Global Korea Scholarship, GKS

The Global Korea Scholarship is South Korea's flagship fully funded scholarship. For the 2026 graduate cycle, one official embassy notice stated that applicants had to choose either Embassy Track or University Track, and the application period in that country was 12 to 25 February 2026.

Required documents

• GKS application form.
• Personal statement.
• Study plan.
• Recommendation letters.
• GKS applicant agreement.
• Medical assessment form.
• Passport or proof of citizenship.
• Proof of applicant's and parents' nationality.
• Birth certificate or family relationship certificate.
• Academic transcripts.
• Degree certificate or expected graduation certificate.
• Language certificates:
• TOPIK, if available.
• IELTS, TOEFL or equivalent, if available.
• Awards, publications or certificates, if relevant.
• Apostille or consular confirmation for required documents.
• Translations into English or Korean if documents are in another language.

Eligible nationalities

• Citizens of countries invited by NIIED in the annual GKS guidelines.
• Applicant and parents usually must not hold Korean citizenship.
• Applicants with Korean dual citizenship may be ineligible.
• Quotas vary by country, embassy and university track.
• Undergraduate and graduate cycles have different country lists.
• Applicants must check their country's embassy notice and the official GKS guidelines.

How to apply

• Choose one route only:
• Embassy Track: apply through the Korean embassy in your country.
• University Track: apply directly to a participating Korean university.
• Prepare apostilled or consular-confirmed documents early.
• Submit documents before the embassy or university deadline.
• Pass document screening.
• Attend interview, if shortlisted.
• Final selection is confirmed through NIIED.

Usual timeline

• Start preparing: August to November for graduate applicants; May to August for undergraduate applicants.
• Graduate call: often February.
• Embassy/university deadline: February to March, depending on country.
• Interviews and first-round results: March to April.
• NIIED review: spring.
• Final results: usually June.
• Korean language year or degree start: usually September.
• Arrival: August.
• Payment: after arrival, orientation and enrolment.
• Korean language year: usually mandatory unless exempted by TOPIK level.