Scholarships to Study Abroad in South Korea – Best Opportunities

Recently, South Korea’s popularity has risen thanks to K-beauty and K-pop. It is increasing the number of people interested in visiting this beautiful country full of traditions and great food. This has also increased the number of young people wanting to come to Korea for its amazing educational system, ranked 19th in the world. Thankfully there are many scholarships to study abroad in South Korea, and this article will explain where to find the best opportunities. 

If studying in South Korea is something you want, whether it’s for your undergrad, Master’s, Doctoral, long-term, or short-term. Here are some scholarships that can make your dream of studying in South Korea come true.

Scholarships and Programs offered by the South Korean Government

South Korea has terrific programs for various types of students that want to study abroad in South Korea. From a full ride to support for students already studying there and even support for exchange students.

GKS- Global Korea Scholarship

This scholarship is outstanding for undergraduates, Masters, and Ph.D. students. GKS covers not only your college tuition or research program but your plane ticket from your country of origin to South Korea, language courses, medical insurance, living allowance, and much more. 

Award: 3,260,000 won

Deadline: Varies- undergrad in September, Master’s, P.H.D. in February

Global Korea Scholarship Invitation Program for International Students

This program is for international students planning to study abroad in South Korea for four months (one term) or ten months (two terms). It covers tuition, living expenses, airfare, and medical insurance.

Award: 720,000 won 

Deadlines: Varies upon the term of arrival. 

Korean Government Support Program for Foreign Exchange Students

This program helps foreign exchange students looking to study abroad in South Korea for 1 or 2 terms and might need their living expenses covered. The program also covers airfare, settlement allowance, and medical insurance. For Undergraduate and Master’s degrees

Award: 720,000 won

No Deadline

Support Program for Self-financed Students

This program is for students who could pay out of pocket but might need a little help covering living expenses.

Award: maximum of 5,000,000 won

No Deadline

Korea-Japan Joint Higher Education Student Exchange Program

This program is only for Japanese students who want to do an exchange program in South Korea and vice versa, either one term or a full academic year. For Undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees.

Award: Master’s, P.H.D includes tuition, living expenses, round-trip airfare, medical insurance, settlement fee, thesis, and dissertation printing cost. 

Undergraduate for 1-year includes tuition, living expenses, round trip airfare, medical insurance, and settlement fee. 

Undergraduate for a short term is fully funded, including round trip airfare. 

Deadline: varies

Find more information and apply at https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/en/sub/gks/allnew_exchange.do

South Korean Universities that offer Scholarships

Colleges in South Korea also have some great scholarship opportunities for international students. 

Seoul National University (SNU)

Undergraduates- SNU offers full tuition exemption for a maximum of 8 semesters, airfare, and living expenses.

Award: Varies

Deadline: February and March 

Graduates- SNU offers a few scholarships that pay your tuition in full, but depending on the scholarship, it might or might not include airfare or medical insurance.

Awards: Varies within each scholarship

Deadline: During  the admission period each fall

Exchange students- This program offers a scholarship that pays for all of your tuition. You can also apply for their fellowship program.

Award: Varies

Deadline: Every term

Find more information- https://en.snu.ac.kr/ 

Yonsei University

Undergraduates- Offers a few different types of scholarships. Some cover full, half, or a third of the tuition. 

Awards: Varies

Deadlines: Varies

For more information-https://uic.yonsei.ac.kr/main/admission.asp?mid=m04_03_02 

Korea University

Undergraduates- 

• Incoming freshmen can receive a scholarship that covers their tuition for two semesters or one that covers 50% for two semesters. 
• Current Students can receive a scholarship that covers their tuition for the next semester. They can also apply for two other scholarships covering 50% of the tuition. One is for students in financial need, and the other is for those whose grades have improved since the last semester. 

Awards: Vary

Deadlines: Vary

For more information- http://oia.korea.ac.kr/listener.do?layout=dgr_6 

Ewha Woman’s University

Undergraduates- 

• Incoming freshmen can apply to the Ewha Global Partnership Program. This program is for those who demonstrate leadership potential and is a full ride that includes a housing fee and a stipend. They can also apply for their International Student Scholarship; if awarded, they can receive one of three options. One covers your first two years, one year, or the first semester at the university. (Transfer students can also apply to this program. 
• Current students can apply for three different scholarships whose awards vary depending on the university. 

Graduates-

• Graduates can apply for two scholarships whose awards also vary.

Awards: Full tuition or partial varies

Deadlines: academic period

For more information- https://www.ewha.ac.kr/ewhaen/bachelor/scholarship-iss.do

Kyungpook National University 

Undergraduates- 

• Current students can apply for a scholarship that can take off 80% or 20% of the tuition.

Graduates-

• Graduates wanting to obtain a Master’s, Doctoral, or both can apply to the KUN International Graduates Scholarship. This amazing scholarship covers all of the tuition, whether it’s a two-year program or a four-year program.

Awards: Varies

Deadlines: academic period

For more information- https://en.knu.ac.kr/campus/info01.htm 

Changwon National University

Undergraduates-

• Incoming freshmen and transfer students can apply for scholarships that cover all or half of the tuition. 
• Graduate students can apply for their two different full-ride scholarships. 

Awards: Varied based on TOPIK scores

Deadlines: Academic period

For more information- https://www.changwon.ac.kr/eng/cm/cntnts/cntntsView.do?mi=10302&cntntsId=3405

https://www.changwon.ac.kr/affairseng/cm/cntnts/cntntsView.do?mi=11488&cntntsId=4347 

1-year study abroad scholarships (scholarships for U.S students)

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

This scholarship allows you to study in South Korea for a semester or a whole year. Their awards vary from $3,000 to $25,000. You have to be a U.S citizen to apply and be Federal Pell Grant eligible.

Awards: $3,000 to $25,000

Deadlines: Vary depending on your program 

For more information- https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/

Freeman ASIA

This scholarship is solely for those who want to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. Amounts vary from $3,000 to $7,000. 

Awards: $3,000 to $7,000

Deadlines: Vary based on the program

For more information- https://www.iie.org/freeman-ASIA 

Both scholarships are for need-based students. 

Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation 

This unique program is for:

• Students from countries in the Development Assistance Committee
• Students who are experiencing financial difficulties are affecting their studies. 
• Students who have proven academic excellence, including linguistic proficiency (both Korean and English)
• Students who have a high probability of returning to their home country and supporting its development

Awards: Vary

Deadline: Check with the program

For more information-http://eng.sdream.or.kr/wwd/wwd04_01_globalhope.html#wwd_menu

Remember that nothing is impossible; just make sure you keep up with the deadlines and read the requirements down to the last period to ensure you don’t miss a thing. Good Luck!