Applications are now open for the Global Korea Scholarship 2027 (GKS-U), a fully funded scholarship offered by the Government of the Republic of Korea to international students who want to pursue undergraduate studies in South Korea.
The Korean Government officially released the 2027 Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate Degrees guidelines on 9 September 2026. The programme provides international students with tuition support, airfare, Korean-language training, living support, health-insurance support and other benefits.
For the 2027 cycle, 286 international students are expected to be selected through the Embassy Track and University Track. Students from many African countries are eligible, making the Global Korea Scholarship 2027 one of the major fully funded undergraduate opportunities available to international students this year.
Global Korea Scholarship 2027 at a Glance
Scholarship: Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate Degrees (GKS-U) 2027
Host Country: South Korea
Funded by: Government of the Republic of Korea / National Institute for International Education (NIIED)
Study Levels: Bachelor’s and eligible Associate Degree programmes
Number of Scholarships: 286
Funding: Fully funded
Eligible Applicants: International students from eligible countries
Application Routes: Embassy Track and University Track
Embassy Track Deadline: 30 September 2026
University Track Deadline: Varies by participating university
Final Results: Expected January 2027
What Is the Global Korea Scholarship?
The Global Korea Scholarship, commonly known as GKS, is a Korean Government scholarship programme designed to bring talented international students to South Korea.
Through the programme, successful students study at participating Korean universities while receiving extensive financial support.
GKS was previously widely known as the Korean Government Scholarship Program, or KGSP. Today, its official name is the Global Korea Scholarship.
For undergraduate applicants, the programme is commonly referred to as GKS-U.
Because the scholarship is highly competitive, applicants should follow the official 2027 guidelines carefully rather than relying on requirements from previous application cycles.
How Many GKS-U Scholarships Are Available in 2027?
The 2027 GKS-U programme provides 286 scholarship places across its two major application routes.
The allocation is:
- Embassy Track: 156 scholars
- University Track: 130 scholars
Under the Embassy Track, places are distributed among different programme categories.
Meanwhile, the University Track includes the University Industry Cooperation (UIC) programme and selected Associate Degree programmes.
The UIC programme has 100 places and focuses particularly on programmes connected with science, engineering and university-industry cooperation.
The University Track also provides 30 places for associate degree programmes.
Global Korea Scholarship 2027 Benefits
The Global Korea Scholarship 2027 is fully funded and provides several forms of financial assistance throughout the scholarship period.
Benefits include:
- Tuition support
- Economy-class airfare
- Korean-language training fees
- Living and study support
- Settlement support
- Health-insurance support
- Korean-language proficiency incentives where applicable
- TOPIK examination support
- Degree-completion support under applicable GKS conditions
Therefore, GKS-U offers substantially more financial support than scholarships that provide only a partial tuition discount.
How Much Is the GKS 2027 Living Allowance?
According to the 2027 funding structure provided in the application information, financial support during the degree programme is approximately KRW 14.4 million per year, equivalent to about KRW 1.2 million per month.
During the Korean-language programme, support is approximately KRW 13.56 million per year.
Applicants should remember that the scholarship package contains several components. Therefore, they should not automatically assume that every listed component is paid separately as additional cash.
Duration of the Global Korea Scholarship 2027
For many bachelor’s students, the scholarship consists of:
One year of Korean-language training + the duration of the undergraduate degree.
The exact duration of the degree depends on the selected programme.
Applicants should carefully check the permitted programme duration when selecting universities because certain degrees with unusually long study periods may not be available under GKS.
Always use the official 2027 University Information files to confirm programme eligibility.
Global Korea Scholarship 2027 Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the requirements established by NIIED.
1. Nationality Requirement
Applicants must be citizens of countries eligible for the 2027 GKS-U programme.
Generally, both the applicant and their parents must not hold Korean citizenship.
Applicants involving dual or former Korean citizenship should carefully check the detailed nationality rules in the 2027 guidelines.
2. Age Requirement
Applicants must generally be under 25 years old according to the date specified in the 2027 guidelines.
For the 2027 cycle, applicants should generally have been born on or after 1 March 2002.
Applicants should verify their date of birth against the official eligibility rules before beginning the application.
3. Educational Qualification
Applicants for a bachelor’s degree must have graduated or be expected to graduate from high school or an eligible associate degree programme.
Applicants seeking an eligible associate degree must have completed or expect to complete high school.
Expected graduates must complete their graduation requirements by 31 December 2026.
Applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree or higher are not eligible to apply for the GKS-U Bachelor’s programme.
4. Academic Performance
Applicants must demonstrate strong academic performance.
They generally need to satisfy at least one of the following:
- Achieve 80% or higher on a 100-point scale
- Rank within the top 20% of their graduating class
- Meet the minimum CGPA threshold recognised by GKS
The recognised minimum CGPA thresholds include:
- 2.64/4.0
- 2.80/4.3
- 2.91/4.5
- 3.23/5.0
Applicants whose transcripts use another grading system should follow the official instructions for demonstrating equivalent academic performance.
Can African Students Apply for GKS 2027?
Yes.
Many African countries are represented in the 2027 GKS-U country allocations.
Eligible African countries under applicable routes include countries such as:
- Nigeria
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Rwanda
- Ethiopia
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- South Africa
- Egypt
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Madagascar
- Gabon
- Equatorial Guinea
- South Sudan
and other eligible countries identified in the official 2027 guidelines.
However, applicants should not assume that every country receives the same quota or has access to every application route.
Your nationality and application route determine the quota available to you. Therefore, check your country’s allocation carefully before preparing an application.
What About Applicants From Cameroon?
Cameroonian students should pay particular attention to the official 2027 country-allocation tables before applying.
GKS eligibility and available application routes are determined by the country allocations published for each cycle. Therefore, applicants from Cameroon should confirm their available route and quota directly from the current GKS-U guidelines rather than relying on previous years.
This is especially important because country participation and quotas can change between scholarship cycles.
Embassy Track vs University Track
One of the most important decisions in the Global Korea Scholarship 2027 application is selecting the correct application route.
Embassy Track
Under the Embassy Track, applicants apply through the GKS process associated with the Korean diplomatic mission responsible for their country.
For the 2027 cycle, the main Embassy Track application deadline is:
30 September 2026 at 6:00 PM Korean Standard Time (KST).
Depending on the applicable Embassy Track category, applicants may be able to select multiple universities.
However, university choices must comply with the Type A and Type B university rules applicable to the applicant’s category.
Because procedures can vary by country, applicants should also follow instructions issued by the Korean Embassy responsible for their nationality.
University Track
Under the University Track, applicants apply directly to an eligible participating Korean university.
Unlike the Embassy Track, there is no single University Track deadline covering every university.
Participating institutions establish their own application deadlines and procedures.
Therefore, University Track applicants should check their intended university immediately rather than assuming they have until the end of the general application period.
Can You Apply Through Both Tracks?
Applicants must carefully follow NIIED’s rules concerning duplicate applications.
You should not submit simultaneous applications through multiple tracks where GKS rules prohibit doing so.
Applicants who are unsuccessful during an earlier stage should check the current guidelines before attempting another route.
The important point is to understand the sequence and restrictions of the 2027 selection process before submitting multiple applications.
Universities Available for GKS 2027
GKS works with numerous Korean universities, but applicants cannot simply choose any university or degree programme in South Korea.
NIIED publishes separate university information files showing eligible institutions and departments for categories such as:
- Embassy Track Type A
- Embassy Track Type B
- University Track
- UIC programmes
- Associate Degree programmes
Your selected university and programme must be eligible under your chosen application route.
Choosing an ineligible university or department can affect your application.
What Can You Study Under GKS-U?
Available fields depend on the participating university and application route.
Depending on the official university lists, programmes may be available in areas including:
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Business
- Economics
- Natural Sciences
- Agriculture
- Environmental Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Humanities
- International Studies
- Korean Studies
- Design
- Technology
- Other eligible undergraduate disciplines
Applicants must use the 2027 University Information files to confirm whether their intended department participates in GKS.
Do not select a programme simply because a participating university normally offers it.
Do You Need IELTS for GKS 2027?
Applicants should not assume that GKS universally requires IELTS or universally waives it.
Language requirements can depend on the selected university and programme.
Applicants may provide recognised evidence of English or Korean proficiency where required or relevant.
Qualifications such as TOPIK can also strengthen an application and may affect Korean-language training requirements.
Therefore, check both the general GKS-U guidelines and the specific requirements of your chosen university and department.
Korean Language Training
Most GKS undergraduate scholars complete Korean-language training before beginning their degree.
The language programme helps international students develop the Korean-language skills required for university and everyday life in South Korea.
Applicants who already possess a sufficiently high TOPIK qualification may qualify for an exemption from the Korean-language year under the applicable NIIED rules.
Applicants should follow the exact 2027 TOPIK conditions rather than relying on requirements from previous cycles.
Documents Required for GKS-U 2027
The exact submission process depends on the application route.
Applicants should generally expect to prepare documents such as:
- GKS application form
- Personal statement
- Study plan
- Applicant agreement
- Personal medical assessment
- Academic transcripts
- High school graduation certificate or expected-graduation certificate
- Proof of citizenship
- Documents proving parents’ nationality or family relationship where required
- Recommendation materials where required
- Language certificates, where applicable
- Awards and certificates supporting academic or extracurricular achievements
- Passport or identification documents where applicable
- Other country-, track- or university-specific documents
Certain documents may require authentication, apostille or consular confirmation depending on the applicable rules and stage of selection.
Applicants should follow the 2027 document checklist exactly rather than using a checklist from a previous GKS cycle.
How to Apply for the Global Korea Scholarship 2027
Step 1: Read the 2027 Guidelines
Begin by carefully reviewing the current GKS-U application guidelines.
Pay particular attention to nationality, age, academic requirements, country quotas and application restrictions.
Step 2: Choose Your Application Track
Determine whether you are applying through the Embassy Track or University Track.
The available universities, quotas and submission procedure depend on this choice.
Step 3: Check Your Country’s Quota
Find your nationality in the official country-allocation tables.
Confirm which programme and application route are available to you.
Step 4: Select Eligible Universities and Programmes
Use the appropriate 2027 University Information files.
Only select universities and departments permitted under your application route.
Step 5: Prepare Your Documents
Prepare your academic documents, personal statement, study plan, citizenship evidence and other required materials.
If authentication is required, start early.
Step 6: Submit Through the Correct Route
Embassy Track applicants should follow the submission procedure applicable to their country.
University Track applicants must follow the instructions provided by their selected participating university.
Step 7: Monitor the Selection Process
GKS selection takes place in several stages.
Candidates who progress may undergo further evaluation by the relevant embassy, university and NIIED.
Final results for the 2027 GKS-U cycle are expected in January 2027.
Global Korea Scholarship 2027 Deadline
There is no single application deadline for every GKS-U route.
For the Embassy Track, the main 2027 deadline is:
30 September 2026 at 6:00 PM KST.
For the University Track, deadlines vary according to the participating university.
University Track applicants should therefore confirm the exact deadline directly from their selected institution.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
GKS is highly competitive, so applicants should avoid preventable errors.
Do not apply to a university or department that is not eligible under your application track.
Do not assume that every applicant can select the same number of universities.
Check your academic percentage and CGPA carefully and provide appropriate evidence where your grading system differs from the recognised GKS scales.
Most importantly, do not use outdated application forms from previous scholarship cycles.
The Korean Government has already released the official 2027 GKS-U guidelines and forms, so those are the documents applicants should use.
Tips for a Strong GKS Application
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee selection.
Your application should clearly explain your academic direction, why you want to study in South Korea and how your chosen degree supports your future plans.
A strong personal statement should provide concrete evidence of academic development, leadership, extracurricular activities, challenges overcome and contributions to your community.
Meanwhile, your study plan should demonstrate that you understand your intended academic field and have realistic educational and career goals.
Avoid generic statements about simply wanting to experience Korean culture. Instead, establish a convincing connection between South Korea, your selected programme and your long-term goals.
Final Thoughts
The Global Korea Scholarship 2027 (GKS-U) provides international students with an opportunity to pursue undergraduate education in South Korea with extensive Korean government financial support.
With 286 scholarship places across the Embassy and University Tracks, applicants have different routes depending on nationality, degree choice and selected institution.
The scholarship provides support, including tuition, airfare, Korean-language training, living expenses and health insurance, making it one of South Korea’s major fully funded opportunities for international undergraduate students.
The Embassy Track deadline is 30 September 2026, while University Track deadlines vary by institution.
Applicants should start immediately by checking their country allocation, choosing an eligible university and preparing the required documents.
Official Links
Official Study in Korea – 2027 GKS-U Guidelines, Forms and University Information:
https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/ko/notice/scholarshipsRead.do?bbsId=BBSMSTR_000000000461&nttId=4522
Official Study in Korea – GKS Scholarship Information:
https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/en/plan/scholarship.do
