2025 Korean Government Scholarship Program for Graduate Degrees

The Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) supports the future global leaders and promotes the international cooperation in education by inviting talented international students to Korea for an opportunity to conduct advanced studies at higher educational institutions in Korea.

GKS Scholarship 2025 applications are now open, offering international students a golden opportunity to pursue higher education in South Korea with full financial support. In 2025, the Korean government aims to welcome 1,820 talented students from around the world to enroll in graduate degree programs at top Korean universities.

To be selected as a GKS (KGSP) grantee, an applicant must successfully pass the 1st round of selection managed by the Korean embassy where he or she holds the citizenship or NIIED-designated Korean universities. The deadline will be decided by each institution or office that accepts the application documents, i.e. the Korean Embassy, Korean Education Center, or Korean university.

Qualifications

• Both an applicant and his/her parents must be citizens of their country of origin.
• Applicants should not hold Korean citizenship.
• Applicants should have adequate health, both mentally and physically, to stay in a foreign country for a long time.
• Should be under 40 years of age at the date of entrance. (Graduate)
• Possess a grade point average (G.P.A.) above 80% from the last educational institution attended.
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree or a Master's degree by the date of arrival. (Graduate)

※Applicants who have previously acheived in any undergraduate program, master’s program, or doctoral program in Korea cannot apply for this program. However, a former or current KGSP scholar who hold the overall grade of 90% or above can reapply to this program once either through the embassy or university track.

Scholarship Benefits

• Airfare
• Entry to Korea: An economy class flight ticket from GKS scholar‟s home country to Korea
• Return: An economy class flight ticket from Korea to GKS scholar‟s home country
• Entry flight ticket will NOT be provided to newly selected scholars who have resided in Korea at the time of applying to this program and during the selection period.
• The return flight ticket is only offered to GKS scholars who successfully complete their degree coursework.
• The return flight is NOT offered to those who have withdrawn from the scholarship in the middle of their studies.
• Any fees domestic travel fees within a GKS scholar‟s home country are NOT covered.
• International travel insurance is NOT covered.
• For GKS scholars selected in China and Czech Republic: The flight tickets will be prepared and provided by the government of China and Czech Republic, respectively, in accordance with the agreement made between Korean government and the governments of two countries.
• Settlement Allowance: 200,000 KRW (offered once after entry to Korea)
• Monthly Allowance: (Degree Program) 1,000,000 KRW per month, (Research Program) 1,500,000 KRW per month
• Research Allowance
• Liberal Arts and Social Science majors: 210,000 KRW per semester
• Natural Science and Engineering majors: 240,000 KRW per semester
• 1-Year Korean Language Training Fee: Fully covered
• Degree Program Tuition: Fully covered
• Tuition amount covered by NIIED is maximum 5million KRW, and the amount that exceeds 5 million KRW will be covered by scholar‟s university.
• University Admission fees are waived for GKS scholars.
• Thesis (Dissertation) Printing Fee Reimbursement
• The actual printing cost shown on the receipt will be reimbursed (receipt submission required)
• Maximum reimbursable amount for each scholar: 500,000 KRW for Liberal Arts and Social Science majors, 800,000 KRW for Natural Science & Engineering and Arts, Music & Sports majors.
• Medical Insurance: 20,000 KRW per month
• Korean Proficiency Grants: 100,000 KRW per month
• This special grant is given only to GKS scholars in the degree program who hold valid TOPIK level 5 or 6.
• Degree Completion Grants: 100,000 KRW (offered once)
• Offered to GKS scholars who return to their home countries after completing their degree coursework under the scholarship program.
• NOT offered to GKS scholars who decide to remain in Korea after completing their degree coursework

※Korean Proficiency Grants, Korean Language Training Fee, Degree Program Tuition, and Thesis (Dissertation) Printing Fee are ONLY given to degree-pursuing scholars.