Home / Scholarships / GKS and Plan B
Scholarship guide · Updated Oct 25, 2026
Apply for GKS, and have a Plan B
The Global Korea Scholarship pays for everything, which is why thousands of students compete for a few places. Most applicants are not selected. Students who also apply to universities with their own scholarships don't lose a year when GKS says no. Here's how to do both.
GKS in one minute
| Undergraduate (GKS-U) | Graduate (GKS-G) | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Tuition, 1 year of Korean, monthly allowance, round-trip airfare, insurance | Tuition, 1 year of Korean if needed, monthly allowance, airfare, insurance |
| Monthly allowance | KRW 1,200,000 in the 2027 round (per one university's 2027 notice) | Set in each year's guideline |
| Age | Under 25 (2027 round: born after Mar 1, 2002) | Under 40 (2026 round: born on or after Sep 1, 1986) |
| Grades | GPA 2.64/4.0, 80%, or top 20% of your class | Strong record, usually top 20% or equivalent |
| Nationality | You and both parents must be non-Korean | You and both parents must be non-Korean |
| Applications | Around September–October, for a March start the following year | Around February–March, for a September start |
| Two tracks | Embassy track (through the Korean embassy in your country) or university track (through a participating university) | Embassy track or university track |
Where the 2027 rounds stand
GKS-U 2027 applications run through October 2026: one university's deadline is Oct 30, with first-round results on Nov 27 and final results in early January 2027. If you've applied, start your Plan B now, because several universities' spring deadlines fall before GKS results. The next undergraduate round is expected around September 2027. GKS-G 2027 is expected to open around February 2027.
Why you need a Plan B
GKS is competitive at every stage: the embassy or university round, then NIIED review. Strong students are turned down every year.
GKS results often come after university deadlines have passed. If you wait for GKS and lose, the next intake may be six months to a year away.
Many Korean universities give their own scholarships: tuition cuts for strong grades, TOPIK or English scores. With a partial scholarship, the cost can be far lower than you expect.
What a Plan B looks like
Scholarship rules and dates from our university guides, checked Oct 2026. Every university updates its rules each year.
| University | What it offers (from our guides) | When |
|---|---|---|
| HUFS | New open-major division for international students: 50% tuition plus KRW 1.2 million a semester living allowance, for up to two years; no score required | Regular decision Oct 19 – Nov 20, 2026 |
| SKKU | First-semester tuition: 100% for TOEFL iBT 110 or IELTS 8.0, 50% for TOEFL 95 or IELTS 7.0; TOPIK awards too | Round 2 planned |
| Chung-Ang | No score needed for most majors; Korean program after admission | Round 2: Nov 16 – 27, 2026 |
| Ajou | Korean or English track; Ajou's own Korean test accepted | Sep 28 – Nov 20, 2026 |
| National universities (e.g. SeoulTech) | Lower tuition to begin with, so a partial scholarship goes further | Fall 2027 rounds open in spring |
How we plan it
Apply for GKS when the round opens, and in the same season apply to two or three universities where your grades or scores earn a tuition scholarship. If GKS selects you, you take GKS. If not, you already have an offer. The only cost of the backup is the application fees.
Your GKS checklist
Check you meet the age, grade and nationality rules. Get your diploma and transcripts apostilled (or consular-confirmed) in your country; this takes weeks.
GKS doesn't require Korean, but TOPIK or IELTS/TOEFL scores strengthen both your GKS file and your Plan B scholarships.
Personal statement, study plan and recommendation letters. Write them once, adapt them for GKS and each university.
Pick your GKS universities and your Plan B universities together, so the deadlines and documents line up.
How we help
GKS itself is free and you apply yourself. We never charge for GKS applications; our paid help is for your university applications.
Free Plan B check
Tell us your grades, scores and what your family could cover if GKS doesn't come through. We reply with realistic options.
Scholarship Plan B report, $59
Universities whose scholarships fit your profile, what you'd actually pay, and a timeline that runs GKS and your backups side by side.
Application support
Up to three universities, documents checked and originals delivered in Seoul. 2027 intakes: from $390.
Sources and verification
GKS-U 2027 dates, age, grade rule and allowance from Ajou University's GKS 2027 notice; GKS-G 2026 embassy-track details from the Korean Consulate General in Boston's notice (Feb 2026). University scholarships and dates from our university guides, checked Oct 2026. Always read the official GKS guideline at studyinkorea.go.kr before applying. Last updated Oct 25, 2026.
K-Admission is independent and not affiliated with NIIED, any embassy or any university. We do not take part in GKS selection.