Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR Research Scholarship 2027

Funding
Partial Funding
Level
Master's · PhD
Nationality
All Nationalities
Offered by
Ministry of Education of South Korea and National Research Foundation of Korea
Official scholarship page

Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR is a South Korean government program funded through the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea. It supports graduate research and training in various academic fields at selected universities.

Funding goes to participating university research groups, which select students for scholarships. There is no single nationwide student application. Scholarship payments follow each group’s approved funding period, with some universities selecting students each semester.

Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR Research Scholarship Coverage

This government partially funded scholarship for international students covers the following:

  • Monthly research scholarship of at least KRW 1,000,000 for selected Master's students
  • Monthly research scholarship for selected PhD students (at least KRW 1,600,000 before completing coursework; at least KRW 1,300,000 afterward)
  • Conference expenses
  • Research publication fees and related academic expense
  • Overseas research and training expenses, where available

Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR Research Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR Research Scholarship, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • Full-time Master's, PhD, or integrated Master's–PhD enrollment in a participating BK21 FOUR research group
  • Academic supervision by a professor participating in the BK21 group
  • Full-time commitment to graduate research, including at least 40 hours per week where required
  • Selection for funded graduate-student status by the participating research group
  • Meeting any additional academic, research-performance, or participation requirements set by the group

For detailed requirements, refer to the official eligibility page .

Eligible degree levels

Master's PhD

Eligible programmes

All subjects

Eligible nationalities

All nationalities

Important Notice

Disclaimer

BK21 FOUR funding is not guaranteed to all students in participating groups. Scholarship availability, selection rules, funding periods, and deadlines vary by university and department. Some universities allow students to combine BK21 funding with other scholarships, while others restrict this. Separate university BK21 fellowships and publication awards may have different conditions. Some participating science and technology institutes do not receive the standard BK21 graduate research-stipend allocation. Inclusion in the institution list does not guarantee stipend availability in every department or campus.

How to Apply

In this section, we'll provide a clear general overview of requirements and steps to guide you through the application process for Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR Research Scholarship.

To apply for Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR Research Scholarship, please follow these steps:

  1. Find a participating BK21 FOUR research group in your field
  2. Confirm that your department and academic supervisor participate in the group
  3. Enroll as an eligible full-time graduate student
  4. Check the group's current scholarship-selection and participation instructions
  5. Apply for BK21 research-group participation through the university
  6. Apply separately for funded research-scholarship status
  7. Submit the required academic and administrative documents
  8. Complete any supervisor endorsement, research review, or departmental selection process
  9. Provide participation agreements and student-status documents if selected

Important Note: The application procedures and required documents for Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR Research Scholarship may vary depending on your degree, program, nationality and other factors. For specific details regarding the requirements, kindly visit the official website of Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR Research Scholarship.

Application Deadlines

Now that you’re familiar with the application procedure, it’s time to know the application dates! Knowing the dates for Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR Research Scholarship will help you prepare early and it will also give you the time you need to put together a competitive application.

Important notice

Application deadlines vary

The application deadlines for Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR Research Scholarship vary. It’s important to review official guidelines on the official website or contact administrators for specific deadlines. Make sure to regularly check the Brain Korea 21 (BK21) FOUR Research Scholarship page for the latest and most accurate information on application deadlines.

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