Bachelor, Master, PhDFully Funded

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP)

Last verified 8 May 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), formerly KGSP, is South Korea's flagship fully funded award for international students — covering tuition, Korean language training, monthly stipend, airfare and insurance for undergraduate, master's and PhD study.

Provider: National Institute for International Education (NIIED), Korea
Host country: South Korea
Deadline: Feb–Mar (graduate) / Sep–Oct (undergraduate)
Region: Asia

Official source Track this application

Topics

Applying from your country? See your edition: Kenya · Nigeria · Ghana · Ethiopia · Uganda · Tanzania · Rwanda · Angola · Mozambique · São Tomé & Príncipe · Senegal · Cameroon · Ivory Coast · Benin · Togo · DR Congo

Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Review the recorded eligibility, funding and deadline information below. Confirm the current award conditions on the provider's official source.

Who can apply: Non-Korean citizens meeting age, GPA, and health requirements; apply via Korean Embassy or partner university.
Funding: Fully Funded
Study level: Bachelor, Master, PhD
Deadline: Feb–Mar (graduate) / Sep–Oct (undergraduate)

Key eligibility criteria

Non-Korean citizens meeting age, GPA, and health requirements; apply via Korean Embassy or partner university.

Recorded funding information

Fully Funded

About the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP) (2026)

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) — formerly the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) — is run by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) under South Korea's Ministry of Education. It funds international students to complete a bachelor, master or PhD at top Korean universities including SNU, KAIST, POSTECH, Yonsei, Korea University and Hanyang. ## Why this scholarship matters for African applicants GKS is one of the very few global awards that funds undergraduate study in addition to graduate study, and pairs the degree with a one-year intensive Korean language course at a Korean language institute. African applicants from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa, Tanzania and others compete in dedicated regional quotas. ## What the award covers Full tuition for the entire degree, one-year intensive Korean language training, round-trip economy airfare, monthly living stipend of KRW 900,000 (undergraduate) or KRW 1,000,000+ (postgraduate), settlement allowance, medical insurance, and a Korean Proficiency Grant for students who reach TOPIK Level 5 or 6 during study. ## How the selection process works Two application tracks: Embassy Track (through the Korean Embassy in your country) and University Track (directly through the Korean partner university). Embassy candidates go through national shortlisting, document review and interview. University candidates go through the university's own admissions panel before NIIED final approval. ## Application tips that move the needle Apply via both tracks if your country and target university allow it — they have different competitive dynamics. Invest in the personal statement and study plan (two separate essays), and demonstrate concrete prior interest in Korea (language study, cultural exchange, research interest) — selection committees weight this heavily. ## Deadlines and intake windows Embassy Track typically opens in February and closes in mid-March for September entry. University Track usually runs August–October for the following March intake (undergraduate) or September intake (postgraduate). Check NIIED's annual GKS announcement for the exact dates. ## Useful internal reading - Browse open scholarships: https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/scholarships - How to write a winning scholarship essay: https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/blog/how-to-write-winning-scholarship-essay - Scholarship interview questions for African students: https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/blog/scholarship-interview-questions-african-students Always confirm the live intake on the sponsor's official site before you build a timeline around it.

Funding information

The funding information below is recorded in this listing; it does not establish additional covered components. Check amounts, caps, exclusions and conditions on the official source.

Fully Funded

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP) eligibility

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

Non-Korean citizens meeting age, GPA, and health requirements; apply via Korean Embassy or partner university.

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP) document information

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the materials the provider requests.

How to apply for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP) 2026

Follow the provider's stated process. The checks below are guidance, not additional application requirements. Any original editorial instructions remain in the description above.

1
Check the provider's process
Consult https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/ko/main.do;jsessionid=6sOxI_MvqFXAKCr2c-luFIcrxyuHBPQLueYePOf2.studyinkorea10 to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there.
2
Check eligibility and any requested materials
Listed eligibility: Non-Korean citizens meeting age, GPA, and health requirements; apply via Korean Embassy or partner university.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist.
3
Check dates and next steps
Listed deadline information: Feb–Mar (graduate) / Sep–Oct (undergraduate). Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP) deadline & application timeline

Provider deadline information: Feb–Mar (graduate) / Sep–Oct (undergraduate). This text cannot be safely converted to a countdown; check the official source for its meaning. The earlier milestones are optional planning suggestions only.

Planning suggestion: 12 months out
Check the current call and decide whether this opportunity fits your plans.
Planning suggestion: 6 months out
If the provider requires tests or documents that take time, plan for them using its published instructions.
Planning suggestion: 3 months out
If an application is required, review the provider's process and prepare only the materials it requests.
Planning suggestion: 1 month out
If submission is required, allow time to check your materials and any stated cutoff.
Provider deadline
Feb–Mar (graduate) / Sep–Oct (undergraduate)
Provider deadline information: Feb–Mar (graduate) / Sep–Oct (undergraduate). Confirm the current instructions and any cutoff or time zone on the official source; no additional time is assumed here.

Ready to apply?

Cross-check the latest eligibility rules and deadline on the sponsor's official portal before you start your application.

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Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP)?+

Non-Korean citizens meeting age, GPA, and health requirements; apply via Korean Embassy or partner university.

What funding does the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP) offer?+

Listed funding: Fully Funded. Confirm amounts, exclusions and conditions on the official source. This label does not establish any additional benefit components.

When is the application deadline?+

Provider deadline information: Feb–Mar (graduate) / Sep–Oct (undergraduate). Confirm the current cutoff and any time zone on the official source; no additional cutoff or late-submission policy is assumed here.

What documents do I need to apply?+

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the documents requested by the provider; requirements may differ from admission requirements.

How do I check the application process?+

Consult https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/ko/main.do;jsessionid=6sOxI_MvqFXAKCr2c-luFIcrxyuHBPQLueYePOf2.studyinkorea10 to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there. Listed eligibility: Non-Korean citizens meeting age, GPA, and health requirements; apply via Korean Embassy or partner university.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist. Listed deadline information: Feb–Mar (graduate) / Sep–Oct (undergraduate). Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

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