Applications are now open for the KOICA Scholarship 2025 in South Korea . This is a fully-funded scholarship for international students to pursue master's and doctoral programs at South Korean universities. In 2025, KOICA will award 109 scholarships. There are dedicated master's and doctoral programs offered at specific Korean universities. The master's program lasts 17 months, while the doctoral program lasts 36 months. KOICA stands for Korea International Cooperation Agency. The KOICA scholarship program aims to train leaders to contribute to the social and economic development of their home countries. There is no application fee , and an IELTS score is not required . The KOICA scholarship is highly popular and prestigious. Below are more details about the financial benefits and the application process.

Details about the KOICA Scholarship 2025 in South Korea

• Host country : Korea
• Universities : South Korean universities
• Number of scholarships : 109
• Degree level : Master's, PhD
• Benefits : Fully Funded
• Deadline: July 31, 2025. However, please check the specific application deadline for your country with your local KOICA office or Korean embassy.

Financial benefits

The scholarship covers the following:

• Airfare
• Settlement allowance
• monthly allowance
• Tuition fees are fully covered.
• Extracurricular activities
• stay
• Scholarship Completion Grants
• National Health Insurance
• private medical insurance

Participating universities, eligible programs, and quotas for the KOICA 2025 scholarship

• Handong Global University
  • Master's Program in E-Government and Public Administration. (Number of students: 20)
  • PhD Program in E-Government and Public Administration. (Session: 3)
• Incheon National University
  • Master's Program in Capacity Building for Climate Change and Environment Management. (Cohort: 20)
• KDI School of Public Policy and Administration
  • Master's Program in Economic Development Policies for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth. (Cohort: 20)
  • PhD Program in Economic Development Policies for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth. (Session: 3)
• Sunkyunkwan University
  • Master's Program in E-Government and Public Administration (2). (Study: 20)
• Yonsei University
  • Master's Program in Health Policy and Financing Capacity Building (Cohort: 20)
  • PhD Program in Health Policy and Financing Capacity Building (Lot: 3)

Eligible countries

Citizens of the following countries are eligible for the KOICA scholarship:

• Africa (40): Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Uganda, Cameroon, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Niger, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Burkina Faso, Benin, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Angola, Zambia, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Togo, South Sudan, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Comoros, South Africa, Botswana
• Central and South America (18): Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Honduras, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Guyana, Grenada, Dominica, Belize, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Asia (13): Nepal, Timor-Leste, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand
• Pacific Ocean (12): Fiji, Nauru, Niue, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Palau
• Middle East, CIS and Eastern Europe (10): Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Jordan, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan.

Eligibility criteria

• The scholarship is open to citizens of the above-mentioned countries.
• Nomination: Must be a government official with an official government nomination.
• Age: Preferably under 40 years old.
• Health: Applicants with disabilities who are in good health are required to be in good physical and mental health throughout the program. Applicants with disabilities who are in good health are eligible, but those with serious illnesses are not eligible.
• Education and experience:
  • Master's degree: Bachelor's degree, preferably with at least 2 years of experience in a related field.
  • PhD: Master's degree, preferably with at least three years of experience after the KOICA Master's (if applicable). Some programs have specific criteria.
• English: Strong speaking and writing skills are required for the program taught in English.

Required documents

• KOICA application form. Click here to provide it to you.
• Government recommendation letter (from the relevant ministry/authority) Click here to provide it to you
• Scanned valid passport

How to apply for the KOICA South Korean Scholarship 2025?

For application procedures, please see the KOICA Scholarship Program Guide . The official website link is below.