Top Easiest Scholarships to Apply for Studying in South Korea

Tuition fees and living costs in South Korea are generally considered quite expensive. Therefore, having a scholarship for studying in South Korea will help reduce your financial burden during your studies and work. Every year, universities and the South Korean Government always offer prioritized scholarship programs for international students.

So let’s explore these scholarships with EI Group!

TYPES OF SOUTH KOREAN STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS

South Korean Government Scholarships

The GKS (Global Korea Scholarship) is one of the most prestigious and comprehensive scholarship programs for international students wishing to study in South Korea. This program is sponsored by the South Korean government with the goal of attracting international talent, enhancing cultural exchange, and promoting educational cooperation between South Korea and other countries.

Eligible Candidates

The GKS scholarship applies to international students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (master’s, doctorate). Each year, the South Korean government awards hundreds of scholarships to students from many countries, including Vietnam, hoping to create opportunities for those who wish to experience high-quality education in the land of kimchi.

Requirements

To be eligible for the GKS scholarship, applicants need to meet the following important requirements:

• Academic Performance: Minimum GPA of 2.64/4.0 (equivalent to 6.5/10) in the most recent degree.
• Recommendation Letters: Provide recommendation letters from reputable teachers, professors, or superiors, clearly demonstrating academic potential and reasons why you deserve the scholarship.
• Proof of Academic Ability: Demonstrate good academic achievement, have a clear research direction (for postgraduate levels).
• Good Health: Applicants must meet the health requirements as specified by the program.

Additionally, factors such as language certificates (TOPIK or IELTS), extracurricular activities, and research experience (for graduate level) can also help increase an applicant’s chances of receiving the scholarship.

Benefits

The GKS scholarship offers many attractive benefits, helping students reduce financial burdens when studying in South Korea:

• Full Tuition: The South Korean government covers 100% of tuition fees throughout the study period.
• Living Expense Support: Students receive monthly allowances of 900,000 – 1,500,000 KRW (depending on academic level).
• Round-trip Airfare: The scholarship includes flights from the home country to South Korea and back after graduation.
• Free Korean Language Course: Students who haven’t achieved TOPIK level 5 will be sponsored for one year of Korean language study before starting their main course.
• Health Insurance: The scholarship provides health insurance for the entire study period.

There are many types of scholarships for international students to choose from, including government scholarships, private funds, and more.

Scholarships from South Korean Universities

Besides government scholarships, universities in South Korea also provide many attractive scholarship programs for international students. These scholarships are usually easier to obtain compared to GKS scholarships because of their flexible requirements and numerous spots available for outstanding students. Below are two common types of scholarships that international students can take advantage of.

• Entrance Scholarships

Entrance scholarships are for international students when they first enroll in a school, based on previous academic achievements. This is a great opportunity to reduce financial burden right from the first year.

Requirements for entrance scholarships:

• High GPA: Usually 8.0/10 or 3.5/4.0 and above.
• Good language certificates: Minimum requirement TOPIK 4+ (if studying in Korean) or IELTS 6.5+ (if studying in English). Some prestigious schools may require higher levels.
• Impressive personal essay: Some schools evaluate based on essays that demonstrate educational goals and career plans.

Benefits: Entrance scholarships can include reductions from 30% to 100% of tuition fees in the first semester, depending on the student’s achievements.

• Maintenance Scholarships

Not stopping at entrance scholarships, universities also offer maintenance scholarships for students with good academic results throughout their study period.

Requirements for maintenance scholarships:

• Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 7.5/10 each semester.
• Some schools require students to participate in extracurricular activities, research, or assist the school in certain programs.
• If studying in Korean, many schools require achieving TOPIK level 5 or higher to maintain the highest scholarship level.

Benefits: Scholarship amounts will range from 30% – 100% of tuition fees for the next semester, depending on academic performance.

Scholarships from Private Funds and Businesses in South Korea

In addition to scholarships from the government and universities, many large corporations and private funds in South Korea also provide scholarships for international students. These programs not only offer financial support but also open up internship and employment opportunities at major corporations after graduation. Some notable scholarships include:

• Samsung Global Hope Scholarship Program: This is a scholarship sponsored by Samsung corporation, supporting international students with difficult circumstances but excellent academic achievements.
  • Benefits: Tuition fees, living expenses, internship opportunities, and employment at Samsung after graduation.
  • Requirements: Minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0, recommendation letters, and demonstration of career development aspirations.
• POSCO TJ Park Scholarship: This is a scholarship from POSCO corporation for international students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees in South Korea.
  • Benefits: Full tuition and monthly living allowance.
  • Requirements: Students in engineering, science, or business administration with high GPA and good research capabilities.
• Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation Scholarship: Scholarship from the Hyundai Motor fund, typically prioritizing students in automotive engineering, mechanics, electronics, AI, etc.
  • Benefits: Students will receive tuition support, internship, and employment opportunities at Hyundai.
  • Requirements: Minimum GPA of 3.5/4.0, recommendation letters from professors or employers.

Suitable Candidates

Scholarships from businesses and private funds often target students studying in fields such as:

• Engineering (mechanics, automotive, electronics, information technology…)
• Economics, Business Administration (especially related to the sponsoring business)
• Science and Technology (AI, data science, new materials…)

Scholarship Requirements

Each scholarship program will have its own requirements. However, in general, applicants need to meet the following criteria:

• High GPA: Usually requires a minimum of 3.0/4.0 or higher.
• TOPIK or IELTS: Some programs require TOPIK 4+ or IELTS 6.5+.
• Recommendation Letters: Need letters from professors or reputable individuals proving academic ability.
• Personal Essay: Some scholarships require essays about career goals and development vision.

Local and City Scholarships

Besides scholarship programs from the government, universities, and businesses, many localities in South Korea also have policies to support international students. These scholarships are usually provided by city or provincial governments, aiming to attract international students to study and develop in the region.

• Seoul City Scholarship Program: This type of scholarship is provided by the Seoul city government for international students attending universities in the area.
  • Benefits: Support for tuition fees, living expenses, and opportunities to participate in cultural exchange programs.
  • Requirements: Currently studying at a university in Seoul, good GPA, and active participation in community activities.
• Busan Global Scholarship: Busan city’s scholarship program for international students studying at universities in the area.
  • Benefits: Support for part of tuition fees and living expenses.
  • Requirements: Students with good academic performance, usually requiring a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher.
• Gyeonggi Province Scholarship for International Students: The Gyeonggi provincial government offers scholarships for international students to promote cultural exchange and develop high-quality human resources.
  • Benefits: Partial or full tuition fees, living expense allowance.
  • Requirements: Students attending universities in the Gyeonggi area, with high GPA and contributions to the international student community.

Requirements for Local Scholarships

• Currently studying at a university in the scholarship-providing region.
• GPA meeting requirements, usually 3.0/4.0 or higher.
• Some programs also require students to participate in community activities or contribute to local development.

MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO OBTAIN SOUTH KOREAN STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS

The scholarship hunting journey has never been easy. Therefore, you need to thoroughly prepare your grades, extracurricular activities, language certificates, etc. to ensure you are one of the top candidates. Here are important steps to help increase your chances.

To thoroughly prepare for scholarship hunting, you need to monitor application deadlines and specific requirements.

Start Looking for Scholarships Early

Starting your scholarship search early is an important step to increase your chances of receiving financial support for studying abroad. The research and planning process should be done at least 6 months to 1 year before applying, giving you enough time to thoroughly prepare your application. First, you need to identify the type of scholarship suitable for your level, field of study, and personal conditions. Then, closely monitor application opening times and submission deadlines to avoid missing important opportunities.

Utilize Multiple Information Sources

• Official University Websites: Most schools in South Korea have sections for international students. You can access these information channels for details about methods, application timelines, and specific requirements.
• Study Abroad Forums and Groups: You can actively participate in communities like “Study in South Korea,” “South Korean International Students Association” on Facebook, Reddit, or Naver for updated information from those who went before you.

Prepare Applications Carefully

• Transcripts and Certificates: You need to ensure your GPA meets requirements, have English certificates (IELTS, TOEFL) or Korean language certificates (TOPIK) if needed.
• Personal Statement: Writing a quality essay will clearly demonstrate your study goals, career orientation, and why you deserve the scholarship.
• Recommendation Letters: You can ask teachers, professors, or reputable individuals to write recommendation letters to increase credibility.
• Personal Profile (CV/Resume): In your personal profile, you need to clearly present your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, work experience (if any).

Contact Former International Students

Former international students are a useful source of information, helping you better understand how to prepare applications, interview experiences, and life in South Korea. To get their contact information, you can connect through international student groups on social media or directly contact schools for assistance.

CONCLUSION

There are many types of South Korean study abroad scholarships for you to choose from, each type of scholarship has different conditions and benefits. Being able to “hunt” for a scholarship is already a very difficult task, moreover, a scholarship to a developed country like South Korea is even more challenging. Therefore, you need to carefully prepare mentally, with documentation, grades to achieve your dream of studying in South Korea with a scholarship in hand.

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