Scholarships In South Korea for International Students

South Korea is not just rocking the musical stage, but also the academic world! With full force, South Korea is emerging as a global academic powerhouse due to its high-quality curriculum, cutting-edge research, and strong international exposure. According to data, South Korea has already crossed its 2027 international student intake in 2025 itself, attracting over 300,000 students, breaking its own study abroad records. As a student with a keen interest, you would think - How can I get into their Universities? Are there any scholarships? The answer is YES!

Key Government Scholarship:

Global Korea Scholarships (GKS)

The Global Korea Scholarship is the most popular and sought-after scholarship program. It is a program offered by the South Korean government through the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). The reason for its high demand is its tuition fee coverage, airfare, monthly living allowances, medical insurance, and a year of Korean language training. GKS specifically offers this scholarship to undergraduates and graduates belonging to selected and specific countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. 

Supporting Foreign Exchange and Self-Financed Students

A unique program offered under NIIED is the Support Programs for foreign exchange students at partner universities and for self-financed international students who are studying at Korean institutions. Although the program does not provide fully funded tuition, they provide monthly stipends for the exchange students to fund their small-scale studies and merit-based incentives, including partially funded tuition to high-scoring students.

University-specific scholarships

Seoul National University (SNU)

SNU, one of the most popular Korean universities, offers multiple scholarships like the SNU President Fellowship and the Graduate Scholarship for Excellence Foreign Students (GSFS). These scholarships cover either the tuition fees or the living expenses, or both together. To all fellow graduates and researchers, you might be on the lookout for this one!

Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)

KAIST, another well-known university, specifically offers scholarships in the STEM fields. These scholarships cover full tuition expenses as well as include a monthly stipend, aiming to strongly support and help students focus on their academic and research goals.

Korea University Scholarships (KU)

Scholarships such as the KU GSIS International Student Scholarship and Pony Chung KU GSIS Invitation scholarships offer merit-based incentive programs to graduates through tuition reduction and partially funded support.

Yonsei and Sogang University Scholarships 

Similar to KU, these institutes offer fully or partially funded scholarships based on the merits and academic scores of the individual. Both universities are known for their support of academic excellence.

Ewha Global Partnership Program (EGPP)

This is a special program founded for female students from developing countries. It usually covers tuition fees and accommodation expenses, contributing to and promoting women's empowerment and education.

Other Notable Mentions

If you think the options are limited to universities, then pause, because there’s more! South Korea also extends scholarship avenues through organisations and foundations like the Korea International Cooperation Agency, which offers the KOICA Scholarship Program for students studying Development and Public Policy from developing countries. The Samsung Global Hope Scholarships Program funds students through university links itself, while on the other hand, the Korean Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS) aids advanced research in social science and humanities.

For all students who are looking for study abroad options, you might want to think of adding South Korea to your list. With a spread of various types of scholarship programs that are supported financially more or less, South Korea is opening up new academic opportunities and actively helping students to achieve their academic prominence holistically.

Hold up! It is understandable to feel overwhelmed and confused with so many options and opportunities available in front of you, and you don't know which to choose. Your pit stop will be at Hello Study Global, which will help you smooth out your selection process, help you choose your best suit, and make your academic journey a joyful experience. Contact us to kickstart!

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How competitive are scholarships in South Korea?

Scholarships in South Korea are competitive due to high global demand. However, students with strong academic performance, extracurricular achievements, and well-prepared application documents have good chances of selection.

Are there scholarships available specifically for female international students in South Korea?

Yes, programs like the Ewha Global Partnership Program (EGPP) provide financial support to female students from developing countries by covering tuition and accommodation expenses.

Can I apply for both government and university scholarships in South Korea?

Yes, students can apply for multiple scholarships if they meet eligibility criteria. However, universities and scholarship providers may have rules regarding combining funding sources.