What scholarships are available for foreigners who want to study in Korea?

Korea has multiple scholarship programs for international students. Here are the main ones.

Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP, now called GKS - Global Korea Scholarship). The flagship Korean government scholarship for undergraduate and graduate study. Covers full tuition, monthly living stipend (900,000 to 1,000,000 won), settlement allowance, medical insurance, Korean language training (1 year), and round-trip airfare.

Application routes. Embassy track: apply through the Korean embassy in your home country, typically February to March. University track: apply directly to participating Korean universities, typically September to October. Embassy track has higher selection rates for top students. Each year about 1,700 students worldwide are selected, including undergraduate, graduate, and research scholars.

Eligibility. Citizen of a country with diplomatic relations with Korea (not Korea). Generally under 25 for undergraduate, under 40 for graduate. High academic standing. Good health. Some universities have additional requirements.

University scholarships. Most major Korean universities offer their own scholarships for international students, ranging from tuition waivers (50 to 100 percent) to full packages. Seoul National University, Yonsei, Korea University, KAIST, POSTECH, and others have generous programs. Check each university's international admissions page.

Industry and foundation scholarships. POSCO TJ Park Foundation, Hyundai Motor Group Foundation, Samsung STS, Daewoong Foundation, and the Asian Cultural Council offer scholarships for international students in specific fields. Many are for graduate study or research.

KOREATECH Talent Scholarship. For science and engineering students, often with internship opportunities at Korean companies.

Korean Language scholarships. KIIP (Korea Immigration and Integration Program) offers free Korean classes to foreign residents, with academic credit recognition for visa points. Sejong Hakdang offers free or low-cost Korean classes worldwide.

How to apply. Start at the Korean government's StudyinKorea portal (studyinkorea.go.kr) for GKS and program lists. Check each program's deadline and required documents (transcripts, recommendation letters, statement of purpose, language scores). Application typically requires apostille of academic documents.

Most competitive aspect is academic excellence and a compelling personal statement showing why Korea specifically.