GKS (Global Korea Scholarship) Graduate Program 2026
GKS graduate scholarship program 2026 is a very good scholarship opportunity given by the Korean government. It is for international students who want to pursue a Master's or PhD (doctorate) degree in Korea. It’s a fully funded scholarship program in South Korea for international students.
Purpose of GKS Graduate Scholarship 2026
The purpose is for students from Korea and other countries to get to know each other and develop friendship through study.
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Duration of Study
- Master's Degree: 1 year of learning Korean, then 2 years of study.
- PhD (Doctorate): 1 year of Korean language study, then 3 years of study.
- Research Only Program: It is 6 months or 1 year (no language teaching).
Who Will Cover the Costs?
This scholarship is completely free! The Korean government will cover most of your expenses.
Benefits of GKS Scholarship
If you get this scholarship, you will get all of the following:
- Airfare: Round-trip ticket from your country to Korea.
- Monthly Pocket Money:
- PhD students will receive 1,500,000 Korean won per month.
- Master students will receive 1,000,000 Korean won per month.
- Research program students will receive 1,500,000 Korean won per month.
- Full University Fees: You will not have to pay university fees.
- Korean Language Classes: The cost of learning Korean for one year will be completely free.
- First-time Arrival Allowance: You will receive a one-time payment of 200,000 Korean won (approximately 42,000 Pakistani rupees) upon arrival in Korea.
- Medical Expenses: You will also have medical insurance.
- Research Assistance:
- Additional Money for Research: If you are working on research, you will receive some extra money.
- Thesis Printing Allowance: You will also receive money for printing your research report (thesis).
- Korean Language Proficiency: If you become very good at Korean, you may also receive extra money every month.
- Degree Completion Bonus: You will receive a one-time payment of 100,000 Korean won (approximately 21,000 Pakistani rupees) when you complete your studies.
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Who Can Apply for GKS? (General Conditions)
Before applying, check if you meet the following requirements:
- Your Citizenship: Neither you nor your parents are Korean citizens. You must be a citizen of a country that Korea has selected for the scholarship. (Pakistani students can also apply).
- Age: You should generally be under 40 years old (for 2026, probably born after September 1, 1986, but you will have to check with official information).
- Education:
- For Master: You have completed a bachelor's degree or will complete it by the time the scholarship starts.
- For PhD: You have completed a master's degree or will complete it by the time the scholarship starts.
- Grades: You have good grades in your previous degree (e.g., more than 80% or a 2.64 GPA out of 4.0).
- Health: You are physically and mentally fit enough to study in Korea.
- Previous Scholarship: If you have previously studied on a GKS scholarship, you generally cannot apply again.
How to Apply for GKS Graduate Scholarship
You can apply for the GKS Graduate Scholarship in two ways:
Through the Korean Embassy in Your Country (Embassy Track)
- You submit your application to the Korean Embassy in your country.
- In this method, you can choose three different Korean universities.
- The embassy first reviews your applications, conducts interviews, and then sends the names of the selected students to Korea.
Important Date: Applications in this method usually open in September or October 2025 (for 2026 admission).
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Direct Application to a Korean University (University Track)
- You apply directly to a Korean university that offers GKS scholarships.
- In this method, you can apply to only one university.
- The university reviews your applications and sends the names of the best candidates to the scholarship awarding institution in Korea.
Important Date: Applications in this method usually open in February or March 2026.
Required Documents for GKS Application
The following documents must be submitted with the application (the exact list will be in the 2026 official information):
- GKS Scholarship Application Form
- Your Personal Statement (why you want to study in Korea)
- Study Plan (what you will study in Korea and why)
- Recommendation Letters (usually from two teachers)
- Identification Documents for you and your parents (e.g., passport, ID card).
- Original Mark Sheets and Certificates for your previous degrees (Bachelor, Master).
- Copy of Your Passport
- If you have taken any Korean language (TOPIK) or English language (IELTS, TOEFL) test, its scores (this is not required but is beneficial).
- If you have received any Awards or Publications, you can also attach them.
Remember About the Documents:
- All documents must be in English or Korean. If not, attach their certified translation.
- Some documents will need to be Apostille (a special stamp) or certified by the Korean embassy. The exact information is in the official guidelines.
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How to Apply (in Simple Steps)
- Wait for Official Information: Check the official NIIED GKS Graduate Scholarship information on the Study in Korea website around September or October 2025.
- Read the Terms: When the information arrives, read all the terms carefully.
- Choose Your Application Track: Decide whether you will apply through the embassy or through the university.
- Download the Form: Download the new GKS forms for 2026.
- Prepare the Documents: Have all the necessary documents ready in advance, especially the verification work.
- Write Your Statement and Plan: Write a good personal statement and study plan that shows your dreams and intentions.
- Submit the Application: Submit your complete application according to the chosen method, before the deadline.
- Interview and Selection: Some children will be interviewed.
- Results: Scholarship results are usually released in May or June.
The official applications announcements for the GKS Graduate Scholarship program 2026 will be made in February/March 2026.