The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is a Korean government award that pays for airfare, one year of Korean language training, tuition and a monthly allowance for international students. The 2027 undergraduate application window closed on 30 September 2026 for the embassy track, and graduate applications are expected in February and March 2027, with dates still to be announced.
If you are searching for the global korea scholarship, you probably want to know what it covers, who is eligible, how the embassy and university tracks differ, which documents you need, and when to apply. This guide gives the 2027 undergraduate cycle in detail and a short outline of the graduate cycle. The facts come from a Yocket article published and modified on 11 May 2026, a GKS Scholarship guide with the 2027 timeline, a HeySuccess listing and an Opportunities Radar summary. The Korean foreign ministry page we tried to open was blocked, so none of these are official NIIED pages. They disagree on several numbers, such as the monthly allowance and the number of embassy places, which we flag. Confirm every figure on the Study in Korea site and with the Korean embassy in your country. If you are looking at the fan-driven search term, our kpop scholarships guide sorts real funding from marketing, and this guide goes deeper on the GKS itself.
What Does the Global Korea Scholarship Cover?
Airfare, tuition, language training, a monthly allowance, a settlement allowance and medical insurance. All the sources list this package.
The monthly allowance figures conflict. Yocket says about KRW 900,000 to 1,000,000. HeySuccess says roughly KRW 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 and gives annual totals of KRW 12,840,000 for language training and KRW 13,680,000 for the degree. The GKS Scholarship guide gives KRW 13,560,000 a year during language training and KRW 14,400,000 a year during the degree, which is about KRW 1.2 million a month for the degree. Yocket itself shows inconsistent figures in two sections. Use the NIIED notice for the current amount.
How Long Does the Program Last?
A bachelor’s takes one year of language training plus four to six years of study, and an associate degree takes one year plus two to three. HeySuccess and Opportunities Radar agree.
Applicants with TOPIK level 5 or 6 are exempt from the language program, according to HeySuccess. Opportunities Radar says the program does not require IELTS or TOEFL, which fits the idea that you start from Korean language study. Graduate programs are different and are covered below.
What Are the Embassy Track and University Track?
The embassy track goes through the Korean embassy in your country, and the university track means applying directly to a participating Korean university. You can use only one.
Yocket and Opportunities Radar both warn that applying through both tracks may lead to disqualification. For the 2027 undergraduate cycle, the guides list roughly 286 places in total. The embassy track has 150 (HeySuccess) or 156 (the GKS Scholarship guide and Opportunities Radar) bachelor’s places, split into general, overseas Korean and R-GKS groups. The university track has 130 places: 30 associate degree places and 100 through the University Industry Cooperation (UIC) program. The embassy numbers differ by six, so treat them as approximate. HeySuccess says the UIC program is open to all nationalities, while the embassy track is for citizens of the designated countries. Embassy track applicants must choose at least one Type B university, per Yocket.
Who Is Eligible for the Global Korea Scholarship?
Citizens of an NIIED-designated country with non-Korean parents, under 25 for undergraduate study, with good grades and health. The sources give the same core rules.
- Nationality: citizen of a designated country, and neither the applicant nor the parents hold Korean citizenship. Dual citizens with Korean nationality are excluded.
- Age: under 25, born after 1 March 2002, for the 2027 undergraduate cycle.
- Education: high school graduate or expected to graduate by 31 December 2026. Applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree cannot apply.
- Grades: at least one of 80 percent or higher, top 20 percent of the class, or a minimum CGPA such as 2.64 out of 4.0, 2.80 out of 4.3, 2.91 out of 4.5 or 3.23 out of 5.0.
- Health: good physical and mental health.
- Exclusions: graduates of Korean high schools or associate programs, and past recipients of a Korean government degree scholarship.
Whether your country is designated by NIIED is the first check. Confirm the list with the Korean embassy in your country.
What Are the 2027 Undergraduate Dates?
The embassy track applied from 15 September to 30 September 2026, and the final announcement is expected on 7 January 2027. The GKS Scholarship guide gives the full timeline.
- Embassy track application: 15 September 2026 at 11:00 to 30 September 2026 at 18:00 Korea time.
- University track application: September to November 2026, varying by university.
- Embassy first round: by 16 October 2026.
- University track first round: November 2026.
- Second round (NIIED): late November 2026 for the embassy track and mid December 2026 for the university track.
- Third round (embassy only): by 23 December 2026.
- University choice deadline: 29 December 2026 at 18:00 Korea time for successful embassy candidates.
- Final announcement: expected 7 January 2027.
Opportunities Radar prints the result date as 7 January 2026, which is likely a typo for 2027. With today’s date in late October 2026, the embassy track application is closed, but some university track windows may still be open until November, so check the universities you want.
What About the Graduate Program?
Graduate applications are expected in February and March 2027 for the embassy track and February to April 2027 for the university track. Yocket lists those windows as “to be announced.”
Our kpop scholarships guide, which cites an undated official page, lists graduate applicants as under 40 with at least 80 percent grades, but the 2027 sources we read do not confirm the graduate rules. Yocket’s FAQ mentions under 40 and says that figure is not stated elsewhere, so treat it as unconfirmed. The GKS Scholarship page covers the undergraduate cycle only. For graduate funding in general, our PhD scholarships guide explains how to compare options.
What Documents Do You Need?
An application form, personal statement, study plan, recommendation letter, transcripts, graduation certificate and proof of citizenship. The GKS Scholarship guide lists seven forms.
- Application form, personal statement and study plan.
- Applicant agreement, personal medical assessment and consent to collect personal information.
- One recommendation letter, up to two allowed, issued within one year before the deadline.
- Proof of citizenship for the applicant and parents, and proof of family relationship.
- High school graduation or expected graduation certificate and a full transcript.
- Associate degree certificate and transcript, if applicable.
- Optional TOPIK or English scores, up to five awards or certificates and a passport copy.
The guide says certificates need an apostille or consular confirmation, and that non-English and non-Korean documents need a certified translation. Yocket mentions two recommendation letters, so follow the notice for your track. Our documents required for scholarship application guide covers the general checklist.
How Does Selection Work?
The embassy track has three stages: the Korean embassy, NIIED and then the university. Opportunities Radar and Yocket describe the same order.
Yocket adds that documents, citizenship and academic records are verified, and that some applicants may be called to an interview to check communication skills and intent. Language scores and priority factors such as underrepresented regions, low income or STEM programs may add weight. The sources give no details for the university track beyond applying directly to one university. Prepare your statement and study plan carefully, and read our motivation letter for scholarship and scholarship interview questions guides.
What Is the R-GKS Group?
It is a group of embassy track places listed separately from the general places. HeySuccess says 61 R-GKS scholars come from 56 countries in the 2027 undergraduate quota.
The sources do not explain the group in detail, so ask the embassy whether it applies to your country. The same HeySuccess quota lists 82 general places and 7 overseas Korean places in the embassy track, while the GKS Scholarship guide and Opportunities Radar list 88 general places, which is another small difference between guides. Because quotas shift by year and country, a place is never guaranteed even if you meet every rule.
What Happens After You Are Selected?
Embassy track winners choose a university from their list. The GKS Scholarship guide gives 29 December 2026 at 18:00 Korea time as the university choice deadline.
After the final announcement expected on 7 January 2027, winners complete the steps their embassy and university give them, which usually include the visa and arrival plans. The sources do not describe those steps in detail, so keep your passport valid and follow the official notices. Start your visa paperwork as soon as your university confirms your place.
How Do You Write a Strong Study Plan?
Name your field, the Korean university and department, and what you will do after returning home. The sources say a study plan is required but give no template.
Make it specific: explain why Korea, which courses you want, what skills you will build and how you will use them in your home country. A plan based only on liking Korean pop culture rarely stands out. Link your interest to a field such as media, business, engineering or Korean studies. Use short paragraphs and check the word limit in the application system. Our scholarship essay guide has tips on structure.
What Else Do You Need to Study in Korea?
A valid passport and a Korean student visa. The scholarship does not replace them.
Plan your passport early. Our passport 6 month rule guide explains validity checks, and the Korean embassy will tell you how to apply for the student visa once you win. Compare other Asian awards in our MEXT scholarship and Chinese Government Scholarship guides.
How Do You Spot a Scholarship Scam?
NIIED and Korean universities do not charge a fee to apply for GKS. Be careful with offers.
Be careful when a website or agent:
- Guarantees a GKS place for a fee.
- Claims to be an agent with a quota for sale.
- Asks for payment to a personal account.
- Uses a lookalike site and not studyinkorea.go.kr.
- Asks for your passport details on a non-official page.
Apply only through the Study in Korea site or your university’s official page.
What Mistakes Cause Problems?
Using both tracks, missing the short window and unattested documents cause most problems. Check each point first.
- Applying through both the embassy and the university track.
- Missing the two week embassy window.
- Choosing no Type B university on the embassy track.
- Ignoring the age limit.
- Submitting documents without an apostille or translation.
- Skipping the medical assessment form.
- Using old year dates.
- Writing a generic study plan.
When unsure, ask the Korean embassy in your country in writing.
FAQs
What does the Global Korea Scholarship cover?
Airfare, tuition, one year of language training, a monthly allowance, a settlement allowance and insurance.
Who can apply?
Citizens of NIIED-designated countries with non-Korean parents, under 25 for undergraduate study.
When is the 2027 deadline?
The embassy track closed on 30 September 2026. University track dates vary through November.
Can I use both tracks?
No. Applying through both may lead to disqualification.
Do I need IELTS?
Opportunities Radar says no IELTS or TOEFL is required for the undergraduate program.
When do graduate applications open?
Expected February to March 2027, with dates still to be announced.
Conclusion
The Global Korea Scholarship is a fully funded route to study in Korea, starting with a year of language training. The 2027 undergraduate embassy window has closed, the final results are expected on 7 January 2027, and graduate applications should open in February or March 2027. Check whether your country is designated, choose one track, prepare attested documents and a specific study plan, and confirm every figure on the Study in Korea site.
