The Government of the Republic of Korea, through the National Institute for International Education (NIIED), invites qualified international students to apply for the 2026 Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) for Graduate Degrees. This prestigious scholarship aims to provide international students with opportunities to pursue Master’s, Doctoral, and Research programs in Korea while strengthening global education exchange and fostering mutual friendship between Korea and participating countries.REGISTER NOW for new programs at MK SCHOLARS

The scholarship is administered by the Ministry of Education of Korea in collaboration with Korean embassies worldwide and designated Korean universities. Applicants may apply either through the Embassy Track or the University Track, depending on their country of nationality and preferred institution. All participating universities are officially recognized higher education institutions in Korea.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

The Global Korea Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, including:

• Full tuition coverage
• Monthly living allowance
• One-year Korean language training (if required)
• Round-trip airfare
• Medical insurance
• Research and thesis support
• Settlement allowance upon arrival

These benefits ensure that selected scholars can focus fully on their academic and research goals in Korea.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a citizen of a country designated by NIIED (both applicant and parents must be non-Korean citizens)
• Must be under 40 years old (or under 45 for current academic professors from ODA recipient countries)
• Must hold or expect to obtain the required degree by 31 July 2026:
  
  
• Bachelor’s degree for Master’s applicants
• Master’s degree for Doctoral applicants
• Must have a minimum GPA equivalent to:

• 80% or above on a 100-point scale, or
• 2.64/4.0 or equivalent
• Must be in good physical and mental health
• Must not have previously received a Korean government scholarship for degree programs
• Applicants who graduated from Korean high schools or universities are not eligible

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

The scholarship supports the following programs:

• Master’s Degree Program (1 year Korean language + 2 years degree program)
• Doctoral Degree Program (1 year Korean language + 3 years degree program)
• Research Program (6 months or 1 year)

Fields of study include all academic disciplines offered by participating universities, except:

• Night school programs
• Short-term programs
• Online or distance-learning programs

Applicants may apply under:

• Embassy Track, or 
• University Track
• General Program
• Research Program
• R&D Program
• Global Network Program
• International Organization Program

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Applicants must prepare the following documents:

• Completed Application Form
• Personal Statement
• Study Plan (and Research Proposal for research applicants)
• One Letter of Recommendation
• Applicant Agreement
• Personal Medical Assessment
• Consent to Collect and Use Personal Information
• Proof of citizenship and family relationship
• Graduation certificates and academic transcripts
• Language proficiency certificates (TOPIK or English test – optional)
• Passport copy (optional)
• Additional certificates or awards (optional)

All required certificates must be apostilled or consular confirmed.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants must apply through one of the following tracks:

1. Embassy Track:

• Apply online via the Study in Korea website
• Upload scanned application documents
• Successful candidates will submit original documents to NIIED for the second round

2. University Track:

• Apply directly to one Korean university by post or in person
• Universities conduct the first selection round
• NIIED conducts the final evaluation

Applicants must apply to only one program and one track. Duplicate submissions are not allowed.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Applicants must choose universities and departments listed in the official GKS University Information file
• All documents must be submitted in English or Korean
• Each university may impose additional requirements (such as higher TOPIK levels)
• Final selected scholars must achieve at least TOPIK Level 3 before starting their degree programs
• The scholarship does not support evening, short-term, or online programs

APPLICATION DEADLINE

• Embassy Track online application deadline: By February 25, 2026
• For the University track, the application deadline depends on the university 
• First round results: By mid-March 2026
• Final announcement of successful candidates: Expected by June 30, 2026

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