If you wish to pursue an undergraduate degree abroad but are not financially buoyant, there are scholarships in South Korea for international students that you can apply for to support the financial cost of your education in South Korea. These scholarships are curated here to help you easily get access to all of them in one place all at once.
South Korea is one of the best countries in the world to study. Its higher institutions offer quality academic programs that are on par with Australia, Canada, and the United States. However, the academic prestige of South Korean universities is not as popular as the UK, US, and Canada and part of it would be because of its popular K-pop icons and beauty products which many people know a lot more of.
Therefore, not a lot of people know that South Korea is a great destination for studying so it is more like a hidden gem of study hub for international students. If your aim is to study abroad whether for an undergraduate or graduate degree program, you may want to add South Korea to your list.
South Korea is a safe place to live with a low crime rate and a friendly atmosphere. In fact, the country is one of the safest in Asia. The cost of living is cheap even though it is a first-world country and to crown it all is its culture and food which continues to attract students and tourists alike from different parts of the world. These and many more are reasons why you may want to consider studying in South Korea.
Tuition fee for international students in South Korea is typically higher compared to domestic students which should not come as a surprise to you because it is a norm everywhere in the world. However, the high cost of tuition can be cut if you apply for scholarships. There are scholarships in South Korea for international students made available by the Korean Government and universities in Korea for international students.
The scholarships in South Korea for international students are awarded based on merit, financial need, or both and may be fully funded or partially funded. If you get a fully-funded scholarship you do not have to worry about tuition and living expenses in South Korea for as long as you are a student there. Also, there will be varying scholarship requirements since it is funded by different donors.
So, if you are considering studying in South Korea but are worried about the financial costs, the scholarships compiled below are the solution to your worries.
Table of Contents
Scholarships in South Korea for International Students
The following are the scholarships in South Korea for international students:
- Ewha Global Partnership Program
- Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) for International Students
- UNIST Scholarships for International Students
- Hanyang International Excellence Awards
- Pusan National University (PNU) International Scholarships
- Seoul National University (SNU) President Fellowship Program
- GIST Scholarship for International Students
- Korea University Scholarships for International Students
- Global Hope Scholarship Program
1. Ewha Global Partnership Program
The Ewha Global Partnership Program was established by Ewha Woman’s University to provide financial assistance to international students who are accepted into a degree program at the university. To be eligible, you have to be a female with leadership potential enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. The scholarship is full tuition which covers admission fees, and housing fees, and provides a stipend.
There are also other scholarships for continuing international students of Ewha Woman’s University to apply for whether you are at undergraduate or graduate level. The scholarships are offered annually including the Ewha Global Partnership Program.
2. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) for International Students
GKS is one of the most popular scholarships in South Korea for international students. It is made available to international students who wish to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree program at any accredited higher institution in South Korea. It is provided by the Korean Government to foster greater international educational exchange and bolster the connections between Korea and the participating countries.
It is a fully-funded scholarship and will cover tuition and expenses as long as the recipient is still enrolled in that program. In addition, the scholarship will cover the cost of travel, 1-year Korean language courses, printing costs for a dissertation, and an award for excellent Korean Language proficiency.
3. UNIST Scholarships for International Students
International students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs at UNIST are eligible to apply for the UNIST Scholarships which comes in the form of a full or partial tuition fee waiver. The scholarship may be renewable if you meet the requirements for renewal each year. The scholarship value is KRW 130,00 per month with a meal plan.
4. Hanyang International Excellence Awards
The Hanyang International Excellence Awards is a scholarship program of Hanyang University for international students. To qualify for the award, you must be an international student with a TOPIK level certificate and have a minimum of 3.0 GPA for the previous semester. If you receive a scholarship from another organization including the GKS scholarship then you do not qualify to apply for this scholarship.
After applying for the scholarship, selected candidates will be called for an interview where there will be a final selection. The scholarship value is 30% to 70% of tuition reduction according to the evaluation results.
5. Pusan National University (PNU) International Scholarships
PNU accepts international students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The institution has a whole webpage of scholarships for international students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs and all of the scholarships are full-tuition. Requirements vary based on your enrolled program, so review carefully.
6. Seoul National University (SNU) President Fellowship Program
The prestigious SNU offers an annual President Fellowship Program to attract faculty members from developing countries who want to earn their Ph.D. at the university. You must also be newly admitted to be eligible. The scholarship offers a full tuition fee for 6 semesters, a monthly stipend for 3-4 years, flight expenses, Korean language training, and national health insurance coverage.
7. GIST Scholarship for International Students
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is a prestigious higher institution in South Korea with a diverse population of students from different countries. To attract the brightest students from Asia and other continents, GIST is offering tuition assistance to international students who wish to study at GIST but cannot afford it.
Selected candidates will receive 3,415,000 per semester and a monthly stipend of 140,000 per month for master’s students and 295,000 won per month for Ph.D. students. Housing, health insurance, and flight costs are also covered for international students.
8. Korea University Scholarships for International Students
If you are an international student enrolled in KU and have completed at least one semester you may be eligible for a scholarship. There is no application for the scholarship as all international students are automatically considered and if you meet the required GPA and achieve at least 12 credits in the semester there is a high chance you will receive a scholarship.
9. Global Hope Scholarship Program
Global Hope Scholarship Program is provided by the Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation and provided to students from the nationality of a country in the DAC list of ODA recipients. It is made available to students who cannot afford the cost of higher education, with good academic records, who are willing to join volunteer activities and social contributions, and who are willing to join activities hosted by the foundation.
Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation partners with some universities in South Korea to offer this scholarship and you must have been admitted or currently enrolled in one of these universities to receive the scholarship. Your host institution will recommend you for the scholarship. Undergraduates will receive KRW 3,900,000 per semester while graduates will receive KRW 3,500,000 or KRW 5,000,000 per semester.
Conclusion
To recap, there are a variety of scholarships available for international students who want to study in South Korea. These scholarships can help cover the cost of tuition, living expenses, and travel. There are also scholarships available for specific countries. So, if you’re considering studying in South Korea, be sure to explore all the scholarship options that are available to you. With the right scholarship, you can make your dream of studying in South Korea a reality
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