Fund Your Study Abroad with These Top Scholarships in South Korea

In many ways South Korea is similar to other Asian destinations; it features advanced, modern cities and large populations that are always on the go. It’s diverged significantly from its neighbor, North Korea, since 1948. South Korea is a combination of the old and the new, with numerous temples, palaces, and UNESCO World Heritage sites alongside modern buildings and densely populated residential areas. It is heavily influenced by American culture, but still retains its proud history and culture.

So what does this country have in store for foreign students?

For international students considering studying in Korea there are a variety of fields of study available. Korea’s most popular fields of study are in the arts and science, closely followed by course related to business. If you’re an international student interested in any of these fields, enrolling in a university in South Korea will ensure you get the best education Korea has to offer. If you are more interested in Korea’s culture or language, there are also a number of cultural and language-based programs that will take you into the heart of the cities of South Korea, and into the more traditional pastoral countryside.

Studying in South Korea will provide you with a wide array of job opportunities. Employers around the world are very much looking for graduates from Korean universities. The South Korean economy is, moreover, extremely stable, ensuring a financially secure future after graduation.

However, studying abroad actually requires a lot of money, especially if you are considering studying in South Korea where this country has a high cost of living. For international students, getting a scholarship is one of the best ways to realize your dream of studying abroad without spending a dime.

These scholarships in South Korea can be a way out of your dilemma to study abroad without worrying about your financial condition.

1. Seoul National University Scholarships

Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP)

• Eligibility: International applicants who wish to apply for 4-year undergraduate programs of SNU. (Those who wish to study in programs longer than 4 years – such as medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and architecture – cannot apply for this scholarship.)
• Benefits:

1. Full tuition fee: tuition exemption for 8 semesters
2. Living expenses: 800,000 KRW per month
3. Airfare: one economy round trip
4. Korean language training fee: one year (Korean language training is mandatory and if the student does not achieve TOPIK grade 3 within a year, he is not eligible to enter the degree program.)
5. Others: medical insurance, settlement and returning expenses

• Application period: September
• Selection procedure:

1. Applicants submit applications for this program to Korean embassies in their countries.
2. The embassies make the first selection.
3. The National Institute for International Education makes the final selection.

SNU Overseas Korean Scholarship

• Eligibility: Overseas Korean students who wish to take undergraduate degrees at SNU.
• Benefits:

1. Full tuition exemption for a maximum of 8 semesters (only when conditions are met)
2. 900,000 KRW per month for 8 semesters (maximum) worth of living expenses
3. Airfare for one economy round trip
4. Korean language training fee: fee exemption at the Language Education Institute for 6 months
5. Medical insurance subscription (private company)

• Application period: February or March (once per year, recruitment period is about one month)
• Selection procedure:

1. Applicants submit applications (apply online and print) and other documents to Korean embassies in their countries.
2. The embassies make the first selection.
3. The Overseas Koreans Foundation make the second selection.

Click this link to visit the official website: SNU Scholarships.

2. Korea University Graduate School Scholarships

Global Leader Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students must have GPA from the previous (latest) school of 4.0 or higher (out of 4.5), 3.83 or higher (out of 4.3), 3.57 or higher (out of 4.0), or 90 or higher (out of 100) and TOEFL (PBT) 577, (CBT) 233, TOEFL (iBT) 90 or higher, TEPS 700(new TEPS 386) or higher, IELTS 7.0 or higher, or TOPIK level 6 or above.
• Benefits: 100% of entrance fee and tuition fee, dormitory fee
• Link to these scholarships in South Korea: Korea University Graduate School Scholarships

Humanities and Social Sciences Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students must have GPA from the previous (latest) school of 3.5 or higher (out of 4.5), 3.36 or higher (out of 4.3), 3.14 or higher (out of 4.0), or 85 or higher (out of 100), and TOEFL (PBT) 553, (CBT) 220, TOEFL (iBT) 82 or higher, TEPS 620(new TEPS 337) or higher, IELTS 6.0 or higher, or TOPIK level 4 or above.
• Benefits: 60% of tuition fee
• Link to these scholarships in South Korea: Korea University Graduate School Scholarships

Natural Science and Engineering Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students must have GPA from the previous (latest) school of 3.5 or higher (out of 4.5), 3.36 or higher (out of 4.3), 3.14 or higher (out of 4.0), or 85 or higher (out of 100), and TOEFL (PBT) 553, (CBT) 220, TOEFL (iBT) 82 or higher, TEPS 620(new TEPS 337) or higher, IELTS 6.0 or higher, or TOPIK level 4 or above.
• Benefits: 65% of tuition fee

Click here to visit the official website of these scholarships in South Korea.

3. Ewha Womans University Scholarships

EGPP (Ewha Global Partnership Program)

• Eligibility: Applicant from a developing country who demonstrates high potential to become a female leader, and applies undergraduate or graduate program via special admission for international students.
• Benefits: Full tuition fee (including admission fee), on-campus dormitory fee, plus stipend

Ewha Language Center Scholarship in Excellence in Korean Language

• Eligibility: International freshmen students who have completed at least more than 3 semesters and completed Level 6 of the Korean Intensive Program at Ewha Language Center.
• Benefits: Part of tuition fee

For further information regarding these scholarships in South Korea, please visit the official website here.

4. Hanyang University International Excellence Awards

• Eligibility:

1. International Students who have a TOPIK level certificate and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the previous semester.
2. Those who are receiving other scholarships from other organizations, including GKS Scholarship, can’t apply for this scholarship.
3. If you take a leave of absence afterward, you would be disqualified for scholarships.
4. Extra points will be given depending on the TOPIK level.
5. Those who have the Insurance of which period is not expired.

• Benefits: Recipients will receive 70%, 50% or 30% tuition reduction according to the evaluation results.

Click this link to visit the official website: Hanyang University Scholarship Program.

5. Seoul Cyber University Scholarship for General Semester

Academic Excellence Scholarship

Eligibility:

1. Scholarship for the Most Distinguished is awarded to the student whose academic record is ranked 1st within the student body of each department.
2. Scholarship for the Distinguished is awarded to the student whose academic record from each department is ranked 1st within the student body of the same academic year.
3. Scholarship for the Excellent is awarded to the student whose academic record from each department is marked within the upper 6 percent of the student body in the same academic year.

Scholarship for North Korean Defector

Eligibility:

1. A North Korean defector who submits their certificate of educational provision, according to the related laws and regulations.
2. Academic records stating a GPA less than 2.0 for two (2) consecutive semesters will lead to ineligibility for the scholarship.

Han-ul Scholarship

1. The North Korean beneficiary or student is required to have a minimum 2.5 GPA for the immediate preceding semester.

Click here to visit the official website of these scholarships in South Korea.