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Q: Is the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) realistic for undergraduate study in Korea?
A: It can be — if you clear the eligibility gates early (age, nationality, grades), pick the right application track (Embassy vs University), and start your documents before you think you need to.
TL;DR
Read the official notice + guideline PDF first, then use this as a practical checklist. If you do one thing this week: decide Embassy Track vs University Track, then build your document folder so you’re not scrambling for apostilles, translations, and sealed letters at the last minute.
Source note: This guide is based on the Korean Government’s official Study in Korea notice + PDFs (linked below). Details can change, and submission mechanics vary by embassy/university — always follow the instructions for your country.
If you’re also comparing “study abroad” vs “stay in Singapore with funding”, you can shortlist local options here:
This is the part most students care about first: what’s funded.
Tuition: NIIED covers up to 5 million KRW; the university covers the amount above that plus the admission fee.
Korean language training fee:5.2 million KRW (four quarters) for scholars in the language programme.
Airfare: Economy-class flight ticket (actual expense). Important exceptions apply (see notes below).
Annual allowance (all-inclusive):
Korean language programme: 12,840,000 KRW per year
Degree programme: 13,680,000 KRW per year
The guideline states this includes living expenses, health insurance, Korean proficiency grants, TOPIK application fee, settlement allowance, and degree completion grants.
Important notes called out in the guideline:
If you’re already residing in Korea at the time of the final announcement, entry airfare is not provided.
If you enter Korea from a country other than your country of citizenship, entry airfare or visa application support is not provided.
If you withdraw within the first 3 months after enrolling at your university, you may be required to return the full scholarship amount you received after selection.
Programme structure (how many years)
The 2026 guideline describes the programme like this:
Bachelor’s degree track: typically 1 year Korean language training + 4–6 years degree programme (total 5–7 years)
Associate degree track: typically 1 year Korean language training + 2–3 years degree programme (total 3–4 years)
Language requirements to watch:
Scholars should achieve TOPIK level 3 to proceed to their degree programme.
Some departments set higher requirements (e.g., TOPIK level 4) — if you can’t enrol because you miss a requirement, the scholarship can be cancelled.
TOPIK level 5–6 can exempt you from the language programme (details and timing rules are in the guideline).
Am I eligible? (quick gates to check first)
These are the “don’t waste time if you fail this” checks pulled from the official guideline:
1) Age
Must be under 25 (born after March 1, 2001) for the 2026 call.
2) Nationality rules (for you and your parents)
You must hold citizenship of the invited countries listed by NIIED for the programme (the guideline notes the UIC programme is open to all countries).
Your parents (or legal guardians) must have non-Korean citizenship.
If you or your parent has dual citizenship including Korean, you’re not eligible (and there are additional rules for former Korean citizens).
3) Education level
Bachelor’s applicants: high school graduate (or expected graduate), or associate degree graduate (or expected graduate).
Associate degree applicants: high school graduate (or expected graduate).
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, you can’t apply.
4) Grades (two ways to qualify)
Your prior programme grades must meet at least one of these:
Percentile route: 80%+ on a 100-point scale, or top 20% in your class, or
GPA route: at least 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5, or 3.23/5.0.
If your transcript doesn’t show CGPA or doesn’t let you convert to the accepted GPA scales, the guideline requires additional grading-system documentation (and the online user guide notes you may need a converted transcript as a supplementary document).
5) Restrictions (common gotchas)
The guideline lists several disqualifiers — including graduating from certain Korean programmes and some previous Korean-government scholarship histories. Read the “Restriction” section carefully if you have any Korea study history.
Embassy Track vs University Track (how to choose quickly)
This is the decision that drives everything else (timeline, documents, where you submit).
Embassy Track (you apply via the Korean embassy in your country)
2026 quota summary in the guideline: 150 scholars via Embassy Track (across programmes).
For the General / Overseas Koreans programmes, the guideline states you can choose up to 3 universities, and you must apply to at least one Type B university (Type A/Type B lists are in the guideline).
Choose this when:
Your embassy process is well-organised in your country, and you want a broader chance across multiple universities.
You want the embassy’s guidance on submission format and local document rules.
University Track (you apply directly to a participating university)
2026 quota summary in the guideline: 130 scholars via University Track (including UIC + Associate).
The guideline states you must apply to one university and one department only (and you must pick a single programme under University Track).
Choose this when:
You have a clear target university/department and want to apply straight to them.
Your country’s embassy route is highly competitive or the local submission window is tight.
Important: the guideline prohibits duplicate applications across tracks/universities/programmes. If you apply to more than one, your application can be disregarded (and the scholarship can be cancelled if discovered later).
2026 timeline (what the guideline says)
The guideline includes a selection schedule. Treat it as the reference, but still check your embassy/university for local submission details.
At a glance, the guideline lists:
Embassy Track application deadline: by Oct 17
University Track application deadline: by Oct 31
Final announcement of successful candidates: expected by Jan 9, 2026
Document + upload checklist (the part people underestimate)
Two things trip applicants up every year: authentication (apostille/consular confirmation) and submission format (sealed letters, one-file uploads).
If you’re applying from Singapore and want a step-by-step “document pack” plan (certified true copies, apostille via SAL, translations, sealed letters), use this playbook:
The guideline lists required forms and certificates including:
Application form + applicant agreement + medical assessment (forms)
Personal statement + study plan (word limits apply; see below)
Recommendation letter requirements (original and sealed envelope is called out in the guideline)
Proof of citizenship (applicant + parents) + proof of family relationship
Graduation/expected graduation certificate and transcript(s) for your prior programme
The guideline also includes strict document rules for the later rounds (NIIED review), including apostille/consular confirmation expectations and signature requirements. Don’t leave this to the last week.
B) Online application uploads (rules from the official user guide)
The online user guide highlights a few operational rules worth treating as “hard constraints”:
Each upload section allows files up to 10MB.
Each application item allows the upload of ONE file only — if you have multiple documents for one requirement, combine them into one file before uploading.
Once you submit, you cannot edit or cancel the application.
Personal statement + study plan have a word limit (the user guide lists 5,000 English including spaces; no exceptions).
If a university requires extra materials (e.g., a portfolio), the guideline notes you may need to submit those directly to the university.
A realistic “do this this week” plan (parents + students)
If you’re serious about applying, do these in order:
Read the official notice + guideline PDF and confirm you pass the quick eligibility gates (age, nationality, grades).
Pick one track (Embassy or University) and write down your submission deadline.
Create a folder checklist: passports/citizenship docs, family relationship docs, transcripts, graduation/expected graduation docs.
Book the slow steps early: translations, apostille/consular confirmation, and sealed recommendation letters.
Draft your personal statement + study plan, then tighten them to the word limit before you touch the upload form.
