Step-by-Step Application Wizard
Find the Korean embassy in your country. Ask about GKS application dates, required documents, and any country-specific requirements. Some embassies post info online, others require you to call or visit. Start early — some embassies are notoriously slow to respond.
This takes longer than you think. Apostille or notarize transcripts, get recommendation letters, write your self-introduction and study plan. Translations take time. Medical exam takes time. Start at least 2 months before the deadline. See our full checklist.
List 3 preferences in order. At least 1 must be a Type B (regional) university. Research each university's programs carefully — some listed programs don't actually admit international students for that track. Read our university placement guide.
Submit your complete application package to the embassy by their deadline. Some accept in person only, others accept mail. Double-check every document. A missing passport photo or unsigned form has derailed applications before.
If shortlisted, attend the embassy interview. Format varies wildly by country. Prepare for academic questions, "Why Korea?", and your study plan. See our interview guide.
Your embassy selects their top candidates and forwards applications to NIIED in Seoul. You wait. Nothing to do here except be patient.
NIIED reviews all applications. Results come in stages: 1st round review, university matching, final confirmation. Check your email obsessively during this period — everyone does.
Choose ONE university. For PhD, email potential supervisors. Check the university's GKS application page. Some universities have their own additional requirements. If a professor agrees to supervise you, mention it in your application — it carries weight.
Same documents as embassy track. Self-introduction, study plan, transcripts, recommendation letters. Get everything apostilled and translated. See our document checklist.
This is where people panic. International mail to Korea takes 7-14 days. Use DHL, FedEx, or EMS with tracking. Regular post is gambling. Send at least 2 weeks before the deadline. Keep tracking numbers.
The university reviews and ranks all GKS applicants. They recommend their top picks to NIIED. Some departments are very responsive, others go silent for weeks.
NIIED makes the final call. Even if the university recommended you, NIIED can still reject you (though this is uncommon). Final results typically by June-July.
Document Checklist
Track your progress. Check off items as you complete them.
The Apostille Confusion
This trips up more applicants than almost anything else. An apostille is an international certification that your document is legitimate. It's required for countries that signed the Hague Apostille Convention (most countries).
If your country is NOT part of the Hague Convention, you need consular confirmation instead — which means getting your documents verified by the Korean embassy in your country.
The process varies by country and can take 2-6 weeks. In some countries, you need to go through multiple government offices. Budget plenty of time for this. Many scholars have missed deadlines because apostille took longer than expected.
Read our detailed documents guide for a country-by-country breakdown.