Jeju National University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most JNU-linked scholarships you’ll see for international students are built around on-campus degree study (not fully online programs). For example, Elmir Musali (GKS, MBA at JNU) described an application process involving document shipment and an interview, and he highlighted that GKS includes a “mandatory one-year Korean language course,” which is an in-country requirement.

At JNU, expect a lot of instruction to be in Korean, with some courses (especially at higher levels or in certain departments) offered partly in English. In fact, Elmir Musali said, “In Korea, teaching is primarily conducted in Korean,” and he was even asked in his interview about “Korean as the language of instruction.”

Practically, many international-student scholarships at JNU also revolve around TOPIK levels (Korean proficiency), which is a strong hint that Korean ability matters on campus; Elmir’s path shows a common pattern: he had IELTS first, then focused on Korean and earned TOPIK later.

It depends on the scholarship type. Some university-based awards/tuition waivers for international students don’t always advertise a strict age cap in the same way government scholarships do, but government-funded programs often do.

For Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), age limits are typically explicit by program type (for example, undergraduate vs. graduate). If you’re applying via GKS like Elmir Musali did, you should follow the specific year’s GKS eligibility rules because they can change by intake.

Many JNU scholarships for international students are not “major-restricted” (they’re often based on factors like language proficiency and standing), meaning they can apply broadly across humanities, business, STEM, engineering, and more, so long as you’re admitted to an eligible program. For business, Elmir Musali used GKS to pursue an MBA at JNU.

Engineering/STEM: JNU’s international admissions guide lists majors such as Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical System Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Data Science, and Computer Engineering.

Humanities: Majors in areas like Korean Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, History, Sociology, and Philosophy appear in the international admissions major list.

Business: Options listed include Business Administration, Accounting, International Trade, Tourism Management, and related fields.

Medicine: JNU’s international admissions guide references applicants for the “Medical School” and outlines written/oral exam thresholds, and it also lists Nursing and Pre-Veterinary Medicine tracks. International eligibility can be highly program-specific (and medicine tracks can be especially competitive and Korean-heavy), so you should verify the exact recruitment plan for the year you apply.

Most JNU international-student scholarships are meant for non-Korean international applicants, and admissions/scholarship paperwork often requires proof of nationality for both the applicant and parents.

For government scholarships like GKS, eligibility is tied to the program’s invited/eligible country list for that year and typically requires that the applicant (and parents) are not Korean citizens, so always check the official intake-specific rules. As a real example, Elmir Musali is from Azerbaijan and received GKS while studying at JNU.

For JNU international admissions, proof of language proficiency is commonly part of the required-document set (examples listed include TOPIK, TOEFL, IELTS, or TEPS), so having at least one valid language score is often important for both admission and scholarships.

For university-specific scholarships, TOPIK is especially valuable at JNU because tuition waivers and international-student scholarship tiers can be tied directly to TOPIK levels. For government scholarships like GKS, language proficiency is not explicitly required but having one helps. Elmir Musali shows how this can work in practice: “My IELTS score was 6.5,” and later he said he “achieved a TOPIK Level 4 with a score of 187.”

JNU admissions decisions can combine document screening, interviews, and (for some programs) additional assessments. For example, the international admissions guide describes a minimum threshold for interview-based evaluation (e.g., applicants may be rejected if they score below a stated cutoff), and it gives separate thresholds for Medical School and Veterinary Medicine written/oral exams.

If you’re applying through a scholarship track like GKS, note that GKS itself includes minimum academic performance rules (for example, minimum CGPA or percentile thresholds), so you need to meet both the scholarship baseline and the university’s admissions expectations.

A strong academic record plus clear “proof of readiness” helps: high grades, relevant coursework, and evidence that you can succeed in your chosen field. Elmir Musali put it plainly: “GPA is crucial,” and he shared that he graduated with “a GPA of over 96%.”

Beyond grades, practical and research proof can matter a lot. Elmir also noted he had internship experience that helped him secure a strong recommendation letter, and he had “published one article,” based on his bachelor’s thesis. He also emphasized how you present your profile: “what truly matters is how well you can present the achievements you have.”

Document requirements vary by program (freshman/transfer, major, and your country’s document format), but JNU’s international admissions guide commonly includes items like: proof of the applicant’s nationality (passport copy, and alien registration card if applicable), proof of parents’ nationalities (often passport/ID copies), proof of parent-child relationship (e.g., birth certificate/family certificate), graduation/completion certificates and transcripts, and notarized/certified translations if documents are not in Korean or English.

Financial documents are also commonly required (for example, a financial support confirmation form and a bank balance statement meeting a stated minimum amount). The guide also lists a “Proof of Language Proficiency” document (TOPIK/TOEFL/IELTS/TEPS), plus additional forms (e.g., academic record release agreement, address form) and a portfolio for certain majors.

In scholarship pathways, you may also need scholarship-specific items (like personal statement/study plan/recommendations). In Elmir’s case, he said he “sent the required documents to Jeju by post,” reflecting how document completeness can be central to both admission and scholarship review.

JNU offers a wide range of majors across humanities, business, engineering, and STEM. Examples listed in the international admissions major tables include humanities fields like Korean Language and Literature and English Language and Literature; business/social fields like Business Administration, Accounting, International Trade, and Tourism Management; and STEM/engineering fields like Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical System Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Data Science, Computer Engineering, and Architecture.

For health and “medicine-adjacent” options, the international admissions list includes Nursing and Pre-Veterinary Medicine, and the guide also references Medical School applicants as a special-case assessment category. For a business example from a recipient story, Elmir Musali pursued an MBA at JNU via GKS.

Yes. JNU’s international admissions guide lists an application fee of 65,000 won, paid online through the application website, and it notes that fees (and submitted documents) are not returned. Check with the latest admissions guidelines for the updated information.