How to Apply for GKS Scholarship 2027 Undergraduate (Step by Step Guide)

286 fully funded spots. Two application tracks. One deadline you cannot miss.

The Global Korea Scholarship 2027 GKS-U is now open for undergraduate applicants. Administered by NIIED, South Korea’s National Institute for International Education the scholarship covers tuition, flights, monthly living costs, Korean language training, health insurance and more for the full duration of your degree.

This guide walks through every step of the application from eligibility to final results using the official 2027 GKS-U Application Guidelines as the source.

At a Glance

Detail	Information
Scholarship	Global Korea Scholarship 2027 GKS-U
Administered by	NIIED South Korea
Total scholars	286
Embassy Track quota	156 bachelor’s degree
University Track quota	100 UIC + 30 associate degree
Embassy Track deadline	September 15 to 30, 2026 closes 18:00 KST
University Track deadline	September to November 2026 varies by university
Final results	Expected January 7, 2027
Degree levels	Associate or Bachelor’s
IELTS TOPIK required	Optional but can strengthen application

What the Scholarship Covers

The GKS package is comprehensive. Amounts are set by NIIED and may be adjusted.

Benefit	Amount Detail
Tuition	NIIED covers up to KRW 5 million, university covers the rest plus admission fee
Korean Language Program	KRW 5.2 million per year
Monthly Allowance Language Year	KRW 13560000 per year
Monthly Allowance Degree Program	KRW 14400000 per year
Airfare	Economy class actual expense with conditions

The monthly allowance is all inclusive like covers health insurance, accommodation, TOPIK fees, settlement allowance, Korean proficiency grants, and degree completion grants.

One important condition on airfare. Scholars already residing in Korea at the time of the final announcement do not receive entry airfare. Airfare is also not provided when a scholar enters Korea from a country other than their country of citizenship.

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility

Check every condition before collecting a single document. A strong application cannot pass if one mandatory requirement is missing.

Nationality

• Must hold citizenship of an NIIED designated country
• Both parents or legal guardians must hold non Korean citizenship
• Korean dual citizenship disqualifies the applicant
• Previous Korean citizenship holders must provide government documents proving definitive renunciation with the date

Age

• Must be under 25 years old
• For GKS 2027 born after March 1 2002

Academic Grade must meet at least one

• 80 percent or higher on a 100 point scale
• Top 20 percent of class
• CGPA of at least 2.64 4.0 2.80 4.3 2.91 4.5 or 3.23 5.0

If your transcript uses a different scale obtain an official conversion from your school. A conversion from a third party website is only valid when the school officially confirms it.

Education

• Associate degree applicants must have graduated or expect to graduate from high school
• Applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree are not eligible
• Bachelor’s applicants must have graduated or expect to graduate from high school or an associate degree program
• Expected graduates must graduate by December 31, 2026

Additional Conditions

• Mentally and physically fit for full program study in Korea
• No criminal history that disqualifies overseas travel
• Graduates of Korean high schools including international schools in Korea are generally ineligible
• Previous GKS degree scholars are generally ineligible
• Applicants who withdrew or were disqualified as GKS scholars within the past three years cannot apply

Step 2: Choose Your Track

You cannot apply through both tracks simultaneously. This decision shapes everything that follows.

Feature	Embassy Track	University Track
Where to apply	Study in Korea online system	Directly to one university
Programs	General Overseas Koreans and Adoptees R GKS	UIC or Associate Degree
University choices	Up to 3 General O and A up to 2 Type B R GKS	1 university 1 department only
First selection round	Korean embassy	Chosen university
Third round	Yes university admission review	No
Deadline	September 30 2026 at 18:00 KST	Varies September to November 2026

One rule that catches applicants off guard. If you fail the Embassy Track first round, you may still apply once through the University Track provided its deadline is still open. But if you pass the Embassy Track first round including as a backup candidate, the University Track is no longer available to you.

Step 3: Research Universities and Departments

Download the official 2027 University Information file from the GKS notice on Study in Korea. You may only apply to universities and departments listed there. Use exact official names in your application.

Embassy Track university selection rules:

• General and O and A applicants up to 3 universities with at least 1 Type B university required
• R GKS applicants up to 2 universities, both must be Type B
• You may select the same major at different universities but not multiple departments within the same university

University Track: One university, one department. No exceptions.

A practical note on university selection strategy.

Do not select universities purely by ranking. Embassy Track applicants still need to pass a university admission review in the third round. Choosing three highly competitive institutions can result in rejection from all three even after passing the NIIED review.

Consider academic fit, department strengths, location, realistic admission profile and living costs. Accommodation comes from the monthly allowance. Costs in major metropolitan areas are significantly higher than in smaller cities.

Step 4: Gather Your Documents

Application forms you complete:

1. Application Form
2. Personal Statement
3. Study Plan
4. Recommendation Letter
5. GKS Applicant Agreement
6. Personal Medical Assessment
7. Consent to Collect and Use Personal Information

Certificates and supporting documents:

• Proof of applicant’s and parents’ citizenship plus family relationship proof
• High school graduation or expected graduation certificate
• Complete high school academic transcript
• For relevant bachelor’s applicants associate degree graduation certificate and transcript
• Proof of Overseas Korean or adoptee status if applicable
• Proof of Korean citizenship renunciation if applicable
• Proof of Korean War veteran descendant status if applicable
• Valid TOPIK or English test score report if submitting one
• Up to 5 awards or certificates from high school onward
• Passport copy

Step 5: Legalize and Translate Your Documents

For second round submission to NIIED, certificates must carry an apostille or consular confirmation. Non-Korean, non-English documents need certified translation.

Key rules:

• Apostille countries use an apostille. High school certificates and transcripts may also use consular confirmation
• Non-apostille countries obtain consular confirmation from the relevant Korean embassy or consulate
• A simple photocopy or ordinary notarized copy of an already apostilled document is not accepted
• Authentication with no stated expiry is valid only within two years of the authentication date

Critical warning. Documents submitted to NIIED are not returned. Never surrender an irreplaceable original when an authenticated certified copy can be prepared instead.

Applicants who pass the first round should prepare more than one authenticated copy of their final graduation certificate. It may be needed later by the degree university the Korean embassy for the visa and Korean immigration.

Step 6: Write Your Personal Statement

The personal statement shows the committee who you are, what you have done and why those experiences make you right for this scholarship.

• Open with a specific experience that shaped your academic direction, not a generic introduction
• Connect your academic record, activities, awards and challenges to your intended field
• Explain why Korea is academically relevant to your goals focus on the field, institutions or research context not only Korean culture or entertainment
• Show evidence of contribution to your community or cross-cultural understanding
• Replace broad claims like I am hardworking with specific examples and results

The Application Form must be in English. The Personal Statement and Study Plan may be in English or Korean.

Step 7: Prepare Your Study Plan

A convincing study plan connects language preparation, academic study and long term goals and it must match the exact department you selected.

Cover these four areas:

1. Language plan: how you will develop Korean and reach the TOPIK level required for your degree program
2. Academic plan: The subjects, skills and questions you want to pursue
3. Campus plan relevant academic activities or research groups, only mention what actually exists
4. Career plan how the degree helps you contribute to your home country, Korea or both

Your personal statement, study plan, selected major and future goals should all tell one coherent story. Inconsistency between these sections weakens the entire application.

Step 8: Obtain Your Recommendation Letter

One letter is required. A second letter from a different referee is permitted.

The recommender should be someone who can evaluate your academic ability, specifically a high school teacher, principal or department chair.

• The letter must be issued within one year before the application deadline
• Give your recommender your academic goals, intended major and a copy of your application narrative
• Ask early. Strong letters take time
• Embassy Track applicants upload a scanned copy online
• University Track applicants submit the original in a sealed envelope signed by the recommender across the back flap

Step 9: Submit Your Application

Embassy Track step by step

1. Create or log in to your account at studyinkorea.go.kr
2. Open the 2027 GKS Undergraduate Embassy Track application during the official period
3. Enter all information exactly as shown on your passport
4. Select the correct program, universities and departments. General and O and A applicants must include at least one Type B university
5. Upload scanned copies of all required documents and recommendation letter
6. Review everything carefully then submit before September 30, 2026 at 18:00 KST
7. If you pass the first round, print forms add handwritten signatures and submit one original set plus authenticated certificates to the embassy

University Track step by step

1. Select one participating UIC or associate degree university and one department
2. Visit the university’s official website and find its 2027 GKS-U University Track notice
3. Confirm the deadline, delivery method, address and any additional university requirements
4. Complete NIIED forms and prepare original authenticated translated documents as instructed
5. Place the recommendation letter in a sealed, signed envelope
6. Submit directly to the university by its deadline. The University Track is not submitted through the Study in Korea online system

Step 10: Format Your Physical Document Set

• Arrange documents in the order shown on the official Application Checklist, using it as the front cover
• Number and label every document at the top right corner
• Use A4 or Letter-size pages. Attach smaller documents to a blank A4 sheet. Fold larger pages to size
• Check every signature field. Missing signatures can cause exclusion
• Use the exact official department name
• Make sure your English name matches your passport exactly including middle names
• Keep complete digital scans of your final application

Step 11: Prepare for the Interview

Selection committees first verify eligibility and document completeness. Candidates who pass are then assessed through documents and an oral interview.

Evaluation covers academic performance, language ability, academic activities, contribution to society, future potential and application authenticity.

Interview preparation:

• Know every statement in your application and be ready to explain it with examples
• Prepare clear answers for
  • Why Korea?
  • Why this major?
  • Why these universities and what you will do after graduation?
• Study your selected department’s curriculum
• Practice concise answers in English or Korean, depending on the interview format
• Never exaggerate or invent achievements. Authenticity is evaluated explicitly

Scoring bonuses:

Condition	Bonus
TOPIK Level 3	+3 percent of total score
TOPIK Level 4	+4 percent of total score
TOPIK Level 5 or higher	+5 percent of total score
Science and engineering applicants	+5 percent of allocated score
Korean War veteran descendants	+10 percent of total score

Only the highest language score is counted if multiple reports are submitted.

Step 12: Track Your Results

Stage	Embassy Track	University Track
First round	By October 16 2026	During November 2026
NIIED review	Late November 2026	Mid December 2026
Third round	By December 23 2026	Not applicable
University choice deadline	December 29 2026 at 18:00 KST	Not applicable
Final announcement	January 7 2027	January 7 2027

Check the GKS Notice board and My Page on Study in Korea regularly. NIIED does not individually notify every applicant at every stage.

After Selection Language Training and TOPIK

Most scholars complete one year of Korean language training before beginning their degree.

• Scholars with TOPIK Level 5 or 6 may be exempt
• Scholars who reach TOPIK Level 5 or 6 in the first six months of language training may move to the degree program in the following semester
• All language program scholars must achieve at least TOPIK Level 3 to proceed
• Some universities or departments require TOPIK Level 4 or higher check the University Information file before selecting a department

Common Mistakes That Cost Applicants Their Scholarship

• Applying through both tracks simultaneously or applying to more than one University Track university
• Choosing the wrong university type or failing to include a required Type B university
• Using a department name that does not exactly match the University Information file
• Submitting a transcript without an accepted CGPA scale official conversion or class rank proof
• Using ordinary notarization when apostille or consular confirmation is required
• Uploading unclear scans or missing signature fields
• Name spelling or order that does not match the passport
• Writing a generic personal statement that does not connect experience, major and future goals
• Selecting only highly competitive universities without a balanced admission strategy
• Waiting until the deadline to arrange translation authentication or international delivery

Final Application Checklist

Before submitting confirm every item:

• ? I meet the nationality, age, education grade and health requirements
• ? I selected only one application track and one permitted program
• ? My English name matches my passport exactly
• ? All forms are complete and all signature fields are signed
• ? All required certificates have a valid apostille or consular confirmation
• ? My universities and departments are in the official 2027 University Information file
• ? My university choices follow Type A and Type B rules
• ? My recommendation letter is current and submitted in the correct format
• ? Every non-English, non-Korean document has a certified translation
• ? My personal statement and study plan are specific, consistent and evidence-based
• ? My application is ordered, labeled and clearly scanned

Download your important documents from the links given below.