Pusan National University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most PNU scholarships are designed for admitted degree students (they reduce or cover your on-campus tuition), rather than being “online-course-only” scholarships.

PNU teaches in both Korean and English, but the mix depends on your department. Many majors are primarily Korean-taught, while PNU also offers a large number of English-taught classes and some fully English programs. For example, PNU’s Global Studies Program is explicitly built around English delivery, “all lectures are carried out in English,”and exchange students can choose from a substantial list of English-taught courses each semester. Scholarship stories echo this variation too: Dr. Sangram Keshari Mohanty notes, “As I applied to a Korean university with English-based graduate programs, I submitted my TOEIC scores to demonstrate English proficiency.”

Many PNU internal scholarships don’t advertise a single universal “age limit,” but some major scholarship routes do have age rules, especially government scholarships. For instance, Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) guidelines commonly set age limits (e.g., undergraduate applicants must be under a specified age, and graduate applicants must be under a specified age, with limited exceptions). So the practical answer is: your age eligibility depends on which scholarship you’re targeting (PNU internal vs. external/government-funded like GKS), so always match your plan to that scholarship’s current guideline.

PNU scholarships generally apply across a wide range of majors (the scholarship typically supports the student, not just one subject area). That means you’ll see funded students in STEM and engineering, business, humanities, and more. Examples from PNU’s English-friendly academic options include fields such as Global Studies (interdisciplinary), Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, and International Studies (e.g., GSIS). For medicine: PNU does offer medicine-related graduate pathways (and related professional/health fields), but medicine programs often have additional constraints for international students (language, clinical requirements, licensing pathways). If you’re specifically aiming at medicine as an international student, confirm whether your target track is open to international applicants.

PNU’s university scholarships are broadly aimed at “international students,” so they commonly cover applicants from many countries (subject to admission eligibility). For external scholarships, they often have nationality restrictions. A very practical example from scholarship stories: Ashkenov Zhanybek explains that Samsung Global Hope-style eligibility can track the OECD DAC list and notes, “the list changes,” so your country may be eligible one year and not another. Government scholarships like GKS can also be restricted to designated or invited countries depending on the track and year. Bottom line: PNU is open to many nationalities, but each scholarship has its own nationality rule—always check that scholarship’s current list.

It depends on your program track. For many PNU admissions routes, you’ll meet either Korean-track requirements (often via TOPIK) or English-track requirements (often via TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent). Scholarships can also be strongly affected by language scores, especially TOPIK-based tuition support. Ashkenov Zhanybek puts it plainly: “The higher your TOPIK level, the higher your chances to be accepted into PNU and the higher your scholarship amount will be.” At the same time, language tests are not always mandatory for every scholarship path: Meenakshi shares, “Thankfully, these exams were not mandatory for the GKS application,” and she says selection emphasized “academic achievements, personal statement, and study plan.” Still, strong language scores can directly unlock funding in some cases. Tesfahunegn Minwuyelet Mengistu even lists: “Received an entrance scholarship in 2023 for achieving a high IELTS score.”

PNU admissions are program- and department-specific, so there isn’t one single minimum grade that applies to everyone in a simple way. In practice, competitive applicants tend to have strong academic records, and scholarship recipients often show high GPAs. For example, Ufairah entered with “GPA: 3.86/4.00,” and Meenakshi reports a “CGPA of 9.0.” Also note the difference between admission and scholarship retention: some PNU scholarship rules focus on keeping your funding after you enroll (for instance, certain scholarships require maintaining a minimum GPA). Scholarship stories can be even stricter. Tesfahunegn’s academic performance award description includes: “Must maintain a GPA of 4.00+ in the previous semester.”

A strong GPA (or top rank), clear academic direction, and a well-prepared study plan are the common pattern; then you add differentiators like research, publications, competitions, leadership, and volunteering. Meenakshi says her selection leaned on “academic achievements, personal statement, and study plan,” and she also highlights how organizing her profile beyond grades helped. Dr. Sangram Keshari Mohanty gives a very scholarship-realistic checklist: “Focus on building a strong academic profile—grades, research experience, and publications matter.” If your target is a merit-heavy scholarship, aim to show both performance (grades) and trajectory (why your past work logically leads to the PNU program you want).

Exact documents vary by level (undergrad/grad) and by track, but common requirements include: application form, passport copy/ID, graduation certificate/diploma, academic transcripts, proof of language (TOPIK or TOEFL/IELTS/etc. depending on your track), study plan and/or personal statement, recommendation letters (often for graduate), and financial proof (or scholarship proof). Scholarship recipients consistently emphasize document readiness: Ufairah says, “While preparing documents and handling technical requirements is mandatory,” and Meenakshi adds, “I prioritized organizing all the required documents well in advance.”

PNU is a comprehensive university, so you’ll find programs across STEM and engineering, business, social sciences, humanities, and interdisciplinary areas, plus professional and graduate options in health/medical-related fields. If you want English-heavy choices, you can target fully English programs (like Global Studies) and also select from hundreds of English-taught courses offered each semester across multiple departments. Examples of departments that are frequently highlighted for international students include Global Studies (interdisciplinary), Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, and International Studies (GSIS track options). The best way to confirm fit is to shortlist your major and then review the department’s curriculum and recent course listings (especially if you’re trying to maximize English-taught modules).

Yes, PNU admissions commonly include an application fee, and guidelines often note that “submitted documents and application fees will not be returned or refunded.” The exact amount can vary by level (undergraduate vs. graduate) and by semester. As one concrete reference point, the international graduate admissions guide for a recent intake lists a total online application fee (including an internet administration fee). Always confirm the exact fee in the specific semester’s official application guideline you’re using.