Korean Government Scholarship Program

Institution: National Institute for International Education of South Korea

Applicant Eligible Countries: Worldwide

Type of Opportunity: Scholarships

Eligibility: Under 40 years old, no Korean citizenship

The National Institute for International Education of South Korea

Each year, the Korean Government Scholarship Program is offered to help endorse future global leaders. It also emphasizes the importance of international peace and cooperation in education efforts by recognizing gifted international students. These students are invited to participate in advanced studies at institutions of higher education in Korea.

The program offers Master’s and Doctoral degrees consisting of one year language courses plus two or three year degree plans. Applicants must hold foreign citizenship–those with Korean citizenship may not apply. Each applicant must also be under the age of forty and hold either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (depending on the desired program of study) by September 1st of the selection year. Individuals who have completed any level of their education in Korea are not eligible to apply.

In order to be eligible, candidates must have grades averaging no less than 80% out of 100%. This means that their GPAs must be no less than 2.64 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants, as well as their parents, must also be citizens of the countries in which the scholarship is offered. Applicants should submit their materials to the Korean Embassy in their native countries, or to the partnering institutions in Korea. Both the embassies and universities work together to select a pool of successful candidates for the first round of the selection process. Then, the NIIED selection committee selects the second round candidate, with the final round reviewed by partner universities for final admission decisions.

The scholarship provides several unbeatable benefits, including round-trip economy airfare to the university, as well as a 900,000 KRW allowance per month. Each scholar is also designated up to 240,000 for research purposes, with applicants in natural and mechanical sciences receiving the highest funding of all majors. Up to 800,000 KRW is funded for dissertation printing costs, as well as 20,000 KRW per month for health insurance. Students may also receive Korean Proficiency Grants or settlement allowances, depending on their individual circumstances. Students also receive full coverage of any language training fees, as well as complete tuition and admissions waiver. Questions can be directed to the National Institute for International Education at 82-2-3668-1300.

To learn more and apply, click here.