The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is a Korean Government scholarship programme for international students who want to pursue higher education at participating universities in South Korea.

The programme supports international students at different levels of study and is intended to promote academic exchange, develop future leaders and strengthen educational relationships between Korea and other countries.

For postgraduate applicants, the scholarship provides opportunities to pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees at recognised higher education institutions in Korea.

Because the scholarship requirements and available programmes can change between application cycles, prospective applicants should always check the latest information published through the official GKS application channels.

What Is The Global Korea Scholarship?

The Global Korea Scholarship is a government-funded scholarship programme for international students.

For postgraduate applicants, the programme provides an opportunity to undertake Master’s or Doctoral study in Korea with financial support from the Korean Government.

The scholarship is particularly suited to students who want to gain international academic experience while studying in a Korean higher education institution.

Selection is competitive. Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not automatically mean that an applicant will receive a scholarship.

Who Can Apply For The GKS Graduate Scholarship?

Eligibility conditions depend on the particular GKS application cycle and scholarship track.

For the 2026 Graduate Scholarship cycle, applicants were required to meet conditions relating to citizenship, age, academic qualifications and health.

Citizenship Requirement

Applicants and their parents must be citizens of countries other than the Republic of Korea.

Applicants should check the official list of participating countries for the relevant application cycle because eligibility is not necessarily open to citizens of every country.

Age Requirement

For the graduate category, applicants must generally be below the specified age limit for the relevant application year.

For the 2026 GKS Graduate programme, the age requirement was under 40 years.

Applicants should check the official guidelines for the applicable birth-date cut-off rather than relying only on the general age description.

Health Requirement

Applicants must be sufficiently healthy to undertake their proposed studies in Korea.

The scholarship authorities may require successful candidates to undergo medical examinations or provide health-related documentation as part of the selection and admission process.

Academic Qualification

Graduate applicants must have completed the qualification required for their proposed level of study.

For Master’s applicants, this generally means holding a Bachelor’s degree.

For Doctoral applicants, a Master’s degree is generally required.

The qualification must satisfy the requirements specified in the current GKS guidelines and the university to which the applicant is applying.

Academic Performance Requirement

Academic performance is an important part of the GKS selection process.

For the 2026 cycle, applicants were required to meet the applicable academic performance standard, including a minimum of 80% or an accepted equivalent grading standard.

The stated equivalent CGPA standards included:

• 2.64 on a 4.0 scale
• 2.80 on a 4.3 scale
• 2.91 on a 4.5 scale
• 3.23 on a 5.0 scale

Applicants whose institutions use a different grading system should carefully follow the conversion or documentation requirements specified in the official application guidelines.

What Does The GKS Scholarship Cover?

The Global Korea Scholarship is designed to provide substantial financial support to successful scholars.

Benefits can vary according to the scholarship programme and current government guidelines.

For the 2026 cycle, the benefits listed included:

• Round-trip airfare
• Tuition support
• Annual allowance
• Medical insurance
• Settlement allowance
• Completion grant

The reported annual stipend for the 2026 programme was US$8,196.

Applicants should be careful when using older GKS articles because scholarship allowances and other financial benefits can be revised from one year to another.

What Can You Study Under GKS?

GKS applicants can apply for eligible academic programmes offered by participating Korean universities.

The available fields and universities depend on the current GKS university and programme lists.

Applicants should therefore choose their intended course only after checking:

• Whether the university participates in the relevant GKS track.
• Whether the desired programme is eligible.
• Whether the university has additional admission requirements.
• Whether the applicant’s previous qualification is suitable for the proposed programme.
• Whether the programme is taught in a language the applicant can adequately study in.

Being interested in a particular Korean university does not automatically mean that it is available under every GKS application track.

How Does GKS Selection Work?

GKS selection is competitive and normally involves several stages.

Depending on the application track, candidates may apply through the Korean embassy in their country or directly through a designated university.

Applications are assessed against the requirements and selection criteria established for the relevant year.

Academic performance is important, but applicants should also present a clear and convincing academic plan.

A strong application should demonstrate why the proposed programme is appropriate for the applicant’s background and future goals.

How To Prepare A Strong GKS Application

Applicants should begin preparing well before the application deadline.

Choose Your Programme Carefully

Do not select a course simply because the university is well known.

The proposed programme should make sense in relation to your previous education, professional experience and future plans.

Check The University Requirements

GKS eligibility and university admission requirements are not necessarily identical.

An applicant may satisfy the general GKS requirements but still fail to meet the admission requirements of a particular university.

Prepare Academic Documents Early

Applicants should obtain and organise their degree certificates, transcripts and other required documents before beginning the application.

Where documents require certification, authentication or other formal processing, applicants should allow enough time for those procedures.

Write A Clear Study Plan

The study plan should explain what the applicant wants to learn, why the programme has been selected and how the proposed study fits into their long-term goals.

Avoid filling the document with general statements about wanting to “experience Korean culture”. The academic purpose of the application should remain clear.

Embassy Track And University Track

Depending on the application cycle, GKS applicants may apply through different selection routes.

These can include:

• An application submitted through the Korean diplomatic mission responsible for the applicant’s country.
• An application submitted directly through a participating Korean university.

The number of applications an applicant can submit and the universities that can be selected depend on the specific GKS guidelines for that year.

Applicants should therefore follow the instructions for the particular track rather than relying on procedures from an older application cycle.

Is GKS Only For Postgraduate Students?

No.

The Global Korea Scholarship programme also has undergraduate opportunities in addition to graduate scholarships.

However, the requirements, age limits, academic qualifications, application procedures and scholarship duration differ between the undergraduate and graduate categories.

This article focuses on the Graduate Scholarship, covering Master’s and Doctoral study.

Is The Global Korea Scholarship Available Every Year?

The Korean Government has operated GKS scholarship programmes across multiple years, but applicants should not assume that the conditions of one cycle will automatically remain unchanged.

Each year, applicants should confirm:

• Eligible countries
• Age requirements
• Academic requirements
• Participating universities
• Available programmes
• Application routes
• Required documents
• Scholarship benefits
• Application deadlines

This approach is particularly important when using an EducationNGR article from a previous year.

Current Application Details: 2026 Graduate Scholarship

The following information relates specifically to the 2026 GKS Graduate Scholarship cycle.

Item	2026 Details
Scholarship	Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
Study Level	Master’s and Doctoral
Country	South Korea
Programme Type	Government-funded international scholarship
Age Requirement	Under 40 years for graduate applicants
Academic Requirement	Minimum 80% or accepted equivalent
Master’s Qualification	Bachelor’s degree
Doctoral Qualification	Master’s degree
Reported Annual Stipend	US$8,196
Other Benefits	Airfare, tuition support, medical insurance, settlement allowance and completion grant
Application Deadline	31 March 2026
Study Location	Korea
Application	Through the designated GKS application route

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Global Korea Scholarship?

The Global Korea Scholarship is a Korean Government scholarship programme that supports international students studying at participating Korean higher education institutions.

Can Nigerians Apply For GKS?

Nigerian applicants can apply when Nigeria is included among the eligible countries for the relevant GKS application cycle. Applicants should confirm the current country list and application route before applying.

What Age Is Required For GKS Master’s And PhD?

For the 2026 Graduate Scholarship, applicants were required to be under 40 years of age, subject to the applicable cut-off specified in the official guidelines.

What CGPA Is Required?

For the 2026 cycle, the stated academic requirement included a minimum of 80% or an accepted equivalent grading standard, including the specified CGPA equivalents.

Does GKS Pay Tuition Fees?

Yes. Tuition support is included among the benefits of the scholarship, subject to the conditions of the relevant GKS programme.

Does GKS Provide An Allowance?

Yes. The 2026 scholarship information included an annual allowance, together with other forms of financial support.

Do I Need To Speak Korean Before Applying?

Applicants should check the language requirements of their intended programme and the current GKS guidelines. Some scholars may also be required or provided with Korean-language training depending on their programme and circumstances.

Can I Apply To Any Korean University?

No. Applicants must follow the list of participating universities and programmes applicable to the relevant GKS track and application year.

Does Meeting The GKS Requirements Guarantee Selection?

No. GKS is competitive, and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.

Summary Of Key Details

Item	Details
Scholarship	Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
Sponsor	Korean Government
Target	International students
Postgraduate Levels	Master’s and Doctoral
Study Country	South Korea
Graduate Age Requirement	Under 40 years for 2026
Academic Standard	80% or accepted equivalent
Master’s Entry Qualification	Bachelor’s degree
PhD Entry Qualification	Master’s degree
2026 Reported Annual Stipend	US$8,196
Main Benefits	Tuition, airfare, medical insurance, allowances and completion grant
2026 Deadline	31 March 2026
Application Method	Designated GKS application route