2027 Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate Degrees (GKS-U)

Multiple Universities

Scholarships
South Korean
September 19, 2026

The 2027 Global Korea Scholarship (GKS-U) is the Korean Government’s scholarship program for international students who want to study for an associate or bachelor’s degree in South Korea. For 2027, the program plans to select 286 scholars through the Embassy Track and University Track. The scholarship includes tuition support, Korean language training, airfare, and a monthly allowance under the benefits specified in the official guidelines.

For the Embassy Track, applications are submitted online through Study in Korea from September 15, 2026 at 11:00 KST until September 30, 2026 at 18:00 KST. The University Track runs from September to November 2026, but each participating university sets its own deadline and submission method.

For Afghan applicants, the 2027 Embassy Track allocation shown in the official guidelines is 1 General place and 1 R-GKS place, for a total of 2 places. The official Korean Embassy in Afghanistan also published a 2027 GKS-U notice on September 14, 2026.

Quick Details

Detail	2027 GKS-U information
Scholarship	Global Korea Scholarship (GKS-U)
Country	South Korea
Degree levels	Associate and Bachelor’s
Total scholars	286
Embassy Track	156 scholars
University Track	130 scholars
Bachelor’s duration	1 year Korean language + 4–6 years degree
Associate duration	1 year Korean language + 2–3 years degree
Embassy application	September 15–30, 2026
Embassy deadline	September 30, 2026, 18:00 KST
University Track	September–November 2026
University Track deadline	Varies by university
Age	Under 25; born on or after March 1, 2002
Academic requirement	80%+, top 20%, or accepted CGPA equivalent
Final result	Expected January 7, 2027
Application portal	Study in Korea for Embassy Track
Official guidelines	Study in Korea GKS Notice

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What Is the 2027 Global Korea Scholarship?

The Global Korea Scholarship is a Korean government scholarship program designed to give international students an opportunity to study at Korean higher education institutions.

The 2027 undergraduate program includes both associate degree and bachelor’s degree routes. Most successful scholars first complete Korean language training unless they qualify for an exemption through the conditions in the guidelines.

The program is divided into two main application tracks:

Embassy Track
University Track

Choosing the correct track is important because the application method, university choices, selection process, and deadlines are different.

How Many Scholarships Are Available?

The 2027 GKS-U program has 286 places in total.

Embassy Track — 156 places

The Embassy Track includes:

General: 88 bachelor’s scholarships from 74 countries
R-GKS: 61 bachelor’s scholarships from 52 countries
Overseas Koreans & Adoptees: 7 bachelor’s scholarships from 7 countries

The country allocation is not the same for every country.

For Afghanistan, the official 2027 allocation is:

General: 1
R-GKS: 1
Overseas Koreans & Adoptees: 0
Total: 2

The official guidelines also state that, depending on local circumstances, the Korean embassy in an invited country may choose not to recommend a candidate.

University Track — 130 places

The University Track includes:

UIC Program: 100 scholars
Associate Degree Program: 30 scholars

The UIC program is open to applicants from all countries worldwide, but applicants can apply only to the participating universities and departments listed in the official University Information files.

Embassy Track vs University Track

Feature	Embassy Track	University Track
First selection	Korean embassy	University
Application method	Study in Korea online system	Each university’s own method
Programs	General, R-GKS, Overseas Koreans & Adoptees	UIC, Associate Degree
University choices	Up to 3 for General/O&A; up to 2 for R-GKS	One university and one department
Deadline	September 30, 2026	Varies by university
Selection rounds	Up to 3	2
Can a first-round Embassy failure apply through University Track?	Yes, if the university deadline remains open	—

An Embassy Track applicant who passes the first round, including as a backup candidate, cannot apply again through the University Track.

Who Can Apply for GKS-U 2027?

Applicants must meet the official eligibility conditions.

1. Nationality

For the Embassy Track, applicants must hold citizenship of a country designated for participation in GKS.

The 2027 guideline specifically lists Afghanistan among the countries with Embassy Track allocations.

The UIC program under the University Track is open to applicants from all countries worldwide.

Applicants and their parents or legal guardians must meet the nationality conditions in the official guidelines. A person who has Korean citizenship together with another citizenship is not eligible under the stated dual-citizenship rule.

2. Age

Applicants must be under 25 years old.

For the 2027 program, the guideline states that applicants must be born on or after March 1, 2002.

3. Education

For a bachelor’s degree, applicants must have:

Graduated from high school; or
Graduated from an associate degree program; or
Be expected to graduate by December 31, 2026.

For an associate degree, applicants must have graduated or be expected to graduate from high school.

A person who already holds a bachelor’s degree cannot apply for GKS-U. An applicant with an associate degree can apply for a bachelor’s program.

If you are expected to graduate in 2026, you must initially provide a certificate of expected graduation. If selected for the first round, the final graduation or degree certificate and transcript must be submitted by December 31, 2026.

4. Academic Grades

Applicants must satisfy at least one of the following:

At least 80 out of 100;
Rank within the top 20% of the class; or
Meet one of the accepted CGPA thresholds:

GPA scale	Minimum CGPA
4.0	2.64
4.3	2.80
4.5	2.91
5.0	3.23

If your transcript does not provide a CGPA in an accepted scale, additional official documentation explaining the institution’s grading system may be required.

What Fields Can You Study?

The official guidelines state that applicants can apply for fields offered by participating GKS universities, subject to the universities and departments listed in the official University Information files.

This means you should not assume that every major is available at every university.

Before choosing a major, check the official 2027 University Information file and confirm:

The university is participating.
Your department is listed.
Your degree level is eligible.
Any university-specific academic or language requirements are satisfied.

Even if a field exists at a Korean university generally, that does not mean it is automatically available through GKS-U.

Which Universities Can Applicants Choose?

Embassy Track — General

General applicants can choose up to three different universities.

At least one choice must be a Type B university.

Embassy Track — R-GKS

R-GKS applicants can choose up to two Type B universities.

University Track

University Track applicants can choose only:

One university
One department

Applicants cannot apply to multiple departments at the same university.

The official University Information files should be checked before making your choices because university and department requirements can differ.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

The 2027 guidelines list several scholarship benefits.

Tuition

For scholars in the degree program:

NIIED provides tuition support of up to KRW 5 million per semester.
The university covers the amount exceeding KRW 5 million and the admission fee according to the scholarship guidelines.

Korean Language Program Fee

The listed support is KRW 5.2 million per year for the Korean language program.

Airfare

The scholarship provides an economy-class flight ticket based on actual expense, subject to the conditions in the guidelines.

However, there are important restrictions. For example, newly selected scholars who are residing in Korea at the time of the final announcement do not receive entry airfare. Entry airfare or visa application support is also not provided to scholars entering Korea from a country other than their own country of citizenship.

Monthly Allowance

The 2027 guideline lists:

KRW 13,560,000 per year during the Korean language program
KRW 14,400,000 per year during the degree program

The guideline describes the monthly allowance as an all-inclusive subsidy covering living expenses, accommodation, health insurance, Korean proficiency grants, TOPIK application fees, settlement allowance, and degree completion grants.

The scholarship amounts may be subject to change, according to the official guideline.

Is GKS Fully Funded?

The official benefits cover major study-related and living-related expenses, including tuition support, Korean language training, airfare under the stated conditions, and the listed allowance.

However, applicants should avoid treating the phrase “fully funded” as meaning every possible personal expense is covered. The guidelines specifically identify some expenses that are not covered, including domestic travel costs within the scholar’s home country and international travel insurance for travel to Korea.

What Is Not Covered?

The guidelines specifically state that:

Domestic travel expenses inside the scholar’s home country are not covered.
International travel insurance for the trip to Korea is not covered.
Entry airfare is not provided to newly selected scholars already residing in Korea at the final announcement.
Entry airfare or visa application support is not provided when the scholar enters Korea from a country other than their country of citizenship.

For other possible personal expenses not specifically described in the official benefits section, Not specified on the official source.

Is IELTS or TOEFL Required?

The 2027 guidelines do not state that every applicant must submit IELTS or TOEFL.

Instead, the application documents list a valid TOPIK score or English proficiency test score as applicable/optional, and the evaluation system awards points for language proficiency. The recognized English tests listed in the guidelines are TOEFL and IELTS.

This does not mean that every university and department has identical language requirements.

The official guideline warns that admission requirements such as language scores and major-specific requirements can vary by university and department.

Therefore, applicants should check the University Information file for their chosen university and department before assuming that a particular language score is or is not required.

Does Korean Language Ability Help?

Yes. Korean proficiency is considered during evaluation.

The 2027 guidelines give additional points to applicants with TOPIK Level 3 or higher:

TOPIK 3: additional 3% of total allocated points
TOPIK 4: additional 4%
TOPIK 5 or higher: additional 5%

Applicants with TOPIK Level 5 or 6 can also qualify for exemption from the Korean language program under the conditions in the guidelines.

This is different from saying that TOPIK is mandatory for every applicant.

What Documents Are Required?

The official application documents include the following main items.

Main GKS Forms

Applicants may need:

Application Form
Personal Statement
Study Plan
Recommendation Letter
GKS Applicant Agreement
Personal Medical Assessment
Consent to Collect and Use Personal Information

Required Certificates

Depending on the applicant, these include:

Proof of citizenship
Proof of family relationship
High school graduation certificate or expected graduation certificate
High school academic transcript
Associate degree graduation certificate, if applicable
Associate degree transcript, if applicable

Additional documents apply to specific applicants, such as overseas Koreans, adoptees, Korean citizenship renunciation cases, or descendants of Korean War veterans.

Applicants may also submit language scores and up to five awards or other certificates as optional supporting materials when relevant.

A passport copy may be used as supplementary citizenship evidence when the main citizenship document does not clearly show citizenship information.

Apostille and Document Authentication

This is an important part of the GKS application.

For the second round, required certificates generally need apostille or consular confirmation according to the rules in the official guidelines.

Documents issued in English or Korean must follow the authentication requirements. Documents in other languages require a certified translation and authentication according to the stated procedure.

Do not wait until the last moment to investigate document authentication.

The first-round submission and later NIIED submission are different stages. Embassy Track applicants initially upload scanned documents online, while successful first-round applicants must later submit the required original/authenticated documents according to the instructions of the relevant embassy.

How to Apply for the Embassy Track

The Embassy Track application is submitted online through the Study in Korea system.

Step 1: Check the official 2027 guidelines

Read the current GKS-U guidelines and University Information files before completing the application.

Step 2: Confirm your eligibility

Check:

Nationality
Age
Education
Academic results
Previous Korean government scholarships
Other restrictions

Step 3: Select your program

Choose the correct Embassy Track program.

An applicant may apply to only one program among:

General
R-GKS
Overseas Koreans & Adoptees

For an Afghan applicant, the 2027 allocation includes General and R-GKS places.

Step 4: Research universities and departments

Use the official University Information file.

For General applicants, choose up to three universities with at least one Type B university.

For R-GKS, choose up to two Type B universities.

Step 5: Complete the online application

The Embassy Track online application period is:

September 15, 2026, 11:00 KST → September 30, 2026, 18:00 KST.

Step 6: Upload the required documents

Complete the online forms and upload the required scanned documents according to the system instructions.

Step 7: Check everything before submitting

Your name should match your passport.

Also check the exact official university and department name. The guidelines warn that an incorrect department name may result in exclusion from evaluation.

Step 8: Follow the first-round result

If you pass the first round, you must submit the required original and authenticated documents by the deadline announced by the relevant embassy.

How to Apply Through the University Track

The University Track is different.

Applicants apply directly according to each participating university’s application method. This may include online submission, email, mail, or another method specified by the university.

The official GKS guidelines set the overall University Track period as September–November 2026, but the exact deadline and submission method are determined by each university.

Therefore, there is no single University Track deadline that applies to every university.

Applicants should:

Find a participating university and department.
Open the university’s own 2027 GKS-U announcement.
Check its deadline.
Check its required documents.
Follow its submission method.
Apply to only one university and one department.

For example, individual participating universities have already published their own 2027 GKS-U notices with different deadlines and procedures.

2027 GKS-U Application and Selection Timeline

All times in the main GKS schedule are based on Korea Standard Time (KST).

Stage	Embassy Track	University Track
Application	Sept. 15–30, 2026	Sept.–Nov. 2026
First-round result	By Oct. 16	November
Documents to NIIED	By Oct. 30	By Nov. 30
NIIED result	By late November / within November	By mid-December / within December
University review	By Dec. 23	No third round
Final result	Expected Jan. 7, 2027	Expected Jan. 7, 2027

The official guideline says the schedule is subject to change.

Embassy Track Selection

The process is generally:

Applicant → Korean Embassy → NIIED → Korean Universities → Final NIIED announcement

The Embassy Track has a third university review stage.

University Track Selection

The process is:

Applicant → University → NIIED → Final announcement

There is no third university-selection round for the University Track.

Important 2027 GKS-U Dates

Embassy Track application deadline

September 30, 2026 at 18:00 KST

This is the most important deadline for applicants using the Embassy Track.

Embassy first-round result

Expected by October 16, 2026.

NIIED second-round result

Expected within November 2026.

Embassy Track university review

Expected result by December 23, 2026 at 18:00 KST.

Final university choice

Successful Embassy Track applicants who pass the third round must notify NIIED of their final university choice by December 29, 2026 at 18:00 KST.

Final GKS-U result

The final announcement is expected January 7, 2027. The guideline identifies this as an expected date, so it should not be treated as an unchangeable date.

What Happens After Selection?

Successful applicants receive information about entry and invitation procedures.

The guidelines state that invitation letters and entry guidelines are expected to be sent within January 2027 to the personal email address provided in the application.

Applicants should also prepare authenticated graduation documents. The official guidelines recommend preparing multiple authenticated copies because documents may later be needed for university admission, visa procedures, or immigration procedures.

Can You Apply Through Both Tracks?

You should not submit duplicate applications.

The guidelines state that applicants must apply to only one track/program according to the applicable rules.

For example, an Embassy Track applicant who passes the first round, including as a backup candidate, cannot then apply through the University Track.

However, an applicant who fails the first Embassy Track round may apply through the University Track if the relevant university’s deadline is still open.

Important Restrictions

Several restrictions can make an applicant ineligible.

These include certain applicants who:

Already hold a bachelor’s degree.
Graduated or are expected to graduate from a Korean high school or Korean associate degree program.
Previously received a Korean government scholarship for a degree program.
Had a GKS degree scholarship canceled under the conditions described in the guidelines.
Received a degree scholarship from another Korean government agency.
Were selected for a recent GKS degree program and then withdrew or were disqualified within the specified period.
Submit duplicate applications.

Applicants with a previous non-degree GKS exchange scholarship or certain Korean language program scholarships may still be eligible under the specific rules.

Does GKS Require an Interview?

The evaluation process can include an oral interview during the competency review.

The guidelines state that competency evaluation considers factors such as:

Academic performance
Language proficiency
Academic activities
Contribution to society and international exchange
Future development potential
Completeness and authenticity of documents

The first-round interview arrangements are handled by the relevant embassy or university.

Additional Points

The 2027 guidelines provide additional points in certain circumstances.

Science and engineering

Applicants applying to science and engineering departments receive an additional 5% of the total allocated points.

TOPIK

Applicants with TOPIK Level 3 or above receive additional points:

Level 3: 3%
Level 4: 4%
Level 5 or above: 5%

Korean War veteran descendants

Direct descendants of Korean War veterans who participated in the Korean War as members of a foreign military receive an additional 10% of the total allocated points, subject to the official eligibility and documentation rules.

These are evaluation provisions, not guarantees of selection.

Important Advice Before Applying

1. Do not choose a university only because it is famous

The GKS guidelines specifically warn applicants to choose universities carefully.

For Embassy Track General applicants, at least one choice must be Type B. The university and department must also be compatible with your academic plan.

2. Check the department, not only the university

A university may participate in GKS but not offer your desired major through the specific GKS-U program.

Always check the official University Information file.

3. Keep your name consistent

Your English name must match your passport. The guidelines warn that discrepancies can create problems, including visa-processing delays.

4. Do not assume IELTS is always required or unnecessary

Language requirements can vary by university and department.

Check the current University Information file rather than relying on general GKS articles.

5. Start document authentication early

Apostille or consular-confirmation procedures can take time.

Even if you can complete the first application online, successful first-round applicants may later need original and authenticated documents.

6. Do not submit duplicate applications

A duplicate application can result in the application being disregarded and may lead to scholarship cancellation if discovered later.

GKS-U 2027 FAQs

Is the 2027 GKS undergraduate scholarship open?

Yes. The official 2027 GKS-U guidelines were released in September 2026. Embassy Track applications opened on September 15, 2026.

What is the GKS-U 2027 deadline?

For the Embassy Track, the deadline is September 30, 2026 at 18:00 KST.

For the University Track, the deadline varies by university and falls within the September–November 2026 period.

Can Afghan students apply for GKS 2027?

Afghanistan is included in the 2027 Embassy Track country allocation, with one General place and one R-GKS place in the published allocation.

Applicants should also check the current notice of the Korean Embassy responsible for Afghanistan. The embassy published a 2027 GKS-U notice on September 14, 2026.

How many universities can I choose?

For Embassy Track General applicants, up to three universities, with at least one Type B university.

R-GKS applicants can choose up to two Type B universities.

University Track applicants can choose only one university and one department.

Can I apply for GKS if I will graduate in 2027?

For the 2027 GKS-U program, expected graduates must be able to complete their graduation requirements by December 31, 2026.

Therefore, a student whose expected graduation is after December 31, 2026 does not meet this requirement.

Is IELTS mandatory?

Not as a universal GKS-U requirement stated for every applicant. The guidelines list English proficiency test scores as applicable/optional and recognize TOEFL and IELTS for evaluation.

However, individual universities and departments can have their own language requirements.

Is TOPIK mandatory?

The main GKS-U guidelines do not state that every applicant must already have TOPIK.

TOPIK can affect evaluation and can provide additional points. TOPIK Level 5 or 6 can also lead to exemption from the Korean language program under the stated conditions.