The Global Korea Scholarship for undergraduates (GKS-U) is the Korean government’s fully funded award for international students who want a bachelor’s or associate degree in South Korea. The National Institute for International Education (NIIED) pays tuition up to a cap, a year of Korean language training, a return economy flight and a monthly allowance of KRW 1,200,000 during the degree. For the 2027 intake there are 286 places.
The 2027 Embassy Track closed on 30 September 2026 at 18:00 Korean time. Some University Track deadlines run into November 2026, so a few universities may still be open now. If you missed both, the Embassy Track deadline is 30 September 2027, based on this year’s calendar.
Deadline status on 24 October 2026
The 2027 Embassy Track (15 to 30 September 2026) is closed and first-round results were due by 16 October. University Track applications run from September to November 2026 on each university’s own schedule, so check your chosen university’s notice today.
Global Korea Scholarship for undergraduates: benefits in 2027
| Benefit | 2027 amount | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | NIIED pays up to KRW 5 million; the university pays any excess and the admission fee | Scholars in the degree programme |
| Korean language programme fee | KRW 5.2 million a year | Scholars in the language year |
| Airfare | Economy ticket at actual cost | All scholars entering from their home country |
| Monthly allowance (language year) | KRW 13,560,000 a year (KRW 1,130,000 a month) | Scholars in the language year |
| Monthly allowance (degree) | KRW 14,400,000 a year (KRW 1,200,000 a month) | Scholars in the degree programme |
The allowance changed shape for 2027. NIIED now calls it an all-inclusive subsidy that covers living costs, housing, health insurance, the Korean proficiency grant, TOPIK fees, the settlement allowance and the degree completion grant. Older guides list the settlement allowance, insurance and completion grant as separate payments on top of a smaller allowance; for 2027 they come out of the monthly figure. NIIED also says amounts may change.
Two airfare rules catch people out. You get no entry flight if you are already living in Korea at the final announcement, and no flight or visa support if you travel to Korea from a country other than your own. If you withdraw within three months of enrolling, you must repay everything you received.
Embassy Track vs University Track
| Embassy Track | University Track | |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 places | 156 (88 general, 61 R-GKS, 7 overseas Koreans and adoptees) | 130 (100 UIC, 30 associate degree) |
| Who can apply | Citizens of NIIED-designated countries (general: 74 countries) | UIC: any nationality. Associate: 74 countries |
| How you apply | Online on the Study in Korea website | Directly to one university, using its own method |
| University choices | Up to three, at least one Type B (regional); R-GKS up to two Type B | One university and one department |
| 2027 window | 15 to 30 September 2026 | September to November 2026, varies by university |
You may apply through one track, one programme and one university only. Embassy Track first-round passers cannot switch to the University Track, and duplicate applications lead to disqualification. The UIC route is the only GKS-U option open to every nationality, so if your country is not on the Embassy list, it is your route in.
Who is eligible for GKS-U 2027
- You and both parents do not hold Korean citizenship. Dual citizens are not eligible.
- You are under 25, meaning born after 1 March 2002.
- You have finished high school, or will by 31 December 2026. For a bachelor’s you may also hold an associate degree; anyone with a bachelor’s degree cannot apply.
- Your grades meet one of these: 80 out of 100 or above, 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.
- You are physically and mentally fit to study in Korea for the whole programme.
You are ruled out if you went to a Korean high school (including international schools in Korea), studied in a Korean online programme, already received a Korean government degree scholarship, or withdrew as a selected GKS applicant in the past three years.
Documents for the Global Korea Scholarship for undergraduates
| Group | Documents |
|---|---|
| Forms you fill in | Application form (in English), personal statement, study plan, one recommendation letter issued within a year of the deadline, GKS applicant agreement, personal medical assessment, consent to use personal information |
| Certificates (apostilled or consular-confirmed) | Proof of your and your parents’ citizenship and family relationship, high school diploma or expected-graduation letter, high school transcript, and associate degree papers if you have them |
| Optional | TOPIK original or English test score copy, up to five awards from high school onward, passport copy |
I would start the apostille or consular confirmation first, since it depends on government offices you do not control. Language scores are optional, but they earn points: TOPIK level 3 or higher adds 3% to 5%, and science and engineering applicants get 5% extra. Descendants of Korean War veterans get 10%.
GKS-U 2027 selection timeline
| Stage | Embassy Track | University Track |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | 15 to 30 September 2026 | September to November 2026 |
| First-round results | By 16 October 2026 | November 2026 |
| Documents to NIIED | By 30 October 2026 | By 30 November 2026 |
| Second round (NIIED) results | November 2026 | December 2026 |
| Third round (universities) | Results by 23 December 2026 | Not applicable |
| Final university choice | By 29 December 2026, 18:00 | Not applicable |
| Final announcement | 7 January 2027 | 7 January 2027 |
| Next Embassy Track window (2028 intake) | 15 to 30 September 2027 | September to November 2027 |
(based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens) All times are Korean Standard Time, GMT plus 9.
How the language year works
Every scholar starts with one year of Korean at a language institute, then moves to the degree, so a bachelor’s takes five to seven years in total. If you arrive with TOPIK level 5 or 6, you skip the language year and get the Korean proficiency grant automatically. Reach level 5 or 6 in your first six months and you skip the rest, starting your degree in September 2027.
How to apply for the 2028 cycle
- Check your country: look for your country in the Embassy Track country list in the guidelines. If it is missing, plan for the UIC route through the University Track.
- Shortlist universities: from the University Information files attached to the NIIED notice, choose one Type B university among your three for the Embassy Track.
- Collect documents from mid-2027: apostilled certificates, transcripts and a recommendation letter dated within a year of the deadline.
- Write your personal statement and study plan: link your subject choice to a clear plan, and say why Korea.
- Apply on Study in Korea: submit before 30 September 2027 at 18:00 Korean time, or follow your university’s own method for the University Track.
- Follow the rounds: check results at each stage and send documents to NIIED when asked.
If you are aiming for a top Seoul university, read our guide to the Seoul National University scholarship, which covers how GKS works at SNU. For other options in East Asia, see our MEXT scholarship guide.
FAQ on the Global Korea Scholarship for undergraduates
Is the Global Korea Scholarship for undergraduates fully funded?
Yes. It pays tuition (NIIED up to KRW 5 million, the university the rest), the language year, a return economy flight and KRW 1,200,000 a month during the degree.
When is the GKS undergraduate deadline for 2028?
The Embassy Track deadline is 30 September 2027 at 18:00 Korean time, based on this year’s dates. University Track deadlines fall between September and November 2027 and vary by university.
Can I apply for GKS-U without IELTS or TOPIK?
Yes. Language scores are optional documents, though TOPIK level 3 or higher earns extra points.
What is the age limit for GKS undergraduate?
You must be under 25, which for the 2027 intake meant being born after 1 March 2002.
Sources and updates
Amounts, quotas, eligibility, documents and the timeline come from NIIED’s 2027 GKS-U application guidelines, posted on 9 September 2026 on the Study in Korea GKS notice board. The quota split and the 7 January 2027 announcement date were cross-checked with Korea JoongAng Daily’s September 2026 report on GKS-U 2027. The 2028 dates are this year’s dates moved forward one year. Information checked on 24 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
