Global Korea Scholarship (GKS-G) 2027 - Graduate Degrees (South Korea)

About the Scholarship

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) for graduate degrees is the Korean government's flagship scholarship for international master's and PhD students, administered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) under the Ministry of Education. Each year more than a thousand candidates are selected worldwide through two application tracks: the embassy track, which runs through Korean embassies in each country, and the university track, which runs directly through designated Korean universities.

The award covers full tuition at Korean universities, a monthly allowance, round-trip airfare, medical insurance, a settlement and language-training allowance and degree-completion grants. All scholars begin with a one-year intensive Korean language programme before starting their master's or PhD, which makes the scholarship suitable for applicants without prior Korean language skills. Applications for the 2027 graduate round open with the publication of the official GKS-G notice, and embassy-track deadlines typically fall between February and March 2027 depending on the country.

Application Tracks and Timeline

In the embassy track, candidates submit their dossier to the Korean embassy in their country of citizenship, which pre-screens and forwards recommended candidates to NIIED and the second-round universities. In the university track, candidates apply directly to up to three designated universities, which recommend successful applicants to NIIED. Both tracks conclude with NIIED's final evaluation, and scholars arrive in Korea in late summer 2027 for the language year. Applicants should prepare transcripts, diplomas, two recommendation letters, a personal statement, a study plan and proof of citizenship well before the notice is published.

Highlights

• Master's and PhD degrees at designated Korean universities
• Full tuition coverage for the regular degree programme
• Monthly living allowance plus settlement and language allowances
• Round-trip airfare and national health insurance
• One-year intensive Korean language training before degree study
• Choice of embassy track or university track application

Funding and Duration

Component	Details
Award or position	Scholarship award
Stipend / salary	Full tuition + monthly allowance (approx. KRW 1.6M) + airfare + Korean language year
Duration	Two to three years of degree study plus the language year

Eligibility and Requirements

Component	Details
Applicant eligibility	Worldwide
Academic preparation	Bachelor's degree for master's applicants; master's degree for PhD applicants, per the GKS-G notice
Language	English proficiency required

Application dates

Component	Details
Recruitment status	Open
Deadline	February-March 2027 (embassy track)
Location	Across South Korea, South Korea

About National Institute for International Education (NIIED) / Study in Korea

The National Institute for International Education (NIIED) is a Korean government agency under the Ministry of Education that manages international student mobility and national scholarship programmes. Through the Study in Korea platform it administers the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), the flagship fully-funded award covering tuition, a monthly allowance, airfare and a compulsory Korean language year. NIIED coordinates both the embassy track and the university track of GKS, working with designated universities across South Korea. Annual calls, guidelines and quota tables are published on its official portals, and applicants apply either through Korean embassies or directly to partner universities.

Official details: Read the programme or project information

Application route: Follow the official application instructions

Contact

Questions about this position, eligibility or the application process should be raised through the contact channel given on the official announcement page (see the Official Link section above). Always quote the position reference in your message so the admissions or HR team can route your enquiry quickly.

Important Notes

• Application deadline: February-March 2027 (embassy track) - late or incomplete applications are normally not considered.
• Listing details were recorded from the official source at the time of publication; always confirm the latest requirements on the official page before applying.
• Prepare the documents listed in the eligibility and application sections before starting the online form - transcripts, CV and references take the longest to collect.

How to Apply

Submit your application through the official page before the deadline: February-March 2027 (embassy track). Read the eligibility requirements carefully and prepare all requested documents - early applications are strongly recommended for competitive awards.

Open the official application page ↗

Application guides

• PhD Interview Preparation: Research Questions and Clear Answers
• A 12-Month Study Abroad Application Plan for Master's and PhD Applicants

Official Link

https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/ko/plan/scholarship.do