South Korea Scholarship for 2026: What International Students Can Apply For

What is the South Korea scholarship for international students?

The best-known Korean scholarship program for international students is the KOICA Scholarship Program, offered by the Korean Government through the Korea International Cooperation Agency. It supports Masters and PhD study at Korean universities for citizens of partner countries. The programme is fully funded and is aimed at people who will use the degree in public service or development work back home.

KOICA also runs a related stream described in our listing for the KOICA Scholarship Program for Developing Countries: Masters in Korea. That page sets out the same core package: tuition, air travel, accommodation, a living allowance, textbooks, study visits and insurance.

Beyond KOICA, Korean universities themselves offer scholarships for international students. Those awards vary by university and by department, so the official university page is the place to check amounts and deadlines. Our filtered list below shows every Korea-related opening we currently track.

What does the KOICA scholarship cover?

The KOICA package is broad. According to our listing, it covers tuition, a monthly allowance, air fare, accommodation, a settlement allowance, scholarship competition grants, insurance and extracurricular activities. The older developing-countries listing adds textbooks and materials, study visits, field trips, a medical checkup after entry and overseas traveller's health insurance.

This is not a cash prize. Most of the value is paid directly to the university or used to cover your costs in Korea. The monthly allowance is the part you receive for daily living.

What is not covered

Family costs are not part of the award. The KOICA listing does not promise support for dependants, so plan for any family expenses yourself. Check the official call for the current rules on travel for family members.

Who qualifies for Korean government scholarships?

KOICA sets clear eligibility rules. From our listing, you must be a citizen of a partner country named on the DAC list, and you must hold a Bachelor's degree for a Master's programme or a Master's degree for a doctoral programme from a recognised institution. The programme is aimed at public officials and others named in the annual call.

• Citizen of a partner country on the DAC list
• Bachelor's degree for Masters applicants
• Master's degree for PhD applicants
• Public official status or the profile named in the call
• Strong academic record and a clear development purpose

Each year's call can add rules on age, work experience and English or Korean language ability. The official page has the current figure and the exact wording.

Deadlines and timeline for 2026

The KOICA Scholarship Program deadline in our listing is 31 July 2026, and the programme runs annually. Treat that as your anchor date and work backwards. The older developing-countries listing shows a March to June application window, which is a reminder that KOICA calls can open earlier than the final deadline suggests.

The exact dates for 2026 are on the official page. Do not rely on last year's calendar.

How to apply step by step

1. Confirm that your country is on the DAC list and that you meet the degree requirement.
2. Read the current KOICA call for 2026 on the official page and note the deadline and required forms.
3. Choose the Korean universities and programmes listed in the call that match your field.
4. Request academic transcripts, degree certificates and two references early.
5. Write a study plan that links the degree to a problem you will work on at home.
6. Obtain the medical and employer or government endorsement forms the call requires.
7. Submit the application through the channel named in the call, usually your country office or the online system.
8. Prepare for an interview and keep copies of everything you send.

Our scholarship tips cover how to write a study plan and how to ask for references without leaving it late.

Documents you will need

• Completed application form from the current call
• Bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts for Masters applicants
• Master's degree certificate and transcripts for PhD applicants
• Two academic or professional references
• Study plan or personal statement
• Passport or national ID copy
• Medical questionnaire or checkup form
• Employer or government nomination where the call asks for it

Documents in another language usually need a certified translation. The official page lists the exact set for your country and programme.

How selection works

KOICA selection looks at more than grades. Reviewers want to see that the degree fits your job and that you will return to a role where the training matters. A clear link between the programme and your country's development priorities carries weight.

Expect a document review followed by an interview or nomination step. The interview is your chance to explain what you will do after graduation. Vague answers about wanting international experience are weaker than a specific plan for your ministry, agency or community.

Other routes to study in Korea with funding

KOICA is not the only option. Korean universities run their own international scholarships, and some research institutes offer funded graduate places. Our listing for the LANL-CBNU Engineering Institute Graduate and PostDoc Scholarships in Korea is one example in the engineering field.

University scholarships often depend on your department, your grades and the professor who supervises you. Contact the department directly and ask what funding is available for international students in 2026. The official university page has the current amounts and deadlines.

If you are open to studying outside Korea, our country guides cover scholarships in Japan and scholarships in Singapore, both close alternatives for students targeting Asia.

Who it suits and who should look elsewhere

This scholarship suits public officials and development professionals from DAC-list countries who want a Masters or PhD in Korea and have a clear plan to use it at home. It also suits candidates whose employer or government will nominate them.

Look elsewhere if you are an undergraduate, if your country is not on the DAC list, or if you need funding for a short course rather than a degree. Students who want full control over their university choice may prefer a university scholarship or a country scheme such as the scholarships in Germany guide.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without checking that your country is on the DAC list.
• Missing the degree requirement, especially the Master's degree needed for PhD entry.
• Leaving references and medical forms until the final week.
• Writing a study plan that does not mention your job or your country's needs.
• Assuming a university offer is the same as a scholarship award.
• Using last year's deadline instead of the current call.

Most rejections come from paperwork and fit, not from grades alone.

How to read the Korea scholarship list

The list below shows Korea-related opportunities we currently track. Each entry names the host, the degree level, what the award covers and the deadline. Start with the deadline column, then check the funding type. A fully funded entry like KOICA covers tuition and living costs, while a partial award may cover tuition only.

Use the filtered list for this page to see current openings, and the scholarship finder to search by country or level. If you want a broader view, scholarships by country groups every guide we publish.