South Korea is becoming one of the most popular study destinations for international students because of its high-quality education and affordable living costs. To support talented students from around the world, many Korean universities and government programs offer scholarships. These scholarships often cover full or partial tuition fees, living expenses, health insurance, and even airfare.
Some of the most well-known opportunities include the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), university specific scholarships like those at Seoul National University, KAIST, and Yonsei University. These programs are designed to attract bright students, promote cultural exchange, and strengthen global ties. With a wide range of fields available, fully funded scholarships in Korea open doors for international students to gain world-class education while experiencing the country’s rich culture and modern lifestyle.
#1 Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
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Who offers it? The South Korean government, via NIIED.
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Who can apply? International students under 25 (undergraduate) or under 40 (graduate) with at least 80% GPA. Must not hold Korean citizenship or have studied in Korea before.
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What’s covered? Full tuition, monthly stipend (~KRW 900,000-1,000,000), airfare, medical insurance, settlement allowance, Korean language training, and research or printing support.
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How to apply? Two paths:
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Embassy Track: Apply via the Korean embassy in your country (selected between October-December; final results by January; starts February/March).
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University Track: Apply directly to partner Korean universities (application around February; results same year by June; enrollment in August).
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Why it’s great: Fully funded, for all academic levels, and supports cultural learning.
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More info: Visit the official Study in Korea website for application forms, deadlines, and university lists.
#2 Seoul National University (SNU) President Fellowship
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Who offers it? Seoul National University.
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Who can apply? Faculty members from developing countries seeking a Ph.D.
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What’s covered? Full tuition for up to 6 semesters, monthly stipend, airfare, national health insurance, and Korean language training.
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Why it’s great: Tailored to emerging academic leaders, offering substantial support.
#3 University Scholarships (KAIST, POSTECH, UST, GIST, Korea University, Yonsei UIC, Ewha, etc.)
Several top universities offer generous scholarships for international students:
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KAIST (science and engineering): Full tuition, monthly stipend (~KRW 350,000-400,000 or more), and medical insurance. Undergrad, Master’s, and Ph.D. students are eligible.
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POSTECH: Full tuition, monthly stipend (~KRW 800,000), plus research funding.
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UST (University of Science and Technology): Full tuition, large stipend (~KRW 1.2M-1.6M), health insurance, and research support.
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GIST: Full tuition, monthly living allowance, accommodation, and insurance for graduate students.
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Korea University: Nearly 90% of international students get scholarships based on merit or need, including tuition waivers and sometimes stipends.
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Yonsei University UIC: Offers full or partial tuition waivers to high-achieving undergraduate applicants.
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Ewha Global Partnership Program: This scholarship is offered for female students. Covers full tuition, housing, and monthly stipend.
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How to apply? Visit each university’s international admissions or scholarship web page for details.
#4 Samsung Global Hope Scholarship Program
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Who offers it? Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation.
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Who can apply? International students from developing countries (DAC list) enrolled in partner universities.
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What’s covered? For undergrads: full tuition for 8 semesters; for graduate students: full tuition for 4-6 semesters.
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Why it’s great: Long-term financial backing for promising students from developing nations.
#5 POSCO TJ Park Scholarship
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Who offers it? POSCO TJ Park Foundation.
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Who can apply? Asian students pursuing Master’s or Ph.D. in STEM fields at some top Korean universities.
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What’s covered? Full tuition, monthly living stipend (~KRW 1M), health insurance, settlement allowance, and language/cultural support.
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Why it’s great: Aims to nurture STEM leaders across Asia with complete funding and academic support.
#6 Other University-Based Scholarships
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Hanyang University International Excellence Awards: Offers partial (30-70%) tuition waivers to international students with good grades and TOPIK (Korean) certification.
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Pusan National University (PNU): Tuition waivers based on TOPIK levels, ranging from 30% to full.
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UNIST: GPA-based scholarship maintain a good GPA in the first year to get full tuition waiver; plus dream scholarship with stipend.
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DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology): Full tuition, monthly stipend, dorm, and health insurance for STEM students.
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Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU): Full tuition, stipend, insurance for merit-based international students; competitive yet valuable.
