GKS TOPIK Requirement
TOPIK Level 3. That is the line between continuing your scholarship and losing everything. A widely cited report says 270 GKS scholars could not graduate between 2011 and 2015 — many because of language barriers.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
2 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
The rule
NIIED is explicit: every GKS scholar must reach at least TOPIK Level 3 during the year-long Korean language programme to proceed to the degree. Some universities and departments require Level 4 or higher, and scholars who don't reach their department's level may not be able to enroll — in which case the scholarship is cancelled. Check your department's requirement before you apply.
This figure is widely cited, though we could not find it in NIIED’s own published data. The point stands either way: scholars who could not reach the Korean needed for their degree did not finish, whatever their academic profile. The language year is not just a formality.
TOPIK scoring system
| Level | Score | GKS relevance |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK I Level 1 | 80+ | Basic. Counts in the language score of your application. |
| TOPIK I Level 2 | 140+ | Elementary. A higher language score. |
| TOPIK II Level 3 | 120+ | MINIMUM for degree entry, and the level that earns application bonus points. This is the critical line. |
| TOPIK II Level 4 | 150+ | Intermediate. Required by some departments; comfortable for Korean-taught programmes. |
| TOPIK II Level 5 | 190+ | Can skip the language year. Strong enough for academic Korean. |
| TOPIK II Level 6 | 230+ | Near-native. Can skip the language year. |
NIIED accepts paper TOPIK and the newer TOPIK IBT (internet-based test); each round lists which test sessions are valid.
Study strategies that actually work
- 1Don't just attend class. Study 2+ hours daily outside class.
Class gives you structure. Self-study gives you fluency. The scholars who pass easily do both.
- 2Practise TOPIK-format questions from Level 1 onward.
The test format is specific: reading comprehension, listening, and writing (TOPIK II only). Practise with past papers early.
- 3Find a Korean language exchange partner.
Your university will have Korean students wanting to practise English. Trade: 30 minutes Korean, 30 minutes English. Real conversation beats textbook drills.
- 4Immerse outside the GKS scholar bubble.
Many scholars only hang out with other international students and speak English. Your Korean won't improve in an English-speaking social circle.
Related
Read about the 1-year language programme and understand the job market reality that awaits after graduation.