GKS Scholarship 2027 Guide: GKS-U (286 Places, Apply Sep 15–30, 2026), GKS-G Timeline, ₩13.56M–20.88M Annual Allowance, Age and GPA Rules — Checker
GKS-U 2027 is open Sep 15–30, 2026 (286 places, under 25, GPA 80%); GKS-G 2027 expected Feb–Mar. All-inclusive allowance ₩1.13M–1.74M a month plus tuition.
- GKS-U 2027286 places · embassy Sep 15–30
- Allowance (degree)₩14.4M / yr undergrad · ₩16.56M grad
- TOPIK 5+Language year waived
Contents
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is the Korean government's full scholarship, run by NIIED, 국립국제교육원 (Gungnip Gukje Gyoyugwon): tuition, a one-year Korean course, a flight, and — since 2026 — a single all-inclusive allowance of ₩14,400,000 a year for undergraduates and ₩16,560,000 for master's and PhD students during the degree. The 2027 undergraduate round (GKS-U) is open now: 286 places, embassy-track applications 2026-09-15 ~ 2026-09-30, final results 2027-01-07. The graduate round (GKS-G) for 2027 has not been announced; based on 2026 it is expected in February–March 2027. Check your eligibility and timeline first.
GKS 2027 eligibility and timeline checker
GKS-U 2027 rules from the NIIED guidelines (Sep 9, 2026): born on or after 2002-03-01, GPA 80% or top 20% (2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5, 3.23/5.0), no prior bachelor's, applicant and both parents non-Korean. GKS-G 2027 has not been announced — dates and the age cutoff are projected from the 2026 round (born on or after 1986-09-01 in 2026). Monthly figures are the annual allowance ÷ 12.
GKS-U 2027: the round that is open now
NIIED published the 2027 undergraduate guidelines on September 9, 2026. The numbers:
| Item | 2027 GKS-U |
|---|---|
| Total places | 286 (2026: about 280) |
| Embassy track | 156 — general 88, overseas Koreans and adoptees 7, R-GKS regional universities 61; 74 countries |
| University track | 130 — science and engineering (UIC industry-linked) 100, associate degrees 30 |
| Embassy applications | 2026-09-15 ~ 2026-09-30 (11:00 to 18:00 KST) at the Korean embassy in your country |
| University applications | September–November 2026, dates set by each university |
| Selection | 1st round Oct 16 · 2nd round late November · 3rd round (embassy only) Dec 23 · final 2027-01-07 |
| Start | Korean language course from March 2027 |
| Age | under 25: born on or after March 1, 2002 |
| Education | high school completed by December 31, 2026; no bachelor's held |
| GPA | 80/100, or top 20%, or 2.64/4.0 · 2.80/4.3 · 2.91/4.5 · 3.23/5.0 |
| Nationality | applicant and both parents non-Korean |
The R-GKS sub-track is new in scale: 61 of the 156 embassy places are reserved for "Type B" regional universities, and you pick up to two of them. Competition is lighter and the government's Study Korea policy is steering scholars toward regional campuses and science fields (GKS science and engineering share 40.9% in 2025, target 45% by 2027), so a strong applicant to a Busan or Daegu university has better odds than the same file aimed at Seoul.
GKS-G: the 2026 round, and what 2027 will probably look like
The graduate round is bigger and runs on a different clock.
| Item | 2026 GKS-G (actual) | 2027 GKS-G (expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Places | 2,000: embassy 800 (143 countries), university 1,200 (incl. R-GKS 480, R&D-specialized 403) | similar scale, not announced |
| Applications | 2026-02-12 ~ 2026-02-25 (embassy) | expected February–March 2027, notice early February |
| Selection | 1st Mar 17 · 2nd early May · 3rd Jun 5 · final late June | expected final late June 2027 |
| Age | under 40: born on or after Sep 1, 1986 | expected on or after Sep 1, 1987 |
| GPA | 80% / top 20% / 2.64 of 4.0 | same |
| Exclusions | graduates of Korean universities; previous GKS recipients | same |
| Program length | master's 1 + 2 years, PhD 1 + 3 years (language + degree) | same |
Nothing about 2027 GKS-G is confirmed as of September 2026; the "expected" column is the 2026 pattern shifted one year, and the checker labels it that way.
What the scholarship pays in 2027
The biggest change for anyone reading old forum posts: the itemized package (₩200,000 settlement, ₩900,000–1,000,000 a month, insurance paid separately) is gone. From 2026 GKS pays one annual allowance that covers living costs, housing, health insurance, the Korean-proficiency bonus, TOPIK fees, settlement and degree-completion grants.
| Component | GKS-U | GKS-G |
|---|---|---|
| Allowance, language year | ₩13,560,000 / yr (≈ ₩1,130,000 / month) | ₩14,400,000 / yr (≈ ₩1,200,000 / month) |
| Allowance, degree period | ₩14,400,000 / yr (≈ ₩1,200,000 / month) | ₩16,560,000 / yr (≈ ₩1,380,000 / month); research program ₩20,880,000 (≈ ₩1,740,000 / month) |
| Tuition | NIIED pays up to ₩5,000,000 a year; the university waives anything above | same |
| Korean course | ₩5,200,000 a year, paid to the language institute | same |
| Airfare | economy, actual cost, arrival and departure (not for applicants already in Korea) | same |
Is ₩1,200,000 a month enough? Against the tuition and living cost figures in Part 5 — a one-room near a Seoul university at about ₩709,000 a month with utilities, cafeteria meals at ₩5,000–7,000 — it covers a frugal life in Seoul and a comfortable one in a regional city, remembering that the student NHIS premium (student section of the health-insurance guide) of ₩79,320 now comes out of the same allowance.
Embassy track or university track
You apply through exactly one. The embassy track is judged first by the Korean embassy in your country against a country quota, then by NIIED, then by the universities you listed (R-GKS applicants pick up to two Type B regional universities); it is the route for most applicants and the only route to R-GKS. The university track is judged by one university, with no country quota, and in 2027 it is almost entirely science, engineering and associate degrees. Practical rule: apply through the university track only if you already have a specific department in mind and it is on the 2027 university-track list; otherwise the embassy track gives you several chances with one file. Both tracks then send you to a one-year Korean course at an institute NIIED assigns.
TOPIK and the language year
Every GKS scholar takes a year of Korean before the degree unless they hold TOPIK level 5 or 6 at application, in which case the language year is waived and the degree-period allowance applies from the first month. Below that, level 3 adds 3%, level 4 adds 4% and level 5+ adds 5% to the screening score. During the language year you must reach the level the guidelines set before the degree begins, and the Korean-proficiency bonus that used to be a separate payment is now folded into the allowance. Part 1 has the test dates — and the reminder that the only TOPIK still open in Korea in 2026 is the November 28 IBT.
Three worked cases from the checker. Born May 10, 2004, applying for a bachelor's with 85% and TOPIK 3: eligible for GKS-U 2027 through either track, embassy deadline September 30, 2026, final decision January 7, 2027, language year at about ₩1,130,000 a month from March 2027, then ₩1,200,000 a month, with a 3% screening bonus. Born February 20, 1995, master's, 82%, TOPIK 5: eligible for GKS-G 2027 on the expected rules, language year waived, about ₩1,380,000 a month from the start, 5% bonus, applications expected February–March 2027. Born December 1, 2001, bachelor's: not eligible — born before March 1, 2002.
How the checker works
- Associate and bachelor's applicants are tested against the published 2027 GKS-U rules: birth on or after 2002-03-01, GPA ≥ 80%, no prior bachelor's, non-Korean applicant and parents.
- Master's, PhD and research applicants are tested against the 2026 GKS-G rules moved forward one year (birth on or after 1987-09-01, GPA ≥ 80%, no Korean-university degree), labelled "expected".
- Monthly allowance = annual allowance ÷ 12, rounded: language year ₩13,560,000 (U) or ₩14,400,000 (G); degree ₩14,400,000 (U), ₩16,560,000 (G) or ₩20,880,000 (research).
- TOPIK ≥ 5 removes the language year; levels 3 / 4 / 5+ add 3 / 4 / 5%.
Common mistakes
- Expecting the old ₩900,000 stipend plus extras. It is one allowance now; nothing is paid separately, including health insurance.
- Missing the September window. GKS-U 2027 embassy applications close September 30, 2026 at 18:00 KST — not in October, and not at the university.
- Applying to both tracks. You may apply through one track only.
- Treating 2027 GKS-G dates as fixed. They are not published; use February–March 2027 as a planning assumption only.
- Assuming the language year is optional. Only TOPIK 5–6 skips it.
Next: the D-2 student visa — what the visa officer wants to see in your bank account when GKS is not paying.
Frequently asked questions
How much does GKS actually pay per month in 2027?
Since 2026 the scholarship pays one all-inclusive annual allowance instead of separate living, settlement and insurance items. For undergraduates it is ₩13,560,000 during the language year (about ₩1,130,000 a month) and ₩14,400,000 during the degree (about ₩1,200,000 a month). Graduate scholars receive ₩14,400,000 in the language year and ₩16,560,000 during the degree (about ₩1,380,000 a month); research-program scholars ₩20,880,000. Tuition (NIIED up to ₩5M a year, the rest waived by the university), the ₩5.2M language course and an economy flight are on top.
Am I too old for GKS?
GKS-U 2027 requires you to be under 25 on March 1, 2027 — born on or after March 1, 2002. GKS-G uses under 40; the 2026 round required birth on or after September 1, 1986, so the 2027 round is expected to move that by one year. There is no lower limit beyond finishing high school by December 31, 2026.
Do I need TOPIK to apply?
No. TOPIK is not required at application. Levels 3, 4 and 5+ add 3%, 4% and 5% to your screening score, and level 5 or 6 lets you skip the mandatory one-year Korean course and start the degree immediately — with the higher degree-period allowance from day one. Everyone else does the language year first.
Embassy track or university track — which should I choose?
You can apply through only one. The embassy track (156 of the 286 undergraduate places, in 74 countries) lets you list several universities and is judged by your embassy first; the university track (130 places) is judged by one university you apply to directly, and in 2027 it is heavily weighted to science and engineering (100 places) plus associate degrees (30). If your target is a regional university, the R-GKS sub-track inside the embassy track (61 places) is the easiest entry.
Sources
※ This article summarises publicly available rules as of the date shown. Your situation may differ; confirm with the relevant Korean authority (National Tax Service, Ministry of Employment and Labor, National Pension Service, Immigration) or a licensed professional before making decisions.