The GKS Scholarship 2027 (Global Korea Scholarship) is the Korean government’s fully funded scholarship for international students. It is managed by NIIED (National Institute for International Education) under the Ministry of Education and covers undergraduate (GKS-U) and graduate (GKS-G: Master’s, PhD and research) study at top Korean universities such as SNU, KAIST, Korea University and Yonsei.
GKS Scholarship 2027 Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) |
| Administrator | NIIED, Ministry of Education, Korea |
| Programs | GKS-U (Bachelor’s), GKS-G (Master’s, PhD, research) |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Tracks | Embassy Track and University Track |
| GKS-U 2027 | Guidelines out 9 Sep 2026; deadlines Sep–Oct 2026 |
| GKS-G 2027 | Expected around February 2027 |
| Official site | studyinkorea.go.kr |
Benefits (Based on Previous Cycles)
- Full tuition fee (paid by NIIED/university)
- Round-trip or one-way economy airfare
- Monthly living allowance (around KRW 1,000,000 in recent cycles)
- One-time settlement allowance
- One year of Korean language training (fully covered)
- Medical insurance
- Research allowance and dissertation printing support for graduate students
- Extra allowance for students with excellent TOPIK scores
The 2027 amounts will be confirmed in the official guidelines.
Embassy Track vs University Track
| Embassy Track | University Track |
|---|---|
| Apply to the Korean embassy in your country (or a designated body) | Apply directly to one participating Korean university |
| Choose up to 3 universities | Usually only one university |
| Embassy shortlist → NIIED → university admission | University shortlist → NIIED → final result |
You can apply through only one track. Applying to both leads to disqualification.
Eligibility Criteria
| Requirement | GKS-U (Undergraduate) | GKS-G (Graduate) |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | You and both parents must not be Korean citizens | |
| Age | Under 25 (born after the date set in the guidelines) | Under 40 |
| Education | High school completed (or expected) by the cut-off date | Bachelor’s (for Master’s) or Master’s (for PhD) |
| Grades | High school CGPA of 80% or top 20% (or equivalent) | CGPA of 80% or equivalent (e.g., 2.64/4.0, 3.0/4.5) |
| Health | Good physical and mental health | |
IELTS/TOEFL/TOPIK are not mandatory for most applicants but give extra points in evaluation.
Documents Required
- GKS application form (official format)
- Personal statement
- Study plan (and research plan for graduate)
- Recommendation letters (1 for U, 2 for G)
- Degree certificates and transcripts (apostilled or consular-verified)
- Passport copy and proof of citizenship of you and your parents
- Language certificates (if any)
- Personal medical assessment (after selection)
How to Apply for GKS Scholarship 2027
- Download the official 2027 guidelines from studyinkorea.go.kr (do not use old forms).
- Choose your track (embassy or university) and your university/department.
- Prepare your personal statement and study plan carefully – they decide the first round.
- Get apostille/attestation of degrees and transcripts.
- Submit the application to the embassy or university before its deadline.
- Attend the interview/test if shortlisted, then wait for NIIED’s final result.
GKS Timeline (Typical)
| Stage | GKS-U | GKS-G |
|---|---|---|
| Guidelines released | September | February |
| Application deadline | September – October | March |
| First round results | October – November | April |
| Final results | December – January | June |
| Arrival in Korea | February/March (language year) | August |
Tips
- Pakistan, Bangladesh and many African countries have embassy-track quotas – check your embassy’s notice.
- Choose universities that match your field and write a specific study plan.
- Read our guides on the motivation letter and statement of purpose.
- Start the apostille process early – it takes weeks.
FAQs
Is the GKS Scholarship fully funded?
Yes. It covers tuition, airfare, monthly allowance, language training and medical insurance.
Is IELTS required for GKS?
No, it is not compulsory, but English or Korean test scores give extra points.
When will GKS 2027 for Master’s and PhD open?
The graduate call is usually announced around February. The 2027 graduate guidelines are not out yet.
Can Pakistani students apply for GKS?
Yes. Pakistani students can apply through the Embassy Track or the University Track.
Related guides: GIST Scholarship in South Korea, Scholarships in South Korea without IELTS, CSC Scholarship 2027 and Scholarships for Pakistani Students 2027.
Official Links
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