StudyDesk Scholarships
About the GKS-U 2027 cycle
The Global Korea Scholarship undergraduate cycle for 2027 entry (GKS-U 2027) was announced by NIIED in September 2026. It funds bachelor's and associate degrees plus one year of Korean language training. There are two application tracks: the Embassy Track (apply via your country's Korean embassy, choosing up to 3 universities) and the University Track (apply directly to one university and one department). Because the Embassy Track closed on 30 September 2026, this page focuses on the University Track, which remains open through November 2026 — but each university sets its own deadline, so check your chosen university's notice now.
Benefits (official 2027 guidelines)
- Monthly allowance: ₩1,130,000/month during the 1-year Korean language programme and ₩1,200,000/month during the degree — explicitly "all-inclusive": it bundles living expenses, accommodation, health insurance, settlement costs, TOPIK fees and completion grants. Do not believe trackers quoting ₩900,000/month (outdated) or separate settlement/medical figures (they are folded into the allowance in 2027).
- Tuition: full tuition up to ₩5,000,000 per semester paid by NIIED; the host university covers any amount above that, plus the admission fee.
- Korean language training: 1 year fully funded (₩5,200,000/year); TOPIK Level 5–6 holders skip it and receive proficiency grants.
- Airfare: one round-trip economy ticket — not provided if you already reside in Korea at the final announcement or enter from a country other than your own.
- Duration: bachelor's 5–7 years (language year + degree); associate degree 3–4 years.
Eligibility
- Nationality: citizen of an NIIED-invited country; neither you nor your parents may hold Korean citizenship (dual holders of Korean nationality are ineligible). The UIC programme under the University Track is open to all countries.
- Age: under 25 — born on or after 1 March 2002.
- Education: graduated, or expected to graduate by 31 December 2026, from high school; bachelor's-degree holders cannot apply; graduates of Korean high schools/international schools are ineligible.
- Grades: at least one of 80%+ on a 100-point scale, top 20% of class, or CGPA ≥ 2.64/4.0 (equivalents for 4.3, 4.5, 5.0 scales listed officially).
- Language: no mandatory TOPIK/IELTS at application; TOPIK Level 3+ earns bonus points, as do science/engineering applicants.
- Disqualifications: previous Korean government degree-scholarship recipients cannot apply; duplicate applications across tracks cancel your candidacy.
Documents required
NIIED's official checklist requires seven forms: Application Form, Personal Statement, Study Plan, Recommendation Letter (issued within 1 year of the deadline, from a principal or teacher), GKS Applicant Agreement, Personal Medical Assessment, and Consent to Collect and Use Personal Information. Plus: proof of citizenship for you and your parents with family-relationship proof, high school graduation certificate (or expected-graduation certificate with a stated date), transcripts, optional TOPIK/English score reports and up to 5 award/activity certificates. Round 1 is scanned uploads; round 2 requires one original set with apostille or consular confirmation.
How to apply (University Track)
- Pick ONE university and ONE department: unlike the Embassy Track, the University Track allows only a single university/department application.
- Find that university's deadline: the track runs September–November 2026, but each university sets its own date — check its international admissions notice immediately.
- Prepare the seven NIIED forms plus citizenship, graduation and transcript documents listed above.
- Apply through the university's channel as stated in its GKS-U 2027 announcement (the Embassy Track used studyinkorea.go.kr; the University Track follows each university).
- Track the rounds: 1st-round results arrive in November 2026 (university), 2nd round (NIIED review) in December, final announcement expected 7 January 2027; entry to Korea starts around March 2027.
FAQs
The Embassy Track closed on 30 September 2026. The University Track is still open (September–November 2026), but each university sets its own deadline — apply through your chosen university’s announcement now. The graduate cycle (GKS-G 2027) guidelines have not been published yet.
No. The official 2027 guidelines do not promise free accommodation — housing is covered inside the all-inclusive monthly allowance (₩1.13M during language training, ₩1.2M during the degree). Treat "free dormitory" claims as aggregator invention.
Not mandatory at application. But TOPIK Level 3+ earns bonus evaluation points, and science/engineering applicants get an extra bonus. English proficiency reports are optional supporting documents.
The official 2027 NIIED figures: ₩1,130,000/month during the language programme and ₩1,200,000/month during the degree. The widely quoted ₩900,000/month is an outdated figure from older cycles — do not use it.
No. Duplicate applications across tracks or programmes lead to cancellation of your candidacy. If you failed Embassy Track round 1, you may re-apply through the University Track.
Not in 2027. Settlement, medical insurance and proficiency grants are folded into the all-inclusive monthly allowance — separate figures on aggregator sites are carried over from older cycles.
Verified 18 Oct 2026 against the official NIIED GKS-U 2027 Application Guidelines PDF via the Study in Korea portal (monthly allowance ₩1,130,000/₩1,200,000 all-inclusive, tuition cap ₩5,000,000/semester, quota 286, age born on/after 1 Mar 2002, seven official forms, Embassy Track 15–30 Sep 2026, University Track Sep–Nov 2026, final results 7 Jan 2027), plus the Korean Cultural Centre South Africa GKS-U 2027 call. GKS-G 2027 graduate guidelines not yet published — marked as such in-article.
