List of Scholarships in South Korea in 2026 for International Students

International students interested in a high-level education coupled with a rich cultural experience have made studying in South Korea a highly sought-after option. The nation has several world-class universities, including Seoul National University, KAIST, Yonsei University, and Korea University, which provide a variety of programs, many of which are fully taught in English. Aside from studies, students can dive into South Korea's vibrant society, from the energetic city life of Seoul to the nation's rich historical places and breathtaking natural beauty. The living cost and fees in South Korea are generally lower than other popular countries for study, such as the US or UK. Costs can vary greatly, though, based on the university and where it is located. For instance, staying in Seoul is quite costly compared to other cities such as Gwangju. To complement the expenses, there are various Korean Scholarships one can pursue. Most universities also have their own scholarships, which can accommodate full or partial tuition fees.

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List of Scholarships in South Korea in 2026 for International Students

Which visa is required as an international student?

To attend college in South Korea, you will need to get a student visa (D-2). You'll usually need a letter of admission from your Korean university and a financial statement that shows you are able to support yourself. When you have a D-2 visa, you can also apply to work part-time. This can be an excellent opportunity to earn some extra money and get work experience while you're at school. The rules for part-time employment tend to mandate that you have been a student for some length of time (ordinarily one semester) and have a minimum GPA.

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Why study in South Korea as a foreign student?

South Korea has been a highly attractive destination for foreign students with a mix of state-of-the-art education, technological innovation, and cultural wealth. Most of its top-ranking universities, including Seoul National University and KAIST, are world-renowned institutions of excellence in areas of engineering and technology. Students can enrol in a broad variety of programs, with more and more courses and even whole degrees being taught in English.

This good-quality education has a comparatively low cost of living and tuition fees compared to other strongly sought-after study locations, such as the US or the UK and is thus an economically appealing choice. The Korean government and universities also offer a variety of scholarship schemes, such as the highly selective Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), to assist international students in financing their studies.

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Host Country: South Korea

Host Organisation: Multiple Universities and organisations

Financial Coverage: Fully Funded

Degree Program: Undergraduate, Master's and Phd

What will be international students' Post-Graduation Opportunities?

Aside from the academic advantages, South Korea provides a vibrant cultural immersion. From the contemporary energy of K-pop and K-dramas to the rooted traditions in historical palaces and traditional markets, students can enjoy it all. The nation is also renowned for being among the safest in the world, with a good public transport system and a high standard of living, guaranteeing a comfortable and secure student life.

Upon graduation, international students have various options to remain and work, owing to a robust and creative economy. The D-10 Job Seeker Visa offered by the government enables students to remain in the country for a period of six months in search of employment, while the thriving technology industry and international companies such as Samsung and Hyundai offer numerous career prospects. The mix of academic success, cultural diversity, and excellent career opportunities makes South Korea the best place for foreign students to acquire a competitive advantage.

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1# Global Korea Scholarship

The Global Korea Scholarship is a highly competitive and well-regarded scholarship program sponsored by the Korean government. It hopes to give international students the chance to study at the higher education level in South Korea and promote international friendship and global educational exchange. It is open for undergraduate and graduate levels, encompassing many fields of study.

Benefits of Scholarship

The scholarship pays full tuition fees for the whole duration of the degree course.
Scholars are provided with a competitive monthly allowance to finance living costs, which may be about ₩900,000 for degree courses and ₩1,500,000 for research courses.
The scholarship offers a round-trip economy class flight ticket to and from South Korea, once only.
All scholars are obliged to undergo one year of obligatory Korean language training, which is paid in full through the scholarship.
The scholarship also covers a settlement allowance when arrival, medical insurance, research allowance, and a grant for degree completion.

Eligibility

The candidate and their parents should be foreign citizens. Dual citizens or Korean citizens are not accepted.
Applicants should be younger than 25 years for undergraduate studies and younger than 40 for graduate studies.
Applicants should complete the necessary education level, high school for undergraduate, bachelor's degree for master's.
A minimum academic record of 80% or a cumulative GPA of 2.64/4.0 or better is generally the norm.
Applicants should be physically and mentally fit.

Deadline

For the most up-to-date and detailed information on all scholarships and admission procedures, it is essential to consult the official Yonsei University website.

Official Link: www.studyinkorea.go.kr

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2# Seoul National University Scholarships

Seoul National University provides several different scholarships to international students, which can broadly be classified as government-sponsored scholarships and institutional scholarships. These scholarships help pay for education and living expenses.

Benefits

Most scholarships, such as the SNU Global Scholarship and the SNU President Fellowship Program, also pay 100% of the tuition for the entire length of the degree.
A monthly stipend of about ₩900,000 to ₩1,500,000 usually accompanies other living expenses, accommodations, and miscellaneous expenses.
Some scholarships, especially for freshmen, can provide a one-way or round-trip air ticket.
Students might get assistance for Korean language study, usually a necessary element of the scholarship.
Other perks might be medical insurance, a settlement grant, and a research grant.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant eligibility varies from program to program but generally consists of:
Students should have a good academic background, usually with a minimum GPA of 80% or a cumulative GPA of 2.64/4.0.
Applicants in most programs have to be foreign nationals and not Korean. Certain programs, such as the SNU President Fellowship Program, could have a particular target, for instance, faculty members at leading universities in developing nations.
Although most programs are offered in English, there can be a requirement for applicants to provide evidence of English proficiency, such as IELTS or TOEFL, in case their former education was not in English.

Deadlines

Scholarship application deadlines are also closely linked to the periods of admission of the university and vary depending on the program. It is essential to review the individual guidelines for each scholarship.

Official Link: https://en.snu.ac.kr/admission

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3# Yonsei University Scholarships

Yonsei University, which is among Korea's elite "SKY" universities, has numerous scholarships to recruit and finance high-achieving international students. They are institutional as well as government-funded schemes with partial to full tuition benefits.

Benefits

Most scholarships pay for part of or all of the tuition fee throughout the degree course. For instance, the Underwood International College offers Admissions Scholarships that can be paid for four years of full tuition.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must possess a good academic record with a high GPA in their previous college.
Most scholarships are for non-Korean nationals.
Either English or Korean proficiency is usually mandatory, as evidenced by testing scores such as TOEFL, IELTS, or TOPIK.
Both are reserved for newly admitted students, while the latter are offered to already enrolled students who exhibit exemplary academic performance.

Deadline

For the latest and most complete information regarding all scholarships and admission processes, it is necessary to refer to the official Yonsei University website.

Official Link: https://www.yonsei.ac.kr/en_sc/2245/subview.do

4# POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) Scholarships

Pohang University of Science and Technology is a top research university in South Korea, well known for its emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The university provides various low competition scholarships, the majority of which are full scholarships, to lure the best international students.

Benefits

The majority of accepted international students, especially at the graduate level, are given a full scholarship that covers tuition for the full length of their studies.
Students can get a one-time settlement grant when they arrive and an annual research grant.
A year of Korean language study can be offered depending on the scholarship.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants and their parents should not be Korean citizens.
They should have a good academic record. Master's applicants are usually required to have a high GPA at their previous school.
Evidence of English language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS) is normally required of international applicants except those from English-speaking nations or those who have a previous degree in English.
Due to POSTECH's focus, applicants must possess a strong science, technology, and engineering background and interest.

Deadlines

POSTECH scholarship application deadlines are intricately linked with the university admission schedules and differ according to academic year and program. Checking the particular dates of the semester for which you intend to apply on the official webpage is important.

Official Link: https://www.postech.ac.kr/eng/admission-aid/scholarship_information.do

5# Korea University Global KU Scholarships

Korea University, one of Seoul's top private universities, provides numerous scholarships for prospective and existing international students, such as the Global KU Scholarship. It is very competitive and is made available to bring in gifted students from all over the world through tremendous financial aid.

Benefits

The scholarship can pay 100% of the tuition in the first semester and may be renewed based on performance.
In certain circumstances, further financial assistance for expenses or research may also be available.
This award is offered to new students and can cover between ₩100,000 and ₩1,600,000 for your first semester.
As a further help with expenses for travelling to South Korea, you can be eligible for a scholarship between ₩100,000 and ₩1,500,000, again for your first semester.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility is mainly on an academic basis, as the scholarship is automatically taken into account at the time of admissions consideration.
Applicants need to have a brilliant academic background with a high GPA from their previous school.
The applicant should be a foreign national.

Deadlines

The deadline for scholarship application at Korea University is the same as the deadline for applying for admission. Since the scholarship is included in the admissions automatically, there is no individual deadline. The deadline is January 30 2026. It is important to verify the dates for the programme you are applying for, as they may differ every year.

Official Link: https://gsc.korea.ac.kr/usr/exchange/scholarships.do