2027 GKS Undergraduate Scholarship Applications: Online applications for the Diplomatic Mission Track will be accepted from September 15 to 30… For the University Track, check each university’s schedule.

Applications are now open for the 2027 Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate Degrees (GKS-U), a scholarship program sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Korea. Applicants should first understand that the application structures, the number of universities they can apply to, and the application methods differ between the Embassy Track and the University Track, and they must verify their eligibility and the required documents in the official application guidelines. In particular, while applications for the Embassy Track are submitted online via Study in Korea from September 15 to 30, 2026, applications for the University Track take place from September to November, depending on each university’s specific procedures and schedule.

The 2027 GKS-U is Divided into Embassy-Administered and University-Administered Tracks

The GKS Team at Study in Korea announced the recruitment for the “2027 Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate Degrees” on September 9, 2026. Applicants are advised to review the detailed application schedule, required documents, and information on universities and departments through the application guidelines and the “University Information” file attached to the announcement.

The 2027 GKS-U recruitment structure is broadly divided into the Embassy Track and the University Track.

The Embassy Track will select a total of 156 students. It targets 74 countries and consists of 88 students through the General Track, 61 through the R-GKS Track, and 7 through the Overseas Koreans and Adoptees Track.

Under the University Track, 100 UIC students will be selected from 13 universities, and 30 students for associate degree programs will be selected from 9 universities.

The Diplomatic Mission Track and the University Track differ not only in the application submission channel but also in the number of universities applicants can choose from and the types of institutions available. Therefore, before completing the application, applicants must first decide which track they will apply for.

Applications for the Diplomatic Mission Track will be accepted from 11:00 AM on September 15 through 6:00 PM on September 30

Applicants for the Diplomatic Mission Track must use the Study in Korea online application system.

The online application period runs from 11:00 a.m. on September 15, 2026, to 6:00 p.m. on September 30, 2026, Korea Standard Time.

In contrast, the university-based admissions process does not follow a single, unified online application schedule. It takes place from September to November 2026, depending on each university’s specific procedures and schedule; therefore, applicants must separately check the announcements and University Information files of the universities they wish to apply to.

The entire schedule is subject to change, so you must check the latest official guidelines again at the time of actual application.

For the General Embassy-Administered Track, up to 3 universities; for the R-GKS Type B Track, up to 2 universities

Even within the Overseas Korean Admissions Track, the method for selecting universities varies depending on the specific admission category.

Applicants for the General Track and the Overseas Koreans and Adoptees Track may select up to 3 universities. At least one of the selected universities must be a Type B university.

R-GKS applicants may select up to 2 Type B universities.

The University-Specific Track has a different selection scope. Applicants apply to one university and one department.

Therefore, applicants who wish to compare multiple universities before applying and those who wish to focus on a specific university or department should first compare the application structures of each admission track. However, to determine which track is actually available to a specific applicant, they must also check the eligibility requirements in the admission guidelines, such as nationality, educational background, and academic performance.

Check Nationality, Year of Birth, Educational Background, and Academic Performance Criteria First

The GKS-U program has basic eligibility requirements regarding nationality, age, educational background, and grades.

Generally, the nationality requirements for designated inviting countries apply, and neither parent may hold South Korean citizenship. However, the UIC track under the university admissions process is open to applicants from all countries worldwide.

The age requirement is that applicants must have been born on or after March 1, 2002.

In addition, applicants must meet the educational background and academic performance criteria specific to the program they wish to apply for. The admission guidelines also outline restrictions on applications related to degrees obtained in Korea or existing government-sponsored degree programs.

Therefore, applicants should not assume they are eligible for GKS simply by meeting one criterion, such as nationality or year of birth. Applicants must first determine which program and admission track apply to them and then review all eligibility requirements and restrictions in the official admission guidelines.

Check Not Only the List of Documents but Also the Requirements for Certification and Submission of Originals

When preparing your application, you should organize the necessary materials based on the “Required Documents” table in the official application guidelines.

The application guidelines specify not only the various required documents but also the conditions regarding document certification and the submission of originals. Therefore, do not simply check the names of the required documents; you must also verify in the guidelines the specific format in which each document must be prepared.

If you have chosen the embassy application track, it is important to finalize your application track and university selection before the online application period begins, and to verify that you have all the required documents according to the document table in the application guidelines.

Applicants for university-based admissions should check the “University Information” file to confirm which universities and departments they are eligible to apply to, and then review the specific announcements issued by their preferred universities. This is because language requirements and submission deadlines may vary by university and department.

The Application Guidelines outline the first, second, and third screening procedures and the schedule for the final announcement

The 2027 GKS-U Application Guidelines outline the first, second, and third screening procedures.

Applicants will undergo the relevant screenings based on their chosen admission track, and the final results are scheduled to be announced on January 7, 2027.

However, the official schedule is subject to change. Therefore, even after reviewing the initial announcement, applicants must continue to check the latest updates from Study in Korea and the relevant universities throughout the application and screening process.

Steps to Check Before Applying

It is best to begin preparing your application by first deciding whether to apply through the diplomatic mission track or the university track.

If you are considering the Embassy Selection Track, you should identify which category applies to you—General, R-GKS, Overseas Koreans, or Adopted Koreans—and review the university selection rules for that category. Online applications for the Embassy Selection Track are open from 11:00 AM on September 15 through 6:00 PM on September 30, so you should schedule your document preparation accordingly.

If you are considering the university admission track, you should review the UIC or associate degree admission structure and then select one university and one major. Since the university admission track is conducted from September to November according to each university’s specific procedures, you must check both the University Information and the announcements from your preferred universities.

Next, review the official admissions guidelines to verify requirements regarding nationality, parents’ nationality, year of birth, educational background, academic records, and application restrictions, and prepare the necessary documents according to the application checklist. Finally, you must double-check the language requirements and institution-specific submission deadlines for each university and department in the “University Information” file and the respective university’s announcement.