UNIST Global Scholarship
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) is one of South Korea's elite government-funded science-and-technology institutes, alongside KAIST, GIST and DGIST, known for research in energy and battery science, materials, chemistry, life sciences, AI and engineering. Its graduate programmes are taught entirely in English, and admitted international Master's and PhD students are typically funded with a full tuition waiver plus a monthly research stipend (commonly in the region of ₩1.3-1.9 million, roughly LKR 300k-440k), often topped up through research and teaching assistantships. This makes UNIST a fully funded science-and-engineering research route that does not depend on the intensely competitive national GKS quota. For Sri Lankan graduates with strong STEM backgrounds and clear research interests, matching with a UNIST lab is the key step. Exact stipend levels and terms depend on the programme and supervising lab, so confirm current details on the UNIST admissions pages.
2026 intake: UNIST runs graduate admission rounds for spring and fall each year — confirm the current international graduate application deadline on unist.ac.kr
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
Full Tuition + Stipend
Level
Master's / PhD
Focus
Science & Engineering
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
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.
What it covers
Full Tuition Waiver + Monthly Stipend. 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.
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
Strong STEM Background
A strong Bachelor's (for Master's) or Master's (for PhD) in a relevant science or engineering field from a recognised Sri Lankan university, with good grades. Research experience strengthens the application.
Research Fit with a UNIST Lab
Funded admission is closely tied to matching a UNIST research group. Identifying and contacting potential supervisors whose work aligns with your interests substantially improves your chances.
English Proficiency
Programmes are taught in English; UNIST requires English evidence such as IELTS/TOEFL. Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium degrees may qualify via an accepted MOI/exemption route — confirm with UNIST admissions.
International Applicant
Open to international students, including Sri Lankan nationals. No Korean language is required for the English-taught graduate programmes, though basic Korean helps daily life.
account_tree Application Process
Identify a research group
Explore UNIST departments and labs, and contact potential supervisors with your CV, transcripts and research interests to gauge fit and funding.
Apply for graduate admission
Submit your online application for the relevant intake, with transcripts, degree certificates, statement of purpose, recommendation letters and English evidence.
Admission and funding confirmation
Admitted students receive their tuition-waiver and stipend terms, usually linked to the accepting lab and assistantship arrangements.
Accept and apply for the Korean visa
Accept your offer and apply for the Korean student visa (D-2) via the Korean mission covering Sri Lanka, using your admission and funding confirmation.
Why UNIST?
UNIST is a young, research-intensive Korean science institute that has risen rapidly in global rankings, particularly for energy, battery and materials research. Its English-taught, fully funded graduate programmes make world-class Korean STEM research genuinely accessible to Sri Lankan graduates outside the GKS route.
2009
Founded
English
Graduate Instruction
Energy
Research Powerhouse
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.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
Open the cost calculator arrow_forwardSort courses by lowest fee
The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
Browse lowest-fee courses arrow_forwardWhat KR actually costs
Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for KR, in LKR as well as local currency.
See the cost breakdown arrow_forwardCheck your proof of funds
Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
Check the requirement arrow_forwardSimilar Scholarships
Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
DGIST International PhD Scholarship
Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST)
GIST International Graduate Scholarship
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST)
KAIST International Student Doctoral Scholarship
KAIST