Most people only know one scholarship; in reality there are four ways to pay for a degree in Korea, and the best plan usually combines a few.
- There are four ways to pay, not one: GKS, university scholarships, foundation or corporate scholarships, and the self-funded route.
- English is your advantage. Many Korean degrees are taught in English and ask for an English score, not TOPIK, and Filipino applicants often meet it through their English-medium education.
- University scholarships are underrated. Collectively they fund more international students than GKS does.
- Self-funding is realistic. National-university tuition is often near USD 3,500 a year, plus partial scholarships and part-time work.
- The DFA apostille is straightforward. The Philippines is an apostille country, so a single certificate replaces the old red-ribbon authentication.
- GKS from the Philippines runs through the Korean Embassy in Manila, under the Philippines' quota.
English: the barrier you have already cleared
Because English is a language of instruction in the Philippines, you start ahead. Korea offers full bachelor's and master's degrees taught entirely in English, especially in engineering, computer science, business, and the sciences. These ask for an English proficiency score rather than TOPIK, and many Filipino applicants meet it through their English-medium education or a standard test such as TOEFL or IELTS. You do not need Korean to enroll. The details are in Study in Korea in English.
How Filipino students actually fund Korea
Think in four routes. Strong applicants stack them, applying for GKS while also sending regular applications that carry their own university scholarships.
| Route | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| GKS | The Korean government scholarship, fully funded | Tuition, stipend, airfare, and a year of Korean; applied for through the embassy in Manila |
| University scholarships | Awards from the universities themselves | KAIST, POSTECH, SNU, Yonsei, Korea University, Hanyang, SKKU and more; collectively fund more students than GKS |
| Foundation and corporate | Private and company-funded awards | POSCO Asia Fellowship, Hyundai Chung Mong-Koo, Samsung Global Sungkyun |
| Self-funded | You pay, with partial help | National-university tuition is often near USD 3,500 a year; part-time work on a D-2 visa helps |
1. GKS, the government scholarship
The Global Korea Scholarship covers tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, and a funded year of Korean. From the Philippines, undergraduates apply on the embassy track through the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Manila, under the Philippines' country quota. It is competitive, so treat it as one bet among several.
2. University scholarships
This is the route most people overlook. Korean universities offer their own tuition waivers and stipends to international students, and in aggregate they fund more international students than GKS does. Strong options include KAIST International and POSTECH Global in science and engineering, Seoul National, Yonsei (including the English-medium Underwood International College), Korea University, Hanyang, and Sungkyunkwan. Many are awarded automatically based on your admission profile, so a regular application can come with funding attached. Browse them in the scholarships directory and the fully funded scholarships guide.
3. Foundation and corporate scholarships
Private foundations and companies fund international students too, often with their own focus. Examples include the POSCO Asia Fellowship, the Hyundai Chung Mong-Koo scholarship, and Samsung Global Sungkyun at SKKU. Worth checking against your field.
4. The self-funded route
You do not need a full scholarship to study in Korea. Tuition at national universities is often around USD 3,500 a year, lower than many assume, and private universities are higher but frequently discount tuition for international students. Add a partial scholarship and part-time work, which a D-2 student visa allows within limits, and a self-funded degree is realistic. Run the numbers with the cost of studying in Korea guide.
The application route from the Philippines
Use one or both of two channels: the GKS embassy track, and direct applications to universities.
| Channel | How it works |
|---|---|
| GKS embassy track | Apply through the Korean Embassy in Manila under the Philippines' quota; name up to three universities; the embassy, then NIIED, then the universities review you |
| Direct to universities | Apply to each university's international admissions, where university and foundation scholarships are decided |
The 2026 GKS undergraduate cycle moved to a mandatory online application through the official Study in Korea site, though the embassy may keep its own step. Confirm with the Korean embassy in Manila how and when to submit.
Your documents: the DFA apostille
Korea needs your academic documents authenticated. Because the Philippines joined the apostille system in 2019, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issues an apostille on your documents, which replaced the old red-ribbon authentication. That single certificate is recognized in Korea, so you avoid the longer consular legalization chain.
| Step | Notes |
|---|---|
| Authenticate | Have the DFA apostille your diploma, transcript of records, and other required documents |
| Translate | Any document not in English or Korean needs a certified translation |
| Confirm format | Check whether your university wants the apostille on the original, the translation, or both |
Apostille processing and collecting an official transcript of records still take time, so begin once your shortlist is set. The full list is in the application documents checklist.
What to do next
- Run the KoreaAdmit quiz to see the English-taught programs and scholarships you qualify for from the Philippines.
- Browse the scholarships directory and the fully funded scholarships guide for university and foundation awards.
- Map your dates with the application timeline.
- Get your documents apostilled by the DFA early.
- Budget with the cost of studying in Korea guide.