Global Korea Undergraduate Scholarship 2027 in South Korea – Fully Funded in Global | Full Details

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is back for the 2027–28 academic year, offering 367 fully funded undergraduate awards to international students who want to study in South Korea. The scholarship covers the full cost of study — tuition, living allowance, airfare, and more — across a 5-year programme that includes a year of Korean language training before the 4-year degree begins.

With awards spread across an Embassy Track and a University Track, and nearly every academic field open to applicants, this is one of the more accessible fully funded undergraduate scholarships available globally — provided you read the track rules carefully, since applying to more than one track results in automatic disqualification.

About the Scholarship

GKS is designed for talented international students who want to complete an undergraduate degree at a top Korean university, fully funded by the Korean government. A total of 100 awards are allocated through the University Track (30 for the Regional University Track in Natural Science and Engineering, and additional places through the Associate Degree track), with the remainder distributed through the Embassy Track. The scholarship duration is 5 years in total: 1 year of Korean language study followed by a 4-year degree programme.

Available Study Fields

Engineering
Liberal Arts & Social Science
Natural Science
Entertainment & Sports

Participating Universities

Bachelor's Degree (8 universities): Ajou University, Konyang University, Kookmin University, Korea Polytechnic University, Korea University of Technology and Education, Pusan National University, Sogang University, Soonchunhyang University

Associate Degree (2 universities): Kyungbok University, Yeungjin University

Who Can Apply

Open to applicants of any nationality other than Korean — Korean citizens and dual citizenship holders (Korean plus another nationality) are not eligible
Must be under 25 years old (born after 1 September 2000)
Must hold a High School Certificate before 31 August 2027, or be expected to graduate before that date
Must be mentally and physically fit to complete a full-time degree or research programme in Korea

Track restrictions are strict: applicants cannot apply to both the Embassy Track and University Track, and within the University Track, cannot apply to both the Regional University Track and the Associate Degree Track. University Track applicants may only apply to one university and one major. Applying to more than one track results in automatic disqualification.

Financial Benefits

Complete tuition fee coverage
Living allowance
Airfare tickets
Resettlement allowance
Medical insurance
Research support
Dissertation printing costs
Completion grant
Korean language courses
Award for excellent Korean language proficiency

Documents Required

Application form
Personal statement
Study plan
Letters of recommendation
GKS Applicant's Agreement
Personal medical assessment
Certificate of high school graduation
High school transcripts
Proof of citizenship (applicant and parents)

University Track applicants must submit one original set of documents.

Application Deadlines

Deadlines are set individually by each Korean embassy and participating university, so applicants should confirm exact dates directly with their chosen embassy or university. As a general guide:

Embassy Track: 30 September 2026
University Track: November 2026

How to Apply

Choose your application route: apply directly to one of the participating universities (University Track) or through the Korean Embassy in your country (Embassy Track)
For the University Track, select "General" as your application type and apply to your chosen university, which will nominate your application to NIIED for final selection
For the Embassy Track, apply directly through your local Korean Embassy
Confirm the exact deadline with your chosen embassy or university, and submit before it closes