The KOICA Scholarship Program is one of the best opportunities available for international students to study in South Korea. This scholarship provides fully funded master’s and PhD programs at top Korean universities in development-focused fields such as public management, climate change, economic development, health policy, agriculture, fisheries, AI digital innovation, infectious disease control, digital health, and social economy. This scholarship program covers full tuition fees, economy-class airfare, a monthly allowance of KRW 1,200,000, a settlement allowance, accommodation, medical insurance, support for extracurricular activities, and a scholarship completion grant. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the KOICA Scholarship Program 2027, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a detailed step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency, a government agency of South Korea, offers the KOICA Scholarship Program. KOICA supports development cooperation, grant aid programs, and knowledge-sharing initiatives with partner countries. Through this scholarship, KOICA invites talented government officials and public sector professionals to study in Korea and strengthen their knowledge in development-focused fields.
This scholarship is part of the KOICA Fellowship Program, also known as CIAT, which stands for Capacity Improvement and Advancement for Tomorrow. The program is designed to train public servants, policy makers, and professionals from partner countries so they can return home and contribute to the social and economic development of their countries.
The KOICA Scholarship is a great opportunity for eligible applicants because it provides financial support as well as academic, cultural, and professional exposure in South Korea. Scholars will study at Korean universities, attend workshops, participate in study visits, take Korean language classes, and build professional networks with experts from different countries.
Related Fully Funded Scholarships in South Korea
KOICA Scholarship Program Summary
- Level of Study: Master’s, PhD
- Institution: KOICA partner universities in South Korea
- Study Destination: South Korea
- Program Duration:
- Master’s Degree Program: 17 months
- Doctoral Degree Program: 36 months
- Program Focus Areas:
- e-Government and Public Management
- Climate Change and Environment
- Economic Development Policy
- Health Policy and Financing
- High Value-added Agriculture
- Global Fisheries Development
- AI Digital Innovation
- Control of Infectious Disease
- Digital Health
- Social Economy
KOICA Scholarship Program Deadline
The deadline to apply for the KOICA Scholarship Program 2027 is July 2026.
However, the exact deadline may be different for each country. Applicants must confirm the final deadline and submission procedure from their local KOICA Country Office or the Korean Embassy.
KOICA Scholarship Program Coverage
The KOICA Scholarship Program is a fully funded scholarship for international students. It provides the following benefits:
- Full tuition fee coverage
- Economy class airfare at the time of initial entry and final departure
- Monthly allowance of KRW 1,200,000
- Settlement allowance:
- KRW 600,000 for Master’s degree students
- KRW 1,200,000 for Doctoral degree students
- Accommodation in a university dormitory
- Scholarship completion grant:
- KRW 300,000 for Master’s degree students
- KRW 600,000 for Doctoral degree students
- National health insurance
- Private medical insurance for unexpected accidents or illnesses
- Partial support for extracurricular activities, including study visits, workshops, and Korean language classes
Please note that KOICA does not cover visa fees, stopover expenses, local transportation, and other personal or miscellaneous costs. Applicants may also need to pay some selection process costs such as document authentication, local medical check-up, express mail service, university application fee, or visa fee.
Eligibility Criteria for KOICA Scholarship Program
To qualify for the KOICA Scholarship Program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Applicants must be citizens of the designated countries selected by the Korean government from the OECD DAC List of ODA Recipients.
- Applicants must be government officials and must receive official nominations from their respective governments.
- Applicants are preferably under the age of 40.
- Applicants must be in good mental and physical health to study in Korea for the full duration of the program.
- Applicants with severe illness are not eligible to apply.
- Applicants must have strong English language skills because classes, reports, and theses are conducted in English.
- An official English proficiency test score is not required at the KOICA Round. However, some universities may require it during the University Round.
- For Master’s degree programs, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree as of July 31, 2026.
- For Master’s degree programs, applicants preferably have at least 2 years of experience in the field of study.
- For Doctoral degree programs, applicants must have a Master’s degree as of July 31, 2026.
- For Doctoral degree programs, applicants preferably have at least 3 years of experience after completing their Master’s degree.
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the university and the program they are applying to.
- Applicants who have previously received a degree scholarship from the Korean government are generally not eligible to apply.
- Applicants who were previously KOICA scholars and had their scholarship cancelled after enrollment are not eligible to apply.
Eligible Countries for the KOICA Scholarship Program
Applicants from the following regions and countries may be eligible for the KOICA Scholarship Program:
Africa: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Central and South America: Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname.
Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Viet Nam.
Pacific: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Middle East, CIS, and Eastern Europe: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
Required Documents for KOICA Scholarship Program
Applicants are required to submit the following documents for the KOICA Scholarship Program:
- KOICA Application Forms
- Applicant Information
- Terms and Conditions
- Medical History Questionnaire
- Nomination Form
- Official recommendation or nomination letter from the applicant’s government or affiliated institution
- Scanned copy of a valid passport
- University application form, only for applicants who pass the KOICA Round
- Academic degrees and transcripts, if required by the university
- Additional university-specific documents
- English language test score, if required by the selected university
- Other documents mentioned in the Program Information of the selected university
Applicants should make sure that their English name is the same as written on their passport. Any difference in name may delay the visa process.
How to Apply for the KOICA Scholarship Program?
Please follow the application instructions below to apply for the KOICA Scholarship Program:
(1) Choose one program from the official list of Master’s and Doctoral degree programs.
(2) Carefully check the eligibility criteria of KOICA and the selected university.
(3) Contact the relevant government department in your country to obtain an official government nomination or recommendation.
(4) Prepare the KOICA application documents, including application forms, a government recommendation letter, and a passport copy.
(5) Submit the KOICA application package to the KOICA Country Office or the Korean Embassy in your country. The submission method and email address may vary by country, so applicants should follow the instructions provided by their local KOICA office or Korean Embassy.
(6) Attend the KOICA on-site interview conducted by the KOICA Country Office or the Korean Embassy. In some cases, applicants living far from the capital city may be allowed to attend a phone interview after consulting the KOICA office or the Korean Embassy.
(7) Applicants who pass the KOICA Round will be guided by the university for the University Round.
(8) Submit the required university application documents through the university’s online system or by email, depending on the university’s instructions.
(9) The university will conduct document screening. Shortlisted applicants may be required to complete a medical check-up, interview, and/or essay test.
(10) Final successful applicants will be required to submit original documents, complete visa procedures, and prepare for arrival in South Korea.
Website
To know more about the KOICA Scholarship Program, please visit the official website:
