Hey, if you’re stressing about how to pay for college and you’re even a little bit into science or tech, stop scrolling for a second. KAIST is still handing out full-ride scholarships for the 2026 intake and it’s honestly one of the best deals out there right now (I’m writing this on November 26, 2025, and literally just refreshed their website to make sure nothing changed).
Applications for the KAIST Undergraduate Scholarship 2026-2027 are open now. If you get in as an international student, they cover everything — tuition, give you pocket money every month, health insurance, the works. No separate scholarship essay or begging. Just get accepted and the money shows up.
Quick Facts About KAIST Undergraduate Scholarship
| Host Country | South Korea |
|---|---|
| Host Institution | KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) |
| Degree Level | Undergraduate (Bachelor’s) |
| Eligibility | International students (no Korean citizenship, even dual) |
| Benefits | Fully Funded |
| Number of Awards | ~300 per year |
| Duration | 4 years (8 semesters) |
| Application Fee | 80 USD or 80,000 KRW |
| Deadline (Regular) | January 6, 2026 – 5 PM KST |
KAIST Scholarship Overview 2026–2027
So what even is KAIST? Think of it as Korea’s version of MIT. It’s a pure science and engineering university in Daejeon (an hour south of Seoul by bullet train), and they’re obsessed with bringing in students from all over the world. Every year they take roughly 300 international students and basically say, “Don’t worry about money for the next four years.” That’s the scholarship in a nutshell.
See Also: Stanford University Scholarship 2026 | Fully Funded | USA
Scholarship Benefits (What You Actually Get)
- Tuition → 100 % gone. You’ll save something like 120–140k USD over four years.
- Monthly allowance → 350,000 KRW hits your Korean bank account every month. Sounds small until you realize a decent dorm is 200k and you can eat like royalty for another 150k. My friend there right now bought a new gaming laptop last semester just from saving a bit each month.
- Health insurance → full Korean national coverage.
- Dorm priority → you’re almost guaranteed a room on campus, which is huge because off-campus in Daejeon gets pricey fast.
Honestly, most kids graduate with actual savings, not debt.
Eligibility Requirements for 2026 Intake
Pretty straightforward:
- No Korean passport (even dual citizenship disqualifies you — they’re strict)
- Finishing high school (or equivalent) by summer 2026
- Good grades, especially in math/science
- Can handle classes in English
That’s literally it. They take IB, A-Levels, CBSE, WAEC, American curriculum, homeschool — whatever, as long as it’s legit.
KAIST 2026 Application Deadline
Right now the regular round for the KAIST Scholarship for Undergraduates is open and closes January 6, 2026, 5 PM Korea time. That’s still five weeks away, but trust me, the portal turns into a warzone the last three days. Apply in December if you want to keep your sanity.
Required Documents
Nothing crazy:
- Transcript
- One recommendation letter (get it from your physics or math teacher — they eat that up)
- Passport copy
- Personal statement (one or two pages)
- English test only if your high school wasn’t in English
- Throw in SAT, AP scores, or any science olympiad medals if you have them — seriously helps
See Also: Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2026 | Fully Funded | UK
How to Apply (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Go to apply.kaist.ac.kr and make an account.
- Pick a major (don’t overthink it — half the kids switch in first year anyway).
- Fill in your grades and activities.
- Upload everything.
- Pay the 80-dollar fee.
- Put your teacher’s email in (triple-check the spelling — I’ve seen so many kids get delayed because of one wrong letter).
- On the financial page just tick “KAIST International Scholarship”.
- Submit and try not to refresh the portal every ten minutes for the next three months lol.
Tips to Increase Your Chances of Acceptance
- Write about something you actually built or broke and fixed — not the usual “I’ve loved science since I was 5” stuff
- Google one KAIST professor doing research you like and drop their name casually in your statement. Takes ten minutes, looks like you care
- Keep the personal statement short and honest. They can smell fluff from a mile away
- If your grades are just okay, a 1450+ SAT or a national-level award can save you
- Submit early. Not because it helps your chances directly, but because you’ll sleep better
- Have someone else read your statement — typos kill applications
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KAIST scholarship still fully funded for 2026?
Yes, nothing changed. Full tuition + monthly money + insurance.
Can Indian students get it?
Yep. Tons do every year. Same for Pakistan, Nigeria, Indonesia, wherever — as long as you’re not Korean.
Do I have to learn Korean?
Nope. Every single class is in English.
When is the exact deadline for 2026?
January 6, 2026, 5 PM Korea time for the regular round.
What happens if my GPA drops?
You need at least 2.7/4.3 after first year or they can take the scholarship away (but honestly most people are fine).
Official Website
For full details and deadlines visit the KAIST Scholarship Page.