Global Korea Scholarship, UndergraduateGKS-U
The flagship Korean government scholarship for international undergraduates. Covers tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, insurance, and a year of Korean language training.
Can I apply?
Read each line honestly. One miss and your application will be rejected at screening.
- nationalityHard stopYou and both your parents hold non-Korean citizenship.If either parent holds Korean citizenship, you are not eligible. NIIED verifies this.
- ageHard stopYou were born after March 1, 2002 (under 25 at the start of the 2027 cycle).
- educationHard stopYou have completed, or will complete, all 12 years of secondary school by February 2027.Applicants currently enrolled in a Korean high school are not eligible.
- gpaHard stopYour overall academic record is in the top 20 percent of your class (roughly 80 percent or CGPA 2.64 of 4.0).NIIED uses a percentile cutoff. Borderline GPAs are reviewed against class rank.
- healthYou are in good physical and mental health.A medical check is part of the post-selection process.
- otherHard stopYou have not previously studied a bachelor's degree (or higher) in Korea on any scholarship.
What you get
Monthly allowance is KRW 1,070,000 during the one-year Korean language program (12,840,000 per year) and KRW 1,140,000 during the degree program (13,680,000 per year). Plus KRW 200,000 one-time settlement on arrival, round-trip economy airfare (actual expense), and KRW 100,000 per month Korean Proficiency Grant for scholars with TOPIK Level 5 or 6.
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At a glance
Eligibility by track
- Bachelor's trackCompleted or expected to complete high school by February 2027Age: Under 25 (born after March 1, 2002 for the 2027 cycle)Duration: 5 yearsIncludes 1 year of Korean language training before degree.
Deadlines and tracks
- Embassy trackSeptember to October 2026
- University trackOctober 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is GKS-U fully funded for the entire degree?
Yes. GKS-U covers 100 percent of tuition (up to KRW 5,000,000 per semester, with the admission fee waived by the host university), one year of Korean language training, a monthly stipend of KRW 1,070,000 during the language year and KRW 1,140,000 during the degree program, KRW 200,000 settlement allowance, round-trip economy airfare, and health insurance. Scholars who reach TOPIK Level 5 or 6 also receive an extra KRW 100,000 per month.
What is the GKS-U GPA cutoff?
Your overall academic performance must be in the top 20 percent of your class, which NIIED defines as roughly 80 percent or a CGPA of 2.64 on a 4.0 scale. Borderline GPAs are reviewed against class rank, so a strong rank can compensate for a slightly lower numeric average.
When does the 2027 GKS-U cycle open?
NIIED typically opens the embassy track in September 2026 and the university track in October 2026, with results announced in January 2027 and arrival in Korea in late February 2027. The official call publishes on the Study in Korea scholarship notice board in early September.
Can I apply to GKS-U if one of my parents is Korean?
No. Both the applicant and both parents must hold non-Korean citizenship. NIIED verifies this against family registration and citizenship documents during the document review stage.
Embassy track or university track, which should I choose?
You can apply through only one track per cycle. The embassy track routes through the Korean embassy in your country and lets you list up to three universities, ideal if you want flexibility. The university track applies directly to a single partner university and is competitive but has a higher acceptance rate per applicant. Choose the embassy track if you have not decided on a single university; choose the university track if you are sure where you want to study.
Why this scholarship matters
GKS-U is the single most generous undergraduate award in Korea and is open to applicants from over 150 countries. The embassy track routes through the Korean embassy in the applicant's country, while the university track applies directly to a partner university. Each applicant can choose only one track per cycle. The 2027 cycle announcement is expected from NIIED in September 2026.