The Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) is available to international students who want to pursue Bachelors’s (undergraduate degree),Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Korean Universities. The scholarship provides international students the opportunity to study in Korea and conduct advanced studies in a higher educational institution in Korea.
Korea currently top the World’s Chart of the Best World Study Abroad Destination. Most of their Scholarships are Fully sponsored and students’ visa requirements are very easy to meet up.
ThisScholarship Program is sponsored and managed by the National Institute for International Education Development (NIIED), a branch of the Ministry of Education in South Korea. It provides non-Korean scholars with the funding and opportunity to conduct undergraduate or postgraduate level studies in South Korea after completing one year of intensive Korean language studies. In the end, it also develops global leaders as well as strengthen Korea-friendly networks worldwide.
In this post, we will share with you every information you need to help you apply for the Korean Government Scholarships. This includes the eligible countries, the value of the scholarship and how to apply for it. Stay put while we take you through all these.
Why NIIED | Korean Government Scholarship?
NIIED is an executive agency under the Ministry of Education. It plays a leading role in strengthening national competitiveness by developing international human resources among overseas Koreans, exchanging students under national government scholarship programs, and providing educational administrative services.
International undergraduates, masters, and Ph.D. receive this government scholarship annually students to study in Korea. Also, the Korean Government over the years has proven to be committed to fostering stronger diplomatic ties between the international communities and Korea through these Korean Government Scholarships which avail intelligent international students the opportunity to achieve their dreams.
Why Study in Korea?
Korea has about 250 national, public and private universities that welcome both Korean and international students. Recent government reforms have made it much easier for international students to afford to live and work in Korea while attending programs at institutions of higher education.
Graduate education in Korea holds a high reputation throughout the world, particularly in technical areas such as engineeringandinformation technology. Also, Korea teaches most of its master’s programs in English.
Furthermore, Korean schools have notable research programs, distinguished faculty, and state-of-the-art research facilities. Six Korean universities were rated in the top 400 world universities, according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings
In addition, Korea charges all students, whether Korean nationals or international students, the same tuition.
Also, while offering master’s degrees that are more affordable than those in English-speaking countries, the Korean government, Korean universities, and several private foundations also provide many scholarship programs specifically designed for international students.
ManyKorean universities also provide assistance with employment for international students.
You should also see these 6 Reasons that Will Make You Consider studying in South Korea
How Much Does Korean Government Scholarship Pay?
The Korean Government Scholarships is a Fully Funded Scholarships that takes care of your Airfare, Tuition Fee, Settlement Allowance, Living Allowance, Medical Allowance, Research Cost and many others. Kindly see for yourself the details of the Korean Government Scholarship (KSB) Benefits
| Categories | Amount (KRW) |
| Airfare | Actual cost |
| Resettlement Allowance | KRW 200,000 |
| Living Allowance | Undergraduate: 800,000 Graduate: 900,000 |
| Medical Insurance | KRW 20,000 (per month) |
| Language Courses | KRW 800,000 per quarter |
| Tuition Fees | Actual cost (No more than 5 million KRW per semester) |
| Award for Excellent Korean Language Proficiency | KRW 100,000 |
| Research Support | KRW 210,000 – 240,000 (per semester) |
| Printing Costs (Dissertation) | KRW 500,000 – 800,000 |
| Completion Grant | KRW 100,00 (Once) |
Undergraduate Scholarship Benefits:
- Airplane Ticket or Airfare: The Korean Government Undergraduate scholarship covers an economy class flight with the shortest route between a scholar’s country and Korea. Students will also receive a one-way ticket to Korea at the beginning of the scholarship program. Students who complete their studies under the scholarship program will receive another one-way ticket from Korea.
- Monthly Stipend: 800,000 KRW per month
- Tuition: NIIED will cover the tuition fee of up to 5 million KRW. However, in the case where the tuition is higher than 5 million KRW, the host university covers the exceeding amount. The university also covers the university entrance fee.
- Settlement Allowance: 200,000 KRW upon arrival
- Scholarship Completion Grants: 100,000 KRW upon completion of studies
- Korean Language Training: NIIED and the language institution covers the full cost for the 1-year training.
- Medical Insurance: Health insurance covers students for major accidents and illnesses during their scholarship period.
- Korean Proficiency Grants: Scholars with level 5 or 6 on TOPIK will receive 100,000 KRW won per month during the degree program.
Graduate Scholarship Benefits:
Graduate Students for the Korean Government Scholarship will get the following benefits:
Airfare
- Entry to Korea: an economy class flight ticket to Korea
- Return flight: an economy class flight ticket from Korea to KGSP scholar’s home country
- The airfare for entry will NOT be provided to scholars who have resided in Korea from the time of applying and on.
- The return flight is available only for the KGSP scholars who successfully complete their degree coursework.
- The return flight is NOT offered for those who withdraw from the scholarship.
- Any fees incurred in the domestic travel within a KGSP scholar’s home country are NOT covered.
- International travel insurance is NOT covered.
- The flight tickets for the Chinese and Czech KGSP scholars will be prepared and provided by the Chinese and the Czech governments, according to the agreements with the Korean government.
Settlement Allowance
- Students receive 200,000 KRW
Monthly Allowance
- Degree Program (Master’s or Doctoral): 900,000 KRW
- Research Program: 1,500,000 KRW
Research Allowance
- Liberal Arts and Social Science Degrees: 210,000 KRW per semester
- Science, Technology and Engineering Degrees: 240,000 KRW per semester
Language Training Fees
- Language training fees are fully covered.
Degree Tuition
The degree tuition is fully covered up to the following:
- Tuition up to 5 million KRW is covered by NIIED, and the amount that exceeds 5 million is covered by the host university.
- The KGSP scholars are waived from the admission fees of the universities.
Dissertation Printing Fee Reimbursement
- NIIED will reimburse the actual cost of printing as written on the receipt.
- The maximum amount is 500,000 KRW for degrees in Liberal Arts and Social Science and 800,000 KRW for degrees in Science, Technology, and Engineering.
Medical Insurance
- Students get medical insurance of the value of 20,000 KRW per month
Korean Proficiency Grants
The value is 100,000 KRW per month.
- This special funding is available for KGSP scholars with levels 5 and 6 on TOPIK.
Scholarship Completion Grants
The value is 100,000 KRW per month.
- It is offered for the KGSP scholars who return to their home countries after completing their degree coursework under the scholarship.
- It is not offered for the KGSP scholars who decide to stay in Korea after the completion of their degree coursework.
If you’re an engineering or life science student, you can also apply for this KAIST Scholarship for International Students in South Korea
Scholarship Number
The total number of Awardees worldwide is 870 Applicants for both Undergraduates, masters and Ph.D. Students. With respect to that, KGSP Undergraduate: around 170 grantees will get the award annually, and KGSP Graduate: around 700 grantees will get the award annually.
Eligibility Requirements
International students applying for the Korean Government Scholarship must meet the following requirements:
- Both an applicant and his/her parents must be citizens of their country of origin.
- Applicants should not hold Korean citizenship.
- Also, applicants should have adequate health, both mentally and physically, to stay in a foreign country for a long time.
- Applicants should also be under 25 years of age at the date of entrance for Undergraduates
- or under 40 years of age at the date of entrance for Graduates
- Must have finished or be scheduled to finish formal education of all elementary, middle, high school courses by the date of arrival. (Undergraduate)
- Possess a grade point average (G.P.A.) above 80% from the last educational institution attended.
- Applicants must also hold a Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree by the date of arrival for graduates.
- Applicants who have previously achieved in any undergraduate program, master’s program, or doctoral program in Korea cannot apply for this program.
However, a former or current KGSP scholar who holds the overall grade of 90% or above can reapply to this program once either through the embassy or university track.
To enjoy this scholarship in Korea, check out the Admission, Visa, and Cost of Living of studying in South Korea.
Which Country is Eligible for the Korean Government Scholarship?
The scholarships are open to students from the following countries:
China, Japan, Russia, Cambodia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, Turkey, USA, Ethiopia, Colombia, Nepal, Senegal, Bangladesh, Ukraine, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Azerbaijan, El Salvador, Egypt, Tanzania, Germany, France, Dominica, Chile, Iran, Canada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Pakistan, Gabon, Romania, Belarus, Bulgaria.
Slovakia, United Kingdom, Czech, Guatemala, Ecuador, Algeria, Yemen, Uganda, Belize, Honduras, Italy, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Poland, Ghana, Georgia, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Republic of South Africa, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Rwanda, Libya, Lithuania, Moldavia, Bahrain, Barbados, Bahamas, Venezuela, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Brazil, Brunei, Serbia, Seychelles, Sudan, Sweden, Slovenia, Armenia, Argentina, Haïti, Ireland, Afghanistan, Angola, Oman, Austria, Uruguay, Iraq, Israel, Zambia, Cameroon, Qatar, Kenya, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Panama, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Fiji, Hungary, Australia, Jordan
If you’ll be going for Master’s Program in South Korea, you should check out these 19 Masters Scholarships in South Korea
Korean Government Scholarships Application Form
Applicants for the KGSP 2019-2020 should pick the application form from the Korean Embassy in their host country or a partnering Korean University or the Domestic University in their Locality that can send their best candidates to apply.
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