Complete Guide to the Korea GKS Scholarship

Published on May 14, 2026

Every year, Taiwanese parents ask me: “Teacher, do Korea’s SKY universities offer scholarships to Taiwanese students?”

My answer is always: “SKY (Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University) offers very few undergraduate scholarships for international students. But GKS (Global Korea Scholarship) is a fully funded scholarship from the Korean government, with a Taiwan quota of 5-10 places each year.”

Parents get excited: “How does this compare with MEXT?”

The answer: GKS is smaller than MEXT in scale, with fewer places for Taiwan, but Korea’s STEM and engineering education is rising quickly. This article draws on my 15 years of hands-on consulting experience to break down GKS for you.

1. What Is GKS?

GKS (Global Korea Scholarship) = a government scholarship hosted by Korea’s Ministry of Education (MOE), formerly known as KGSP before 2010.

1.1 Three Categories

This article focuses on undergraduate students.

1.2 What Does GKS Undergraduate Funding Cover?

Total value for 4 years of undergraduate study: tuition KRW 32,000,000 + monthly stipend KRW 48,000,000 = KRW 80,000,000 (NTD 2 million / USD $60K), all covered.

2. GKS vs. MEXT

Conclusion: MEXT has about 4 times more places than GKS, which means GKS is more competitive for Taiwanese applicants.

3. Eligible Universities and Majors

3.1 Eligible Universities (Top 60 Korean Universities)

3.2 Majors

4. Application Process

4.1 Main Timeline

4.2 Two Application Tracks

Embassy Track advantage: you can list 3 universities as choices
University Track advantage: direct contact with the university, and some universities have more available places

5. Eligibility Requirements

5.1 Academic Requirements

5.2 Language Requirements

The truth: GKS does not require TOPIK, and that is a major advantage. MEXT strongly recommends JLPT N2+, while GKS is more flexible about Korean ability.

6. The Reality of GKS Competition in Taiwan

6.1 Application Numbers

6.2 Competitor Profiles

• Top 10% students from elite high schools
• GPA 90+
• Mainly TOEIC / TOEFL 100+
• TOPIK Level 4-5 as a plus
• K-pop / K-drama cultural interest is common (not much of a bonus, but can show fit)

7. Practical Preparation Path for Taiwanese High School Students

7.1 Start Preparing in Grade 11

7.2 Running GKS and Taiwan University Applications in Parallel

GKS is announced in March-April, after Taiwan university applications have already been submitted and the GSAT has already been taken. So you can:

The truth: you can apply to GKS + NTU + U.S. ED at the same time. The real choice comes in April and September.

8. How GKS Students Are Treated in Korea

8.1 Preparatory Education (1 Year of Korean)

• Conducted by NIIED-designated universities (such as affiliated programs at Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University, etc.)
• 6-8 hr of Korean per day + some academic subjects
• KRW 1,000,000 / month stipend + full tuition waiver
• Must pass TOPIK Level 3 by the end of the year

8.2 Four Years of Undergraduate Study

• Choose your university + choose your major
• KRW 1,000,000 / month stipend
• Full tuition waiver
• Part-time work allowed during summer vacation (limited to 20 hr/week)

8.3 Long-Term Residency in Korea

9. Employment After GKS

9.1 Employment in Korea

9.2 Starting Salary Reference

The truth: starting salaries at major Korean companies are 50-80% higher than in Taiwan, but working hours are long and overtime is serious.

10. The 5 Most Common GKS Pitfalls

10.1 Expecting “K-drama Campus Life”

→ Korean universities are extremely high-pressure. Studying + internships + civil service exam prep = most of your time, which is very different from K-drama scenes.

10.2 Expecting to Reach N2-Level Korean in 1 Year

→ In reality, reaching TOPIK Level 3 in 1 year is already reasonable. Level 4 usually takes 2 years.

10.3 Thinking Only SKY Has Value

→ Wrong. KAIST and POSTECH are global top-50-level schools in STEM. An average KAIST graduate may be more competitive in Korea’s job market than a humanities graduate from SKY.

10.4 Submitting a K-pop Fan Application

→ Korean admissions officers tend to react negatively to applicants who are applying “just because of K-pop.” You need a specific Korea-related cultural, language, or academic connection.

10.5 Applying Taiwanese High School Thinking to Korean Universities

→ Korean universities have an extremely competitive culture and are much more exhausting than Taiwanese universities.

11. GKS vs. MEXT vs. U.S. HYPMS

For Taiwanese high school students:

12. Conclusion: GKS Is an “East Asia Alternative”

Over the past 15 years, I have seen too many parents assume that “study abroad = the U.S.” But the ROI of fully funded scholarships in neighboring Asian countries can compete with HYPMS.

My final advice for Dr. G. students:

GKS is suitable for:1. Students interested in Korean culture / language2. Students aiming for KAIST / POSTECH (strong STEM schools)3. Students who want to work in Asia (not necessarily return to Taiwan)4. Families with limited budgets whose student is in the top 10% at an elite high school

Not suitable for:1. Students who only want K-pop scenery2. Students unwilling to learn Korean3. Students who want to graduate quickly in 4 years (GKS takes 5 years)

GKS has very few places, only 5-10 per year, so competition is extremely intense. But for students who win it, the ROI is very high.

Further reading:

• Complete Guide to Japan’s MEXT Government Scholarship
• Complete Guide to Korea Visa / PR
• Scholarship Structures for International Students at Singapore SMU / NTU
• How to Prepare for Taiwan’s MOE Government-Funded Study Abroad Exam
• Complete Guide to Scholarships for International Students in Canada / the UK / Australia