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GKS Eligibility Requirements 2027

The requirements look simple on paper. But there are tricky details that trip people up every year. Let's break it all down so you know exactly where you stand.

ScholarshipUnion Editorial 4 min read Updated Oct 5, 2026

Quick eligibility checker

Answer these 4 questions to see if you meet the basic rules. Takes 30 seconds.

What level are you applying for?

Your age (on 1 March 2027 for undergrad, 1 September 2027 for graduate) Your cumulative GPA as a percentage

NIIED also accepts 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5 or 3.23/5.0 — or a ranking in the top 20% of your class.

Do you or either of your parents hold Korean citizenship?

You meet the basic eligibility criteria.

This checks the universal requirements. Your chosen university or department may add its own (for example a language score). Check the "University Information" file on Study in Korea and your local embassy for details.

Korean citizens are not eligible for GKS.

If you or a parent hold dual citizenship that includes Korean, you cannot apply. Anyone who previously held Korean citizenship must prove it was renounced.

GPA below the 80% threshold.

You can still qualify if you ranked in the top 20% of your class or meet one of the GPA-scale cut-offs above. If not, this is a hard cutoff — consider other scholarships in our alternatives guide.

You exceed the age limit for undergraduate applicants.

Undergraduate applicants must be under 25 (born after 1 March 2002 for 2027). If you hold a bachelor's degree, consider the graduate track instead (under 40).

You exceed the age limit for graduate applicants.

Master's and PhD applicants must be under 40. Current professors from ODA-recipient countries may apply up to age 45, and the research programme has its own rules. Contact your embassy.

Please fill in all fields above.

Requirements by level

Undergraduate (GKS-U 2027)

Age: under 25. Born after 1 March 2002 for the 2027 intake.
Education: high school diploma. Completed, or expected by 31 December 2026 — you must submit the final certificate and transcript by then if you pass the first round. Bachelor's degree holders cannot apply; associate degree holders can apply for a bachelor's.
GPA: 80% or above on your whole high school record, or top 20% of your class, or 2.64/4.0 (2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5, 3.23/5.0). If your school uses an unusual scale, submit an official explanation of the grading system.
Citizenship: NOT Korean. You must hold citizenship of an invited country, and neither you nor your parents may hold Korean citizenship, even dual.
Health: physically and mentally fit to study in Korea for the full programme. You'll complete NIIED's Personal Medical Assessment form.
Duration commitment: 5 years or more. 1 year of Korean + 4 years of degree (up to 6 for some majors). Think seriously about whether you're ready to commit 5 years to living in Korea. That's a long time when you're 20.

Master's (GKS-G)

Age: under 40. In 2026 that meant born after 1 September 1986, so expect born after 1 September 1987 for 2027. Much more generous than most scholarships.
Education: bachelor's degree. Held, or expected before the deadline NIIED sets (31 July in the 2026 round).
GPA: 80% or above on your bachelor's, or top 20%, or the GPA-scale equivalents above. NIIED publishes its own conversion table.
Citizenship: NOT Korean. Both you and your parents must not hold Korean citizenship.
Bonus: TOPIK holders get extra points. TOPIK Level 3 or higher earns bonus points worth 10% of the total in the graduate round, and any official TOPIK or English score counts in the language part of the evaluation.

PhD (GKS-G)

Age: under 40. Same as master's. Career changers and working professionals are welcome.
Education: master's degree. Held, or expected before NIIED's deadline. Research experience is highly valued.
GPA: 80% or above on your master's. NIIED checks the CGPA of your previous degree programme — for PhD applicants, that's the master's.
Research proposal is critical. It carries significant weight. Contacting a potential Korean supervisor before applying shows initiative and improves your chances. See our study plan guide.

Common reasons people get disqualified

1
Applying to both tracks
Applying through the embassy AND directly to a university at the same time means exclusion — and if it's found later, the scholarship is cancelled. NIIED cross-checks. The only route between them: if you fail the embassy first round, you may then apply on the university track.
2
Previous Korean government degree scholarships
If you already enrolled in a degree on GKS or another Korean government scholarship, you can't apply again — and graduate applicants who already used GKS for a degree are excluded too. Former GKS exchange students and IRTS Korean-language scholars CAN apply.
3
A Korean degree or school
Graduates (or final-year students) of a Korean high school or university, including international schools in Korea and Korean online programmes, cannot apply.
4
GPA conversion disputes
You think your GPA is 80%, but NIIED's conversion table says it's 78%. This happens to students from countries with unusual grading systems. Check NIIED's official conversion table before applying — and remember the top-20% ranking route.
5
Withdrawing after a past selection
Final candidates from the last three years who withdrew or were disqualified before enrolling cannot apply.

Eligible? Here's what to do next

1. Choose your track

Embassy or university? This is the first decision.

2. Start your application

Step-by-step walkthrough for both tracks.

3. Write your essays

The part that actually decides who gets in.