South Korea: GKS undergraduate scholarship and direct admission

In short

• Check the official pages linked below.
• Rules can depend on the university, country, course, and application year.
• Keep the dates and documents you need in one place.

Route A: GKS undergraduate

The Korean government’s Global Korea Scholarship for undergraduate degrees (GKS-U) is announced by annual notice. The 2026 notice links an application guideline, forms and a university-information file. The guideline for the year you apply controls allowed to apply countries, age and study rules, application channel, documents and deadlines. Do not reuse a prior-year schedule as if it were latest. Study in Korea: 2026 GKS-U notice

The 2026 application checklist includes an application form, personal statement, study plan, one recommendation, agreement and medical assessment, plus citizenship/family relationship proof and secondary-school graduation and transcript documents. Applicants generally enter through an embassy or designated university track, but the annual notice defines the actual selection channel and limits. 2026 GKS-U application guide

Route B: direct university admission

You can also apply directly to a Korean university. Search the official Study in Korea course listings, then open the university’s international admissions notice for the relevant semester. Each university sets its own accepted school or exam results, language proof, document authentication, deadlines and scholarship terms. Study in Korea: Universities and courses

Choose by fit and timeline

• GKS can bundle scholarship selection and university placement, but the annual rules and country quota/channel decide if you are allowed to apply.
• Direct admission lets you target an university’s own process and scholarships. It can require multiple separate applications.
• Build a document folder with passport, school transcript and graduation/expected-graduation proof, translations, recommendation and language proof. Confirm if originals, notarisation, apostille or consulate legalisation are required.
• Contact the Korean embassy and university only using the year-exact notice. Study in Korea posts the official GKS notices and annual files. Study in Korea GKS notice

As of 14 November 2026, the cited public notice is for the 2026 intake. The 2027 GKS-U call and requirements should be checked when published. This guide does not infer future dates.

What to do next

• [ ] Read the official pages linked in this guide.
• [ ] Check the rules and deadline for your exact course and application year.
• [ ] Gather the documents and ask the university about anything unclear.
• [ ] Save copies of your forms and official replies.