GKS Scholarship 2026 Graduates | Apply Now for Global Korea Scholarship 2026

Hii all international students, the long wait is over. The GKS Scholarship 2026 for Graduate studies the Global Korea Scholarship 2026 is now officially open for applications for Master PhD and Research programs. This is a great chance to continue higher education in South Korea with a fully funded scholarship. For 2026 the Korean government plans to invite about 2000 top students from around the world. It is a big increase from last year to study at Koreas top universities in many graduate programs. Apply now for GKS Scholarship 2026.

What is GKS Scholarship 2026

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) 2026 is a fully funded program by the Korean government. It gives international students the chance to study at top universities in South Korea. This program supports undergraduate and graduate studies and aims to strengthen world school exchange and teamwork.

The Global Korea Scholarship pays full tuition, round trip, flights, monthly living money, health insurance and research support. This makes it one of the most attractive and competitive scholarships for international students. You can apply through the Embassy Track or the University Track. Full details for both paths are below.

GKS 2026 Programs and Universities

Program	Length / Duration
Master’s Degree	1 year Korean language course + 2 years degree program
Doctoral Degree	1 year Korean language course + 3 years degree program
Research Program	6 months or 1 year

Global Korea Scholarship 2026 Quota

Quota Distribution

Embassy Track

Category	Quota
General	776
Specialization	24
Subtotal	800

University Track

Category	Quota
General	160
Overseas Korean or Adoptee	480
R-GKS	5
Research	72
International Organization	403
R & D	80
Global Network	1,200
Subtotal	1,200

Total Quota

| Total | 2,000 |

For 2026 the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) plans to give scholarships to 2000 students worldwide. Of these 800 candidates will be picked through the Embassy Track and 1200 through the University Track.

The R & D and Global Network parts under the University Track are run directly by joining universities. They follow their own admission rules and scholarship selection standards.

To get correct and full details about the evaluation and selection steps for the R & D and Global Network programs applicants should contact the specific universities offering these programs.

GKS Scholarship 2026 Benefits

Scholarship Length

• Master Degree Program 3 years
• 1 year Korean language course plus 2 years degree program

• Doctoral Degree Program 4 years
• 1 year Korean language course plus 3 years degree program

• Research Program 6 months or 1 year

• Global Network Program up to 2 years
• Master degree finished within 2 years

Important Notes on Scholarship Length

Scholars in the Research Program and those who already have TOPIK Level 5 or 6 do not need the Korean language course.
Students who reach TOPIK Level 5 or 6 within the first 6 months of Korean language training can skip the rest and start their degree program next semester March 2025.

Scholarship Benefit	Who Gets It	Coverage / Amount
Airfare	All GKS Winners	Round-trip economy class flight (actual cost paid)
Tuition	GKS Scholars in Degree Programs	NIIED covers up to 5,000,000 KRW; university pays the remaining tuition above 5,000,000 KRW plus admission fee
Korean Language Training Fee	GKS Scholars in Korean Language Course	5,200,000 KRW paid over four terms
Study Allowance	All GKS Winners	• Korean Language Program: 14,400,000 KRW per year • Graduate Degree Program: 16,560,000 KRW per year • Research Program: 20,880,000 KRW per year

Extra Note

GKS scholars who skip the Korean language program from the start because they have TOPIK Level 5 or 6 get a Korean Skill Grant. This does not apply to scholars in the Global Network Program Research Program current teachers in all English taught programs or IRTS Korean Language Program participants who get TOPIK or TOPIK IBT Level 3 or higher.

GKS Scholarship 2026 – Embassy Track Quota

Total: 776 scholars from 143 countries/regions

No.	Country / Region	Quota
1	Afghanistan	4
2	Albania	1
3	Algeria	3
4	Angola	1
5	Argentina	5
6	Armenia	2
7	Australia	4
8	Austria	1
9	Azerbaijan	5
10	Bahamas	3
11	Bahrain	3
12	Bangladesh	7
13	Barbados	1
14	Belarus	2
15	Belgium	5
16	Belize	1
17	Benin	1
18	Bolivia	3
19	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1
20	Botswana	3
21	Brazil	9
22	Brunei	4
23	Bulgaria	8
24	Burundi	2
25	Cambodia	12
26	Canada	6
27	Canada (Quebec)	1
28	Cape Verde	1
29	Chile	4
30	China	31
31	Colombia	8
32	Costa Rica	4
33	Côte d’Ivoire	4
34	Croatia	1
35	Cuba	1
36	Czech Republic	4
37	Denmark	4
38	Dominican Republic	4
39	DR Congo	2
40	Ecuador	8
41	Egypt	7
42	El Salvador	4
43	Equatorial Guinea	1
44	Estonia	1
45	Ethiopia	10
46	Fiji	2
47	Finland	3
48	France	7
49	Gabon	2
50	Georgia	4
51	Germany	7
52	Ghana	7
53	Greece	5
54	Guatemala	2
55	Guyana	1
56	Honduras	4
57	Hong Kong	2
58	Hungary	4
59	India	26
60	Indonesia	33
61	Iran	5
62	Iraq	5
63	Ireland	1
64	Israel	3
65	Italy	10
66	Jamaica	2
67	Jordan	4
68	Kazakhstan	13
69	Kenya	7
70	Kyrgyzstan	9
71	Laos	11
72	Latvia	1
73	Lebanon	1
74	Libya	3
75	Luxembourg	1
76	Macedonia	1
77	Madagascar	5
78	Malawi	2
79	Malaysia	22
80	Mauritania	2
81	Mauritius	1
82	Mexico	6
83	Mongolia	13
84	Montenegro	1
85	Morocco	6
86	Mozambique	4
87	Myanmar	16
88	Nepal	4
89	Netherlands	4
90	New Zealand	1
91	Nicaragua	2
92	Nigeria	7
93	Norway	4
94	Oman	4
95	Pakistan	8
96	Palestine	3
97	Panama	4
98	Paraguay	3
99	Peru	8
100	Philippines	19
101	Poland	3
102	Portugal	1
103	Romania	4
104	Russia	16
105	Rwanda	5
106	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	1
107	Sao Tome and Principe	1
108	Saudi Arabia	3
109	Senegal	4
110	Serbia	4
111	Singapore	9
112	Slovakia	1
113	Slovenia	1
114	Somalia	2
115	South Africa	5
116	Spain	3
117	Sri Lanka	7
118	Sudan	2
119	Suriname	1
120	Sweden	4
121	Switzerland	1
122	Syria	4
123	Taiwan	4
124	Tajikistan	5
125	Tanzania	7
126	Thailand	16
127	Timor-Leste	3
128	Togo	1
129	Trinidad and Tobago	3
130	Tunisia	6
131	Türkiye	11
132	Turkmenistan	7
133	Uganda	6
134	Ukraine	16
135	United Arab Emirates	2
136	United Kingdom	7
137	United States of America	16
138	Uruguay	1
139	Uzbekistan	13
140	Venezuela	2
141	Vietnam	33
142	Zambia	2
143	Zimbabwe	1
Total	—	776

GKS 2026 – Overseas Korean / Adoptee Track

Total: 24 scholars from 8 countries

No.	Country	Quota
1	Canada	1
2	Cuba	1
3	Kazakhstan	7
4	Kyrgyzstan	3
5	Norway	1
6	Russia	4
7	Ukraine	1
8	Uzbekistan	6
Total	—	24

GKS Scholarship 2026 – University Track Quota (A/B)

General: 160 scholars (54 countries)
R-GKS: 480 scholars (56 countries/regions)
Total: 640 scholars

No.	Country / Region	General	R-GKS	Total
1	Algeria	1	3	4
2	Armenia	1	1	2
3	Azerbaijan	2	1	3
4	Bangladesh	3	17	20
5	Belarus	1	1	2
6	Brazil	1	5	6
7	Brunei	1	2	3
8	Cambodia	5	21	26
9	Cameroon	1	8	9
10	Central African Republic	1	–	1
11	Colombia	1	7	8
12	Costa Rica	1	1	2
13	Egypt	3	5	8
14	Ethiopia	3	10	13
15	Georgia	1	1	2
16	Germany	1	1	2
17	Ghana	–	5	5
18	Hungary	1	1	2
19	India	5	42	47
20	Indonesia	10	61	71
21	Iran	2	6	8
22	Italy	1	1	2
23	Kazakhstan	5	18	23
24	Kenya	1	1	2
25	Kuwait	1	–	1
26	Kyrgyzstan	7	3	10
27	Laos	4	3	7
28	Liberia	1	–	1
29	Lithuania	1	1	2
30	Malaysia	7	9	16
31	Mauritania	1	1	2
32	Mexico	2	14	16
33	Moldova	1	1	2
34	Mongolia	6	37	43
35	Morocco	–	2	2
36	Myanmar	7	36	43
37	Nepal	4	2	6
38	Nigeria	2	5	7
39	Pakistan	2	15	17
40	Peru	3	1	4
41	Philippines	16	44	60
42	Poland	1	3	4
43	Romania	1	1	2
44	Russia	5	17	22
45	Rwanda	1	4	5
46	Singapore	2	4	6
47	Slovakia	1	–	1
48	Sri Lanka	3	7	10
49	Sudan	1	1	2
50	Taiwan	–	1	1
51	Tajikistan	2	2	4
52	Tanzania	1	4	5
53	Thailand	6	11	17
54	Türkiye	2	5	7
55	Turkmenistan	–	3	3
56	UAE	–	1	1
57	Uganda	1	1	2
58	USA	–	4	4
59	Uzbekistan	6	6	12
60	Vietnam	10	12	22
Total	—	160	480	640

B: Research 5 scholars will be picked from 149 countries or regions.

Applications are open to candidates from 149 joining countries and regions for both the Embassy Track and the University Track.

GKS Scholarship 2026 – Specialization Track (C) R&D

Total: 403 scholars | 25 universities | All countries

No.	University	Department / Field of Study	Quota
1	Pukyong National University	Industry 4.0 Convergence Bionics Engineering	10
		Intelligent Robot Engineering	10
		Precision Manufacturing / Intelligent Control Systems	10
2	Ewha Womans University	Pharmaceutical Sciences	5
3	Kunsan National University	Chemistry	5
4	KAIST	Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering	3
		Graduate School of Culture Technology	3
		Department of Chemistry	3
		Department of Biological Sciences	3
		Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering	3
		Department of Aerospace Engineering	3
		Cho Chun Shik Graduate School of Mobility	5
5	Jeju National University	Electronic Engineering	10
		Computer Engineering	10
		Mechatronics Engineering	20
6	SeoulTech	Department of Electrical & Information Engineering	16
		Department of Materials Science & Engineering	10
		Department of Environmental Engineering	6
		Department of Data Science	3
7	Inje University	Nanoscience and Engineering	8
		Digital Anti-Aging Health Care	8
		Rehabilitation Science	7
		Smart Food & Drug (Food & Life Science)	5
8	Kyungpook National University	Mathematics	6
		Agricultural Civil Engineering	5
9	Dong-A University	Health Sciences	15
		Computer Engineering	15
10	Sogang University	Computer Science & Engineering	3
		Pharmacy	3
		Food Science & Technology	3
11	Konkuk University	Electrical & Electronics Engineering (Electrical Engineering)	3
		Veterinary Medicine (Veterinary Microbiology & Infectious Diseases)	3
12	Chonnam National University	Department of Materials Science & Engineering	5
		Department of Polymer Engineering	3
13	KOREATECH	School of Electrical, Electronics & Communication Engineering	10
		Department of AI Convergence	5
14	Yeungnam University	Department of Materials Science & Engineering	5
15	Hannam University	Advanced Materials & Chemical Engineering	5
16	Incheon National University	Bioengineering & Nano-Bioengineering	3
17	Sunchon National University	Chemical Engineering	3
		Advanced Components & Materials Engineering	3
18	Seoul Theological University	Department of IT Convergence	10
		Mechanical Design & Robot Engineering	3
19	Gyeongsang National University	Materials Engineering & Convergence Technology	10
		Mechanical System Engineering	4
		Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering	3
		Energy & Mechanical Engineering	3
		Applied Life Science	3
		Chemistry	3
20	Kookmin University	Department of Mechanical Engineering	15
		Department of Electronics Engineering	15
21	Yonsei University	Medical Science	3
		Electrical & Electronic Engineering	3
22	Cheongju University	Mechanical & Aeronautical Systems Engineering	3
23	Ajou University	Computer Engineering	10
		Intelligence Semiconductor Engineering	8
24	Keimyung University	Pharmacy	20
25	Pusan National University	Artificial Intelligence / Info Convergence	10
		Nuclear Systems / Computer Engineering	3
		Biomedical Convergence Engineering	3
		Information Convergence Engineering	3
Total	25 Universities	—	403

GKS Scholarship 2026 – Specialization Track (D) Global Network

Total: 80 scholars | 6 universities | All countries worldwide

No.	University	Department / Field of Study	Quota
1	KDI School of Public Policy and Management	Global Cooperation Program (MPP / MDP / MPM)	25
2	Hongik University	Design Management	6
		Arts & Cultural Management	3
3	Pusan National University	International Logistics & Port Management	20
4	Ajou University	International Development and Cooperation	10
5	Seoul National University	Department of Public Administration (Global Public Administration Major)	10
6	Gyeongkuk National University	Department of Educational Technology	6
Total	6 Universities	—	80

GKS 2026 Graduate Scholarship – Available Fields of Study & Universities

Available Fields of Study (Important Rules)

What You Can Study?

You can apply for study in any academic field, as long as it is offered by the Korean universities that are part of the GKS program.

What You CANNOT Study?

The GKS scholarship does NOT cover the following types of programs:

• Evening classes or night-school programs.
• Short-term courses or non-degree programs.
• Online courses or distance-learning programs.

The Most Important Rule?

You must choose your university and major only from the official list.

• A special file called “University Information” is attached to the official GKS announcement. This is your only guide.
• You must pick a university and department that are listed in that file.
• You can find this official list on the Study in Korea website. Go to:
  Study in Korea → Plan Your Studies → Scholarships → GKS Notice

Important: If you apply to a university or a major not on this official list, your application will be rejected.

List of Available Universities for GKS Scholarship 2026

Type A Universities (35 Institutions)

These are primarily research-intensive and globally ranked universities, offering a wide range of graduate programs.

Type A Universities
Ajou University
Chung-Ang University
Dankook University
DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology)
Dongguk University
Duksung Women’s University
Ewha Womans University
GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology)
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Hanyang University (ERICA)
Hanyang University (Seoul)
Hongik University
Incheon National University
Inha University
KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology)
KDI School of Public Policy & Management
Konkuk University
Kookmin University
Korea University
Kyung Hee University
NCC-GCSP (National Cancer Center Graduate School)
POSTECH (Pohang University of Science & Technology)
Sejong University
Seokyeong University
Seoul National University
SeoulTech (Seoul National University of Science & Technology)
Sogang University
Sookmyung Women’s University
Soongsil University
Sungkyunkwan University
Sungshin Women’s University
The Academy of Korean Studies
UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology)
University of Seoul
Yonsei University

Type B Universities (41 Institutions)

These universities offer diverse graduate programs with strong regional, technical, and applied research strengths.

Type B Universities
Baeseok University
Busan University of Foreign Studies
Changwon National University
Cheongju University
Chonnam National University
Chosun University
Chungbuk National University
Chungnam National University
Daegu University
Daejeon University
Dong-A University
Dongseo University
Gyeongkuk National University
Gyeongsang National University
Hannam University
Hoseo University
Inje University
Jeju National University
Jeonbuk National University
Kangwon National University
Keimyung University
Kongju National University
Konyang University
KOREATECH (Korea University of Technology & Education)
Kunsan National University
Kyungpook National University
Kyungsung University
Kyungwoon University
Mokwon University
Pai Chai University
Pukyong National University
Pusan National University
Semyung University
Silla University
Soonchunhyang University
Sun Moon University
Sunchon National University
Tongmyong University
University of Ulsan
Wonkwang University
Yeungnam University

Available Universities by Application Track

Embassy Track Program	Eligible Universities
General Program	Type A or Type B Universities
Overseas Korean & Adoptee Program	Type A or Type B Universities

Note: Overseas Koreans means people of Korean heritage without Korean citizenship. This includes descendants of the Korean diaspora or immigrants living outside Korea.

Applicants using the Embassy Track can pick up to THREE different universities from both Type A and Type B. They must include at least one university from Type B in their picks.

University Track – Programs & Participating Universities

Program Overview

Program	Participating Universities
General (General)	Type A or Type B
R-GKS	Type B
Research	Type A or Type B
International Organization	Type A or Type B

Specialization Programs

R&D Specialization

60 departments across 25 institutions

Participating Universities
Ajou University
Cheongju University
Chonnam National University
Dong-A University
Ewha Womans University
Gyeongsang National University
Hannam University
Incheon National University
Inje University
Jeju National University
KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
Keimyung University
Konkuk University
Kookmin University
KOREATECH (Korea University of Technology and Education)
Kunsan National University
Kyungpook National University
Pukyong National University
Pusan National University
Seoul Theological University
SeoulTech (Seoul National University of Science and Technology)
Sogang University
Sunchon National University
Yeungnam University
Yonsei University

Global Network Specialization

7 departments in 6 institutions

Participating Universities
Ajou University
Kyungpook National University
Hongik University
KDI School of Public Policy and Management
Pusan National University
Seoul National University

Important Note

Applicants applying through the University Track can pick any department under the General or Specialization programs. These are for degree programs only.

GKS 2026 Graduate Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Here is an easy explanation of the eligibility rules for GKS Graduate Scholarship 2026.

1. Nationality

• You must be a citizen of a country selected by NIIED
• You and your parents must NOT have Korean citizenship
• Dual citizenship with Korea is not allowed

2. Education Requirement

You must have the correct degree (or graduate before the deadline).

Program	Required Degree
Master’s	Bachelor’s degree
Doctoral	Master’s degree
Research (Postdoc)	PhD / Doctoral degree
Exchange Professor	Master’s degree + must be a university professor
Education/Science/Culture/International Cooperation Program	Master’s degree + must be a professional in this field

Important:

• If you are still studying, you can apply with an expected graduation certificate
• But you must submit your final degree and transcript by July 31, 2026
• If you fail → your selection will be cancelled

3. Academic Grades

You must have good academic performance:

• Minimum 80% score OR top 20% in class
• OR GPA must be at least:
  • 2.64 / 4.0
  • 2.80 / 4.3
  • 2.91 / 4.5
  • 3.23 / 5.0

If your transcript does not show GPA:

• You must submit a converted GPA document

Students still studying must submit grades of all completed semesters

4. Age Limit

• Usually under 40 years old
• Professors from ODA countries may apply up to 45 years

5. Language

• Korean language (TOPIK) is not always required
• But having TOPIK gives advantage

6. Health Condition

• You must be physically and mentally healthy
• Must be able to complete full study in Korea

GKS Scholarship 2026 Restrictions

Please read carefully. If you break these rules, your application can be rejected or cancelled.

1. No Duplicate Application

• You cannot apply more than once
• If you submit duplicate applications → you will be disqualified
• Even if found later → scholarship will be cancelled

2. Embassy Track Rules

• If you pass the first round in Embassy track, you cannot apply again through University track
• Embassy applicants must choose ONLY ONE program:
  • General Program
  • Overseas Korean / Adoptee Program

3. University Track Rules

University track applicants must choose ONLY ONE program from:

• General
• R-GKS
• Research
• R&D
• Global Network

You cannot apply to multiple programs.

4. International Organization Applicants

• They must also apply to only ONE program under University track:
  • General / R-GKS / Research / R&D / Global Network
• But Research program is not allowed for them

5. One University Rule

• University track applicants must apply to:
  • ONE university
  • ONE department only

No multiple universities allowed.

Final Warning

If duplicate or wrong submission is found at any stage:

• Your application will be rejected
• Or scholarship will be revoked (cancelled)

How to Apply – GKS Scholarship 2026 (Graduate)

There are two ways to apply:

1. Embassy Track

• You apply through the official Study in Korea website
• First create an account and fill the application form
• Upload all required documents online
• After first screening, shortlisted students may need to submit:
  • Original documents OR
  • Embassy verified documents

Official website: www.studyinkorea.go.kr

2. University Track

• You apply directly to a GKS designated university
• Submit documents by:
  • Post (courier) OR
  • In person (depends on university rules)
• Always check the university deadline and instructions

Important Notes for Applicants

Extra Documents

• Some universities may ask for extra documents
  • Portfolio
  • Certificates
  • Other materials
• Submit these directly to the university

University Requirements

• Every university or department may have different rules
• Always check:
  • Eligibility
  • Admission conditions
  • Required documents

TOPIK (Korean Language) Requirement

• Most GKS scholars must get TOPIK Level 3
• This is usually required during or after the Korean language year
• Some programs may require TOPIK Level 4

Enrollment & Timing

• Check your university semester dates and schedule
• This is important if:
  • Korean language program is delayed
  • Schedule changes happen

GKS Graduate Scholarship 2026 Selection Process

Below is the basic process and timeline for Global Korea Scholarship 2026 (Graduate Program).

Selection Timeline

• The scholarship has multiple selection rounds
• Important dates and deadlines are announced on the official website
• Applicants must regularly check updates

Important Notice for Applicants

• It is your responsibility to check all updates on the Study in Korea website
• NIIED does NOT send personal emails for each selection round result
• If you miss updates, you may miss important steps

Final Result (Embassy Track)

• Final results will be posted on Study in Korea website
• You can check your result in “My Page” section

GKS Scholarship 2026 Evaluation Process

Here’s what the selection committee looks at when deciding who gets the scholarship.

1. Main Points of Evaluation

Qualification Check

• They check your documents to make sure you meet the basic requirements:
  • Citizenship
  • Education level
  • Grades

Competency Check

• They evaluate your skills and ability through:
  • Your documents
  • Oral interview (but not in the 2nd round at NIIED)

Vacancies

• If some spots are empty in the 2nd round, students from other countries may fill them

Authenticity Check

• NIIED may verify your documents with universities or governments if needed

2. Extra Points

You can get bonus points if you:

• Have TOPIK level 3 or above → +10% points
• Are a direct descendant of a Korean War veteran → +5% points
• Apply to science or engineering departments → +5% points

Language Score Points Table

Language	Score for 100%	90%	80%	70%	60%
TOPIK	Level 5-6	4	3	2	1
TOEFL iBT	–	114+	95+	72+	42+
IELTS	–	8.0+	7.0+	6.0+	5.0+

• Only the highest score counts
• Only scores valid by Feb 28, 2026 are accepted

3. Who Gets Preference

• Overseas Koreans
• Students from low-income or underprivileged families
• Students applying to science/engineering in regional universities
• Professors in science/engineering or from ODA recipient countries
• Students with high English test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)
• Postdoctoral applicants in science/engineering

4. Final Announcement Steps

• Universities notify Embassy Track applicants of 3rd round results individually by June 5, 2026
• If a candidate is rejected by all three universities → excluded from final selection
• Final university choice must be submitted on Study in Korea My Page by June 12, 2026 (6pm KST)
  • Cannot change your university after this
• Candidates who got TOPIK 5 or 6 after 2nd/3rd round → send certificate to NIIED by June 12, 2026
  • They will go directly into degree program
  • Others will do Korean language program first

Valid TOPIK Certificates

• 93rd → 105th TOPIK exam
• TOPIK iBT 1st → 12th exam
• NIIED posts final successful candidates on Study in Korea website by late June 2026
• Successful candidates will receive invitation letters and entry guidance

Official Info

• Always check official notices: on www.studyinkorea.go.kr > K-Scholarship > GKS Notice
• For full details, download: