Korea is offering Kenyan students a chance to earn a fully funded undergraduate degree abroad. But this round has more small rules than most. Miss one, and your application could be affected.
Here is a clear guide to the 2027 Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate Degrees (GKS-U) for Kenya, including a few details that are easy to overlook.
The Deadline Is at Noon Kenyan Time
The Embassy of Korea in Kenya gives the application period in Kenyan time, which helps:
- Opens: 15 September 2026, 05:00 Kenyan time
- Closes: 30 September 2026, 12:00 noon Kenyan time
That is 18:00 in Korea. The deadline is the middle of the day, not midnight. If you were planning to finish on the evening of 30 September, you would be too late. Aim to submit by the morning of 29 September, or earlier.
What the GKS Programme Is
The Global Korea Scholarship is run by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED), part of Korea’s Ministry of Education. Its purpose is to bring international students to Korean universities for degree study.
This round covers undergraduate degrees. It is called the Embassy Track, which means Kenyan applicants apply through the process managed by the Korean Embassy in Kenya.
How Many Places Are There?
The quota for Kenyan citizens is very small:
- General Track: 1 student
- R-GKS Track: 1 student
That is two places in total. With so few seats, competition is likely to be tough, and a careful application is important.
The Rule About Choosing Only One Track
You can apply to only one track, either General or R-GKS. The Embassy is strict about this. If you submit multiple applications, you will be disqualified. Even worse, if a duplicate is found after you have been selected, your acceptance can be cancelled.
So decide on your track first, then submit one application. Do not try to increase your odds by applying twice.
Choosing Universities
The number of universities you can choose depends on your track:
- General Track: up to 3 universities, including at least 1 Type B university
- R-GKS Track: up to 2 universities, all Type B
You can only choose universities and departments from the official eligible list. Applications to anything outside that list are not allowed. The list is in the application guidelines and on the Study in Korea website.
Think carefully about your major too. Pick a department that matches your academic background and your goals, because the list is fixed.
How to Apply
The process is online, with one extra email step:
- Go to the Study in Korea website (studyinkorea.go.kr).
- Create an account first.
- Fill in the required information.
- Upload all required documents.
- Review everything carefully before you submit.
The Embassy warns that changes may be restricted after submission. So check names, dates, and files before you press submit.
The 48-Hour Email Step
This is the detail many applicants could miss.
After you submit your online application, you must email the completed “2027 GKS Undergraduate Scholarship Applicants Information Form” to the Embassy at secretary-ke01@mofa.go.kr. You have only 48 hours after submitting to do this.
The form is an Excel file, provided on the Embassy page. Download it early and fill it in while you prepare your application, so it is ready to send right after you submit. Otherwise you could finish the hard part and then lose your place because of a missed email.
Documents and Consular Confirmation
The notice does not list every required document. Those are in the English application guidelines, so read them fully.
There is one extra requirement to plan for. Applicants who pass the interview must submit consular-confirmed supporting documents for the next round, which NIIED handles. Consular confirmation means the documents are officially verified through the proper channels. It can take time, so it helps to know early which documents you will need and where to get them certified.
The Embassy Timeline
- Document submission deadline: 30 September 2026
- Document screening results: by 13 October 2026
- Interviews: 14 October 2026
- Interview results: by 16 October 2026
Only applicants who pass the document screening will be invited to interview. The Embassy will contact only successful applicants at each stage. So if you do not hear anything, it usually means you did not advance.
The interview is one day after the screening results, and the Embassy says results come by 13 October. That leaves very little time, so keep your schedule open in mid-October.
Questions
For questions about the programme, write to secretary-ke01@mofa.go.kr. This is the same email used for the information form, so keep it saved.
