GKS Scholarship for Indian Students: Study in South Korea
Want to Study in South Korea for Free? then you should know about GKS Scholarship for Indian students. Under this scholarship, meritorious students get financial aid to cover the expenses of air ticket, tuition fees, monthly expenses, and health insurance during their higher studies.
GKS Scholarship 2025: The Global Korea Scholarship program was launched by the Education Ministry of Korea in the year 2010. The objective of GKS Scholarship 2025 is to invite international students to study in South Korea. Currently, scholars from 150+ countries around the world are availing the benefits of the GKS scholarship program. This is a golden opportunity for those Indian students who want to study in South Korea but are facing financial issues.
Top-ranked education systems and reputed universities are the major reasons to choose South Korea for higher studies. To be eligible for the GKS Scholarship 2025, students need to be enrolled in the universities listed with the Global Korea Scholarship program. Apart from this, they must have good academic records and fall under the set age limit bracket. In this article, we will help you to understand how the GKS scholarship program is helpful for Indian students.
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Related Read: Scholarships to Study in South Korea
What is GKS Scholarship?
GKS Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship. This scholarship was started to offer financial help to meritorious students. The aim was to attract talented students to study at higher educational institutions in Korea. It also enhances international education exchange and strengthens ties between Korea and the participating countries including India. The central government of Korea offer this scholarship through the National Institute for International Education (NIIED).
Students enrolled in undergraduate or post-graduate or doctoral degree courses offered by Korean universities are eligible to apply for the Global Korea Scholarship. Under this scholarship, there is a fixed number of scholarship quotas allocated for each country. For India, the reserved quota in GKS Scholarship 2025 is 78 which includes 50 University Track and 28 Embassy Track.
Duration of GKS Scholarship for Indian Students
Type of Course |
Duration |
---|---|
Master’s Degree |
3 Years |
Doctoral Degree |
4 Years |
Bachelor Degree |
5 to 7 Years |
Benefits of GKS Scholarship for Indian Students
As a benefit of GKS Scholarship 2025, students will get economy class airfare, per month allowance, Korean proficiency grants, etc. In short, if you are exploring a fully funded scholarship to study abroad then the Global Korea Scholarship program is for you.
Below, we have mentioned the benefits of the Global Korea Scholarship program in detail:
- Economy class round-trip flight ticket (actual expense)
- Tuition Fee up to 5 Million KRW (INR 3.05 Lakhs)
- Monthly Allowance
- Research Allowance
- Korean Proficiency Grants-
- TOPIK Application Fee
- Degree Completion Grants
- Medical Insurance
- Publication Printing Fee
- Academic Incentives up to 630,000 KRW per month (INR 38,493).
There are some other benefits that you can check in the image below.
Related Blog: Cost of Living South Korea
Eligibility for GKS Scholarship 2025
Likewise, in other scholarship programs, there are certain eligibility for the Global Korea Scholarship 2025. We have mentioned the requirements for Indian students, that you need to fulfil to get shortlisted for the GKS scholarship 2025.
- Must be a citizen of India
- The parents of the applicant should not be Korean citizens.
- A valid degree from a recognizable school/university.
- Age should not be more than 40 years.
- The applicant should be fit mentally and physically to study in Korea.
Apart from this, the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of the entire curriculum from the previous degree program* must meet one of the conditions below:
- The score should be 80% or above on a 100-point scale.
- Else, the score should in the the top 20% of one’s class.
- CGPA must be equal to or above 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5 or 3.23/5.0
Related Reads:
How to Calculate CGPA? | CGPA to Percentage | CGPA into Marks |
10 point CGPA to 4 point GPA | SGPA to Percentage | SGPA to CGPA |
Types of GKS Scholarship Program
There are two types of GKS scholarship programs for Indian students.
- Embassy Track
- University Track
Embassy Track GKS Scholarship
To apply through Embassy Track, you need to download the application form from the official website of Korean Embassy in New Delhi. You need to submit the application form along with the required documents. You'll get selected for the interview conducted by the embassy. Shortlisted candidates will be recommended to the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) in South Korea.
University Track GKS Scholarship
Under this type of scholarship, apply directly to participating Korean universities that offer GKS scholarships. You have to be eligible to apply for admission to the university. Universities recommend selected candidates to the NIIED. Note that, you can apply for 1 university at a time.
How to apply for GKS Scholarship 2025?
Now, you have understood the eligibility, benefits and type of scholarships. It’s time to understand the process of applying for the Global Korea Scholarship program. A student can apply for this scholarship in two ways
- University Track- Application directly to a participating Korean university.
- Embassy Track- Application through the Korean Embassy in India
In both cases, the application process is different from each other.
Required Documents to Apply for GKS Scholarship
- Proof of Indian citizenship
- Academic certificates
- Academic Transcripts
- A score of English language proficiency test or Korean Proficiency Test
- Copy of Passport
These are the list of documents which are common for every application. Below, we have mentioned a detailed list. Do check it out.
Selection Process
As mentioned earlier, the GKS Scholarship is merit-based, meaning a strong academic record is essential for a competitive application. The selection committee carefully evaluates applications, and shortlisted candidates demonstrate exceptional academic merit. Here we have mentioned information that will help you to understand this well.
Universities Under GKS Scholarship
Here is the list of universities in South Korea under the GKS scholarship that you should aware about.
No. |
Type |
University Name |
---|---|---|
1 |
A |
Ajou University |
2 |
A |
Andong National University |
3 |
B |
Busan University of Foreign Studies |
4 |
B |
Changwon National University |
5 |
B |
Cheongju University |
6 |
B |
Chonnam National University |
7 |
B |
Chosun University |
8 |
A |
Chung-Ang University |
9 |
B |
Chungbuk National University |
10 |
B |
Chungnam National University |
11 |
B |
Daegu University |
12 |
B |
Daegu Catholic University |
13 |
B |
Daejeon University |
14 |
A |
Dankook University |
15 |
B |
Dong-A University |
16 |
A |
Dongguk University |
17 |
B |
Dongseo University |
18 |
A |
Duksung Women's University |
19 |
A |
Ewha Womans University |
20 |
B |
Gangneung Wonju National University |
21 |
A |
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology |
22 |
B |
Gyeongsang National University |
23 |
A |
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies |
24 |
B |
Hannam University |
25 |
A |
Hanyang University |
26 |
A |
Hanyang University ERICA |
28 |
B |
Hoseo University |
29 |
A |
Incheon National University |
30 |
A |
Inha University |
31 |
B |
Inje University |
32 |
B |
Jeju National University |
33 |
B |
Jeonbuk National University |
34 |
A |
KAIST |
35 |
B |
Kangwon National University (Chuncheon) |
36 |
A |
KDI School of Public Policy and Management |
37 |
B |
Keimyung University |
38 |
B |
Kongju National University |
39 |
A |
Konkuk University |
40 |
B |
Konyang University |
41 |
A |
Kookmin University |
42 |
A |
Korea University |
43 |
B |
KOREATECH |
44 |
B |
Kunsan National University |
45 |
A |
KyungHee University (Graduate School of Pan-Pacific International Studies) |
46 |
B |
Kyungsung University |
47 |
B |
Kyungpook National University |
48 |
B |
Mokwon University |
49 |
B |
National Korea Maritime & Ocean University |
50 |
B |
Pai Chai University |
51 |
A |
POSTECH |
52 |
B |
Pukyong National University |
53 |
B |
Pusan National University |
54 |
B |
SEMYUNG UNIVERSITY |
55 |
A |
Seokyeong University |
56 |
A |
Seoul National University |
57 |
A |
Seoul National University of Science and Technology |
58 |
B |
Silla University |
59 |
A |
Sogang University (Graduate School of International Studies) |
60 |
A |
Sookmyung Women's University |
61 |
B |
Soonchunhyang University |
This is all about the GKS scholarship for Indian students. As mentioned earlier, this scholarship is a perfect financial aid to all those students who either want to apply for a fully funded scholarship for their higher studies in abroad. This covers the expenses of travel, tuition fees, health insurance, and other essential things.
We have mentioned some common queries related to this scholarship below. If you still have a query in your mind, feel free to drop it in the comment section below or connect with Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors.
GKS Scholarship FAQs
Q. What is the Age Limit for the GKS Scholarship?
A. The candidate’s age should not be more than 40 years at the time of application. In easy words, if you are applying for the Global Korea Scholarship program 2025 then your date of birth should be after 1 September 1985. However, Academic professors in one of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients, who are under 45 years of age (born after September 1, 1980) are eligible to apply.
Q. What is the eligibility to apply for the GKS scholarship 2025 as an Indian student?
A. An Indian citizen who is not older than 40 years can apply for a GKS scholarship. It is mandatory that they present required documents. Also, the applicant should be mentally and physically fit to study in Korea.
Q. Is learning the Korean language mandatory for getting GKS scholarship?
A. There is no mandatory rule for learning Korean language to apply for the Global Korean Scholarship. However, having some proficiency in Korean can be a strong advantage in your application. As it shows that you are genuinely interested in studying in Korean universities.
Q: Which is better: Korea University or Yonsei University?
If we compare Korea University and Yonsei University, the following points can be given to show which university is better:
Category | Korea University | Yonsei University |
---|---|---|
Acceptance rate | Around 8% | 18% |
QS World Rankings 2024 | #79 | #76 |
Tuition Fees (MBA) | INR 26 L | INR 28 L |
Q: Can international students get jobs in Korea after graduation?
Yes, post-graduation international students can seek and get a job in Korea. However, to seek a job in South Korea, international students change their visa status from D-2 to D-10. The D-10 study visa in South Korea is for job seekers. However, to change their visa status from D-2 to D-10 international students need to have the followings:
- Application, photo, copy of passport, fee, copy of identification card
- Plan for seeking employment
- Diploma
- Proof of career (if applicable)
- Proof of Korean language proficiency (if applicable)
- Letter of recommendation for employment (if applicable)
- Recommendation from the head of the central administrative agency
- Proof of being a high-earning professional (if applicable)
Q: Is South Korea good for MBA?
South Korean universities are among the best and top universities in the world. South Korean universities highly-ranked MBA programs across a wide range of specializations. South Korean universities are regularly ranked among the top universities worldwide. Top Korean universities for business and management:
University | THE World University Rankings 2024 – Business and Management |
---|---|
Yonsei University (Seoul campus) | #47 |
Seoul National University | #88 |
#101-125 | |
#151-175 | |
Kyung Hee University | #151-175 |
Sejong University | #151-175 |
Hanyang University | #201-250 |
Korea University | #201-250 |
Pusan National University | #201-250 |
Chung-Ang University | #301-400 |
Q: What are the admission requirements for MBA in South Korea for international students?
International students should check the minimum eligibility for MBA before applying for any university in Korea. The minimum admission requirement for every university in South Korea is different. However, the general admission requirements in South Korean universities for international students are as follows:
- Application form
- Photocopy of Business Registration Certificate (or distinct number of certificate) of a respective education institution
- Standard Acceptance Letter
- Documents proving the final level of education
- Documents proving your financial ability to support yourself
- Essay
- Resume/CV
- Two Letters of recommendation
- English language proficiency
Q: How do I get a study visa for South Korea?
International students need a student visa to get into South Korea to pursue higher education. To get a study visa for South Korea, international students must satisfy the following conditions.
- Admissions letter or certificate or registration issued by the dean/president of the college or university at Korean University.
- Proof of academic ability of the applicant
- Summary of costs of the program.
- Passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of application with a copy of the photo page. Passport must have at least one blank page.
- Two recent passport-style color photographs.
- Return travel ticket.
- Completed and signed the visa application form.
- Proof of financial stability.
Q: Is it expensive to live in South Korea for international students?
South Korea might be expensive for some international students. However, the cost of living will depend on the location of your university, type of accommodation, and lifestyle. Therefore, the cost of living will vary from individual to individual. However, we have given a list of expected expenses for international students.
Type of Expenses | Estimated Cost |
---|---|
Dormitory | USD 360 – 1,710 (per semester) |
Food | USD 300 – 400 (per month) |
Transportation | Bus: USD 1- 1.2 (per day) Subway: USD 1 – 2.5 (per day) |
Additional expenses | USD 100 – 200 (per month) |
Q: What is Korea University known for?
Korea University was known as the Bosung College and was founded in 1905 in Seoul, South Korea. The university is known for the following:
- Korea University currently has the Seoul Campus, Sejong Campus, along with three auxiliary hospitals that are Anam Hospital, Guro Hospital and Ansan Hospital.
- Korea University currently has more than 37,000 students which includes over 30,000 at the Seoul Campus and more than 7,000 students at the Sejong Campus.
- The university offers a range of courses to international students in liberal arts, sciences, as well as most of the professional fields including law, medicine and business adminstration.
Q: What is it like to study at Yonsei University in South Korea?
According to Yonsei University student review, the university prepares them holistically for industry requirements and gives them opportunities to have a successful career. The students become more confident and competitive after studying at Yonsei University in South Korea. According to surveys carried out by certain independent newspapers, 90% of the graduates are either working or attending schools for higher education.
South Korea is the most popular place for international students, including those from India, to settle down following their studies. The nation provides excellent job opportunities, a work-life balance, and a high standard of living.
Raj Vimal has experience of 7+ years in SEO Content Writing, which includes 5+ years in the Ed-Tech industry. He has written articles about studying abroad, especially in the USA, UK, and other English-speaking coun... Read Full Bio
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