Government Scholarship Program

This notice has been prepared based on the 2025 Selection Plan for the Global Korea Scholarship for Graduate Degree (GKS-G) administered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). Applicants must refer to the official plan announced by NIIED for 2026, as the implementation details may change.

1. Purpose

The program aims to secure global human resources by inviting outstanding international students to Korea and supporting their degree studies, while promoting the internationalization of higher education institutions through expanded recruitment of international scholarship students.

2. Number of Awardees

Will be announced by the National Institute for International Education in 2026.

3. Selection Process

Will be announced by the National Institute for International Education in 2026.

4. Eligibility Requirements

Will be announced by the National Institute for International Education in 2026. (The following information is provided for reference only, based on the 2025 eligibility requirements.)

Nationality

• Applicants must hold the nationality of a designated GKS partner country.

• Both the applicant and their parents (or legal guardians) must be foreign nationals.

• Applicants are not eligible if the applicant or either parent holds Korean nationality, including dual nationality.

Age

• Under 40 years of age

• Current professors holding nationality of ODA recipient countries: under 45 years of age

Educational Background

• Applicants must meet the degree requirements for each program at the time of application.

• Applicants who are expected to obtain the required degree by July 31, 2025 are also eligible.

• Doctoral Program: Master’s degree or higher

• Master’s Program: Bachelor’s degree or higher

• Research Program: Postdoctoral researchers, exchange professors, or professionals

Applicants expected to graduate during the 2024–2025 academic year are eligible; however, submission of a graduation certificate by July 31, 2024 is required.

Academic Performance

• Applicants must meet one of the following criteria for the entire academic record of the most recently completed degree program :

• Overall score of 80% or higher, or within the top 20% of the class

• Minimum CGPA:

• 2.64 / 4.0

• 2.80 / 4.3

• 2.91 / 4.5

• 3.23 / 5.0

CGPA: Cumulative Grade Point Average

5. Scholarship Benefits

Will be announced by the National Institute for International Education in 2026. (The following information is provided for reference only, based on the 2025 benefits.)

• Round-trip international airfare

• Tuition fees

• Korean language training fees

• Monthly living allowance (academic incentive)

6. Required Documents

Will be announced by the National Institute for International Education in 2026. (The following information is provided for reference only, based on the 2025 requirements.)

Common Documents

• Application Form

• Personal Statement

• Study Plan

• Research Proposal (for Research Program applicants only)

• Letter of Recommendation (one copy)

• Applicant’s Consent Form

• Self-Medical Assessment

• Consent to Collection and Use of Personal Information

• Degree Certificate(s) and Academic Transcript(s)

• Proof of Nationality (applicant and parents)

• Family Relationship Certificate

Additional Documents (if applicable)

• Verification documents for overseas Koreans or adoptees

• Certificate of renunciation or loss of Korean nationality (applicant and parents)

• Proof of Korean War veteran status and family relationship documents

• Certificate of Employment or Career Certificate (e.g., faculty or staff of partner universities or international organizations)

• Valid TOPIK certificate or official English proficiency test score report

• Published books, academic papers, awards, or other relevant achievements

7. Additional Evaluation Points

Will be announced by the National Institute for International Education in 2026. (The following information is provided for reference only, based on the 2025 criteria.)

• Applicants who have obtained TOPIK or TOPIK IBT Level 3 or higher: +10% of the total document screening score

• Descendants of Korean War veterans: +5% of the total document screening score

• Applicants applying to science and engineering majors: +5% of the total evaluation score

8. Other Important Information

(1) Application Jurisdiction and Responsibilities

• The New York Korean Education Center (KECNY) does not accept applications for the GKS Undergraduate Program. For undergraduate-related inquiries, please contact the National Institute for International Education.

• The New York Korean Education Center is responsible only for the first-round application submission and screening for the Graduate Degree (Embassy Track).

• Applications are accepted only from applicants whose final institution of education is located in NY, NJ, PA, CT, or DE. Applications submitted from outside the designated jurisdiction will not be accepted or processed.

(2) Document Submission Guidelines

• Staples are strictly prohibited. All documents must be fastened using paper clips or binder clips only.

• Documents must be arranged in the exact order indicated on the Checklist.

• All documents must be submitted in Letter size.

• Applications may be submitted by postal mail or in person only. Email submissions will not be accepted.

(3) Applicants Residing Outside the United States

• Applicants residing outside the United States are advised to submit their applications to the Washington Korean Education Center or the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington, D.C.

• Alternatively, applicants may submit their applications to the nearest Korean Consulate or Korean Education Center for convenience.

(4) Important Notes

• Applicants must carefully review all details in the attached official guidelines.

• Application deadlines may vary by Korean Education Center or Consular Office; prior confirmation is required.

• Applicants who fail to meet eligibility requirements or who submit incomplete documents will be excluded from the screening process.

(5) Future Schedule

• The 2026 GKS-G (Graduate Degree) implementation planwill be announced by the National Institute for International Education in 2026.

• For further inquiries, please contact the National Institute for International Education.

(6) Submission of Original Documents and Apostille (Important)

• In accordance with the official application guidelines, applicants must submit one (1) set of original documents and three (3) sets of photocopies.

• Despite the general guidelines, apostilles are not required at the initial application stage.

• Only applicants selected for interviews will be requested to submit apostilled documents; therefore, applicants are advised to prepare in advance.