Q: Can I still apply for the 2026 Global Korea Scholarship for undergraduate study?
A: No. The official 2026 GKS-U guideline was issued in October 2025, with Embassy Track applications due by 17 October 2025 and University Track applications due by 31 October 2025. Final scholars were expected to be announced on 9 January 2026. Use this page as a historical 2026 reference and check the official Study in Korea notice board for the next call.
Fast answer for GKS Scholarship 2026 searches
The 2026 application period has ended. The official 2026 GKS-U notice remains the source of truth for that cycle's guideline PDF, forms, university files, deadlines, and submission rules. As of 4 August 2026, no official 2027 GKS-U notice was found on the Study in Korea scholarship notice board.
TL;DR
Do not submit against the historical 2026 dates. Use the 2026 rules below to understand the programme, then wait for the next official GKS-U notice before relying on its eligibility, quotas, benefits, universities, forms, or deadlines.
Quick GKS-U map
The 2026 cycle is historical: Do not use its forms or dates for a new application.
Eligibility gates come before essays: When the next call appears, check its age, nationality, grades, and track rules first.
Embassy Track and University Track work differently: The new notice will determine your document route and shortlist options.
Concrete example: A Singapore student preparing for a future call can review the 2026 document categories, but should wait for the new notice before choosing a track, university, form set, or deadline.
Status: Last reviewed 2026-08-04. The 2026 cycle is closed. This guide preserves the Korean Government's 2026 Study in Korea notice and guideline PDF as a historical reference. Details can change between cycles, and submission mechanics vary by embassy or university.
If you’re also comparing “study abroad” vs “stay in Singapore with funding”, you can shortlist local options here:
Use these to verify the historical 2026 cycle. For a future application, return to the official scholarship notice board and use the newly published cycle's files:
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 to 6 years degree programme (total 5 to 7 years)
Associate degree track: typically 1 year Korean language training + 2 to 3 years degree programme (total 3 to 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 or 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 (historical)
The official guideline is dated October 2025. Its selection schedule confirms that the application stage took place in 2025, before the 2026 academic programme.
At a glance, the guideline lists:
Embassy Track application deadline: by 17 October 2025
University Track application deadline: by 31 October 2025
Final announcement of successful candidates: expected by Jan 9, 2026
These dates have passed. Do not reuse them for the next GKS-U cycle.
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 plan for the next GKS-U call
If you’re serious about applying, do these in order:
Monitor the official Study in Korea scholarship notice board for the next undergraduate call.
When it appears, read that cycle's guideline and confirm its age, nationality, education, and grade rules before preparing an application.
Choose the track only after checking the new quotas, participating universities, and country-specific instructions.
Build a document checklist from the new forms, then schedule translations, apostille or consular confirmation, and recommendation letters against the new deadline.
Draft your personal statement + study plan, then tighten them to the word limit before you touch the upload form.
FAQ
What does the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Undergraduate 2026 cover?
The historical 2026 guideline covers tuition (up to 5 million KRW via NIIED, remainder by the university), an annual all-inclusive allowance of 12,840,000 to 13,680,000 KRW, Korean language training fees (5.2 million KRW), and economy-class airfare, subject to its stated conditions and exceptions.
Who is eligible for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Undergraduate 2026?
Eligibility was determined by the official 2026 rules, including nationality, age, prior education, grades, and programme restrictions. Citizenship of a listed GKS partner country was generally required, except for the UIC route described in the guideline. Singapore permanent residency alone was not stated as an eligibility route.
Is there a bond for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Undergraduate 2026?
There is no formal service bond; scholars are expected to apply their skills after graduation.
How do I apply for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Undergraduate 2026?
The 2026 application cycle is closed. It used Embassy and University tracks, with deadlines in October 2025. Check the official Study in Korea scholarship notice board for the next GKS-U call rather than reusing the 2026 forms or dates.
Is GKS scholarship fully funded?
The 2026 guideline describes a comprehensive package covering tuition, an annual all-inclusive allowance of 12,840,000 to 13,680,000 KRW, Korean language training fees, and economy-class airfare. Specific rules and exceptions apply, such as entry airfare not being provided when a scholar is already residing in Korea at the time stated in the guideline. Future applicants must check the newly published cycle because benefits can change.
What GPA do you need for GKS scholarship?
The official guideline requires your prior programme grades to meet at least one of the following: 80% or above on a 100-point scale, top 20% of class, or a minimum GPA of 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5, or 3.23/5.0. If your transcript doesn't use these scales, you may need to provide additional grading-system documentation.
Can I apply for GKS without TOPIK?
Under the 2026 rules, a TOPIK score was not required at application. The programme included Korean language training before the degree, with progression and exemption rules tied to TOPIK levels. Check the next cycle's guideline before relying on the same requirements.
