You may apply through ONE track only — Embassy or University. Applying through both, or to more universities than allowed, disqualifies the whole application.
The applicant and BOTH parents must be non-Korean citizens. Dual citizenship that includes Korean nationality makes you ineligible.
Former GKS degree or research scholars cannot apply again.
Level
Bachelor · Master · PhD · Research
Tuition
Up to 5,000,000 ₩/year by NIIED; the rest by the university
Monthly stipend
≈1,380,000 ₩ (degree stage, 2026)
Extras
Economy airfare · 1 year of Korean · settlement allowance
Age
GKS-U: under 25 · GKS-G: under 40
GPA
Top 20% of class, or CGPA 2.64/4.0 and above
Language
TOPIK not required to apply; TOPIK 3+ adds 10% evaluation points
Apply via
Korean embassy (Embassy Track) OR a university (University Track)
Deadlines
🔴 GKS-G 2026 · Embassy Track
12 Feb 2026 → 25 Feb 2026 (originals to NIIED by 1 Apr 2026)
🔴 GKS-U 2026 · Embassy Track
Sept–Oct 2025 — the exact date differed by country (Cambodia 30 Sept, Bangladesh 6–16 Oct). Results 9 Jan 2026.
⚪ 2027 cycle
Not announced yet — no official date published
Overview
GKS (formerly KGSP) is South Korea's flagship government scholarship, funded by the Ministry of Education and run by NIIED together with Korean embassies and partner universities. It covers undergraduate (GKS-U), graduate (GKS-G: Master's, Doctoral, Research) and several specialised tracks. You apply through exactly one of two channels: the Embassy Track, via the Korean embassy in your country, or the University Track, directly to a Korean university.
Who can apply
Applicant and both parents hold non-Korean citizenship.
Age: GKS-U under 25; GKS-G under 40 (under 45 for professors from ODA-recipient countries).
Academic record: top 20% of your class / 80th percentile, or CGPA 2.64/4.0 · 2.80/4.3 · 2.91/4.5 · 3.23/5.0.
GKS-U: high-school graduates only — you must NOT already hold a Bachelor's degree, and graduates of Korean schools are excluded.
GKS-G: Master's needs a Bachelor's; Doctoral needs a Master's; Research needs a Doctorate (post-doc) or a Master's (professor).
TOPIK is not required to apply, but scholars must reach TOPIK Level 3 to enter the degree programme (some departments require Level 4). TOPIK 5–6 exempts you from the 1-year language course.
Good physical and mental health for the whole programme.
What it covers
Tuition: NIIED pays up to 5,000,000 ₩ per academic year; the university covers the admission fee and anything above that.
Monthly allowance (GKS-G 2026): ≈1,200,000 ₩ during the language year, ≈1,380,000 ₩ on the degree programme, ≈1,740,000 ₩ on the research programme.
Monthly allowance (GKS-U 2026): ≈1,070,000 ₩ during the language year, ≈1,140,000 ₩ on the Bachelor's programme. This figure is "all-inclusive" — insurance, settlement and completion grants are bundled into it.
Korean language training: one year, with a 5,200,000 ₩ training fee paid directly to the institute (GKS-G).
One economy-class flight, reimbursed at actual cost. Not provided if you already live in Korea at the time of the final announcement, or if you enter from a third country.
TOPIK Level 3 or higher adds 10% to your evaluation score during selection.
Financial support
Tuition
Up to 5,000,000 ₩ / academic year (NIIED) + the rest by the university
Stipend · language year
GKS-G ≈1,200,000 ₩ · GKS-U ≈1,070,000 ₩ per month
Stipend · degree
GKS-G ≈1,380,000 ₩ · GKS-U ≈1,140,000 ₩ per month
Stipend · research
≈1,740,000 ₩ per month (GKS-G research track)
Language training fee
5,200,000 ₩ for four quarters, paid to the institute (GKS-G)
Airfare
One economy flight, actual expense
Settlement · insurance
Provided, but the 2026 guidelines publish no separate ₩ figure — GKS-U bundles them into the monthly allowance
How to apply — step by step
Choose ONE track Embassy Track — apply through the Korean embassy in your country. University Track — apply directly to a Korean university. Applying through both disqualifies you.
Register and fill in the online form Create an account on studyinkorea.go.kr and complete the application inside the announced window. University Track applicants follow each university's own deadline and submission method.
Submit documents Embassy Track applicants usually also submit physical originals to the embassy and may be interviewed there. University Track applicants submit to the university.
1st round — embassy or university screening Documents are reviewed and interviews may be held. Results are announced by the embassy or the university.
2nd round — NIIED review Candidates who pass the 1st round send original documents to NIIED by the NIIED deadline (GKS-G 2026: 1 April for Embassy Track, 1 May for University Track).
3rd round — university selection (Embassy Track, GKS-G) NIIED forwards qualified files to the up-to-3 universities you chose; you then confirm your final university.
Final announcement, visa and arrival Selected scholars complete D-2/D-4 visa procedures and arrive in Korea to start the Korean language programme (unless exempt).
Required documents
Application form The standard NIIED GKS form with your personal and academic details.
Personal statement Your background and motivation. This is one of the few places where the committee hears you rather than reads your transcript.
Study plan What you intend to study in Korea and why that programme.
Letter of recommendation Original and signed, often required in a sealed envelope from an academic referee.
Proof of citizenship and family relationship Government-issued birth certificate or family register for you AND both parents — this is what proves the "no Korean citizenship" rule, so it is checked closely.
Diploma and transcripts From your highest completed degree, showing CGPA on a stated scale. Expected graduates submit a certificate of expected graduation and must supply the final certificate by the stated date.
GKS applicant agreement · medical assessment · privacy consent Standard signed forms included in the guideline pack.
TOPIK or English test score(optional) Not mandatory, but TOPIK Level 3+ adds 10% to your evaluation score — in a competition this tight, that is rarely a small difference.
Research proposal · letter of invitation(optional) GKS-G research applicants only: an outline of the intended research and an invitation from the hosting Korean professor.
Study in Korea — GKS notice board Where the next cycle will be announced first. Check here rather than trusting any date you find elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Is TOPIK mandatory to apply?
No. TOPIK is optional at the application stage and adds 10% to your evaluation score at Level 3 or above. But you must reach TOPIK Level 3 to move from the language year into your degree programme.
Can I apply with no Korean at all?
Yes. GKS includes a mandatory one-year Korean language course for most scholars. TOPIK 5–6 holders are exempt from it.
How many universities can I choose?
Embassy Track GKS-G: up to 3, at least one of them a "Type B" university. Embassy Track GKS-U general: up to 3 (min. 1 Type B); R-GKS: up to 2, both Type B. University Track: one university, one department.
How long does the scholarship last?
GKS-U Bachelor's: 5–7 years in total (1 language year + 4–6 degree years). GKS-G Master's: 3 years (1+2); Doctoral: 4 years (1+3); Research: 6 months or 1 year.
Is there an interview?
Embassy Track applicants are usually interviewed at the embassy in the 1st round. NIIED's 2nd-round review is document-based — the 2026 GKS-G guideline states no additional interview there.
What happens if I withdraw?
Withdrawing within the first three months of university enrolment means repaying everything received — airfare, settlement allowance, monthly allowance and tuition — and a 3-year ban on reapplying (2026 GKS-G guideline).
When does the 2027 cycle open?
It has not been announced. As of 17 August 2026 no official notice existed on any Korean embassy site, niied.go.kr or studyinkorea.go.kr. Several unofficial aggregator sites already publish "GKS 2027" pages — those dates are not from NIIED and should not be planned around.