GKS Scholarship 2025 applications are now open, offering international students a golden opportunity to pursue higher education in South Korea with full financial support. In 2025, the Korean government aims to welcome 1,820 talented students from around the world to enroll in graduate degree programs at top Korean universities.
Before you apply, don’t forget to read this step-by-step guide on how to apply for the Global Korea Scholarship.
The Global Korea Scholarship scholarship covers tuition fees, airfare, living expenses, health insurance, and research support, making it one of the most sought-after scholarships for international students. Applicants can apply via Embassy Track or University Track, the details of which can be found below.
GKS 2025 Programs and Universities
| Program | Master’s Degree | Doctoral Degree | Research |
| Period | 1 year of Korean language program + 2 years of degree program | 1 year of Korean language program + 3 years of degree program | 6 months or 1 year |
GKS 2025 Application Tracks
In 2025, the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) will select 1,820 students— 720 through the Embassy Track and 1,100 through the University Track.
1) Embassy Track (Total = 720)
- General = 669
- Overseas Korean = 11
- IRTS* = 40
2) University Track (Total = 1,100)
A) General
- General = 150
- R-GKS = 465
- Research = 5
B) Specialization
- R&D = 300
- Global Network = 80
C) International Organization
- International Organization = 100
* The Global Network Programs in the University Track are selected by each university based on their own scholarship selection guidelines and admission criteria.
GKS Scholarship 2025 Quota
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) 2025 has two application tracks: Embassy Track and University Track, and applicants can apply through only one. Each track has its own quota and deadline, as outlined below.
GKS 2025 Embassy Track Quota
- General: 669 scholars from 146 countries or regions
- Overseas Korean: 11 scholars from 7 countries or regions
- IRTS: 40 Ukrainian scholars (Including 1 Overseas Korean of Ukraine in Embassy Track)
GKS 2025 University Track Quota
- General: 150 scholars from 55 countries or regions/
- R-GKS: 465 scholars from 56 countries or regions
- Research: 5 scholars from 157 countries or regions
*Applications are available from 157 inviting countries and regions for the embassy and university tracks.
- R&D: 300 scholars from all countries around the world.
- Global Network: 80 scholars from all countries around the world
Scholarship Duration for GKS 2025
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) 2025 offers different study durations depending on the program:
- Master’s Degree: 3 years (1 year of Korean language + 2 years of coursework)
- Doctoral Degree: 4 years (1 year of Korean language + 3 years of coursework)
- Research Program: 6 months or 1 year
- Global Network Program: Master’s degree completed within 2 years
Important Notes:
- The Korean language program is required for most scholars. However, exemptions apply to those in the Research Program, Global Network Program, and scholars who:
- Achieve TOPIK Level 5 or 6
- Are academic professors in a fully English-taught program
- Complete the IRTS Korean Language Program with TOPIK/TOPIK IBT Level 3 or higher
- Scholars who reach TOPIK Level 5 or 6 within the first 6 months of the language program will skip the remaining 6 months and begin their degree in March 2026 instead of September 2026.
GKS Scholarship 2025 Benefits
Global Korea Scholarship 2025 covers tuition, living expenses, and more, making it a great opportunity for students to pursue higher education in Korea while experiencing its rich culture.
Following are all the benefits offered to the selected candidates for the graduate degree programs.
GKS 2025 Available Fields of Study and Universities
Available Fields of Study
- All academic fields established by the GKS participating universities
- Academic programs offered during evenings (night school), short-term programs, online and distant-learning programs are not applicable in this scholarship program.
- Applicants can only apply to the universities and departments that are listed in the ‘University Information’ file attached under the GKS Notice post
Available Universities by Type
Available Universities by Application Track
GKS Scholarship 2025 Graduate Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) 2025 for graduate studies, applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. Nationality
- Applicants must be citizens of a country designated by the NIIED that is invited to participate in the GKS program.
2. Education Level
- Applicants must have completed the required degree by the application deadline or be expected to graduate by July 31, 2025.
- If you’re expected to graduate by July 31, 2025, you can apply with a certificate of expected graduation and grades from completed semesters. However, you must submit your official graduation certificate and final transcript to the GKS Center, NIIED by July 31, 2025. Failing to do so will cancel your acceptance.
3. Academic Requirements
- Applicants must meet the following Grade Point Average (GPA) conditions from their previous degree program:
- 80% or higher on a 100-point scale or be ranked in the top 20% of your class.
- CGPA requirements:
- 2.64/4.0
- 2.80/4.3
- 2.91/4.5
- 3.23/5.0
4. Age
- Applicants must be under 40 years old (born after September 1, 1985).
- Current academic professors from Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipient countries can apply if they are under 45 years old (born after September 1, 1980).
5. Health
- All applicants must be in good physical and mental health to study in Korea for the entire duration of the scholarship.
By meeting these eligibility requirements, you can apply for the GKS 2025 Graduate Program and start your journey to study in South Korea!
For more information on the eligibility criteria, visit the official notice here.
Documents to Submit for GKS Scholarship 2025 Graduate
Find below the list of documents to be submitted by Master’s, Doctoral, and Research program applicants.
GKS 2025 Selection Procedure
Selection Timeline with important dates and deadlines
| Announcement of Application Guidelines (NIIED) | Application Guidelines announced on “Study in Korea” website (www.studyinkorea.go.kr > Scholarship > GKS Notice) |
| Announcement of 1st Round Selection Schedule (Embassies, Universities) | Announced by each Korean embassy/university – Each embassy/university establishes its own selection plan and schedule |
| Application Submission (Embassies, Universities) | Application deadline are set by each embassy/university – Please check the website of each institution |
| 1st Round of Selection (Embassies, Universities) | Result Announcement of the first round of selection – Embassy: by March 21 – University: set by each university |
| Recommend Successful Candidates to NIIED (Embassies, Universities ? NIIED) | Successful candidates’s applications and related documents arrive at NIIED – Embassy Track: by April 1 – University Track: by May 1 |
| 2nd Round of Selection (NIIED) | Announcement of successful candidates of the 2nd round (www.studyinkorea.go.kr > Scholarship > GKS Notice) – Embassy Track: early May – University Track: early June |
| 3rd Round of Selection (Universities) | Embassy Track applicants who pass the 2nd round of selection will be reviewed by three universities which they initially applied to – Result Announcement: by June 5 |
| Notify Applicant’s Choice of University (Successful Candidates > NIIED) | Embassy Track applicants who pass the 3rd round selection should notify their final choice of university to NIIED via email – Notification deadline: by June 13 |
| Announcement of 2025 GKS-G Scholars (NIIED) | The final successful candidates will be announced (www.studyinkorea.go.kr > Scholarship > GKS Notice) – Expected announcement date: late June – NIIED informs the final result to Embassies and Universities through official documents |
Additional Points for GKS Scholarship 2024 Graduate
- Applicants who hold a TOPIK level 3 or above will be given additional points (10% of the total allocated points)
- Direct descendants of Korean War veterans who participated in the Korean War as a foreign military will be given additional points (5% of the total allocated points)
Additional points for Korean/English Language Proficiency
Applicants will receive additional points based on language proficiency in Korean and English
- Korean: Points will be given to applicants with valid TOPIK certificate based on their TOPIK level
- English: Points will be given to applicants with valid English proficiency certificates based on their test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)
GPA Conversion Table – GKS Scholarship
Use the table below to convert your CGPA to a 100-point scale. Make sure to enter the correct score while filling out the application form.
Make sure to check the official notice on the studyinkorea website > (www.studyinkorea.go.kr > K-Scholarship > GKS Notice
For detailed information, please download the official GKS Scholarship 2025 Application Guidelines below:
