Guide
Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) 2027: Eligibility, Benefits, and How to Apply
The Korean government's flagship scholarship pays your tuition, a monthly stipend, your flights, and a year of Korean lessons. Here is exactly what it covers, who qualifies, and how to apply for the 2027 cycle.
The Global Korea Scholarship, or GKS, is the single most generous award available to international students in Korea. It is run by NIIED, an arm of the Korean Ministry of Education, and it is fully funded: tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and a paid year of Korean language training. You do not need to speak any Korean to apply.
- GKS is fully funded. It covers 100 percent of tuition (up to KRW 5,000,000, about USD 3,700, per semester), a monthly stipend, airfare, insurance, and one year of Korean classes.
- No Korean required to apply. You reach TOPIK Level 3 during the funded language year, before your degree starts.
- Two tracks, pick one. The embassy track routes through the Korean embassy in your country. The university track applies directly to one university. You can only choose one per cycle.
- The big cutoffs: you and both parents are non-Korean citizens, your grades sit in the top 20 percent of your class, and you fit the age limit (under 25 for undergraduate, under 40 for graduate).
- 2027 timing: the call opens around September 2026, results land in January 2027, and scholars arrive in late February 2027.
What GKS actually covers
GKS is designed so that a student with no family funding can complete an entire degree in Korea. The benefits below are for the undergraduate track (GKS-U). The graduate track (GKS-G) is almost identical, with a higher monthly stipend.
| Benefit | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 100% up to KRW 5,000,000 / semester (about USD 3,700) | Admission fee is waived by the host university |
| Monthly stipend | KRW 1,070,000 (about USD 790) during language year, KRW 1,140,000 (about USD 845) during the degree | Paid every month, including the language year |
| Settlement allowance | KRW 200,000 (about USD 148) | One time, on arrival |
| Airfare | Round-trip economy | Actual expense, reimbursed |
| Korean language training | One full year, free | At a university language institute |
| Proficiency grant | KRW 100,000 / month (about USD 74) | Only for scholars who reach TOPIK Level 5 or 6 |
| Health insurance | Included | Basic medical coverage |
For graduate scholars (master's and PhD), the monthly stipend is KRW 1,380,000 (about USD 1,020) instead. The tuition, airfare, settlement, and insurance benefits are the same.
Who is eligible
GKS uses a small set of hard cutoffs. Miss one and the application is rejected at document review, so check these honestly before you invest time.
- Citizenship. You and both of your parents must hold non-Korean citizenship. NIIED verifies this. If either parent is Korean, you are not eligible.
- Age. For the undergraduate track you must be under 25 (born after March 1, 2002 for the 2027 cycle). For the graduate track you must be under 40.
- Education. Undergraduate applicants must have finished, or be on track to finish, all 12 years of secondary school by February 2027. Graduate applicants need the relevant prior degree (bachelor's for a master's, master's for a PhD) completed by the cycle deadline.
- Grades. Your overall academic record should sit in the top 20 percent of your class. NIIED defines this as roughly 80 percent or a CGPA of 2.64 on a 4.0 scale. Borderline grades are reviewed against your class rank, so a strong rank can offset a slightly lower average.
- No prior Korean degree on scholarship. You cannot have already completed a degree in Korea on a government scholarship.
We keep the full, current eligibility checklist and the official document list on the GKS undergraduate scholarship page and the GKS graduate page.
Undergraduate vs graduate track
The two GKS tracks run on different calendars and have different age limits.
| GKS-U (undergraduate) | GKS-G (graduate) | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor's | Master's or PhD |
| Age limit | Under 25 | Under 40 |
| Duration funded | 1 language year + 4 years | 1 language year (if needed) + 2 to 4 years |
| Monthly stipend | KRW 1,070,000 to 1,140,000 | KRW 1,380,000 |
| Language at entry | None required, reach TOPIK 3 in the language year | TOPIK 3 or an English score the university accepts |
That funded year happens at a university language institute, the same intensive programs self-funded students attend. Curious what that year actually looks like day to day? The Korean language programs guide covers the term structure, the levels, and campus life.
Applying for an undergraduate degree? The GKS-U complete guide goes deeper on everything here, with dedicated deep dives on eligibility and GPA cutoffs, the two application tracks, benefits and the stipend, the document checklist, the application timeline, and the Type A and Type B university list.
Embassy track vs university track
This is the choice that confuses most applicants. For either GKS-U or GKS-G you apply through one of two routes, and you can only pick one per cycle.
- Embassy track. You apply through the Korean embassy in your home country. You can list up to three universities, which gives you flexibility if you have not settled on one school. The embassy screens applicants first, then forwards a shortlist to NIIED.
- University track. You apply directly to a single partner university, which nominates you to NIIED. There is no second choice, but the per-applicant odds are often better because you are competing within one school's quota rather than a whole country's.
Required documents
The exact forms change slightly each year, but the core set is stable: the NIIED application form, a personal statement, a study plan, recommendation letters, your academic transcripts and diploma, proof of citizenship for you and your parents, and a copy of your passport. Many countries also require an apostille or consular legalization of your diploma and transcripts, which can take four to six weeks, so start that step early.
Timeline and deadlines for the 2027 cycle
GKS runs on a yearly cycle. These dates are typical and based on the most recent cycles. Always confirm against the official Study in Korea notice board, which publishes the exact 2027 call.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | Embassy track call opens |
| October 2026 | University track call opens |
| October to December 2026 | Document screening and interviews |
| January 2027 | Final results announced by NIIED |
| Late February 2027 | Scholars arrive in Korea, language year begins |
| March 2027 | Spring semester starts |
How to make your application competitive
GKS is not a lottery. The applications that win tend to share a few things.
- A specific study plan. Name the universities, departments, and even the professors or labs you want to work with. Korean committees reward applicants who clearly know why Korea and why that program.
- A personal statement with a throughline. Connect your background, your field, and what you plan to do after graduation. Avoid generic "I love Korean culture" openings.
- Strong, specific recommendations. A detailed letter from someone who taught you beats a famous name who barely knows you.
- Clean, apostilled documents submitted early. A surprising number of strong candidates are knocked out on paperwork technicalities.
What to do next
- Run the free KoreaAdmit quiz to see which scholarships, including GKS, you actually qualify for based on your grades, field, and nationality.
- Read the detailed GKS undergraduate or GKS graduate page and bookmark the official deadlines.
- If GKS is not a fit, compare other awards in our fully funded scholarships guide.
- Once you are admitted, get ready for the D-2 student visa.
For the bigger picture on applying to Korean universities, start with our pillar guide, How to Study in Korea.