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South Korea Check current round

Pusan National University (PNU) International Student Scholarship

Pusan National University (PNU) is a flagship national (public) university in Busan and one of Korea's most prestigious state institutions outside Seoul, particularly strong in engineering, materials science, and the humanities. As a national university its base tuition is already lower than private Seoul universities, and on top of that it offers international-student scholarships of 30%–100% tuition reduction — an entrance band set from your academic record, then GPA-linked continuing reductions. For cost-conscious Sri Lankan applicants this combination (lower base fees plus a reduction, in a cheaper-than-Seoul city) is one of the better value routes into a top Korean university. English-taught graduate tracks accept IELTS or an English-medium degree; many undergraduate programmes are Korean-medium, so check TOPIK requirements for your course. Living costs in Busan are meaningfully lower than the capital, but the scheme covers tuition only — plan for accommodation, flights, and the deposit yourself.

Spring 2027 (March) intake: applications around September–November 2026; Fall 2027 (September) intake: applications around April–June 2027

Pusan National University

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

30%–100% Tuition Reduction

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Type

Flagship National University (lower base fees)

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Application

With admission; renewed on GPA

info How this award actually works

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Who awards it

Pusan National University — 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 your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.

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What it covers

30%–100% Tuition Reduction (national-university rates). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.

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Where we come in

We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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International Applicant

Open to non-Korean nationals applying for a full degree at PNU. Sri Lankan citizens are eligible. Standard nationality and prior-education rules apply.

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Academic Record at Entry

The entrance-scholarship band reflects your prior results. As a selective national university, PNU's higher reduction tiers reward strong A/L or Bachelor's/Master's records from recognised Sri Lankan institutions.

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GPA for Renewal

Continuing reductions require maintaining a minimum semester GPA. This is merit-maintained — grades below the threshold reduce the award.

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Language Proficiency

English-taught (mostly graduate) programmes accept IELTS ~6.0–6.5 or an English-medium degree; a Sri Lankan MOI letter can evidence this. Many undergraduate courses are Korean-taught and need TOPIK level 3–4.

account_tree Application Process

Apply to PNU for admission

Submit the international application via PNU's admissions office for your intake, with transcripts, certificates, study plan, financial evidence, and IELTS/TOPIK results.

Entrance scholarship assessed at offer

Admitted international students are assigned an entrance-scholarship band automatically; your offer states the first-semester tuition reduction.

Maintain your GPA

Continuing reductions are recalculated each semester on GPA. Keep grades above the tier threshold to hold the higher bands.

Apply for the D-2 student visa

Use your admission certificate and proof of remaining tuition plus living funds to apply for the D-2 visa via the Korean mission serving Sri Lanka.

Why Pusan National University?

PNU is Busan's flagship national university, consistently ranked among Korea's top public institutions and a member of the Korean 'national university' network. Its large campus, lower national-university tuition, and Busan's lower living costs make it a strong-value option, with particular research depth in engineering and materials.

Top national

Public universities in Korea

100%

Max entrance tuition reduction

Busan

Lower living costs than Seoul

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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