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Korean Government Fully-funded Scholarships for International Masters and PhD students (800 Available)

Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP)
(Graduate program)


Course(s) Offered: Any field
Course Level: Graduate (masters, PhD)
Provider: Korean Government (via NIIED)
Country to Study in: South Korea

Scholarship Description
The Korean Government through the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) offers the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) for both postgraduate programs (KGSP-P) and undergraduate programs (KGSP-U) at approved schools.

The scholarship is aimed to provide international students with an opportunity to conduct advanced studies at higher educational institutions in Korea, to develop global leaders and strengthen Korea-friendly networks worldwide.

The Government of Korea invites all international students who wish to pursue a master's or doctoral degree in Korea to apply for the Korean Government Scholarships (graduate program). Graduate applications to study in Korea start 1 February 2018.

Eligibility
To qualify for this scholarship:
  1. The applicant and his/her parents must hold foreign citizenships. Note: Applicants who hold Korean citizenship are NOT permitted to apply for this program.
  2. Applicants must be under 40 years of age in the year of selection.
  3. Applicants must hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree as of September 1st of the selection year. Note: Applicants who have enrolled in or graduated from a university in Korea are NOT eligible for the KGSP program. Specifically, applicants who have previously enrolled in or graduated from an undergraduate program, a master's program, or a doctoral program in Korea cannot apply for this program.
  4. Academic achievement of applicants must meet one of these:
    • maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.64 on a 4.0 scale, 2.80 on a 4.3 scale, 2.91 on a 4.5 scale, or;
    • grades/marks/score of 80% or higher from the previously attended institution.
    If the applicant does not satisfy the above requirements, he/she will be ineligible to apply to this program.
Eligible groups
Citizens of more than 100 countries (EXCEPT Korea)

Participating Institution(s)
All general graduate schools of accredited universities and higher institutions as designated by NIIED
(Search Korean Universities, Or see Certified Schools)

Fields of study
Approved Master’s or Doctoral courses offered by participating institutions. Further details are available on the NIIED website or the university information section of the GKS website (link to it is below).

Specialized or professional graduate school programs such as law or medical school program, GSIS program, etc. are also eligible on the condition that the university covers all tuition over the initial 5 million won(KRW)/semester. Night schools, seasonal programs, broadcasting schools, and cyber-schools (including online distant learning programs) are NOT eligible for application.

Number of awards
Total number of graduate grants is about 700 (undergraduate grants is about 170)

Sponsorship duration
For Master’s, it's 1 year of Korean language + 2 years of Master’s study; while for Doctoral, it's 1 year of Korean language + 3 year of Doctoral study.

After the Korean language course, the scholarship period of degree course (2 years of master’s or 3 years of doctoral) cannot be extended beyond the designated duration. In the case that a scholar possesses a TOPIK Level that is higher than 5, he or she is exempted from the Korean language course; the exempted period will be deducted from the total scholarship period (2 years for master’s or 3 years for doctoral).

Scholarship benefits
Scholarship include Airfare (round-trip economy class ticket), Monthly Allowance, Research Allowance, Settlement (i.e. Relocation) Allowance (200,000 KRW upon arrival), Language Training Fee, FULL Tuition, Dissertation Printing Costs, Medical Insurance (limited coverage), and Korean Proficiency Grants. See official website for complete information of benefits.

Method of Application
Applicants can only apply for the scholarships through the Korean Embassy in their home country or a participating Korean University (i.e. 1st Selection Institutions). To apply for this program, you should contact one of the 1st Selection Institutions (90 Overseas Korean Embassies or designated Domestic Universities) and submit the application no later than the designated deadline. These institutions then recommend applicants to NIIED (the 2nd selection Institution).

See websites of Korean Embassy/Consulate in your own country. The guideline, application form, and university information are available online at the website of GKS, or at Korean Embassies in your country, and designated domestic universities.

DEADLINES:
The deadline for recommendation of applications by 1st Selection Institutions to NIIED for Graduate Program is March - April of year of study commencement. The deadline for applicants' submission to 1st Selection Institutions is much earlier and will vary per country depending on the deadline set forth by the Korean Embassy (Consulate) in the country of origin or the universities in Korea.

For 2018/2019 session, the Korean Embassies or Consulates, and participating Universities, expect applications between February - March 2018, and recommend qualified candidates to NIIED by March - April 2018. Be sure to apply before this period.

PLEASE NOTE:
As for detailed information on application deadlines and submission of required documents, applicants should contact the APPROPRIATE KOREAN EMBASSY or CONSULATE in the country of applicant’s origin (or in the neighboring country), the 1st selection organization.

If the respective 1st Selection Institutions do not submit their candidates’ documents to NIIED on time, they will be excluded from the examination of NIIED Selection Committee, and their quotas will be substituted by the other 1st Institutions’ reserve candidates.

Applicants must obtain admission from a University before entry into Korea. Applicants recommended by a Korean Embassy (Consulate) or overseas Korean adoptees must apply and gain admission into 1 of 3 of the designated universities. Applicants recommended by a university in Korea should enter the same university.

Application Deadline: February - March 2018
Open to International Applicants: Yes

More Scholarship Information and Application(NIIED site)
More Scholarship Information and Application(StudyInKorea site)

Related: List of Scholarships in South Korea for International Students

30 comments:

  1. does that mean we have go and apply personally in abuja??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @Abdullahi, since you are Nigerian, the Korean embassy in Nigeria is in Abuja. So if you can go to the Korean embassy in Abuja, that would be wonderful. But if you live far away from Abuja, you do not need to go there personally. In the case you are a Nigerian but living far away from Abuja, you can easily contact them using the address they have given via the link provided above. Hope I have answered your question.

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  2. the application procedure is quite tough as there is no link to continue after completing application requirement, kindly assist with the procedures thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @Abdullahi, the procedure is NOT tough. Like I already explained above, you need to contact one of the FIRST SELECTION INSTITUTIONS (i.e. the Korean embassy in your country OR a participating Korean university). Either of these will easily accept your application and send them onward to NIIED for further processing. Please reach out to the Korean embassy in Abuja (since you are a Nigerian) or any Korean University participating in this scholarship. Good luck!

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  3. wow >>> we have problem that Korean embassy in libya is closed ?
    what should I do now?
    any help plz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @sasa the first selection institutions are the KOREAN EMBASSIES and participating KOREAN UNIVERSITIES. So since the Korean embassy in Libya is closed down (we sympathize with you on the problems in Libya), you have two options: a). apply through any of the participating Korean universities, OR; b). apply through a neighboring country's Korean embassy.
      IMPORTANT NOTE: I strongly advise that you apply through any of the participating Korean universities of your choice. Please see above for the link to the complete list of participating universities. Goodluck!

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  4. Is there any preference to WAEC over NECO result in this scholarship?

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  5. Please help !!
    I am a jordanian dentist can I get a scholarship to study master ?

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  6. Please, how can one get the range of courses. The link or the available courses is redirecting to facebook

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All links above are working perfectly well

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  7. Please i made 2.95 on a 5 point scale, am i eligible for this programme in 2017/2018?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You need to contact and get the true position from any of the 1st Selection Institutions, as described above. I'd advise contacting the schools

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  8. Please what are the criteria and documents needed to be submitted at the embassy, urgent please.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @bello, kindly follow instructions as already clearly directed in the article above for your particular region. Contact the 1st selection institutions.

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  9. Please, since I stay very far from Abuja, how do I get the online application form.

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  10. Please, since I stay very far from Abuja, how do I get the online application form.

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  11. Please is there any scholarship program to study medicine in korea as an undergraduate

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  12. Good afternoon.
    Please i wish to find out if i stand any chance of gaining a scholarship in Msc in counselling with a 3.60 GPA of 5 point in Masters in Clinical psychology.
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @Ngo you should try to contact and verify this from the sponsors. Please visit the official website to begin

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  13. Thanks for the update, I don't have admission into any school yet, can I apply now or wait till I gain admission

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  14. Are there undergraduate scholarships for international students?

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  15. Hello
    Please help me
    Iam from Iraq and I have my bachelor degree in Civil Engineering from Nahrain University in Baghdad-Iraq
    Also, I got my master degree in Civil Engineering/ Structural from University of Colorado-Denver in USA last year
    Can I apply for this scholarship to get my Phd? and how ? iam living in Baghdad-Iraq right now
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello
    Please help me
    Iam from Iraq and I have my bachelor degree in Civil Engineering from Nahrain University in Baghdad-Iraq
    Also, I got my master degree in Civil Engineering/ Structural from University of Colorado-Denver in USA last year
    Can I apply for this scholarship to get my Phd? and how ? iam living in Baghdad-Iraq right now
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  17. hyy I would love to apply for the 2018 graduate schorlarship and i learnt that application starts from febuary to march.
    the problem i might have is the distance of the embassy ..i stay in lagos and the embassy is in abuja and by then i will be in schooly for my final year ...but in lagos there is another korea embassy there...so is it possible to apply to that one

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  18. what is the minimum gpa scale for 5.0 scale to qualify for the scholarship

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  19. Please I would like to know if one can delay the submission of certificate of degree during application since I would not have it by that time. Also I would like you speak to someone who applied and succeeded. And yes I know application for this year has ended, I'm enquiring ahead. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you should contact one of the 1st Selection Institutions which are the over 90 Overseas Korean Embassies or designated Domestic Universities. They will give you a more pointed answer on delaying the submission of certificate of degree during an application.
      About applying and succeeding, many have. Just ask Google. Cheers

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