Korea National University of Arts Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most K-Arts scholarships are designed for on-campus degree study (not fully online programs). For example, the AMA+ scholarship is tied to admission into a full degree program and even includes Korean-language training in Korea before the academic term begins.

K-Arts does offer some online arts/culture learning content (such as online education platforms and video resources), but these are generally separate from degree enrollment and are not typically where “tuition + living stipend” scholarships are applied.

K-Arts is primarily Korean-taught, and many majors expect you to function in Korean for studio classes, critiques, and practical exams. Some course titles/materials may appear in English (especially in fields like design/film), but you should plan for Korean as the main language of instruction.

This is why K-Arts scholarship pathways like AMA+ emphasize Korean preparation. Valeska Iskandar said she “prioritized meeting the language requirements for both English and Korean,” and “dedicated more than five hours each day to studying and practicing both languages,” ultimately achieving “a TOPIK Level 5 on my first attempt.”

For the AMA+ scholarship track at K-Arts, the school’s FAQ explicitly states there is no age limit; you are free to apply.

However, if you pursue scholarships run by other organizations (for example, Korean Government Scholarship programs like GKS), those external scholarships can have their own age rules that change by year and track, so always check the latest guideline for the specific scholarship you’re applying to.

K-Arts is an arts-focused national university, so scholarships are mainly linked to arts majors across areas like design/visual arts, music, drama, film/TV/multimedia, dance, and Korean traditional arts, plus arts & liberal studies (humanities-style coursework supporting arts practice).

From an AMA+ recipient perspective, Valeska Iskandar noted that the AMA+ scholarship supports many art majors and shared that she pursued a Bachelor’s in Design under AMA+.

K-Arts has multiple funding routes with different nationality rules. The general (non-AMA+) admission route can be used by international applicants who meet requirements, but you typically study at your own expense and then compete for available scholarships.

For the AMA+ scholarship specifically, K-Arts limits eligibility by nationality: only applicants (and their parents) who hold citizenship from OECD DAC-recipient (ODA-recipient) countries can apply (often described by K-Arts as “ODA 142 countries of nationality”).

In recipient terms, Valeska Iskandar described AMA+ as support aimed at students “from developing nations who have artistic talent.”

For K-Arts, Korean proficiency is usually the key requirement for both admission readiness and scholarship readiness because most instruction is in Korean. For AMA+, K-Arts requires you to meet the Korean proficiency requirements set by your department/major and strongly emphasizes Korean preparation (including intensive language training before entrance).

English tests like IELTS/TOEFL can still be useful, especially if a department asks for English ability or if you are showing academic readiness, but they usually do not replace Korean proficiency when the program is Korean-taught.

As a practical example, Valeska Iskandar focused on both English and Korean and highlighted that achieving “TOPIK Level 5” strengthened her application.

K-Arts admissions are typically driven heavily by practical evaluation (portfolio, auditions, interviews, and major-specific exams), so the school does not position admission as “GPA-only.” Many successful applicants emphasize artistic skill and fit with the major.

For scholarships, academic metrics can matter more depending on the scholarship type. For example, K-Arts merit-based tuition support can be tied to high admission test scores, and some scholarship/finance schemes specify GPA thresholds (often expressed as percentile).

Notably, Valeska Iskandar did not frame her success around a single GPA number; she focused on language scores, portfolio strength, and her written narrative across multiple attempts (“I personally succeeded in the scholarship in my third attempt.”).

A strong background is usually one that supports your artistic practice: consistent creative work, evidence of growth (projects, exhibitions, performances, short films, design work), and the ability to explain your artistic direction clearly in writing.

Valeska Iskandar described her approach as showcasing “technical skills, creative experience, and personal artistic voice,” and said she curated a portfolio that demonstrated “both technical proficiency and my unique approach to design.”

She also emphasized the importance of written materials and cohesion: she revised essays repeatedly and made sure “portfolio, essays, and recommendation letters” formed “a cohesive narrative” about her goals and growth.

Document requirements vary by degree level (Bachelor/Master) and by major (portfolio/audition formats differ), but commonly include: application form, identity/passport documents, academic transcripts and graduation (or expected graduation) certificates, and major-specific materials such as portfolios, recordings, or writing samples.

For scholarship-linked applications (like AMA+), you should also expect scholarship-specific forms and proof that you meet nationality and language requirements.

From a recipient’s experience, Valeska Iskandar highlighted the core bundle she aligned: “portfolio, essays, and recommendation letters,” with essays revised multiple times and mentors/past recipients giving feedback.

K-Arts specializes in arts degrees across multiple schools (commonly including music, drama, film/TV/multimedia, dance, visual arts, and Korean traditional arts) plus arts & liberal studies supporting the humanities side of arts education.

Program offerings are department-specific (for example, design and architecture under visual arts; film/animation/broadcasting under film/TV/multimedia; and performance-focused majors under music/drama/dance/traditional arts). The best way to confirm an exact major list is to match your target department to the official course catalog and the year’s admissions guideline for that department.

Yes. Recent K-Arts admissions guidelines list an application fee (commonly shown as KRW 88,000 for both Bachelor and Graduate international admissions guides). Because fees can change by intake and track, always confirm the exact amount in the newest admissions guide for your program (Bachelor vs. Graduate).