Studying abroad boost your career development and is great for your resume. If you want to study in Korea, we provided you information about higher education and study opportunities in this country.

Three kinds of academic campuses that provide higher education programs exist in the Republic of Korea. Junior colleges offer about 2 to 3 years of programs, universities that offer 4-year programs, and graduate schools with master’s and doctoral degree programs are provided at 4-year universities.

In recent years, separate graduate schools have been established in addition to the types mentioned above of institutions with no affiliations to universities. The graduate schools exclusively provide graduate programs. Cyber universities are also growing in Korea with the development of information and technology.

Korean universities are two types of public universities established by local government and private universities founded by non-profit private educational organizations.

The Korean universities and the Ministry of Education of Korea have been actively promoting education in this country to adopt more international students. As of April 2016, about 104,000 international students were studying in Korea, out of which 63,000 were studying in degree programs.

People around the globe select Korea for education because of systematic support programs from the government, a highly competitive educational system, a promising future and world-class technology, and a showcase of rich Korean culture throughout the globe. Also, high life satisfaction for international students, career and employment support opportunities for international students, and transition system from an aid recipient to a donor are the significant factors that encourage international students to make Korea the home for their higher education.

South Korea, like other countries, offers several scholarships for international students every year. According to the Study in Korea website run by the Government of Korea, there are three main categories of scholarships offered to students: government, university, and other. Institutions and foundations most commonly offer other scholarships. To provide you more success in your education trip, we suggest you some major Korean scholarships with essential details as follows:

1. Korean Development Institute (KDI) School of Public Policy and Management General Scholarship

KDI General Scholarship is open to international student from countries on DAC list of ODA and want to pursue their master’s degree in Korea.

Requirements: KDI General Scholarship essential requirements are as follows:

• Applicants must meet the Academic Degree Qualification of KIDS
• Hold a bachelor’s degree (min. three years)
• And not be a citizen of Korea

Funding Type: Fully-funded

Degree Level: Master

Opening Date: 1 September 2022

Application Deadline: 23 September 2022

Eligible Countries: Countries on the DAC list of ODA

Read more details about the KDI scholarship here.

2. KDI School of Public Policy and Management Seoul G20 Scholarship 

Seoul G20 Scholarship is commonly provided but not restricted to international students from the G20 member countries. The opportunity bolded points are as below:

Requirements: Applicants who wish to apply for this opportunity must:

• Meet the Academic Degree Qualification of KIDS.
• Be from non-G20 countries must have six years of job experience in the public sector.
• Be from G20 countries must have at least one year of internship, fellowship, or work experience in the public sector or a research experience in fields related to Korean studies.
• Must hold a bachelor’s degree (min. three years)
• Must not be a citizen of Korea.

Funding type: Fully-funded

Degree level: Master

Opening Date: 1 September 2022

Application Deadline: 23 September 2022

Eligible Countries: G20 countries and Non-G20 countries

For detailed information regarding G20 Scholarship in KDI, please visit our website.

3. KDI School of Public Policy and Management Ph.D. Program Scholarship 

KDIS Ph.D. Program Scholarship is for capable international students who meet the academic degree qualifications, and the Admissions Committee will decide whether to offer a scholarship or not. Students will receive the Global Ambassador Scholarship (GAS) when nominated for Ph.D. Scholarships at KDI.

Requirements: All applicants must:

• Meet Academic Degree Qualification of KDIS
• Not be a citizen of Korea

Funding type: Fully-funded

Degree level: Ph.D.

Opening Date: 1 September 2022

Application Deadline: 23 September 2022

Eligible Countries: Countries on the DAC list of ODA

For detailed information regarding KDI Ph.D. scholarships, please visit our website.

4. KDI Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation Global Scholarship 

Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation Global Scholarship is available for international students enrolled in master’s and doctoral courses at KDIS. Applicants may receive an invitation for an additional Interview round conducted by the Foundation after the final result announcement.

Requirement: All applicants must:

• Be government official from eight ASEAN member states (Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos)
• Should not hold Korean citizenship
• Should meet Academic Degree Qualification of KIDS

Funding type: Fully-funded

Degree level: Master’s and Ph.D.

Interview Deadline: December and June every year

Eligible Countries: ASEAN member states

For information regarding the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation Global Scholarship at KDI, please download the KDI Spring 2023 Application Guideline from O4af.com attached at the bottom of the page.

5. The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) International Graduate Scholarship 

GIST is the Korean Science and Technology university that offers scholarships for international students. GIST graduate scholarship important details are highlighted below.

Requirement: Applicants who wish to apply for the GIST Graduate Scholarship must:

• Be from any nationality other than Korea
• Hold a bachelor’s degree for Master’s degree programs and a Master’s degree for Ph.D. programs
• Provide English language proficiency

Funding type: Fully-funded

Degree level: Graduate (MS, Ph.D., and Integrated MS/Ph.D. Degree)

Application Deadline: 14 October 2022

Eligible Countries: All nationalities

For information regarding the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) International Graduate Scholarship, please visit O4af.com. 

6. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

Global Korea Scholarship is for international students who want to pursue their master, Ph.D., and research in Korea.

Requirement: Applicants who wish to apply for the GKS must:

• Be from nationalities other than Korea
• Meet all academic degree requirements of the scholarships
• Be mentally and physically in a good condition
• Have no criminal background
• Other requirements set for GKS

Funding type: Fully-funded

Degree level: Graduate and Research

Application Deadline: 1st round application period:  February- March (Embassy track), February – April (University track)

Eligible Countries: Nationalities other than Korea

For information regarding the Global Korea Scholarships (GKS), please visit Scholarships.af. 

7. KAIST International Undergraduate Scholarship

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has announced undergraduate international scholarships for the spring and fall semesters of the academic year 2023. International applicants from around the globe can apply for this scholarship.

Requirement: Applicants who wish to apply for the KAIST Undergraduate Scholarship must:

• Be from nationalities other than Korea
• Students must maintain GPA over 2.7 out of 4.3 at KAIST after they finished their freshman year
• For spring semester 2023 in the early cycle, you must have graduated or will graduate from high school by 28 February 2023 for fall 2023, no matter in the early, regular, or late cycle, you must have graduated or will graduate from high school by 31 August 2023

Funding type: Partially-funded

Degree level: Undergraduate

Application Deadline: 21 October 2022 early cycle, 13 January 2023 regular cycle, 26 May 2023 late cycle

Eligible Countries: All countries

For information regarding the (KAIST), please visit Scholarships.af. 

8. Korean Government Scholarships Program (KGSP)

The Korean Government announces Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) for international applicants from around the globe to continue their education in Korea. This year about 1278 scholarships are available for students seeking to continue their Master’s degree, Ph.D., or Research in Korea.

Requirement: Eligible applicants who wish to apply for the KGSP Scholarship must:

• Be from nationalities other than Korea.
• Hold or expected to hold their bachelor’s degree before 31.8.2021 for a Master’s degree.
• Have or expected to hold their Master’s degree before 31.8.2020 for Ph.D. studies.
• Have graduated or expected to graduate with their Master’s degree before August 31, 2021, for research and should have received an invitation letter from the participating Korean university
• Age under 40 on the start of the program – 01, September 2021, – born after 1.9.1981
• Forty-five years applicants who are working as a professor in Afghanistan, Armenia, Belarus, Angola, Algeria, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Syria, Tajikistan, South Africa, Indonesia, India, Nepal, Thailand, Pakistan and other countries that you can find the list on the application guideline linked below.
• They should be born after September 1, 1976
• Holding a bachelor’s degree from a Korean university is not eligible.
• The Grade Point Average (GPA) must be 80 or higher.
• Be in good health and submit the Personal medical assessment when applying.

Funding type: Fully-funded

Degree level: Graduate and Research

Application Deadline: February- March, Varies by each Korean Embassy.

Eligible Countries: All countries

For information regarding the (KGSP), please visit O4af.com. 

9. Art Major Asian Scholarships at Korea National University of Arts

The Korean National University of Arts offers the Art Major Asian (AMA) Scholarships for international students to provide the opportunity who want to pursue their Major in Arts on a fully-funded scholarship.

Requirement: International applicants who wish to apply for the KGSP Scholarship must:

• Completed or expected to achieve a high school or university degree by February 28, 2023
• Have a good physical and mental health
• Be able to travel abroad
• Demonstrate the possession of being artistically talented, having gifted skills
• Have an excellent academic record
• Meet the specific requirement of each department and major

Funding type: Fully-funded

Degree level: Undergraduate and Master

Application Deadline: May- June

Eligible Countries: 142 countries

For information regarding the AMA Scholarship, read the details on O4af.com.

10. Seoul National University Graduate Scholarships 

Seoul National University’s offered graduate degree scholarships for international students. The scholarship programs include Graduate Scholarship for Excellent Foreign Students (GSFS), Silk Road Scholarship, and Overseas Koreans Scholarship.

Requirement: The following eligibility criteria for this graduate scholarship are set, and international applicants must meet them all:

• GSFS applicants should hold the nationality of Asian countries, excluding Japanese and China nationals.
• For the Silk Road Scholarship, applicants must be from countries in the ‘Silk-Road’ region who want to study humanities or social sciences, including the Korean language, history, culture, politics, and economics.
• Overseas Korean students who wish to earn graduate degrees at SNU can apply for the Overseas Koreans Scholarship.
• Should meet language proficiency requirements (English/Korean)
• Not be a Korean national.
• Have earned bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees, and doctoral
• Hold a master’s degree or higher for Ph.D.

Funding type: Fully-funded and partially-funded

Degree level: Masters and Ph.D.

Application Deadline: During March

Eligible Countries: All countries except Korea, Japan, and China

Please visit O4Af.com for further information regarding Seoul National University Graduate Scholarships.

Find More Similar Scholarships 

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11. The Korean Foundation Fellowship for Korean Language Training (KLT) Program

Korean Foundation announced the Fellowship for Korean Language Training (KLT) Program. The primary aim of this fellowship program is to promote the Korean language as the basis for promoting Korean studies and Korea-related activities abroad.

Requirement: International applicants who wish to apply for the Korean Language Training (KLT) Fellowship Program:

• Can be from any nationality
• Individuals who specialize in Korean studies (humanities, social sciences, and arts & culture);
• Should be currently involved in Korea-related research or are working in Korea-related fields. Basically, all applicants must be able to understand and speak at least essential Korean.

Funding type: Fully-funded

Degree level: Non

Application Deadline: August 2022

Eligible Countries: All countries

For information regarding the KLT Fellowship, read the details on O4af.com.