Applications are now officially open for the 2026 World Bank-Republic of Korea (WB-ROK) Scholarship program. This prestigious initiative invites qualified students, graduates, and faculty members from World Bank-affiliated universities—particularly those associated with the African Centers of Excellence and PASET programs—to apply for fully-funded Master’s and Doctoral degree opportunities in the Republic of Korea.
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The scholarship is established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in February 2025 between the World Bank (WB) and the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK). It operates under the framework of the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) and is managed by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) under the Ministry of Education. The program aims to foster inclusive and innovative development in higher education by enhancing inter-university cooperation and expanding global opportunities for students.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
The WB-ROK GKS provides comprehensive financial support to all selected scholars, including:
• Full Tuition: Covered by the ROK universities.
• Airfare: One round-trip economy class flight ticket.
• Living Allowances:
• Graduate Degree Scholars: 15.7 million KRW (approx. $11,700 USD) per year.
• Language Program Scholars: 14.1 million KRW (approx. $10,500 USD) per year.
• Settlement Allowance: 1.3 million KRW (disbursed in four quarters).
• Korean Language Training: Full training fees covered.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
• Nationality: Must hold citizenship of an IBRD or IDA recipient country listed by the World Bank. Neither the applicant nor their parents may hold Korean citizenship.
• Age: Generally under 40 years old (born after September 1, 1986). Current academic professors from ODA recipient countries may be up to 45 years old. There is no age limit for the Global Network Program.
• Education: Applicants for Master’s programs must hold a Bachelor’s degree, and Doctoral applicants must hold a Master’s degree. Those expected to graduate by July 31, 2026, are also eligible.
• Grades: A Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 80% or above from the previous degree program, or a CGPA of at least 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5, or 3.23/5.0.
• Health: Applicants must be in good mental and physical health.

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS
Scholarships are available at 75 participating universities across South Korea, categorized into Type A (Metropolitan) and Type B (Regional) institutions.
• Degree Programs: Master’s (2 years + 1 year language) and Doctoral (3 years + 1 year language).
• Fields of Study: Various majors in Humanities, Social Studies, Natural Sciences, and Engineering.
• Special Tracks:
• R&D Program: Focused on cutting-edge science and engineering at 25 selected schools.
• Global Network Program: Master’s degrees in International Studies taught mainly in English (2-year duration, no language year).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Applicants must submit one set of apostilled or consular-confirmed documents, including:

1.     Personal Statement

2.     One Letter of Recommendation from the World Bank Partner University Project Manager.

3.     GKS Applicant Agreement and Personal Medical Assessment

4.     Proof of Citizenship for applicant and parents (e.g., birth certificate, passport).

5.     Official Graduation Certificate and Academic Transcripts.

6.     Certificate of Employment (required for faculty members from WB Partner Universities).

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Interested applicants must open the application link at the bottom of this page to start their application.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Korean Language Requirement: All scholars (except Global Network) must achieve TOPIK Level 3 during their first year to proceed to their degree program.
• Institutional Affiliation: Eligibility is institutional. Applicants must be from a university affiliated with a World Bank-supported project.
• No University Transfers: Once selected, scholars are not permitted to change their chosen university or department.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
late-March 2026,