Hello guys,
I will explain the Global Korea Scholarship to give an information about it since there are lots of requests, so grab your coffee and enjoy the post! โ๏ธ
p.s.: I highly recommend you to read the post on the computer and take notes if you're planning to apply for it.
First of all, I want to introduce myself.
I am one of the selected scholars of GKS-G 2023. I've applied through Embassy Track and got acceptance from all three universities I applied to. I studied for my bachelor's degree in the Architecture Department and will start my master's degree at Smart City Engineering. Recently, I am getting level 5 of the language training at CAU as part of the scholarship program.
SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
Government provides lots of benefits to the candidates such as;
- Monthly Allowance* (The stipend shows changes according to the degrees)
- University Tuition
- Settlement Allowance
- Language Training Fee (If you have 5 level of TOPIK, you will be exempt from the language school)
- Research Support Fee* (The research support fee shows changes according to the majors)
- Korean Proficiency Grants (If you hold 5-6 level of TOPIK during your degree, you will get the extra grant)
- Visa & Visa Extention Fee
- Medical Insurance
- Airfare
SELECTION PROCEDURE
- Applicants can apply to the program through two methods which are Embassy Track and University Track, and each method has its own quota. Also you should know that, each country has a different program quota, and this quota can be changed every year. Therefore, you should definitely check it on the new guidelines shared by NIIED.
- Some countries don’t support the embassy track or university track so you also should check the preferred application track.
the table of the rounds
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EMBASSY TRACK AND UNIVERSITY TRACK
"Embassy Selection (the hardest process) > NIIED Selection > Universities Selection"
Embassy Track has 3 step process and applicants are allowed to choose 3 universities.
- There are two categories for the universities. Type A and Type B.
Type A category includes the universities with the highest competition rate, and these universities are usually located in Seoul. Type B category includes the other universities located in the different cities, outside of Seoul. You must be choose at least one university of Type B.
"University Selection > NIIED Selection (the hardest process)"
- University Track has 2 step process and you are allowed to apply only one university.
- the list of the available universities by type and related majors are attached on the notice of GKS Guidelines.
IMPORTANT: Although embassy and universities inform you about the result of the process, NIIED doesn't inform applicants individually so it's applicants responsibility to check the result of the NIIED process on the website. (www.studyinkorea.go.kr > Scholarship > GKS Notice)
EMBASSY TRACK APPLICATIONS
In the first round, you have to send your documents to the relevant Korean consulate located in your country. So, you must be in your country at the time of application because if you pass the document process, you will be invited for an interview at the embassy. Each consulate has their own application deadline on February, so it's really crucial to check the dates in advance.
If you pass the interview with the consulate, they give a call and let you know about the result. Then, your documents are sent to NIIED by the consulate. This is the second process and at this stage, you're just waiting for the NIIED to reveal the list of those who pass the 2nd round on the website.
the notices of the each rounds on the website
Finally, if your name is on the list, you are in the final process. On the 3rd round, the NIIED sends your files to the 3 universities that you write on the application form. Universities review your documents and send an email or call to interview you. If you pass the interview stage, they inform you by e-mail and congratulations! You are the one of the selected scholars. โจ
example mail of the interview request by university on 3rd round
example mail of the selection result on 3rd round
- Also, keep in mind that if you don't get acceptance in at least one of the universities you write on the application form, you will be excluded from the final selection. On the other hand, if you get accepted from all universities, you should notify your final choice of university to NIIED via email. Don't forget that you cannot revise the university you chose after sending the final decision mail.
UNIVERSITY TRACK APPLICATIONS
If you apply to the program through university track, you have to send your docs to the university directly. University review your documents and invite you for an interview. If you pass the interview, the university inform you and NIIED and then, the institute examines your docs and reveals the final successful candidates list on the website. Since every university has different application deadline, so you should check it in advance.
SELECTION SCHEDULE
- Scholarship applications for undergraduate and associate degree start in September, and the process ends in January. For master's and doctoral degree, application starts in February and ends in late June.
For Master and Doctoral Degree:
For Undergraduate and Associate Degree:
p.s. : There is more detailed schedule table with selection timeline with important dates and deadlines on the guidelines. It's crucial to stick to it.
DEGREE PROGRAMS and SCHOLARSHIP PERIOD
GKS-U: Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate and Associate Degree
GKS-G: Global Korea Scholarship for Master's and Doctoral Degree
- Research program scholars and scholars who obtained TOPIK level 5 or 6 will be exempt from a Korean language program.
- Those who receive TOPIK level 5 or 6 within the first 6 months of the Korean language program will be exempt from the remaining 6-month language program and must start their degree program in the following semester.
LIST of DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT
- Required & Optional documents show changes according to the degrees.
- All documents must be submitted in English or Korean.
- Optional documents give you extra points during the evulation process.
- You can check the criterias of Main Points of Evaluation and Addional Points on the guidelines shared by NIIED on the website. (www.studyinkorea.go.kr > Scholarship > GKS Notice)
- All application materials submitted to Embassy and University will not be returned in any case, so if you have only one original document, you should get apostille & the stamp like ''same as the original one'' on the document and send it to the relevant institution.
Important Notes:
You can find the relavent documents such as; Application Form, Personal Statement, Study Plan, the template of Recommandation Letter and etc. on the website. (www.studyinkorea.go.kr > Scholarship > GKS Notice)
There are documentation requirements such as language, apostille & consular confirmed requirements, type of documents, what kind of information the documents should include, and etc.
The guidelines say that you should submit ONE recommandation letter but also say that you are expected to meet the conditions requested by universities. So keep in mind that the university file should be check well since some universities can expect TWO recommendation letter.
Some universities also expect language qualifications such as; IELTS, TOEFL or TOPIK to enroll to the department. It can be mandatory so it’s highly recommended to check the requirements before choosing the university.
ELIGIBILITY
Nationality
- Applicants must hold citizenship from another country.
- Applicants" parents or legal guardians must hold citizenship from another country.
Grades
- Score percentile should be 80% or above on a 100-point scale or be ranked in the top 20% of oneโs 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
Age
For Master's and Doctoral Degree
- Must be under 40 years of age (born after September 1, 1984)
For Undergraduate or Associate Degree
- Must be under 25 years of age (born after March 1, 1999)
Health
- All applicants must be in good health, both mentally and physically, to study in Korea for the full duration of the program. Keep in mind that you have to sign the 'Personal Medical Assessment' in the first round and if you're selected as a successful candidate, you are expected to submit really detailed medical examination. If it is noticed that your health condition is not eligible, you are eliminated and you receive a penalty of not being able to apply for the scholarship again.
Restriction
- Previous GKS scholars cannot reapply
- A person who has graduated (or is expected to graduate) from a Korean high school (including international schools) or a Korean university is NOT eligible to apply
- A person who has previously received scholarship for a degree program from the Korean government is NOT eligible to apply
- Final successful candidates of the GKS degree program from the past three years who have withdrawn from the program or was disqualified from the program prior to enrollment cannot apply
FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT
NIIED reveals the final successful candidates list of Embassy and University Track by late June or early July. Also, they share the pdf document named as "Important Notice for Scholar'' This file is a guidance on entry to Korea. It contains important information about what you should prepare such as visa application process, medical examination and etc.
2 weeks after the final list is announced, NIIED will send you an invitation letter for your visa. This document is also the proof that you're a scholar of the government.
example invitation letter
After getting your invitation letter, you should appyl for visa as soon as possible. Because NIIED reveals the final list on early July and scholars must enter to Korea on late August. Your university will contact with you about the process by e-mail or kakaotalk. You should inform the university about visa status when you receive it. They will buy your flight tickets and send it to you.Then, all you have to do is to pack your luggages and have fun with your family and friends!๐ฅ
Hello guys,
I will explain the Global Korea Scholarship to give an information about it since there are lots of requests, so grab your coffee and enjoy the post! โ๏ธ
p.s.: I highly recommend you to read the post on the computer and take notes if you're planning to apply for it.
First of all, I want to introduce myself.
I am one of the selected scholars of GKS-G 2023. I've applied through Embassy Track and got acceptance from all three universities I applied to. I studied for my bachelor's degree in the Architecture Department and will start my master's degree at Smart City Engineering. Recently, I am getting level 5 of the language training at CAU as part of the scholarship program.
SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
Government provides lots of benefits to the candidates such as;
SELECTION PROCEDURE
the table of the rounds
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EMBASSY TRACK AND UNIVERSITY TRACK
"Embassy Selection (the hardest process) > NIIED Selection > Universities Selection"
Embassy Track has 3 step process and applicants are allowed to choose 3 universities.
Type A category includes the universities with the highest competition rate, and these universities are usually located in Seoul. Type B category includes the other universities located in the different cities, outside of Seoul. You must be choose at least one university of Type B.
"University Selection > NIIED Selection (the hardest process)"
IMPORTANT: Although embassy and universities inform you about the result of the process, NIIED doesn't inform applicants individually so it's applicants responsibility to check the result of the NIIED process on the website. (www.studyinkorea.go.kr > Scholarship > GKS Notice)
EMBASSY TRACK APPLICATIONS
In the first round, you have to send your documents to the relevant Korean consulate located in your country. So, you must be in your country at the time of application because if you pass the document process, you will be invited for an interview at the embassy. Each consulate has their own application deadline on February, so it's really crucial to check the dates in advance.
If you pass the interview with the consulate, they give a call and let you know about the result. Then, your documents are sent to NIIED by the consulate. This is the second process and at this stage, you're just waiting for the NIIED to reveal the list of those who pass the 2nd round on the website.
the notices of the each rounds on the website
Finally, if your name is on the list, you are in the final process. On the 3rd round, the NIIED sends your files to the 3 universities that you write on the application form. Universities review your documents and send an email or call to interview you. If you pass the interview stage, they inform you by e-mail and congratulations! You are the one of the selected scholars. โจ
example mail of the interview request by university on 3rd round
example mail of the selection result on 3rd round
UNIVERSITY TRACK APPLICATIONS
If you apply to the program through university track, you have to send your docs to the university directly. University review your documents and invite you for an interview. If you pass the interview, the university inform you and NIIED and then, the institute examines your docs and reveals the final successful candidates list on the website. Since every university has different application deadline, so you should check it in advance.
SELECTION SCHEDULE
For Master and Doctoral Degree:
For Undergraduate and Associate Degree:
p.s. : There is more detailed schedule table with selection timeline with important dates and deadlines on the guidelines. It's crucial to stick to it.
DEGREE PROGRAMS and SCHOLARSHIP PERIOD
GKS-U: Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate and Associate Degree
GKS-G: Global Korea Scholarship for Master's and Doctoral Degree
LIST of DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT
Important Notes:
You can find the relavent documents such as; Application Form, Personal Statement, Study Plan, the template of Recommandation Letter and etc. on the website. (www.studyinkorea.go.kr > Scholarship > GKS Notice)
There are documentation requirements such as language, apostille & consular confirmed requirements, type of documents, what kind of information the documents should include, and etc.
The guidelines say that you should submit ONE recommandation letter but also say that you are expected to meet the conditions requested by universities. So keep in mind that the university file should be check well since some universities can expect TWO recommendation letter.
Some universities also expect language qualifications such as; IELTS, TOEFL or TOPIK to enroll to the department. It can be mandatory so it’s highly recommended to check the requirements before choosing the university.
ELIGIBILITY
Nationality
Grades
Age
For Master's and Doctoral Degree
For Undergraduate or Associate Degree
Health
Restriction
FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT
NIIED reveals the final successful candidates list of Embassy and University Track by late June or early July. Also, they share the pdf document named as "Important Notice for Scholar'' This file is a guidance on entry to Korea. It contains important information about what you should prepare such as visa application process, medical examination and etc.
2 weeks after the final list is announced, NIIED will send you an invitation letter for your visa. This document is also the proof that you're a scholar of the government.
example invitation letter
After getting your invitation letter, you should appyl for visa as soon as possible. Because NIIED reveals the final list on early July and scholars must enter to Korea on late August. Your university will contact with you about the process by e-mail or kakaotalk. You should inform the university about visa status when you receive it. They will buy your flight tickets and send it to you.Then, all you have to do is to pack your luggages and have fun with your family and friends!๐ฅ