The Korea University Scholarships 2027 support international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes at Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. The university’s highest-value undergraduate award, the Anam Global Scholarship, covers full tuition for eight semesters, while the Korea University Graduate School Global Leader Scholarship covers the entrance fee and full first-semester tuition and provides four months of living support. Selected master’s students in AI, information technology, and semiconductor-related fields can receive the fully funded SK Global Scholarship, which covers tuition, airfare, insurance, and a monthly allowance of KRW 1,500,000, while eligible undergraduate and graduate applicants may also pursue the fully funded Global Korea Scholarship. These awards use different application models: most Korea University admission scholarships are awarded automatically with admission, SK Global has a dedicated application, and GKS applicants must apply through either the Korean embassy or university track.
In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the Korea University Scholarships, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The most valuable scholarships covered in this guide are:
- Anam Global Scholarship
- Korea University Graduate School Global Leader Scholarship
- SK Global Scholarship
- Global Korea Scholarship
The Anam Global and Global Leader scholarships are primarily tuition awards, although the graduate Global Leader Scholarship includes a limited living allowance. SK Global and GKS provide more comprehensive financial support, but both have narrower eligibility rules and separate selection procedures.
Related Scholarships in South Korea
Korea University Scholarships Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate / Master’s / PhD
- Institution: Korea University
- Study Destination: Seoul, South Korea
- Courses Offered: Eligible undergraduate and graduate programmes offered by Korea University
- Program Period: According to the selected degree and scholarship
Korea University offers international undergraduate admission across business, humanities, political science, economics, sciences, engineering, medicine, education, nursing, informatics, international studies, media, health science, psychology, smart security, and other fields. Graduate funding is available across eligible departments in the Korea University Graduate School, while the SK Global Scholarship is restricted to selected AI, IT, and semiconductor-related master’s programmes.
Korea University Scholarships Application Deadline
The deadline depends on the applicant’s degree level and scholarship.
Undergraduate Scholarship Deadline
International students applying for Korea University undergraduate admission in Spring 2027 must follow this schedule:
- Online application and document upload: August 3 to August 31, 2026
- Postal document submission deadline: September 7, 2026
- Admission and scholarship results: November 27, 2026
- Registration: January 2027
- Semester commencement: March 2027
The online application is complete only after the application fee has been paid and all required PDF documents have been uploaded. Applicants must also send the required physical documents to Korea University by the postal deadline.
Undergraduate applicants are assessed automatically for the Anam Global Scholarship and other Korea University entrance scholarships. Scholarship results are released to selected recipients at the same time as the admission decision. No separate Anam Global Scholarship form is required.
For students intending to begin in Fall 2027, Korea University currently lists the application period as March 2027, with the exact dates still to be announced. Admission results are expected in June 2027. Applicants should monitor the official undergraduate admission guide for the confirmed calendar.
Graduate School Scholarship Deadline
The Korea University Graduate School has not yet published its complete international admission calendar for applicants beginning in 2027. The Global Leader Scholarship and the other Korea University Graduate School international scholarships are assessed with the graduate admission application, so applicants must follow the deadline for their intended Spring or Fall intake.
In the latest published Fall admission round, online applications were accepted from March 3 to March 13, with physical documents due by March 17. These dates relate to the previous admission cycle and should not be used as confirmed 2027 deadlines. Applicants should check the graduate admission schedule and application guideline when the 2027 information is published.
SK Global Scholarship Deadline
The 2027 SK Global Scholarship application dates have not yet been published. Korea University currently provides the scholarship’s funding, eligible countries, fields, and application procedure but does not display a confirmed 2027 deadline.
Applicants should monitor the official SK Global Scholarship page for the new application guide and online application period. The application is separate from the university’s standard international graduate admission process and does not require an application fee.
Global Korea Scholarship Deadline
The Global Korea Scholarship 2027 dates are determined by the National Institute for International Education and the participating embassies and universities.
The 2027 undergraduate and graduate application calendars have not yet been fully announced. Applicants should monitor the Study in Korea GKS notices and our detailed Global Korea Scholarship guide for the new dates.
GKS applicants must apply through only one route:
- Embassy Track: Through the Korean embassy responsible for the applicant’s country of citizenship
- University Track: Directly through one GKS-designated Korean university
The deadlines for the embassy track can differ by country, while each university sets its own first-round university-track deadline.
Korea University Scholarship Coverage
Anam Global Scholarship
The Anam Global Scholarship is Korea University’s most valuable general undergraduate admission scholarship for international students.
It provides:
- Full undergraduate tuition fees
- Funding for up to eight semesters
- Automatic consideration with the international admission application
- No separate scholarship application
The scholarship is awarded to the top-ranked admitted student in each academic track. To renew it, recipients must complete at least 12 credits during each semester and maintain a minimum semester GPA of 3.5.
The Anam Global Scholarship covers tuition but does not list a monthly living allowance, accommodation, airfare, visa expenses, or medical insurance. Students should therefore budget for their living and immigration costs separately.
Other valuable undergraduate awards include:
- Global Leader Scholarship A: Full tuition for four semesters for freshmen or two semesters for transfer students
- KU STEM Scholarship: Full tuition for four semesters for selected outstanding STEM freshmen
- KU Global Friends Scholarship: Full tuition for four semesters for selected applicants from Africa, South America, and other developing regions
- Global Leader Scholarship B: A 50% tuition reduction for four semesters
- Bright Futures Scholarship: KRW 1,000,000 per semester for eligible national scholarship recipients
These scholarships are also assessed through the admission evaluation without a separate application. (oia.korea.ac.kr)
Korea University Graduate School Global Leader Scholarship
The Global Leader Scholarship, also called Foreign Student Scholarship A, is the strongest general Korea University Graduate School admission scholarship for international students.
It provides:
- 100% of the entrance fee
- 100% of the first-semester tuition fee
- A living-support payment of KRW 500,000 per month
- Living support for four months during the semester
The scholarship therefore provides a total first-semester living allowance of KRW 2,000,000 in addition to the full entrance and tuition waiver.
The initial award applies only to the first semester. From the second semester, students must apply again and compete for the available scholarships based on their Korea University academic performance. Continued full funding for the entire master’s or doctoral programme is not guaranteed.
Applicants who do not qualify for Scholarship A may be considered for:
- Humanities and Social Sciences Scholarship B: 60% tuition reduction
- Natural Science and Engineering Scholarship C: 65% tuition reduction
The university conducts the admission and scholarship assessments simultaneously. Applicants do not need to contact the department separately to request its scholarship recommendation.
SK Global Scholarship
The SK Global Scholarship is a fully funded master’s scholarship for selected international students pursuing AI, IT, or semiconductor-related programmes at Korea University.
It provides:
- Entrance fee of KRW 1,142,000
- Tuition fees of KRW 7,392,000 per semester
- Tuition coverage for four semesters
- Monthly living allowance of KRW 1,500,000
- Living support for two years
- Round-trip airfare reimbursement of up to KRW 3,000,000
- Private medical insurance
- Optional Korean-language training support under the programme’s conditions
- No scholarship application fee
The maximum airfare allocation is divided between the scholar’s initial travel to Korea and final departure after completing the programme. Actual airfare receipts are required.
Up to 20 scholars may be selected in each cohort:
- 10 students in AI and IT fields
- 10 students in semiconductor-related fields
The AI and IT track includes eligible programmes in computer science, artificial intelligence, software, computer security, radio communications engineering, and computer education. The semiconductor track is offered through selected laboratories in electrical engineering, physics, materials science, and chemical and biological engineering.
Global Korea Scholarship
The Global Korea Scholarship is a Korean Government programme available for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD study at designated universities, including eligible programmes at Korea University.
Depending on the annual GKS guidelines, the scholarship generally provides:
- Full tuition fees
- Korean-language training
- A monthly living allowance
- Round-trip economy airfare
- Settlement support
- Medical insurance support
- Research allowance for graduate scholars
- Dissertation or thesis printing support
- Additional Korean-language proficiency support for eligible TOPIK holders
Master’s scholars normally receive funding for a Korean-language year followed by up to two years of degree study. Doctoral scholars normally receive a Korean-language year followed by up to three years of degree study, although exemptions and specialised tracks may use different structures.
The final 2027 benefit amounts and conditions should be taken from the new GKS application guide when it is released. Applicants should not rely on allowance figures from an older GKS cycle.
Eligibility Criteria for Korea University Scholarships
Applicants must first satisfy the admission requirements of their selected Korea University degree. Each scholarship then applies additional academic, language, citizenship, or subject requirements.
Anam Global Scholarship Eligibility
To be considered for the Anam Global Scholarship, applicants must:
- Apply as new international undergraduate freshmen
- Meet the international undergraduate citizenship requirements
- Complete the required secondary education
- Meet Korea University’s language-proficiency requirements
- Submit a complete undergraduate application
- Rank as the top admitted applicant in their academic track
Applicants and their parents must be non-Korean citizens. Applicants with Korean citizenship, including dual Korean citizenship, are not eligible under the standard international admission category.
Applicants must have completed regular primary and secondary education equivalent to Grades 1–12 in the Korean education system and must graduate before the relevant semester begins. GED, homeschooling, online-only qualifications, and language-school study are not generally regarded as equivalent to a regular school curriculum for this admission category.
There is no separate published GPA or language score that guarantees the Anam Global Scholarship. Selection is based on the overall admission evaluation, which considers academic ability, suitability for the selected field, language proficiency, and extracurricular achievement.
Graduate Global Leader Scholarship Eligibility
To qualify for the Global Leader Scholarship Type A, applicants must satisfy all three of the following conditions:
- Meet the required previous-degree GPA
- Submit one of the specified language-proficiency scores
- Be recommended through the department’s scholarship evaluation and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School
Applicants need one of the following minimum cumulative GPAs from their most recent institution:
- 4.0 out of 4.5
- 3.83 out of 4.3
- 3.57 out of 4.0
- 90 out of 100
They must also provide one of the following:
- TOEFL iBT 90 or higher
- New TEPS 386 or higher
- IELTS Academic 7.0 or higher
- TOPIK Level 6
All three eligibility conditions must be satisfied, but meeting them does not guarantee selection. Korea University uses relative evaluation and may offer the applicant a different scholarship category.
TOEFL Home Edition and IELTS Indicator are not accepted for the Graduate School international scholarships. Applicants who are native English speakers or completed a degree in an English-speaking country must still submit one of the required TOEFL, IELTS, New TEPS, or TOPIK scores to compete for the scholarship.
International applicants to the College of Medicine can receive only Scholarship C. Applicants to the Business Analytics programme in Business Administration cannot apply for these Graduate School scholarships.
SK Global Scholarship Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Apply for a participating master’s programme
- Hold or expect to complete a bachelor’s degree
- Be citizens of an eligible country or region
- Have parents who are not South Korean citizens
- Meet one of the accepted Korean or English-language requirements
- Submit the complete dedicated SK Global Scholarship application
The eligible citizenship regions currently include specified countries in Europe, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Asia. India and Pakistan are among the eligible South Asian countries. Japanese and Taiwanese applicants are eligible only for the semiconductor field.
Applicants must submit at least one of the following:
- TOEFL iBT 71 or higher
- IELTS Academic 5.5 or higher
- CEFR Level B2 or higher
- New TEPS 326 or higher
- TOPIK Level 3 or higher
Applicants who completed their bachelor’s degree in English are exempt from submitting a separate language test for SK Global, provided they supply acceptable evidence that the degree was taught in English.
Global Korea Scholarship Eligibility
The exact GKS 2027 criteria will be confirmed in the new annual application guide. Under the latest graduate guidelines, general eligibility includes:
- The applicant and their parents must hold eligible non-Korean citizenship
- Korean citizens and Korean dual citizens cannot apply
- Graduate applicants must generally be under 40 on the date specified in the annual guide
- Certain professors from Official Development Assistance recipient countries may qualify under a higher age limit
- Master’s applicants must hold or expect to complete a bachelor’s degree
- PhD applicants must hold or expect to complete a master’s degree
- The applicant’s previous academic performance must normally be equivalent to at least 80%
- Applicants must meet the requirements of their selected Korea University programme
GKS applicants cannot submit applications simultaneously through both the embassy and university tracks.
Korea University Language Requirements
Undergraduate applicants must submit one of the language documents accepted in the current admission guide, such as:
- TOPIK or TOPIK iBT
- A completion certificate and transcripts from the Korea University Korean Language Center
- An eligible completion certificate from another certified Korean university language centre
- An accepted King Sejong Institute or Sejong Korean Language Assessment certificate
- TOEFL iBT
- IELTS Academic
- Evidence that the entire secondary-school curriculum was taught in Korean or English
Students admitted with lower Korean proficiency may be required to complete one or two semesters of intensive Korean-language training and may face restrictions on enrolment in major courses. Applicants with TOPIK Level 5 or higher generally avoid these restrictions.
Applicants to the International Studies English-track major must provide English-language evidence. Korea University does not list one universal minimum IELTS or TOEFL score for every international undergraduate major, so applicants should follow the specific requirements in the current admission guide.
You can review our guide to scholarships without IELTS, but Korea University makes the final decision on whether previous English-medium education or another qualification satisfies the relevant admission or scholarship requirement.
How to Apply for Korea University Scholarships?
The correct application process depends on the scholarship.
How to Apply for the Anam Global Scholarship?
(1) Review the Korea University undergraduate admission guide and select an eligible major.
Check the citizenship, secondary-education, language, and document requirements before beginning the application. Applicants may choose a first-choice major and, where permitted, an optional second choice.
(2) Prepare the undergraduate application documents, including your academic records, language evidence, identity documents, family relationship evidence, and statement of purpose.
The statement of purpose asks applicants to explain their educational background, reasons for selecting Korea University and the proposed field, and plans after admission. Write the answers specifically for Korea University rather than submitting a generic essay.
(3) Complete the online application during the relevant admission period through the link provided on the official admission page.
For Spring 2027, the online form must be submitted and paid for between August 3 and August 31, 2026. The application fee is KRW 150,000 for most humanities and science programmes and KRW 200,000 for Art and Design.
(4) Upload PDF copies of the required documents, then send the required physical documents by post.
For Spring 2027, the postal documents must arrive at Korea University by September 7, 2026. Academic certificates issued overseas generally require an apostille or Korean consular authentication.
(5) No separate scholarship application is required.
Korea University evaluates every eligible new undergraduate applicant for the Anam Global Scholarship and other entrance scholarships during the admission review. Successful applicants receive their scholarship decision with the admission result.
How to Apply for the Graduate Global Leader Scholarship?
(1) Review the Korea University Graduate School departments and select an eligible master’s or doctoral programme.
Check the department’s academic requirements, course language, available faculty, research areas, and programme-specific documents.
(2) Prepare the graduate admission documents and the language score needed for scholarship consideration.
Applicants targeting the Global Leader Scholarship must provide a valid IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 90, New TEPS 386, or TOPIK Level 6 result. Even applicants whose previous degree was taught in English must submit an approved test score for this particular scholarship.
Prepare a focused academic CV highlighting your education, thesis, publications, research experience, internships, academic awards, and relevant employment.
(3) Complete the graduate admission application during the relevant Spring or Fall admission period.
Use the application link and instructions published on the official graduate application guideline page. The normal graduate application requires a fee, and physical supporting documents must be submitted within the published period.
(4) Select the international scholarship option when completing the application.
The admission and scholarship evaluations take place automatically and simultaneously. Applicants do not submit a separate Global Leader Scholarship application or contact the department to request the formal scholarship recommendation.
(5) Check the admission result and scholarship category offered by Korea University.
An applicant who applies for Scholarship A may be offered Scholarship B or C after relative evaluation. Successful Scholarship A recipients receive the entrance-fee waiver, first-semester tuition waiver, and four monthly living-support payments.
How to Apply for the SK Global Scholarship?
(1) Confirm that your citizenship and intended field are eligible.
Review the participating countries and programme areas on the official SK Global Scholarship page. Applicants must select an eligible master’s programme in AI, IT, or semiconductors.
(2) Review the participating departments, majors, and laboratories.
Applicants to the semiconductor track should study the listed laboratories and identify the option most closely connected to their academic background. AI and IT applicants should select one of the approved majors listed by Korea University.
(3) Prepare your academic and scholarship documents.
A concise academic CV should highlight your bachelor’s study, projects, technical skills, publications, awards, research experience, and employment relevant to AI, IT, or semiconductors.
Your study plan or personal statement should explain why the specific programme is appropriate for your background and how you intend to use the training after graduation. Our guide on writing a statement of purpose for a scholarship can help you structure it.
(4) Complete the dedicated SK Global Scholarship online application when the 2027 round opens.
Korea University states that the application is submitted online and does not require an application fee. Applicants must use the SK Global application guide and templates released for the new round rather than the standard Graduate School application documents alone.
(5) Submit all documents before the deadline.
The relevant department reviews the submitted documents. The standard process does not include an entrance examination, although a department may arrange an interview when necessary. Final scholarship results are announced by Korea University.
How to Apply for GKS at Korea University?
(1) Wait for the official GKS 2027 application guidelines and confirm that Korea University is available under your chosen programme and application track.
The list of participating universities and majors can change each year.
(2) Choose either the embassy track or university track.
Embassy-track applicants apply through the Korean embassy responsible for their country. University-track applicants submit directly to one designated university according to the annual GKS instructions. Applicants cannot use both routes during the same competition.
(3) Complete the GKS forms and prepare the required authenticated documents.
Applicants can use our detailed Global Korea Scholarship application guide for the annual forms, benefit updates, and selection stages.
(4) Submit the application according to the instructions of the Korean embassy or Korea University.
Embassy-track applications are reviewed first by the embassy, then by NIIED, and finally by the selected universities. University-track applications are reviewed first by the university and then by NIIED.
Documents Required for Korea University Scholarships
Undergraduate Scholarship Documents
International undergraduate applicants should prepare:
- Completed online admission application
- Statement of purpose
- Consent for collection and use of personal information
- Citizenship statement
- Applicant’s passport information page
- Passport or official identity documents for the applicant’s parents
- Birth certificate, family register, or another family-relationship document
- Official secondary-school transcripts
- Secondary-school graduation certificate or expected graduation certificate
- Proof of Korean or English-language proficiency
- Apostille or Korean consular authentication for overseas academic documents
- Certified Korean or English translations of documents issued in another language
- Portfolio and verification form for Art and Design applicants
- Optional evidence of standardised examinations, awards, qualifications, and extracurricular activities
The online documents are uploaded as PDFs, but admitted applicants must later provide the corresponding original or authenticated documents.
Graduate Scholarship Documents
Graduate applicants may be required to provide:
- Completed graduate admission application
- Scholarship-selection information within the admission form
- Bachelor’s degree certificate and transcripts for master’s admission
- Bachelor’s and master’s certificates and transcripts for PhD admission
- Passport copy
- Family and citizenship evidence
- Statement of purpose or study plan
- Academic CV
- Recommendation letter using the required Korea University format
- Valid TOEFL, IELTS, New TEPS, or TOPIK result
- Apostilled or consular-authenticated academic documents
- Certified translations where required
- Programme-specific research, portfolio, publication, or professional evidence
Applicants should use the document list in the new 2027 Graduate School admission guide because requirements can differ by department and intake. The current application page provides a separate recommendation-letter form and list of available departments.
SK Global Scholarship Documents
SK Global applicants should prepare the documents specified in the new scholarship guide, which may include:
- Dedicated SK Global online application
- Scholarship application forms and declarations
- Passport copy
- Applicant and parental citizenship evidence
- Bachelor’s degree certificate or expected graduation certificate
- Complete bachelor’s transcripts
- English or Korean-language evidence
- Study plan or personal statement
- Academic CV
- Recommendation letter
- Evidence of projects, research, publications, awards, or technical experience
- Additional documents requested by the selected department or laboratory
Korea University provides dedicated SK Global templates rather than requiring applicants to create all scholarship forms independently.
Global Korea Scholarship Documents
The annual GKS application generally requires:
- GKS application form
- Personal statement
- Study plan or research proposal
- Recommendation letter
- GKS applicant agreement
- Medical assessment form
- Applicant and parental citizenship documents
- Family-relationship evidence
- Degree certificates and transcripts
- Valid passport or identity document
- Apostille or consular authentication
- English or Korean-language test results, where available
- Evidence of awards, publications, or other achievements
- Additional documents requested by the embassy or university
The exact number of copies, method of authentication, online submission process, and university-specific documents must be confirmed in the GKS 2027 guide.
You can use the following ScholarshipRoar resources when preparing the graduate and GKS documents:
- How to Write an Academic CV for Scholarship
- How to Write a Statement of Purpose for Scholarship
- Scholarship Interview Questions and Answers
Website
For more information about the Korea University Scholarships, please visit the official pages:
- Undergraduate KU Scholarships
- Korea University Graduate School Scholarships
- SK Global Scholarship
- Global Korea Scholarship at Korea University
- Official Study in Korea GKS Portal
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Korea University Scholarships fully funded?
Some are fully funded, while others cover tuition only.
The SK Global Scholarship covers tuition, airfare, medical insurance, and a monthly living allowance. GKS also provides comprehensive government funding. The Anam Global Scholarship covers full undergraduate tuition but does not include a standard living allowance. The Graduate Global Leader Scholarship covers the entrance fee, first-semester tuition, and four months of living support.
Can international undergraduate students receive full tuition for four years?
Yes. The Anam Global Scholarship covers full tuition for eight semesters. It is awarded to the top-ranked admitted student in each academic track.
Recipients must complete at least 12 credits and maintain a GPA of at least 3.5 each semester to retain the scholarship.
Do I need a separate Anam Global Scholarship application?
No. All eligible international freshman applicants are considered automatically during the admission evaluation.
The scholarship result is communicated with the undergraduate admission decision.
Does the Korea University Graduate Scholarship cover the entire degree?
Not automatically. Scholarship A covers the entrance fee and full tuition for the first semester and provides KRW 500,000 per month for four months.
From the second semester, students must apply again and are selected according to their university GPA and the scholarship budget.
Who can apply for the SK Global Scholarship?
The scholarship is available to eligible citizens of specified European, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and East Asian countries who apply for participating master’s programmes in AI, IT, or semiconductor-related fields.
East Asian eligibility is currently limited to Japanese and Taiwanese applicants in the semiconductor track.
Is IELTS compulsory?
Not always. Korea University accepts Korean-language qualifications, TOEFL, IELTS, and certain evidence of previous education completed in Korean or English, depending on the admission route.
However, applicants seeking the Graduate Global Leader Scholarship must submit one of the scholarship’s specified language tests, even when they are native English speakers or previously studied in an English-speaking country.
Can I apply for GKS and a Korea University scholarship at the same time?
Students cannot hold the Korea University Graduate School international scholarship together with GKS or certain foundation scholarships.
GKS applicants should follow the GKS application route, while regular graduate applicants can request consideration for the Korea University scholarships.
Does Korea University require applicants to mail documents?
Yes. For the Spring 2027 undergraduate round, applicants must upload PDF copies during the online application and send the required physical documents by post.
Graduate and scholarship applicants should follow the postal or online document instructions in the guide for their specific admission round.
