Korea University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most Korea University (KU) scholarships are designed for on-campus degree study (undergraduate/graduate) rather than fully online degrees. The scholarship stories on GlobalScholarships also reflect this: Deepak Kumar used GKS to complete a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering at KU, and Islamuddin used GKS for a KU master’s, and both were campus-based programs.

It’s both. KU has many Korean-taught courses, but also a large and growing set of English-taught offerings (especially in internationally oriented tracks and certain colleges). Recipients describe a mixed reality depending on major: Islamuddin says, “My classes are mostly in English. However, there are some classes that are conducted in Korean.” Meanwhile, Alisson Onzueta shares, “my classes were conducted in both English and Korean,” noting she had “several science courses taught in Korean” as a Biotechnology + International Studies double major. Even in engineering, Deepak Kumar chose KU partly because “most of the classes were being taught in English,” while still acknowledging Korean can appear in coursework and daily life.

KU’s internal scholarships typically focus on enrollment status and academic performance rather than a strict age cap, but major government scholarships can have age limits. For example, Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) commonly sets age thresholds (the limit differs by track/program). In practice, recipients include both early-stage and later-stage applicants: Lakhwinder Kaur applied after working for several years and explains she chose the “University Track” and prepared extensive documents; this kind of profile is common in graduate funding routes that allow a wider age range than undergraduate routes. If you’re applying via GKS, always check the specific year’s guideline for the age rule; if you’re applying to KU scholarships after you’re enrolled, it’s usually about meeting KU’s scholarship criteria (credits/GPA/eligibility) rather than age.

KU scholarships and major external scholarships (like GKS) cover a wide range of subjects across KU’s colleges, STEM, engineering, business, humanities, and more. The recipient stories show that breadth: engineering (Deepak Kumar, Electrical Engineering), STEM/physics (Islamuddin, Quantum Information Physics), data/AI (Lakhwinder Kaur, Big Data Science), urban planning/design (Hening Tyas Subekti and Anjavola Rasolonjatovo), and interdisciplinary fields (Alisson Onzueta, Biotechnology + International Studies). For business, KU’s Business School is a major hub, and scholarships commonly exist at both university and college levels. For medicine: KU does have medicine and nursing pathways for international admissions in certain intakes, but medicine is typically highly regulated and often Korean-language-heavy, so international eligibility depends on the specific admissions track, language readiness, and program rules; if you’re aiming for medicine, plan early for Korean proficiency and carefully verify major-specific admissions constraints.

Many KU scholarships are aimed at international students broadly (non-Korean nationality holders), while some are targeted by region, development status, or specific program rules. In KU’s international scholarship listings, you’ll see scholarships designed for international cohorts and criteria like academic performance, STEM output, financial need, or language achievement. The recipient stories also show wide nationality diversity, India (Deepak Kumar, Lakhwinder Kaur), Indonesia (Islamuddin, Hening), Madagascar (Anjavola), Peru (Alisson), which is a good sign that funding routes are not limited to a narrow set of passports. If you’re applying via GKS, nationality eligibility is determined by that year’s country list and track rules; if you’re applying via KU, nationality rules usually hinge on your “international student” qualification status and documentation.

For KU admissions, language proof is commonly required in some form (either official test scores like TOPIK/TOEFL/IELTS or approved alternatives such as proof of prior schooling in the language of instruction). In scholarships, language can be either a formal requirement or a competitive advantage depending on the funding type. Recipients show multiple pathways: Islamuddin says, “I took the IELTS test and obtained an overall score of 7.5,” while Anjavola explains, “I did not have any official standardized language test scores such as TOEFL or IELTS. Instead, I submitted an English proficiency certificate issued by the English academy I attended.” For Korean, Deepak Kumar notes, “I only had TOPIK level 2,” and still secured GKS for an engineering degree path. Having strong language scores can also unlock extra benefits later. Some KU scholarships explicitly reward achieving high TOPIK after admission, so even when not strictly mandatory, language proof can meaningfully improve your scholarship odds and campus experience.

KU doesn’t have a single “one-number” GPA cutoff that guarantees admission across all majors; competitiveness varies by department and intake, and the holistic review looks at transcripts, fit, and supporting materials. That said, the scholarship recipient stories give a realistic sense of what successful applicants often look like academically: Hening applied with “GPA: 3.80/4.00,” Islamuddin reports “CGPA 3.86/4.00,” and Anjavola shares “CGPA 3.60/4.0.” For undergraduate GKS context, Alisson notes she maintained a high high-school average “18/20” and focused on showing purpose and readiness. In short: aim for the strongest grades you can, but also treat the rest of the application (fit + clarity + evidence) as equally important.

A strong scholarship profile is usually a blend of (1) solid grades, (2) clear alignment between your past work and your intended program, and (3) a compelling purpose. Recipients describe exactly that: Hening explains that the relevance of her prior field “allowed me to write a focused and coherent study plan for my application.” Lakhwinder emphasizes preparation quality, saying the application required “Academic transcripts and certificates (apostilled and, where necessary, translated)” plus a “personal statement and study plan” and “letters of recommendation.” And Alisson frames it as showing transformation and purpose; she believes what mattered was “not just academic merit, but showing how I intended to use education as a tool for transformation.” If you can combine strong academics with evidence of direction (projects, research, work, leadership) and explain the “why KU/why this major/why now,” you’ll look like a scholarship-ready candidate.

Document requirements depend on your level (undergrad/grad) and track, but commonly include: application forms, passport/ID copies for you and your parents, proof of relationship, academic transcripts and graduation certificates, language proficiency proof, and personal statements (plus additional items like portfolios for art/design). Recipient experiences mirror this: Lakhwinder lists core items including “Academic transcripts and certificates (apostilled and, where necessary, translated),” “Personal statement and study plan,” and “Letters of recommendation.” Anjavola highlights how language proof can be flexible in some scholarship contexts: she used an English academy certificate instead of TOEFL/IELTS. At the other end of the spectrum, Deepak Kumar explains that for his undergraduate GKS application, “my high school certificate was the only credential I had,” showing how document depth can vary by route and life stage. Always verify the exact checklist for your intake because KU can require both online uploads and mailed hard copies depending on the admissions cycle.

Korea University offers a full spectrum of majors and graduate programs across humanities, social sciences, business, engineering, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary fields, plus professional tracks that can be more specialized. The scholarship recipients themselves illustrate the variety of what’s actually being studied at KU: Electrical Engineering (Deepak), Quantum Information Physics (Islamuddin), Urban Planning & Design (Hening, Anjavola), Big Data Science (Lakhwinder), and Biotechnology + International Studies (Alisson).

Yes, application fees exist, and the amount can vary by program and level.