Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) for First-Time Arrivals in Korea

What GKS Is (and isn’t)

Gap in competitor content: They state general benefits but do not give sources, caps, or track-level differences. Below you’ll see amounts, caps, and links to official notices.

GKS Programs at a Glance (with verified benefits)

1) Degree Programs (Undergraduate / Graduate)

• Tuition: Covered up to KRW 5,000,000 per semester by NIIED. If tuition exceeds that, the host university covers the excess; the university also covers the admission fee (per official embassy-circulated guideline). (해외공관)

• Monthly living stipend: Embassy notices commonly list KRW 900,000–1,000,000 (varies by degree level and year’s guideline). Always confirm the current notice for your country and intake. (해외공관)

• TOPIK bonus: KRW 100,000/month for scholars with valid TOPIK level 5–6, paid from the main degree period (not the language year). (해외공관)

• Korean language training: Typically 1 year before the degree; guideline figures show KRW 5.2 million for four quarters of training cost coverage. (Study in Korea)

• Airfare and insurance: Round-trip economy airfare (actual cost) and national health insurance (guideline lines and embassy pages confirm coverage; specific monthly insurance figures may vary by year). (해외공관)

• Embassy Track: Submit to your local Korean Embassy/Consulate; country-specific quotas and deadlines apply (examples below). (해외공관)

• University Track: Apply directly to participating universities; Study in Korea carries the notices and links. (Study in Korea)

2) Exchange (Non-degree) — “Outstanding Exchange Students”

• Monthly living subsidy: KRW 630,000.

• Airfare: Economy class (actual cost).

• Tuition is usually handled via your home institution’s exchange agreement; GKS covers travel and living support. (Confirmed on NIIED page and multiple university pages.) (국립국제교육원)

3) Support for Self-Financed International Students (already in Korea)

• Annual selection of ~250 students; KRW 500,000/month for up to 10 months (eligibility includes GPA ≥ 80/100 and typically TOPIK ≥ 4; check your university’s OIA page). (oia.snu.ac.kr)

The Part Everyone Wants First: Benefits Table (verify before you budget)

Exchange rates are volatile. We show KRW only. If you convert to USD, state your assumed rate.

Who Is Eligible? (summarized; always read your intake’s guideline)

• Citizenship: Applicant and both parents must be non-Korean. Dual Korean nationals are ineligible (embassy notices repeat this). (해외공관)

• Age: Embassy examples for 2025 graduate intake show under 40 (born after 1985-09-01); undergraduate intakes use different thresholds. Check your year/track. (해외공관)

• Academic: Minimum GPA around 80/100 or top 20% equivalent for degree tracks (embassy guidance). Exchange and self-financed programs have their own GPA cutoffs. (atlkec.org)

• Language: TOPIK is not always mandatory to apply, but TOPIK 5–6 yields the KRW 100,000/month bonus and can influence selection. (해외공관)

The Timeline You Can Actually Use

Dates vary by country and track. Always check your local embassy page.

• Undergraduate—Embassy Track example: Toronto Consulate post for 2025 UG set deadline 2024-10-02; originals could follow by 2024-10-09. This shows how early embassies open their cycles. (해외공관)

• Graduate—Embassy Track example: Netherlands Embassy post for 2025 Grad set deadline 2025-03-05, with interviews mid-March and NIIED/University rounds after that. Final results appear on Study in Korea. (해외공관)

• Final results window: Embassy notices indicate early January announcements by NIIED for the next academic year (pattern repeated in official communications). (해외공관)

Step-by-Step: How to Apply (Embassy Track)

1. Find your country’s notice on the Korean Embassy/Consulate site. Confirm quota, deadline, where to submit, and whether mail or in-person is allowed. (해외공관)

2. Download the official forms (application, medical, agreement) from the embassy post or Study in Korea. Many embassies link the English guideline and forms. (Study in Korea)

3. Prepare 1 original + 3 copies of your packet (common embassy instruction). Use separate envelopes and mark the original. (해외공관)

4. Submit by the embassy deadline. Late arrivals are usually not accepted; some posts allow provisional copies if originals lag (see Toronto example). (해외공관)

5. Track rounds: Embassy (1st) → NIIED (2nd) → University (3rd). Final results are posted on Study in Korea; no individual emails. (해외공관)

What Competitor Posts Miss (and what to do instead)

• Missing caps: Many guides omit the KRW 5,000,000/semester tuition cap and who covers the excess. The embassy guideline clarifies NIIED pays up to 5M; the university covers any excess and admission fee. Budget accordingly. (해외공관)

• Exchange amount drift: Some blogs still show KRW 500,000 for exchange. NIIED’s current page lists KRW 630,000/month. Use the NIIED page, not informal blogs. (국립국제교육원)

• Self-financed support is real: Up to ~250 students get KRW 500,000/month for up to 10 months; many overlook this. Check your university OIA and the program description. (oia.snu.ac.kr)

Selection & Documents: What Actually Matters

• Clear academic plan tied to Korean faculty/labs and your home-country impact.

• Evidence that you can finish on time (realistic research plan; language plan).

• Clean, complete documents: transcripts, degree certificates, recommendation letters, passport copy, medical assessment, and the applicant agreement — using the current forms. (Study in Korea)

• Dual Korean nationality (you or either parent). (해외공관)

• Below GPA threshold or no proof of graduation by the specified cut-off (embassy posts specify “submit final documents by set date or lose admission”). (외교부)

• Missing copies or wrong form versions. (Embassy posts require exact set counts and forms.) (해외공관)

Checklists You Can Print

Application Packet Checklist (Embassy Track)

• Current GKS forms (application, personal statement, study plan, recommendation letters, medical assessment, agreement). (Study in Korea)

• Academic proofs: transcripts + graduation (or expected graduation with final docs due by the embassy-specified date). (외교부)

• Identity: passport copy; citizenship proofs for applicant and both parents. (해외공관)

• Copies: 1 original + 3 sets in separate envelopes (example: NL embassy). (해외공관)

Do / Don’t

• Do match your study plan to specific labs/universities (cite professors/projects). (General process confirmed on Study in Korea; tailor details yourself.) (Study in Korea)

• Do time your police check and medical so they are valid through submission windows. (Embassy posts list required forms and timing.) (해외공관)

• Don’t rely on outdated stipend figures for budgeting; verify your intake notice. (해외공관)

• Don’t ignore language training costs/coverage; the KRW 5.2M / 4 quarters figure affects program calendars. (Study in Korea)

Mini Case: Two realistic starting points

1. Undergrad, Embassy Track (first-time abroad): You find your embassy page, confirm your deadline and quota (Toronto set 2024-10-02 for 2025 UG), prepare 1+3 sets, and mail early. You plan to reach TOPIK 3–4 during language year, then target TOPIK 5–6 to receive the KRW 100,000/month bonus from the degree phase. (해외공관)

2. Exchange student already admitted by home university: You are nominated to a Korean partner university. You confirm GKS exchange support (KRW 630,000/month + airfare), and budget dorm costs separately since tuition runs via exchange. (국립국제교육원)

Frequently Asked Questions (with sources)

Quick Reality Notes (Budget & Variance)

• University and city differences: Living costs and dorm fees differ by city and campus. Stipend amounts are set centrally, but housing/food outlays vary; do local checks via your OIA. [Unverified – varies by campus]

• Insurance and incidentals: Embassy notices confirm coverage, but exact monthly insurance figures and coverage scope can change; confirm in your intake documents. (해외공관)

Glossary (Korea-specific terms that often mistranslate)

• Jeonse (전세): Lump-sum lease deposit replacing monthly rent for housing. Not typical for short-term students; large deposits required. [Context only; verify locally before signing.]

• Banjeonse (반전세): Mixed model: reduced deposit + reduced monthly rent.

• Gwanlibi (관리비 / Management fee): Building maintenance/utility fee paid monthly (separate from rent). Amount and inclusions vary by building.

• TOPIK: Test of Proficiency in Korean; TOPIK 5–6 unlocks a KRW 100,000/month GKS bonus during the main degree. (해외공관)

Print-Friendly: Embassy Track Timeline (Template)

1. Find your notice (quota, deadline, address). (해외공관)

2. Assemble packet (use current forms; 1 original + 3 copies). (해외공관)

3. Submit (mail/in-person per notice). Keep receipts. (해외공관)

4. Rounds: Embassy → NIIED → University → final on Study in Korea. (해외공관)

5. If “expected to graduate”, submit final diploma/transcript by the cut-off or lose the place. (Embassy posts state cancellation if not met.) (외교부)

Sources (core official links to re-check before you apply)

• NIIED / GKS (Degree & Exchange): Program overview and exchange stipend (KRW 630,000) and airfare notes. (국립국제교육원)

• Study in Korea (official portal): GKS notices, forms, routing (Embassy vs University). (Study in Korea)

• Embassy/Consulate notices (examples):
• Graduate 2025 (Netherlands): deadlines, submission rules, results flow. (해외공관)
• Undergraduate 2025 (Toronto): early deadline pattern for UG cycles. (해외공관)
• Boston Consulate PDF line: tuition cap 5M KRW, TOPIK 100k/month. (해외공관)
• Sweden Embassy attachment (Korean): tuition cap language. (해외공관)

• University OIA examples: Exchange stipend KRW 630,000 confirmation. (dongguk.edu)

• Self-financed support: University and scholarship listings showing ~250 seats and KRW 500,000/month. (oia.snu.ac.kr)

Final “Do/Don’t” to Save You Time

• Re-verify your embassy’s notice and the current intake guideline before spending money. (해외공관)

• Budget with the 5M/semester cap in mind; confirm whether your program’s tuition exceeds it. (해외공관)

• If already in Korea, ask your OIA about the Self-Financed scholarship window. (oia.snu.ac.kr)

• Assume old stipend numbers (many posts are outdated on exchange support). Use NIIED’s KRW 630,000 figure. (국립국제교육원)

• Miss document counts or envelopes; embassies reject incomplete packets. (해외공관)

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