The prestigious and highly competitive Global Korea Scholarship Program 2025 is now open for applications. The GKS 2025 program was formerly known as the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP). It is a fully-funded scholarship program for master's and doctoral degrees. Sponsored by the Korean government, the KGSP 2025 program will select more than 1,820 international students from 155 countries who wish to pursue graduate studies (master's or doctoral) or scientific research in Korea. For detailed answers to frequently asked questions about the GKS program,

All selected students will be admitted to various universities in South Korea. The Korean Ministry of Education aims to promote international exchange and competitiveness. More than 104,000 international students have benefited from this Korean scholarship since 2016. Fields of study are unlimited, and all candidates will have a wide range of options to pursue their careers. There are two ways to apply for the KGSP program for the year 2024: either submitting their documents to the Korean embassy in their country or applying directly to a local university in Korea.

Why study in South Korea? South Korea offers structured scholarships, affordable living costs, and low accommodation, making it an attractive destination for international students. The country offers a unique opportunity to build cross-cultural understanding, work in advanced laboratories, and experience vibrant culture and modern cities. With its excellent academic standards and welcoming environment, South Korea is an ideal destination for students seeking high-quality education and a global perspective.

Host country:

• South Korea

Course level:

• Master's degree programs
• PhD programs
• Research programs

Universities and fields of study available:

• Please review the list of universities and fields of study available for the 2025 GKS-G program attached to the application guidelines for general information. Please contact each university for more information.

GKS Scholarship Duration:

• PhD program: 4 years 
  •  One year Korean language program
  • 3 years of regular degree program
• Master's Program: 3 years 
  • One year Korean language program
  • Two years of degree program
• Research Program: 6 months or 1 year

Benefits of the Korean Government Scholarship 2025:

The fully-funded scholarship in South Korea covers all expenses for selected students. The scholarship will cover the following:

• Flight ticket (round trip)
• Settlement allowance:
• Monthly allowance: Research allowance
• One-year Korean language training fee: fully covered
• Degree Program Fees: Fully Covered
• Research support fees
• Medical insurance will be covered.
• Korean Language Proficiency Scholarship:

Eligibility criteria for the Korean Global Scholarship 2025 in South Korea:

• All international students can apply.
• Korean citizens are not eligible to apply.
• The candidate applying for the graduate program must be under 40 years of age.
• Applicant for Master's Program: Must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent education level.
• Equivalent to or higher than a bachelor's degree.
• Applicants for the PhD program must have a master's degree or a level of education equivalent to or higher than a master's degree.
• Applicant for the research program: must have received an invitation from one of the partner universities.
• A person who has previously benefited from the Korean scholarship is not eligible to apply.
• The candidate must be in good health.

How to apply for the Global Korea Scholarship 2025:

There are two ways to apply for the Korean Government Scholarship Program 2024. Either to the Korean embassy in your country or directly to a local university in Korea.

• When applying to the Korean Embassy, ​​the candidate needs to send the original or notarized documents to the Embassy.
• On the other hand, applying directly to the university requires the candidate to submit all documents to the local university.
• An applicant applying through the embassy can apply to up to 3 universities, while an applicant applying directly to the university can only apply to one university.
• Students who pass the second round of the Embassy Track process should not consider that as their final selection.

Documents required for the GKS South Korea Scholarship 2025:

• Letters of recommendation
• Documented records
• Statement of purpose
• Awards
• Published books
• Certificate of Proficiency
• Medical Evaluation Form

Application deadline:

• Application deadlines vary between the Korean embassy in each country and the local university, so apply as soon as possible.