Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), undergraduate
Korea's government scholarship for a bachelor degree, run by NIIED. 286 places for 2027: 156 through Korean embassies in 74 countries, 100 on the university (UIC) track, which is open to every country, and 30 for associate degrees. It pays your tuition, a monthly allowance, a flight and a year of Korean.
Start your application Read the official page- 1Check your country in the guideline's quota table. The embassy track covers 74 countries for 2027; the UIC track is open to everybody
- 2EMBASSY TRACK: apply online on Study in Korea between 15 September 2026 at 11:00 and 30 September at 18:00, Korean time
- 3UNIVERSITY TRACK: apply to the university itself between September and November 2026, on its own dates and in its own way
Embassy track: apply ONLINE on Study in Korea, 15 to 30 September 2026. University track (UIC or associate degree): apply to the university itself, September to November, on its own dates. One track only, and one programme within it.
NIIED, 2027 GKS-U Application Guidelines (September 2026) ↗Checked 13 September 2026
Official sources. Waegook does not guarantee admission, funding or a visa.
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The school does not publish what a year costs to live, so we cannot say what share is left for you. We will not put a figure there until it does.
Read the official page →Official figures from the source page on the date checked. Estimates are Waegook's. Unknown is shown as not published, never as zero.
Who can apply
- You and both parents (or legal guardians) hold a nationality other than Korean. Dual Korean citizenship in any of you means you cannot apply
- Your country is on NIIED's list for this cycle, 74 countries for the embassy track. The UIC university track is open to every country in the world
- Under 25 at the start: born after 1 March 2002
- You finished high school or an associate degree, or will by 31 December 2026. Somebody who already holds a bachelor's degree cannot apply
- Grades: 80 or more out of 100, or the top 20% of your class, or a CGPA of at least 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5 or 3.23/5.0
- NOT eligible: anyone who finished a Korean high school (international schools in Korea included) or a Korean associate degree, anyone in their final year at a school or university in Korea, and anyone who has already held a Korean government scholarship for a degree
- Good health, and nothing that would stop you travelling
From the official page. The provider decides, not Waegook.
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People in Trusted Help who list "Scholarship guidance". Waegook has reviewed their account information. Please still agree fees in writing first. The application itself always goes through the school or the embassy.
Where this comes from
- NIIED announcement, 2027 GKS-U ↗Supports: the call, published 9 September 2026, and every attachment · Checked 13 September 2026
- 2027 GKS-U Application Guidelines (English) ↗Supports: eligibility, grades, documents, the schedule, the benefits and the country quota · Checked 13 September 2026
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Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), undergraduate. An admin checks the official page before anything changes.
All dates
What do I need?
- Form 1, application form, completed online Apply
- Form 2, personal statement, completed online
- Form 3, study plan, completed online
- Form 4, recommendation letter, uploaded as a scan (the original goes in after round one)
- Form 5, GKS applicant agreement, completed online
- Form 6, personal medical assessment, completed online
- Form 7, consent to collect and use personal information, completed online
- Proof of citizenship for you AND both parents, and proof of your family relationship
- High school graduation certificate, or a certificate of expected graduation
- High school transcript
- Associate degree graduation certificate, if you took one
- Associate degree transcript, if you took one
- Proof of overseas Korean or Korean adoptee status, if it applies to you
- Proof that you renounced Korean citizenship, if it applies to you
- Proof of being a Korean War veteran's descendant, if it applies to you
- TOPIK or English test score report, if you have one. Optional, and it counts in the scoring
- Up to five awards or certificates from high school onward. Optional
- Your passport
THE FIRST ROUND IS ENTIRELY ONLINE on the embassy track: you fill in forms 1 to 7 on the system and upload scans of everything else.
IF YOU PASS ROUND ONE you print and sign the forms and send the ORIGINALS, with the apostilled certificates, to arrive by 30 October 2026 (30 November on the university track).
ONE TRACK ONLY. An embassy applicant who passes round one cannot apply again through a university, and you may enter only one programme: General, R-GKS, or Overseas Koreans and Adoptees.
Expected to graduate? Send the expected-graduation certificate now, and the final certificate and transcript by 31 December 2026, or the offer is cancelled.
From the official guide. The school decides what it accepts, not Waegook.
How do I apply?
Embassy track: apply ONLINE on Study in Korea, 15 to 30 September 2026. University track (UIC or associate degree): apply to the university itself, September to November, on its own dates. One track only, and one programme within it.
- 1Check your country in the guideline's quota table. The embassy track covers 74 countries for 2027; the UIC track is open to everybody
- 2EMBASSY TRACK: apply online on Study in Korea between 15 September 2026 at 11:00 and 30 September at 18:00, Korean time
- 3UNIVERSITY TRACK: apply to the university itself between September and November 2026, on its own dates and in its own way
- 4Embassy first-round result by 16 October. Your original papers must ARRIVE at NIIED by 30 October (30 November on the university track)
- 5NIIED's round closes by late November, the university round by 23 December
- 6The final list of 2027 scholars is expected by 7 January 2027