Study in South Korea on a fully funded government scholarship. The Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate Degrees (GKS-U), administered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) under Korea’s Ministry of Education, offers 286 scholarships for the 2027 intake, split between the Embassy Track (156 places across 74 countries) and the University Track (130 places). The scholarship covers tuition, monthly living costs, Korean language training, and airfare, and runs for 5–7 years for a bachelor’s degree or 3–4 years for an associate degree, including one year of Korean language study. The Embassy Track deadline is September 30, 2026, at 18:00 Korea Standard Time.
Global Korea Scholarship 2027 Undergraduate Details:
- Host Country: South Korea
- Administering Body: National Institute for International Education (NIIED), Ministry of Education
- Degree Level: Associate or Bachelor’s degree
- Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
- Total Places: 286 (156 Embassy Track, 130 University Track)
- Deadline: September 30, 2026, 18:00 KST (Embassy Track); University Track deadlines vary by institution
Also check this Commonwealth Scholarship 2027/28 in the UK for another fully funded government scholarship route.
Financial Benefits
According to the 2027 GKS-U Application Guidelines, the scholarship covers:
- Tuition: NIIED pays up to 5 million KRW per semester; the university covers any amount above that, plus the admission fee
- Korean language training: 5.2 million KRW per year
- Monthly allowance during language study: approximately 1,130,000 KRW per month (13,560,000 KRW per year)
- Monthly allowance during degree study: approximately 1,200,000 KRW per month (14,400,000 KRW per year)
- Settlement allowance: a one-time payment provided upon arrival in Korea
- Medical insurance: for the full duration of the scholarship
- Completion grant: awarded at the end of the program
- Airfare: an economy-class flight ticket at actual expense
Scholars with TOPIK Level 5 or 6 Korean proficiency may skip the one-year Korean language training program and may also qualify for an additional Korean Proficiency Grant.
Also apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027/28 for a comparable fully funded government scholarship in Europe.
What Is the Duration of the Scholarship?
- Bachelor’s degree: 1 year of Korean language training, plus 4–6 years of degree study (5–7 years total)
- Associate degree: 1 year of Korean language training, plus 2–3 years of degree study (3–4 years total)
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the GKS-U 2027, applicants should:
- Hold citizenship of a country the NIIED has designated as eligible for the GKS program (the University Track’s UIC program is open to applicants from all countries)
- Be under 25 years old, meaning born after March 1, 2002
- Have graduated, or be expected to graduate, from high school
- Not hold Korean citizenship, and neither parent should be a Korean citizen
- Not have previously completed a degree in Korea on a Korean government scholarship
Also check this One Young World Leading Scholarship 2026 in South Africa if you’re weighing other fully funded options for young applicants.
Required Documents
Based on the official application guidelines, applicants should prepare:
- Completed application form
- Personal statement
- Study plan
- Recommendation letter
- Academic transcripts and graduation certificate (authenticated or apostilled, depending on your country)
- Proof of nationality, for the applicant and both parents
- Medical assessment / health certificate
Note: exact document requirements, forms, and authentication rules (such as apostille requirements) vary by country, so confirm the specific list for your nationality in the official guidelines rather than assuming a standard set applies everywhere.
How to Apply for the Global Korea Scholarship 2027 Undergraduate?
Choose your track first. Decide between the Embassy Track, applied through your local Korean embassy or consulate, and the University Track, applied directly to a GKS-designated Korean university. You may apply to only one.
Create your account. Register on the Study in Korea website before you begin filling out any forms.
Select your universities and departments carefully. After final selection, a transfer to a different field of study isn’t permitted, so weigh your choices before submitting.
Complete every application section. Upload the necessary documents, and enter your information exactly as it appears on your passport, since mismatches can cause delays.
Submit before September 30, 2026, 18:00 KST, if you’re applying through the Embassy Track. If you pass the embassy’s first round, a signed original set of forms and authenticated documents will also be due by the embassy’s own stated deadline.
Then wait for results, expected around January 7, 2027. Check the Study in Korea notice board directly, since NIIED doesn’t individually notify applicants at each selection round.
This bold-action-title pattern (rather than “Step 1/2/3”) is now saved as the standard for every future article’s How to Apply section.
Official Website
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a fully funded scholarship from the Korean government, administered by NIIED, that funds bachelor’s and associate degrees at Korean universities, including one year of Korean language training.
Applicants under 25 (born after March 1, 2002) who are citizens of a NIIED-designated eligible country, or, for the UIC program, from any country, who have graduated or are expected to graduate from high school.
Yes. It covers tuition, Korean language training, a monthly living allowance, a settlement allowance, medical insurance, a completion grant, and airfare.
September 30, 2026, at 18:00 Korea Standard Time, for the Embassy Track. University Track deadlines vary by institution.
286 total: 156 through the Embassy Track across 74 countries, and 130 through the University Track.
Yes, if you hold TOPIK Level 5 or 6 proficiency.
Choose either the Embassy Track or the University Track, then apply through the official Study in Korea online system.