KAIST International Student Scholarship
KAIST — the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology — funds the vast majority of its international graduate students through its internal scholarship system. There is no separate scholarship form: you simply tick the KAIST Scholarship option on the graduate admission application, and admitted Sri Lankan students are routinely considered through their department. Around 94% of KAIST's international student body receives some form of funding, and most STEM departments add a research assistantship on top of the base stipend.
KAIST
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
Full Tuition + Monthly Stipend
Duration
Up to 2 yrs Master's / 4 yrs PhD
Top-Up
Lab RA / TA support common
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Non-Korean Citizen
Both parents must be non-Korean citizens. Sri Lankan applicants are eligible. The scholarship is restricted to international students admitted to KAIST graduate programmes.
KAIST Admission
You must first be admitted to a Master's or PhD programme at KAIST. Most KAIST graduate programmes are taught in English, so a Korean language certificate is not required (TOPIK is optional).
Maintain Academic Standing
To keep the scholarship, students must maintain a minimum CGPA each semester (typically 2.7/4.3 for Master's, 3.0/4.3 for PhD) and complete required credits on schedule.
No Outside Sponsorship
Students already receiving full funding from another major scholarship (GKS, POSCO, home government) should declare it — KAIST funding is offered to top up or supplement only when appropriate.
account_tree Application Process
Apply to a KAIST graduate programme
Submit the KAIST graduate admission application via the online portal. Two intake cycles: Spring (March start, application closes around September) and Fall (September start, application closes around March).
Select "KAIST Scholarship" as financial resource
On the application form, select KAIST Scholarship as your funding source. There is no separate scholarship form — your scholarship is decided alongside the admission decision.
Submit application package
Statement of purpose, study/research plan, two recommendation letters, transcripts, English proficiency proof (TOEFL iBT 83+ / IELTS 6.5+ — or waiver if your prior degree was in English), and CV.
Department reviews and confirms support
KAIST departments review applications and confirm scholarship eligibility along with the admission offer. Successful Sri Lankan applicants are notified ~1-2 months before the intake. Many lab placements come with additional RA stipends from research grants.
Why KAIST?
KAIST is South Korea's top science and engineering university, ranked #53 globally (QS World 2026) and #1 in Korea for innovation. English-medium graduate programmes are well-suited to Sri Lankan STEM applicants.
#53
QS World Ranking 2026
~94%
International Students Funded
1971
Founded
Similar Scholarships
Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
POSCO Asia Fellowship
POSCO TJ Park Foundation
SNU President Fellowship
Seoul National University
Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
Korean Ministry of Education / NIIED