Applications for the GKS Scholarship 2027 (Global Korea Scholarship) are opening for international students who want to pursue an undergraduate or associate degree in South Korea with comprehensive financial support from the Korean Government.

The 2027 Undergraduate Program (GKS-U) is administered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) and offers two application routes: Embassy Track and University Track.

Scholarship Overview

Scholarship: Global Korea Scholarship (GKS-U) 2027
Country: South Korea
Degree Level: Bachelor’s & Associate Degree
Funding: Fully funded/comprehensive financial support
Application Tracks: Embassy Track & University Track
Total Undergraduate Quota: 286 students
Application Period: September–November 2026, depending on the track and university

Benefits

Airfare: Economy-class flight ticket based on actual expenses.
Tuition Fee: NIIED provides tuition support of up to KRW 5 million, while the university covers the amount exceeding KRW 5 million and the admission fee.
Korean Language Training: KRW 5.2 million per year for the Korean language program.
Monthly Allowance:
• Korean Language Program: KRW 13,560,000 per year
• Degree Program: KRW 14,400,000 per year
Settlement Allowance: One-time support upon arrival.
Medical Insurance: Provided during the scholarship period.
Completion Grant: Support provided at the end of the program.
Korean Proficiency Grant: Additional support may be available for scholars with TOPIK Level 5 or 6.

Program Duration

Bachelor’s Degree: 5–7 years
• 1 year Korean language program + 4–6 years bachelor’s degree

Associate Degree: 3–4 years
• 1 year Korean language program + 2–3 years associate degree

Applicants who already have TOPIK Level 5 or 6 may be exempted from the Korean language program.

GKS Scholarship 2027 Quota

A total of 286 international students are expected to be selected.

Embassy Track – 156 Scholarships

General Program: 88 scholars from 74 countries
R-GKS: 61 scholars from 52 countries
Overseas Koreans & Adoptees: 7 scholars from 7 countries

For example, the stated Embassy Track quota includes 3 positions for Pakistan, 4 for India, 3 for Bangladesh, 4 for Indonesia and 3 for the Philippines.

University Track – 130 Scholarships

UIC Program: 100 scholars
Associate Degree Program: 30 scholars

The UIC Program is available to applicants from all countries except Korea and mainly focuses on science and engineering fields.

Available Fields

The UIC Program includes fields such as:

Artificial Intelligence
Computer Engineering
Software
Mechanical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Smart Security
Big Data Science
Environmental Engineering
Food Science & Biotechnology

Applicants must select universities and departments from the official 2027 GKS University Information file. Evening, short-term, online and distance-learning programs are not eligible.

Top Universities

Under the Embassy Track, participating universities are divided into Type A and Type B.

Examples of Type A universities include:

Seoul National University
Korea University
Yonsei University
Sogang University
Sungkyunkwan University
Hanyang University
Kyung Hee University
Chung-Ang University
POSTECH
UNIST
University of Seoul

Examples of Type B universities include:

Pusan National University
Kyungpook National University
Chungnam National University
Chonnam National University
Jeonbuk National University
Jeju National University
Yeungnam University
Keimyung University
Dong-A University

University Choice

General and Overseas Koreans & Adoptees Embassy Track applicants can select up to 3 universities, with at least 1 Type B university.

R-GKS applicants can select up to 2 Type B universities.

University Track applicants can apply to only 1 university and 1 department.

Applicants should choose universities strategically because selecting only highly competitive universities can create difficulties during the university admission stage.

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality: Applicants must be citizens of countries designated by NIIED for GKS participation.

Parents’ Nationality: Applicants and their parents/legal guardians must not hold Korean citizenship. Applicants or parents with Korean dual citizenship are not eligible.

Age: Applicants must be under 25 years old.

For GKS 2027, applicants must be born after March 1, 2002.

Education: Bachelor’s applicants must have graduated or be expected to graduate from high school or an associate degree program.

Associate degree applicants must have graduated or be expected to graduate from high school.

Applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree cannot apply for GKS-U.

Expected graduates must graduate by December 31, 2026.

GPA Requirement

Applicants must meet at least one of the following:

At least 80% on a 100-point scale
OR
Ranked within the top 20% of their class
OR
Minimum CGPA on an accepted scale:

If the transcript does not use one of the accepted grading scales, additional documentation explaining or converting the grading system may be required.

Language Proficiency

The GKS 2027 guidelines recognize TOPIK, TOEFL and IELTS for language evaluation.

TOPIK Level 5 or above: 100% evaluation level
TOPIK Level 4: 90%
TOPIK Level 3: 80%
TOPIK Level 2: 70%
TOPIK Level 1: 60%

English scores are also evaluated according to the specified TOEFL/IELTS ranges in the 2027 guidelines.

Additional Points

TOPIK Level 3: +3%
TOPIK Level 4: +4%
TOPIK Level 5 or above: +5%
Science & Engineering applicants: +5%
Eligible descendants of Korean War veterans: +10%

How to apply

1. Embassy Track

Applications are submitted online through the Study in Korea website.

Opening: September 15, 2026 at 11:00 AM KST
Deadline: September 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM KST

Applicants need to create an account, complete the application and upload the required documents.

2. University Track

Applicants apply directly to their selected university according to that university’s submission instructions.

Applications generally run from September to November 2026, but the exact deadline varies by university.

Require documents

Application Forms

Application Form
Personal Statement
Study Plan
Recommendation Letter
GKS Applicant Agreement
Personal Medical Assessment
Consent to Collect and Use Personal Information

Required Certificates

Proof of applicant’s citizenship
Proof of parents’ citizenship
Proof of family relationship
High school graduation or expected graduation certificate
High school academic transcript
Associate degree certificate, if applicable
Associate degree transcript, if applicable
Relevant status documents, where applicable

Additional Supporting Documents

TOPIK score, if available
TOEFL or IELTS score, if available
Awards and achievement certificates
Passport copy
Up to five documents related to activities or achievements from high school onward

Applicants need one recommendation letter, generally from someone such as a teacher or school principal who can evaluate their academic ability.

Document Authentication

Applicants who pass the first Embassy Track round must submit the required original documents for the next evaluation stage.

Required certificates in English or Korean generally need to be apostilled or consular confirmed.

Documents in other languages require a certified translation along with the required authentication.

Ordinary photocopies or simple notarized copies cannot replace properly authenticated documents.

Selection Timeline

Embassy Track

Application: September 15–30, 2026
First Round Result: By October 16, 2026
NIIED Second Round Result: November 2026
Third Round University Result: By December 23, 2026
Final University Selection: By December 29, 2026
Final GKS Result: Expected January 7, 2027

University Track

Applications: September–November 2026, depending on the university
First Round Result: November 2026
NIIED Second Round Result: December 2026
Final GKS Result: Expected January 7, 2027

Deadline

Embassy Track: September 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM KST

University Track: September–November 2026, depending on the selected university.

Applicants should always check the official 2027 GKS-U guidelines and university instructions before submitting their application because deadlines and submission procedures can differ by track and university.

Important Note

GKS 2027 is highly competitive. Your university selection, academic record, Personal Statement, Study Plan, recommendation letter, language scores and document authentication can all be important parts of the application.

Do not rely on information from previous GKS years. The 2027 program includes updated quotas, benefits, deadlines, university choices and evaluation criteria.