10 Best Scholarships in Korea for International Students

South Korea has become one of the most attractive destinations for international students. With its high-quality universities, vibrant culture, and generous scholarship offerings, many students are looking into best scholarships in Korea for international students. In this article, we will explore ten of the top scholarships, each detailed to help you decide which might suit your needs.

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   Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) / Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP)

The Global Korea Scholarship also known as the Korean Government Scholarship Program is perhaps the most well-known among the best scholarships in Korea for international students. Sponsored by the Korean government via NIIED (National Institute for International Education), GKS offers full support for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD degrees. It also covers full tuition fees, monthly living stipends, round‐trip airfare, health insurance, one year of Korean language training, and sometimes a settlement allowance. The eligibility criteria include being a non‐Korean citizen, having good academic records, possibly minimum age requirements, and sometimes language proficiency. Given its breadth and generosity, GKS is almost always listed among the best scholarships in Korea for international students.

2. KOICA Scholarship Program

Another of the best scholarships in Korea for international students is the KOICA Scholarship Program. Administered by the Korea International Cooperation Agency, it is targeted more toward students from developing countries or those engaged in international development, public policy, or related fields. KOICA covers tuition fees, monthly stipends, accommodation, airfare, health insurance, and about all expenses related to studies. It’s particularly suited to graduate (Master’s/PhD) level studies. Due to its focus on development-related study, this program is also strong choice among the best scholarships in Korea for international students, especially for those interested in contributing to their home country’s development.

3. Seoul National University Scholarships

Seoul National University (SNU) is one of the top‐ranked universities in Korea, and offers generous scholarships for foreign students. Among the best scholarships in Korea for international students are the SNU President Fellowship and the SNU Global Scholarship. The President Fellowship is aimed particularly at Ph.D. students; benefits often include full tuition, a generous monthly stipend (in some listings around KRW 1,500,000/month), airfare, medical insurance, and sometimes Korean language support. For undergraduates and other graduate students, SNU also has other merit‐based scholarship programs. For many international students, SNU’s offerings rank high among the best scholarships in Korea for international students.

4. KAIST Scholarships

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is a science and engineering powerhouse in Korea. Among the best scholarships in Korea for international students KAIST provides scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students. These also include tuition waivers, stipends, sometimes accommodation support, and health insurance. If you are applying in a STEM field, KAIST is definitely among the top places where you will find excellent scholarship support.

5. Yonsei University Scholarships

Yonsei University, one of Korea’s oldest and most prestigious, also provides some of the best scholarships in Korea for international students. Underwood International College (UIC) is Yonsei’s English‐based liberal arts college, and all applicants to UIC are automatically considered for UIC Scholarships. These scholarships often cover full tuition for four years for outstanding undergraduates. Yonsei also has graduate scholarships, merit scholarships, and need‐based ones. The automatic consideration for UIC makes it especially appealing for many students looking for the best scholarships in Korea for international students.

6. Korea University Scholarships

Korea University also ranks among institutions that offer some of the best scholarships in Korea for international students. The Global KU Scholarship, Korea University Global Leader Scholarship, and other internal KU scholarships provide full or partial tuition waivers based on merit, sometimes coupled with stipends. International students admitted to Korea University often have opportunities to receive aid automatically or via internal scholarships depending on GPA, program, and achievements.

7. Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) Scholarships

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) also makes the list of best scholarships in Korea for international students. SKKU also offers Global SKKU Scholarships, academic excellence grants, and other scholarship packages. They cover tuition, sometimes monthly stipends, and possibly accommodation or other support especially at graduate levels. For students in engineering, business, and other specialized areas, SKKU is a strong contender among universities offering excellent scholarships.

8. Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Scholarship

The GIST Scholarship is another among the best scholarships in Korea for international students, especially those focusing on science and technology fields. GIST often provides full tuition waivers, living stipends, housing, health insurance, and sometimes flight costs. For master’s and Ph.D. students, GIST is considered to have very competitive and generous scholarship offerings.

9. Korea National University of Arts Scholarship

For students in artistic fields, the AMA+ Scholarship at K‐Arts (Korea National University of Arts) is one of the best scholarships in Korea for international students in art, dance, drama, music, film, and traditional Korean arts. It typically covers full tuition, provides a monthly allowance, health insurance, sometimes airfare, and Korean language training when needed. It also targets students from OECD DAC recipient countries, making it especially relevant for many applicants.

10. Internal/University Scholarships at Other Major Institutions

Besides government and high‐profile university‐level programs, many of Korea’s leading universities offer internal scholarships, which are included among the best scholarships in Korea for international students. For example:

• Kyung Hee University offers President’s Scholarships and other merit or entrance based scholarships.
• Hanyang University has International Excellence Awards, partial or full tuition waivers depending on performance.
• Ewha Womans University offers the Ewha Global Partnership Program (EGPP) and other scholarships for international undergrad and graduate students.
• Sogang University offers admission scholarships, Global Emerging Scholars, etc.

These internal scholarships often depend on GPA, entrance test results, TOPIK (Korean language test) level, and/or financial need. For many students, they form crucial opportunities and are definitely part of the best scholarships in Korea for international students.

What Are the Tips to Get One of these Scholarships?

• Maintain excellent academic records. Most of these scholarships are highly merit‐based.
• Get good language credentials. English (TOEFL/IELTS) and Korean (TOPIK) can help.
• Apply early and follow tracks. Many government scholarships like GKS have “Embassy Track” and “University Track.”
• Be thorough in your application such as statement of purpose, recommendation letters, possibly research proposals, portfolios (for arts), etc.
• Look not just at tuition, but other benefits such as monthly stipends, housing, airfare, insurance are what make a scholarship fully supportive. Those that cover most/all these are among the true best scholarships in Korea for international students.

Other than Best Scholarships in Korea, you can also explore Korea Youth Summit 2026

Hence, if you aim to study in Korea, exploring the best scholarships in Korea for international students should be a top priority. Programs like GKS, KOICA, SNU Presidential Fellowship, and ones offered by KAIST, Yonsei, K‐Arts, and other top universities provide excellent opportunities. Your success largely depends on matching your profile (academic, language, research/artistic background) to the eligibility requirements, and applying well in advance.

FAQs

1. What is the most generous scholarship in Korea?

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is often considered the most generous in terms of breadth (tuition, stipend, airfare, language training) for both undergraduate and graduate students. Among specific universities, SNU’s President Fellowship and KAIST’s scholarship programs are extremely competitive and generous.

2. Can international students apply to more than one of these scholarships?

Yes, typically you can apply to university scholarships and government scholarships (like GKS) at the same time, but you must carefully check rules. Some scholarships disallow holding two at once, especially fully funded ones, or there may be conflicts. Always read eligibility and terms.

3. What is the role of TOPIK or Korean language proficiency?

For many scholarships, knowing Korean (having a TOPIK score) adds to your competitiveness or may even be required. However, there are several programs, especially in international colleges (for example: Yonsei UIC), where English‐taught courses are sufficient. That said, demonstrating willingness to learn Korean often helps.

4. When should I apply to get one of these scholarships?

Most application deadlines for government scholarships like GKS are around September‐October for the following academic year. University scholarships often align with admission deadlines, which can be similar or slightly earlier. Start preparing at least 6–12 months ahead, collect transcripts, test scores, recommendation letters, and if needed, portfolios or research proposals.