Scholarships to study in South Korea | The ultimate guide

Studying in Korea

Studying in Korea offers a remarkable and enriching experience for students from around the world. Renowned for its top-tier educational institutions, cutting-edge research facilities, and vibrant cultural heritage. Korea has emerged as a popular destination for international students. Students can immerse themselves in a dynamic learning environment that combines academic excellence with a strong focus on innovation and technology. They will also benefit from world-class faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, diverse academic disciplines, and various funding options to study in the country. Let’s discuss the scholarships available for international students to study in South Korea.

Top 5 scholarships to study in South Korea

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

Scholarship details

The GKS program, undoubtedly the best scholarship for international students in Korea, was established by the Korean government to foster international educational interactions and friendships.

220 undergraduate and 1,080 graduate students would be able to study for free at selected Korean institutions as a result of this initiative.

Scholarship benefits

Scholarship Amount- Full cost of tuition (not exceeding KRW 5 million (325,153 INR).

A resettlement payment, living allowance, medical insurance, and language course expenses are all included in the scholarship. Those who demonstrate great competence in the Korean language will receive a prize of KRW 100,000 (6,628 INR).

Eligibility requirements

Eligible Degree- Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees at select Korean universities

Graduate students are also eligible for research assistance, dissertation printing costs, and a KRW 100,000 (6,628 INR) full grant.

Applicants must be under the age of 25 (undergraduate) or 40 (graduate) to receive the scholarship. A GPA of at least 80% from your prior university is also required.

POSCO Tj Park Scholarship For Asian Students Studying In Korea

Scholarship details

The scholarship covers full tuition for four semesters. It is available for Masters and Doctoral degree programs.

This scholarship is exclusively for Asian students who plan to pursue graduate studies in South Korea. It aims to support the development of future leaders in Asia.

Scholarship benefits

Besides tuition coverage, the scholarship provides a monthly living stipend of $900 (66,282 INR).

Eligibility requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree either in Korea or another country.

All applications will undergo two rounds of selection, including document evaluation and an interview.

Applicants must obtain admission to their preferred university. The student will get a POSCO Asia fellow designation.

Korea University Scholarships For International Students

Scholarship details

The scholarship offers partial to full tuition coverage for a maximum of 8 semesters. It is available for bachelor’s degree programs.

Korea University is popular for its relatively high tuition fees as a private institution. Thanks to the excellent Korean scholarship programs, many international students have been able to complete their undergraduate studies at the university without any financial burden.

Scholarship benefits

Various scholarship opportunities are available at Korea University. For incoming students, there are entrance scholarships awarded to a select number of individuals based on their merits. No separate application is necessary as there is a selection process to choose recipients.

Eligibility requirements

Students would be eligible for scholarships such as the Academic Excellence or Academic Improvement scholarships. To retain the scholarship for the following year, students are typically required to maintain a specific GPA, similar to other merit-based awards.

Samsung Global Hope Scholarship Program

Scholarship details

The scholarship covers full tuition for 8 semesters (undergraduate), 4 semesters (master’s), or 6 semesters (Ph.D. or doctoral).

Eligible degrees include bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs at Samsung partner universities.

Eligibility requirements

The Samsung Global Hope Scholarship Program welcomes applicants from countries listed on the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list of Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients. This includes least-developed, low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries.

Selection criteria for scholars include academic proficiency, language skills in both Korean and English and demonstrated financial need. The scholarship program prefers students who are likely to contribute to their home countries’ growth upon completion of their studies.

Students should submit their applications directly to the university of their choice.

Seoul National University (SNU) President Fellowship

Scholarship details

The scholarship covers full tuition for 6 semesters.

It is available for SNU (Seoul National University) doctoral degree programs.

Founded in 1946, SNU is widely popular as the leading institution in South Korea. Alongside its prestigious reputation, it offers the distinguished SNU President Fellowship program, which is among the most renowned scholarships for international students in Korea. This program specifically targets Ph.D. students who serve as faculty members in universities across various regions, including Asia, South America, and Africa.

Applicants with notable achievements in public health, agriculture, medicine, engineering, developmental studies, and Korean studies are preferred during the selection process.

Deserving students who receive this fellowship also get a comprehensive package, including a full-tuition scholarship for six semesters, a monthly living allowance of KRW 1.5 million (equivalent to $1,352 or 99,571 INR) for four years, group medical insurance, and round-trip airfare. Additionally, SNU reimburses the cost of language programs taken in the evenings during the fall and spring semesters.

To continue benefiting from this valuable scholarship for three years, awardees must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Key takeaways

• Studying in Korea offers a remarkable and enriching experience for international students, with renowned educational institutions, cutting-edge research facilities, and a vibrant cultural heritage.
• Top scholarships in Korea are the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), POSCO Tj Park Scholarship, Korea University Scholarships, Samsung Global Hope Scholarship Program, and Seoul National University (SNU) President Fellowship.
• These scholarships provide opportunities for international students to pursue their educational dreams in Korea, fostering academic excellence, cross-cultural exchange, and future leadership development.

We hope you found this blog informative and helpful in your pursuit of studying in South Korea. If you have any thoughts or comments, please share them below. For further information and assistance with your queries related to studying abroad, click here to contact us. We are happy to assist you!

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FAQs

Q1. How to get a visa to study in South Korea?

Ans- Obtaining a Student visa (D-2) is mandatory to study in South Korea. You can acquire it from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India, New Delhi, or the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in India, Mumbai, or Chennai.

Q2. What is the age limit for studying in Korea?

Ans- There is no explicitly stated maximum age limit to study in South Korea. Accepting a specific school and acquiring a student visa will depend on factors such as your nationality, activities and achievements over the past decade, and your chosen field of study and preferred educational institution.

Q3. Is IELTS required to study in South Korea?

Ans- In order to pursue studies in Korea conducted in English, it is necessary to take either the TOEFL or the IELTS examination. The following minimum scores are required for studying in Korea- For undergraduate and master’s programs, a minimum TOEFL score of 71 or an IELTS score of 5.5 is required.