GKS 2027 Korean Government Undergraduate Scholarship: 286 Spots Available—Which Pathway Should Chinese Students Choose?
The 2027 Korean Government Undergraduate Scholarship (GKS-U) offers a total of 286 spots. We have reviewed the quota allocation in the admissions guidelines: China is not on the country list for the Embassy Track. The guidelines state that the UIC program is open to all countries worldwide, which Chinese students should pay close attention to. Application materials for the University Track must be mailed to NIIED by November 30, and the final results are expected to be announced on January 7, 2027.
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), managed by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED), released the 2027 undergraduate admissions guidelines on the Study in Korea system on September 9, 2026. To get straight to the point: China is not listed in the country-specific quota table for the Embassy Track this year. The main option for Chinese students is the UIC program under the University Track, and the application period for this track is from September to November, which is already in its final stages.
How Quotas Are Allocated
The 2027 GKS undergraduate program has a total of 286 quotas, divided into two main tracks:
| Track | Program | Quota | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embassy Track | General | 88 students, 74 countries | Apply for majors at Type A/B partner universities |
| Embassy Track | Regional (R-GKS) | 61 students, 52 countries | Apply for majors at regional (Type B) universities |
| Embassy Track | Overseas Koreans and Adoptees | 7 students, 7 countries | Restricted to eligible overseas Koreans and adoptees |
| University Track | UIC (Industry-University Cooperation) | 100 students, all countries worldwide | STEM majors, with employment and settlement support |
| University Track | Associate Degree | 30 students, 74 countries | Apply for associate degree majors at partner colleges |
The Embassy Track has a total of 156 students, and the University Track has a total of 130 students.
Which Track Can Chinese Students Apply For?
Embassy Track. We have carefully reviewed the country-specific quota table for the Embassy Track in the guidelines, and China is not listed. This means that under the 2027 guidelines, Chinese students cannot apply through the Embassy Track.
UIC Program. The guidelines state in two places that the UIC program is open to all countries worldwide. In the nationality requirements section, it specifies that applicants must hold the nationality of a NIIED-designated participating country, but explicitly exempts the UIC program from this rule. Therefore, the UIC program is the most definitive option for Chinese students.
Associate Degree Program. The guidelines state "30 students from 74 countries" and do not mention it being open to all countries. Whether Chinese students can apply depends on the specific guidelines and university announcements.
The 100 UIC quotas are distributed across 13 universities: 10 undergraduate institutions and 3 associate degree colleges. All are in STEM or related fields, such as:
- Ajou University, College of AI Convergence and Computer Engineering, 7 students
- Kookmin University, Software major, 7 students
- KOREATECH (Korea University of Technology and Education), Mechanical Engineering and Computer Engineering, 5 students each
- Yeungnam University, Environmental Engineering, 6 students
- Sungshin Women's University, Statistics and Big Data major, 5 students
For the complete list and major-specific requirements, see the "University Information" appendix in the guidelines.
Application Requirements
- Age: Under 25 years old, meaning born on or after March 1, 2002.
- Education: High school graduates or expected graduates. Those who already hold a bachelor's degree cannot apply. Expected graduates must submit their diplomas and transcripts by December 31, 2026, or their admission will be canceled.
- Grades: The average score across all high school years must meet at least one of the following: 80/100 or above; top 20% of the class rank; or a GPA of 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5, or 3.23/5.0.
- Nationality: Neither the applicant nor their parents can hold South Korean nationality. Dual citizens are not eligible to apply.
- Ineligibility: Those who graduated or are expected to graduate from a high school in South Korea (including international schools); those who have previously received a South Korean government degree scholarship.
- Single Application Only: University Track applicants can only choose either the UIC or the Associate Degree program, and can only apply to one major at one university. Duplicate applications will result in disqualification. Majors cannot be changed after admission.
How Language Scores Are Calculated
During the evaluation, Korean and English language scores are graded separately. Here is the conversion table from the guidelines:
| Score Percentage | TOPIK | TOEFL (New scoring system from 2026-01-21) | TOEFL (Old scoring system up to 2026-01-20) | IELTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | Level 5 or above | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 90% | Level 4 | 6.0 | 114 or above | 8.0 or above |
| 80% | Level 3 | 5.0 or above | 95 or above | 7.0 or above |
| 70% | Level 2 | 4.0 or above | 72 or above | 6.0 or above |
| 60% | Level 1 | 3.0 or above | 44 or above | 5.0 or above |
| 50% | No score | No score | No score | No score |
There are also bonus points: TOPIK Level 3 adds 3% to the total score, Level 4 adds 4%, and Level 5 or above adds 5%; applying for STEM majors adds 5%. The UIC program is inherently a STEM program.
Timeline
| Stage | University Track Timeline |
|---|---|
| Submit application to the university | September to November 2026, according to each university's announcement |
| First-round university results | November |
| Mail application materials to NIIED | By November 30 |
| Second-round NIIED results | By mid-December |
| Final announcement | Expected January 7, 2027 |
The application period, submission methods, and document checklists for the University Track are determined by each university, so you must check the admissions announcements of your target schools. The guidelines also remind applicants that NIIED will not notify individuals of the results; you must log in to the Study in Korea website to check your status.
Scholarship Benefits
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tuition | NIIED covers up to 5,000,000 KRW per semester; any excess and the entrance fee are covered by the university |
| Korean Language Training Fee | 5,200,000 KRW per year |
| Airfare | Round-trip economy class (based on actual cost) |
| Monthly Allowance | 13,560,000 KRW per year during Korean language training; 14,400,000 KRW per year during the degree program |
The monthly allowance is a lump sum that covers living expenses, accommodation, medical insurance, TOPIK registration fees, etc. The guidelines note that these amounts are subject to adjustment.
The scholarship duration is generally 1 year of Korean language training plus 4 to 6 years of undergraduate study. Applicants who already have TOPIK Level 5 or 6 at the time of application can skip the language training and directly enter the degree program.
Overall Scale of GKS
According to the South Korean Ministry of Education in September 2026, since its inception in 1967, GKS has selected and funded 21,406 students from 161 countries by 2026, including 3,353 undergraduates. In 2026, there were 1,595 newly enrolled graduate scholarship students from 128 countries, studying at 70 universities. The Ministry's new international student strategy released on September 8 also proposed continuing to increase the proportion of STEM students in the GKS program.
Application Advice
- Confirm your eligibility first. Focus on verifying your date of birth and high school average grades. Expected graduates should calculate whether they can obtain their diplomas by December 31.
- Act quickly. The University Track deadlines run from September to November according to each university's schedule; some schools may have already closed or are about to close. Check your target schools' announcements first.
- Choose your major carefully. You can only apply to one major at one university, and it cannot be changed after admission. Base your choice on your own STEM foundation.
- Language scores can earn you bonus points. If you already have TOPIK, TOEFL, or IELTS scores, calculate your points using the table above; TOPIK Level 3 or above also provides extra bonus points.
- Prepare documents properly. Prepare transcripts, diplomas, recommendation letters, etc., according to the guidelines. Required proof documents must be apostilled or consularized, and non-English or non-Korean documents must include certified translations.
This article is compiled based on the 2027 GKS undergraduate admissions guidelines. Quotas and procedures are subject to the latest announcements on the Study in Korea website.
Need Help?
If you want to apply for the GKS scholarship or undergraduate programs in South Korea but are unsure which track you qualify for or how to choose a university and major, you can check out our university application planning services or book a one-on-one consultation.
References
- Study in Korea: 2027 Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate Degrees (2026-09-09, including 2027 GKS-U Application Guidelines)
- South Korean Ministry of Education: Government-Invited Foreign Graduate Scholarship Students Begin a New Chapter in South Korea (2026-09-01)
- South Korean Ministry of Education: Entering the Era of 300,000 International Students, Foreign Student Policy Shifts Fully Towards "Quality" (2026-09-08)