Scholarships

Scholarships in South Korea for Indian Students: 2027 Complete Guide

Published

1 week ago

October 29, 2026

Central scholarship: Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), funded by South Korea’s Ministry of Education

Levels covered: associate, bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, research

What it covers: tuition, round-trip airfare, monthly allowance, settlement allowance, medical insurance, Korean language training

Monthly allowance: KRW 900,000 to 1,000,000 (about USD 630 to 700)

Application fee: none

2027 undergraduate embassy track (India): closed on 30 September 2026

2027 graduate intake: applications expected February to March 2027

Scholarships in South Korea for Indian students are awards that fund study at Korean universities. The Korean government, universities, city governments, and corporate foundations offer them. The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is the most complete of these awards. NIIED administers GKS for the Ministry of Education and invites Indian citizens to apply for degree programs every year.

This guide follows the applicant’s journey. It explains which scholarships exist, who should apply, how to apply, which documents to prepare, how selection works, and how recent cycles have changed. It also lists the mistakes that cost applicants their seats.

What Scholarships Can Indian Students Get in South Korea?

Indian students can get four types of scholarships in South Korea: government, university, city-government, and corporate awards. Government scholarships fund the most. University and corporate awards usually cover part of the cost.

Scholarship	Type	Level	Coverage	Best for
Global Korea Scholarship, undergraduate (GKS-U)	Government (NIIED)	Associate, bachelor’s	Tuition, airfare, allowance, insurance, language year	Class 12 graduates with strong marks
Global Korea Scholarship, graduate (GKS-G)	Government (NIIED)	Master’s, PhD, research	Tuition, airfare, allowance, research allowance, insurance, language year	Graduates under 40 with a research plan
University scholarships (Seoul National University, KAIST, Yonsei, Korea University, UNIST, GIST, Changwon National University)	University	Bachelor’s, master’s, PhD	Partial to full tuition waiver; some add a stipend	Applicants admitted to the university
Seoul Tech Scholarship (2025 cycle)	City government (Seoul Metropolitan Government)	Master’s in science and engineering	Full tuition waiver, economy flight, internship-based support	Indian STEM graduates
POSCO TJ Park Scholarship	Corporate foundation	Master’s, PhD	Living stipend for selected Asian students	Graduate students already planning study in Korea

The Seoul Tech Scholarship ran in 2025 with a 14 March 2025 deadline. Readers should confirm whether a 2026–27 cycle exists before planning around it.

What Is the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)?

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is South Korea’s flagship fully funded scholarship for international students. The Korean government rebranded the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) as GKS in 2010. GKS has two programs: GKS-U for undergraduate degrees and GKS-G for master’s and doctoral degrees.

Every GKS applicant chooses one of two routes. The embassy track runs through the Korean Embassy in India. The university track runs directly through a Korean university.

Embassy Track vs University Track

Feature	Embassy track	University track
Where you apply	Korean Embassy in India (with online registration on the Study in Korea portal)	Directly to the Korean university
First selection	Embassy	University
Second selection	NIIED	NIIED (final announcement)
Third selection	University chosen by the applicant	None
University choices	Up to three (general program)	Set by each university
Quota	Limited seats per country	Shared across participating universities
Best for	Applicants who want to name several universities	Applicants with a specific university or department in mind

Globally, the 2027 undergraduate cycle plans to select 156 embassy-track scholars from 74 countries and 130 university-track scholars. India receives only a small share of the embassy-track seats.

What GKS Covers (in USD)

GKS covers study costs through a package of fixed benefits. The table lists amounts in KRW with approximate USD values.

Benefit	Amount (KRW)	Approx. USD
Airfare	Round-trip economy ticket, actual cost	Varies
Tuition	Up to 5,000,000 per semester from NIIED; the university covers any excess	About 3,500
Monthly allowance	900,000 to 1,000,000	About 630 to 700
Settlement allowance	200,000, one time	About 140
Medical insurance	About 20,000 per month (limited coverage)	About 14
TOPIK 5 or 6 grant	100,000 per month	About 70
Research allowance (graduate)	210,000 (humanities and social sciences) or 240,000 (natural and applied sciences) per month	About 150 to 170
Dissertation printing (graduate)	500,000 to 800,000, reimbursed	About 350 to 560
Korean language training	One year, fee covered	Included

USD values assume about KRW 1,430 per USD. Exchange rates change, and NIIED can revise benefits each year.

Who Should Apply and Who Should Not Apply

Applicants should apply when they meet the age, academic, and nationality rules and can commit to a degree in Korea. Applicants should not apply when they fall outside those rules or want a short course.

You should apply if you…	You should not apply, or should rethink, if you…
Are an Indian citizen born after 1 March 2002 and finishing or holding a Class 12 qualification (undergraduate)	Were born before the age cutoff for your program
Are a graduate under 40 with a clear research or study plan (graduate)	Fall below the marks or CGPA threshold
Score at least 80% or rank in the top 20% of your class	Want a short course, exchange semester, or non-degree program
Are willing to spend a year learning Korean before your degree	Already received or currently hold a GKS degree scholarship
Can explain why a specific Korean university and major fit your goals	Hold Korean citizenship, or have a parent who does, unless an overseas-Koreans program applies
Are ready to submit a strong personal statement and study plan	Passed the embassy-track first round and now want to switch to the university track
Can pass the health requirement	Cannot complete the Korean language year or the full degree

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for GKS?

GKS eligibility depends on citizenship, age, academic record, and health. The official guideline for each cycle sets the exact limits, and the limits change every year.

Criterion	GKS-U (undergraduate)	GKS-G (graduate)
Citizenship	Indian citizen; applicant and parents must meet the non-Korean nationality rule	Indian citizen; same nationality rule
Age	Under 25, born after 1 March 2002 (2027 intake)	Under 40 as of 1 September of the inviting year
Education	Class 12 completed, or expected before the academic year starts	Bachelor’s degree for master’s; master’s degree for PhD; expected graduates may apply with a certificate
Academic record	At least 80% on a 100-point scale, or top 20% of the class, or a CGPA of 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5, or 3.23/5.0	Similar percentage or CGPA threshold set in the graduate guideline
Health	Must pass the health requirement, including a medical exam in Korea	Same
Prior GKS award	Previous or current GKS degree scholars cannot reapply	Same, with limited exceptions in the guideline

Meeting every criterion confirms eligibility. It does not guarantee selection.

When Can Indian Students Apply for 2026–27 Scholarships?

The 2027 undergraduate embassy-track window for India has closed, and the graduate window opens in early 2027. Applicants should treat the dates below as the pattern and confirm exact deadlines on the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India page.

Program	Track	Window	Status on 29 October 2026
GKS-U 2027	Embassy	15 to 30 September 2026 (deadline 18:00 KST)	Closed
GKS-U 2027	University	September to November 2026, set by each university	Check each university; some have closed
GKS-G 2027	Embassy	February to March 2027 (expected)	Prepare now
GKS-G 2027	University	February to April 2027, set by each university	Prepare now

The Korean academic year begins in March. Selected scholars start with Korean language training before their degree begins.

Suggested preparation calendar for the graduate intake

November to December 2026: shortlist universities and majors, request recommendation letters, and book TOPIK or English tests if needed.
January 2027: read the new guideline when NIIED and the embassy publish it, and finish the study plan.
February to March 2027: submit the application before the embassy or university deadline.

How Do You Apply? Step-by-Step Application Guide

Applicants apply by choosing a track, preparing documents, and submitting before the deadline. Each step below follows the order that wastes the least time and money.

Read the official guideline. Open the Study in Korea portal and the Indian embassy notice for your program. Guidelines list the exact quota, documents, and deadlines.
Check eligibility. Confirm your birth date, marks or CGPA, citizenship, and health status against the guideline.
Choose one track. Pick the embassy track or the university track. Embassy applicants must choose one program only, such as General or R-GKS.
Shortlist universities and majors. Embassy applicants can list up to three universities on the general program. Read each department’s extra requirements.
Register and fill in the application form. Create an account on the Study in Korea portal for the embassy track, or follow the university’s own portal. Follow the India embassy notice for any extra form, email, or hard copy.
Write the personal statement and study plan. Use short, specific sentences. Link your goals to the chosen major. See our guides on how to write a statement of purpose and how to write a study plan.
Collect recommendation letters. Ask teachers or professors who know your work. Give them the deadline and the scholarship name. See our guide to a letter of recommendation for scholarships.
Submit before the deadline in Korean time. India Standard Time runs 3.5 hours behind Korea Standard Time. A deadline of 18:00 KST equals 14:30 IST.
Prepare for the interview. Expect questions on your study plan, your reasons for choosing Korea, and your career goals.
Submit certified documents after the interview, if requested. Only shortlisted applicants usually need consular-confirmed or apostilled papers.
Track your result. Watch the email address in your application for notices from the embassy or university.

Which Documents Do You Need? Required Documents Explained

The required documents prove your identity, academic record, motivation, and health. The first selection round often asks for a lighter set than later rounds.

Document	What it proves	Common pitfall
Application form	Personal details, education, and chosen universities	Name or date of birth differs from the passport
GKS Applicant Agreement	You accept the scholarship conditions	Missing signature
Personal statement	Your background, motivation, and goals	Generic text that fits any scholarship
Study plan	What you will study and why	No link between the plan and the chosen major
Recommendation letter(s)	A third party’s view of your ability	Unsigned letter or a vague, copied template
Graduation or expected graduation certificate	Your qualification level	Certificate issued after the deadline
Academic transcripts and marks sheets	Your marks or CGPA	Percentage not converted to the guideline scale
Passport copy	Identity and nationality	Passport nearly expired
Proof of applicant and parent nationality	Meets the non-Korean nationality rule	Missing parent documents
Personal medical assessment	Health suitability	Left incomplete
Language certificates (TOPIK, IELTS, TOEFL), if applicable	Language ability	Submitting expired or irrelevant scores

Each embassy and university may simplify first-round submissions. Always follow the India notice rather than a blog checklist.

How Does the Selection Process Work?

Selection runs in rounds, and each round narrows the pool. The embassy track has three rounds. The university track has two.

Round	Embassy track	University track
1	Embassy reviews documents and interviews applicants	University reviews documents and interviews applicants
2	NIIED evaluates recommended candidates	NIIED evaluates recommended candidates and announces the final list
3	Chosen universities select the final scholars	Not applicable

Reviewers weigh academic achievement, the personal statement, the study plan, recommendations, and the interview. Embassies commonly notify only successful candidates at each stage. Backup candidates in the embassy track also lose the right to apply through the university track.

NIIED does not publish an acceptance rate for India. Any rate quoted on a blog is an estimate.

What Do Previous Years’ Trends Show?

Recent cycles show a rising global quota, a small India undergraduate quota, and an age cutoff that rolls forward each year.

Guideline year	What changed or stood out
2022	Age cutoff: born after 1 March 1997. A regional university track for natural science and engineering majors appeared.
2024	Age cutoff: born after 1 March 1999. India had 22 embassy-track and 25 university-track graduate seats. The graduate embassy deadline was 29 February 2024.
2025	One source reported 1 embassy-track undergraduate seat for India.
2026	Age cutoff: born after 1 March 2001. The embassy track selected 150 scholars from 71 countries. Sources report 2 embassy-track undergraduate seats for India.
2027	Age cutoff: born after 1 March 2002. The embassy track plans 156 scholars from 74 countries and the university track 130. The India undergraduate embassy window ran 15 to 30 September 2026.

What the pattern means for applicants

The India embassy-track undergraduate quota stays in single digits, so applicants should also consider the university track.
Graduate seats are far more plentiful than undergraduate seats.
The undergraduate window opens in September, and the graduate window opens in February.
The age cutoff moves forward one year every cycle, so older guidelines mislead.

Quota figures for India differ across sources. The embassy notice for the current cycle is the only reliable number.

What Mistakes Do Applicants Commonly Make?

Applicants most often lose seats through rule violations and weak documents, not through low marks.

Mistake	Why it hurts	Fix
Applying to both embassy and university tracks after passing the embassy first round	The rules block it; a duplicate application can cancel an award	Choose one track early
Selecting more than one embassy program	The guideline allows one program per applicant	Pick General or R-GKS only
Missing the deadline through time-zone confusion	Deadlines run on Korean time	Convert KST to IST and submit a day early
Converting marks incorrectly	The record may fall below the threshold	Use the guideline’s conversion table
Writing a generic personal statement	Reviewers read many similar essays	Tie each claim to a project, result, or goal
Weak or vague study plan	The plan shows academic readiness	Name courses, labs, or research questions
Choosing universities at random	Departments set extra requirements	Check every department page
Certifying all documents too early	It wastes time and money	Wait until the embassy requests certified copies
Trusting agents who promise a guaranteed seat	NIIED charges no application fee and no agent can guarantee selection	Apply directly through official channels

Our Research Notes

These notes compare several competing guides and show what most of them miss.

Time zone matters. Most guides state the deadline in KST only. An 18:00 KST deadline ends at 14:30 IST.
Sources disagree on India’s quota. Guides report anywhere from 1 to 4 embassy-track undergraduate seats. Quotas change each year, so confirm the number in the current notice.
Track rules interact. Passing the embassy first round, even as a backup, closes the university-track door. Failing it keeps the door open only while the university deadline remains.
Regional university route. Earlier guidelines created a regional university track for natural science and engineering majors, which can be less crowded than Seoul-based options. Check whether the current cycle offers it.
Graduate is the larger opportunity. Graduate quotas for India run in the dozens, while undergraduate embassy seats run in single digits.
Plan for the language year. Applicants receive a degree scholarship only after a Korean language year, so the real timeline is longer than the degree length. A four-year bachelor’s takes about five years in total.
The city-government route is real but uncertain. The 2025 Seoul Tech Scholarship offered a full tuition waiver, an economy flight, and career support for Indian STEM master’s applicants. The Indian government and the Indian embassy did not take part in the selection. Check whether it returns.

What Happens After You Are Selected?

Selected scholars complete Korean language training, receive a student visa, and start their degree. The sequence below shows what to expect.

Placement. NIIED confirms your degree university and language institute.
Visa. Scholars apply for a student visa (D-2) at the Korean mission with the documents NIIED provides.
Arrival and medical exam. NIIED administers a medical exam after arrival. A serious illness found at that exam can disqualify a scholar.
Korean language year. Scholars study Korean and prepare for TOPIK. See our TOPIK exam guide. NIIED sets a minimum TOPIK level that scholars must reach before starting the degree.
Degree program. The degree starts in March, the beginning of the Korean academic year.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships in South Korea for Indian Students

Can Indian students study in South Korea for free?

Yes, Indian students can study in South Korea without paying tuition through the Global Korea Scholarship. The program covers tuition, round-trip airfare, a monthly allowance, medical insurance, and a Korean language year. Selection is competitive because India receives a limited number of seats each cycle, so applicants should also prepare university-track and university-funded alternatives.

What is the Global Korea Scholarship?

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is the South Korean government’s fully funded scholarship for international students. The Ministry of Education funds it, and the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) manages it. It supports associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study at participating Korean universities. It was formerly called the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP).

What percentage is required for GKS undergraduate as an Indian student?

Applicants need a score of at least 80% on a 100-point scale or a rank within the top 20% of their class. Alternatively, a cumulative GPA of 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5, or 3.23/5.0 qualifies. Meeting the threshold only confirms eligibility. It does not guarantee selection.

What is the age limit for GKS?

Undergraduate applicants for the 2027 intake must be under 25 and born after 1 March 2002. Graduate applicants must be under 40 as of 1 September of the inviting year. The cutoff dates move forward every cycle, so applicants should confirm the exact birth-date limit in the current official guideline before preparing documents.

Is TOPIK or IELTS required to apply?

GKS does not require Korean proficiency at the application stage for most programs, because selected scholars complete a one-year Korean language course first. English or Korean test scores can strengthen an application, and some universities or departments set their own language requirements. Applicants should check each chosen university’s conditions.

What is the difference between the embassy track and the university track?

In the embassy track, the Korean Embassy in India screens applicants first, NIIED evaluates them second, and the chosen university makes the third selection. In the university track, the university screens applicants directly, and NIIED makes the final announcement after the second round. Embassy-track applicants on the general program can list up to three universities.

Can I apply to both tracks?

No, not freely. Applicants who pass the embassy-track first round, including backup candidates, cannot apply through the university track afterward. Applicants who fail the embassy first round may still apply to a university track if that university’s deadline remains open. Within the embassy track, applicants must choose only one program.

How much is the monthly stipend in USD?

Reported monthly allowances range from KRW 900,000 to 1,000,000, which equals roughly USD 630 to 700 at recent exchange rates. Graduate scholars receive about KRW 1,000,000 plus a research allowance. NIIED sets the exact amount each year, and exchange rates change, so applicants should verify the figure in the current guideline.

How many GKS seats are available for India?

India receives a small number of embassy-track undergraduate seats, reported between one and four in recent cycles, plus a larger share of graduate seats across both tracks. For example, India had 22 embassy-track and 25 university-track graduate seats in 2024. Quotas change annually, so the embassy notice is the authoritative source.

How long is the Korean language year, and is it compulsory?

Most GKS scholars complete one year of Korean language training before starting their degree. NIIED assigns the language institute and covers the fee. Scholars must reach the minimum TOPIK level NIIED sets, or the scholarship can end. Applicants with high TOPIK scores or English-taught programs may qualify for exemptions under the guideline.

Can I work part-time while on a scholarship?

International students on a D-2 visa may work part-time only with permission from immigration authorities and within limits set by Korean law. GKS scholars receive a monthly allowance and should confirm with NIIED and their university whether work is allowed. Unauthorized work can jeopardize visa status and the scholarship.

What other scholarships can Indian students get in South Korea?

Indian students can apply for university scholarships at institutions such as Seoul National University, KAIST, Yonsei, Korea University, UNIST, and GIST, which offer partial or full tuition waivers. Corporate awards such as the POSCO TJ Park scholarship and city-government programs such as the 2025 Seoul Tech Scholarship also exist. Availability changes by year.

Conclusion

The Global Korea Scholarship is the central scholarship for Indian students who want funded study in South Korea. It covers tuition, airfare, a monthly allowance, and a Korean language year. The 2027 undergraduate embassy window has closed, so graduate applicants and university-track applicants should prepare next.