Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) 2027: Fully Funded Study in South Korea

What is it?

The GKS is a scholarship funded by the South Korean government and run by NIIED. The bachelor's route lasts 5 to 7 years, made up of one year of Korean language training plus 4 to 6 years of degree study. Almost every field of study is open. 

What you get

-Tuition is covered, up to 5 million KRW, with universities covering anything above that and the admission fee. 

-A monthly allowance of 13,560,000 KRW per year during language study and 14,400,000 KRW per year during the degree.  

-An economy flight ticket to Korea, a Korean language programme fee, and health insurance and settlement support covered by the allowance.  

Who is it for?

This post covers the undergraduate track (GKS-U). Applicants must:

•Be citizens of a country NIIED has invited, with neither the applicant nor their parents holding Korean citizenship. Nigeria is on the list, with four embassy slots.  

•Be born after March 1, 2002, and have graduated (or be due to graduate) from high school by December 31, 2026.  

•Have an 80% average, or be in the top 20% of their class. 

•Be in good physical and mental health.

•TOPIK or English scores are optional, though some universities ask for them.

Deadlines

-Embassy Track: closed September 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM KST.  

-University Track: runs September to November 2026, and each university sets its own date. It includes the UIC programme, which is open to applicants from all countries and focused on science and engineering. 

-Embassy applicants who fail round one can still try the University Track.

-Final results: expected January 7, 2027.  

-Graduate (Master's/PhD): the 2027 guidelines aren't out yet. The 2026 graduate round ran 12 to 25 February 2026, and applicants must be under 40. Expect something similar around February 2027.  

How to apply

-Create an account on the Study in Korea portal.

-Read the official 2027 guidelines and the "University Information" file to check department requirements.

-Prepare your documents: application form, personal statement, study plan, a recommendation letter written within a year of the deadline, and certificates with apostille or consular confirmation.

-For the University Track, apply directly to your chosen university by its own method.

👉 Apply / official portal: studyinkorea.go.kr

👉 Official 2027 GKS-U notice and guidelines: GKS Notice https://studyinkorea.go.kr/ko/plan/gksNoticeRead.do?bbsId=BBSMSTR_000000000461&nttId=4522

Tip: start your apostille and certificate processing now. It's the step that most often delays applications.