Modern high-rise buildings of Seoul photographed from above at dawn.

South Korea Closing soon Closes 30 September 2026

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), formerly known as KGSP, is the Korean government's flagship international scholarship. Funded by the Ministry of Education and administered by NIIED (the National Institute for International Education), it supports full undergraduate, Master's, and PhD study at partner Korean universities. Sri Lanka receives a small annual quota — typically 2-5 awards for undergraduates and a separate allocation for graduate degrees — with applications routed through the Korean Embassy in Colombo or the host university.

2027 GKS-G (graduate) applications open Feb 12-25, 2027; 2027 GKS-U (undergraduate) closes Sept 30, 2026

Korean Ministry of Education / NIIED

Government-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Fully Funded

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Duration

Full degree + 1 yr Korean language

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Travel

Return Airfare + Settlement Fee

info How this award actually works

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This is a separate, highly competitive application

Government awards like this one run their own selection round against applicants from across the world, and success rates are usually in the low single digits. Lanka Scholar does not administer it and cannot submit it for you. Treat it as a bonus on top of a funded study plan — never as the plan itself.

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Who awards it

Korean Ministry of Education / NIIED — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through a separate application round run by the funder, with its own forms, deadlines and shortlisting. You submit it yourself — it is not part of a university admission application.

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What it covers

Full Tuition + Stipend + Flights. Read the terms carefully: even fully-funded awards rarely cover every cost, and any shortfall is yours to fund.

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Where we come in

We help you judge whether this award is worth your time, and build a realistic admission plan that works whether or not you win it.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Sri Lankan Citizen

Must be a citizen of an eligible country (Sri Lanka is on the GKS list every cycle). Korean citizens and dual nationals with Korean citizenship are not eligible.

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Academic Standing

Undergraduate applicants need to be in the top 20% of their O/L or A/L cohort. Graduate applicants need a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a CGPA of at least 2.64/4.0 or 80/100 from a recognised university.

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Age Limit

Under 25 for undergraduate applicants and under 40 for graduate applicants (under 45 for professors of partner universities) as of the programme start date. Health certificate confirming fitness to study is required.

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No Previous Korean Degree

Applicants must not have previously obtained the same level of degree from a Korean university. TOPIK Level 5 or 6 holders are exempt from the mandatory 1-year Korean language course.

account_tree Application Process

Choose your track — Embassy or University

Apply via the Korean Embassy in Colombo (broader Korean university choice) OR directly through one of the partner universities. Sri Lankan applicants typically go via the Embassy track for the GKS-U undergraduate programme.

Submit application package

Application form, personal statement, study plan, two recommendation letters, transcripts, certificates, proof of citizenship, and a health checklist. All documents must be in English or Korean (apostille or notarisation required).

First-round selection (Embassy / University)

The Embassy or host university screens applicants and shortlists candidates for interview. Sri Lanka first-round results typically out by April for graduate / July for undergraduate cycle.

NIIED final selection

Shortlisted candidates are forwarded to NIIED in Seoul for final review and university placement matching. Final results announced approximately 2 months later; programme starts the following March (for grad) or following March/September (for undergrad).

Why GKS?

GKS has supported over 6,000 international scholars since 1967 (then KGSP). It is the most generous fully-funded route into Korean higher education and includes a mandatory 1-year Korean language course at a top university language institute.

~1,800

Awards per Year (all countries)

160+

Eligible Countries

KRW 900k-1.5M

Monthly Stipend (Degree/Research)

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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