Scholarships in Korea for International Students: Overview

Which scholarships can international students apply for in Korea?

At present, the scholarships confirmed in official notices fall into three groups.

• Government-invited scholarship (GKS): undergraduate and graduate guidelines are posted on the notice board of Study in Korea, National Institute for International Education (NIIED). Details are summarized in the GKS guide.
• University scholarships: recruited through notices from university offices of international affairs and global service centers. Check the official notice links in the table below.
• Scholarships for overseas Koreans: announced through notices from Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomatic missions abroad; some use the Koreannet (코리안넷) online application form.

Where can I find graduate (master's and doctoral) scholarships in Korea?

The government-invited graduate scholarship (GKS-G) is announced on the Study in Korea notice board of the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). At present, the latest guidelines are for the 2026 graduate program: announced 2026-02-02, with embassy-track applications from February 12, 2026, 11:00 to February 25, 18:00 (Korean time). The 2027 graduate guidelines were not in the notice list as of the check date, so check the official notice.

• Eligibility (2026 guidelines): a bachelor's degree or higher for master's programs and a master's degree or higher for doctoral programs, and under 40 years of age (born on or after September 1, 1986).
• Grades (2026 guidelines): grades from the previous program of 80% or higher on a percentage scale, or within the upper 20% of class rank, or at or above the CGPA (cumulative grade point average) threshold.
• Scale: the guidelines state a plan to invite 2,000 people to graduate programs in 2026.

Universities also run their own graduate scholarships. Seoul National University announced a Global Super-Excellence Scholarship (글로벌 초우수 장학금) for international graduate degree students (semester 1 of the 2026 academic year, applications December 12 to 21, 2025) and a Silk Road Scholarship Program (실크로드 장학 프로그램) for new graduate students from the Silk Road region (semester 2 of the 2026 academic year). Check the support details through the notice links in the table below.

What undergraduate scholarships are available in Korea?

The 2027 government-invited undergraduate scholarship (GKS-U) guidelines were announced on 2026-09-09. The embassy track accepted online applications through the Korea Study Abroad Integrated System (한국유학종합시스템) from September 15, 2026, 11:00 to September 30, 18:00 (Korean time), and applications had closed as of the check date. The university track (UIC and associate degree programs) runs on each university's own schedule from September to November, and the related notice was posted on 2026-09-23.

• Eligibility (per guidelines): citizens of an invited country (UIC applicants may apply from any country in the world), under 25 years of age (born on or after March 1, 2002), and graduates or expected graduates of a high school or junior college.
• Grades (per guidelines): overall grades at the previous school must meet one of the following: 80% or higher on a percentage scale, within the upper 20% of class rank, or a CGPA (cumulative grade point average) of at least 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5 or 3.23/5.0.

Universities also announce scholarships each semester for enrolled international undergraduates. The Korea University Global Services Center announced a selection of international undergraduate scholars (semester 2 of the 2026 academic year, applications July 8 to 17, 2026) and the Challenge (B) scholarship (applications September 28, 2026, 11:00 to October 8, 17:00). Challenge (B) is for undergraduates at the Seoul campus admitted through the special admission for international students, and the notice states that GKS scholars cannot apply.

Are there scholarships for Korean language programs (language institutes)?

There are scholarships for enrolled international undergraduates with excellent language scores (Dongguk University Office of International Affairs, International Student Language Excellence Scholarship for semester 1 of 2026, applications March 9 to 27, 2026, via nDRIMS).

Places where you can learn Korean free of charge are listed by region in the free Korean classes guide, and Korean language tests are covered in the TOPIK guide.

How can foreigners find short-term training scholarships and exchange scholarships in Korea?

The Study in Korea notice board of the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) also posts separate exchange programs in which the Korean government invites Japanese students. The 2027 Korea-Japan Education Exchange Cooperation Program guidelines (announced 2026-09-10) select 30 people, including 15 for associate and bachelor's programs and 15 for master's and doctoral programs, and the document submission deadline in Japan is given as October 21. The 2027 Korea-Japan Joint Higher Education Student Exchange Program, 1-year undergraduate course (announced 2026-09-30), selects 15 people, with a scholarship period from March 1, 2027 to February 28, 2028.

Where do Yonsei, Korea University and other universities announce scholarships for foreigners?

Below are university examples whose official notices were opened directly as of the check date. Some notices have already closed; check each notice page for the next recruitment period.

Are there scholarships for overseas Koreans?

• 2026 Overseas Korean Invited Scholars selection: applications March 10 to April 10, 2026, submitted to the competent mission after online application on Koreannet (notice from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Australia, closed). View notice
• 2026 Study Support for Young Overseas Korean Talent (bachelor's, master's and doctoral): for overseas Koreans planning to study at a Korean university or graduate school in 2026, aged 34 or under (as of March 1, 2026), application deadline December 31, 2025 (Korean time, closed). The notice states that people already receiving a degree-program scholarship (such as GKS) are restricted from applying. View notice

Can international students apply for Korea Student Aid Foundation scholarships?

What should I check before applying?

• Eligibility: nationality, age, education, enrollment status and admission track differ by notice.
• Application period and time zone: the GKS embassy track uses Korean time.
• Submission route: differs by institution, e.g. the Korea Study Abroad Integrated System, Koreannet, mySNU (Seoul National University portal), nDRIMS (Dongguk University) or Google Forms.
• Restrictions on multiple scholarships: some of the notices checked state that GKS scholars or recipients cannot apply (Korea University Challenge (B), Seoul National University Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation Global Hope Scholars, Seoul National University Silk Road Scholarship).

Where can I find visa and stay procedures?

KoreaMoa does not cover stay procedures such as the student visa (D-2). For stay procedures, check the official guidance of HiKorea and the Korea Immigration Contact Center (1345).