Pathway Guide · Government Data (NIIED 2026)

GKS Scholarship → Master's in Korea → E-7

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) covers tuition, living costs, and airfare — the most established zero-cost path to a Korean career.

✓ Full tuition covered✓ ₩1,380,000/mo living allowance✓ 1-year Korean language program

The Full Path

1

Apply for GKS

6–12 months

Embassy Track or University Track — applications open annually (Sep–Nov)

2

Korean Language Program

1 year

1 year of intensive Korean (TOPIK 3+ required to proceed)

3

Master's or PhD Degree

2–3 years

2 years (Master's) or 3 years (PhD) at a Korean university

4

D-10 Job Search Visa

Up to 2 years

Up to 2 years after graduation to find employment

5

E-7 Professional Work Visa

Ongoing

Minimum salary ₩31,120,000/year (2026). Major must match job.

6

F-5 Permanent Residency

5+ years

5 years on E-7 + income ≥ ₩43,000,000/year average (3 years)

2026 Scholarship Benefits

Tuition

Fully covered by NIIED

Living allowance (Master's)

₩1,380,000 / month

Language program allowance

₩1,200,000 / month

Airfare

Round-trip economy (actual cost)

Settlement allowance

₩200,000 on arrival

Medical insurance

Covered

Total value (Master's 3 yr)

≈ ₩59,520,000

TOPIK 5–6 bonus

Skip language year + extra grant

2026 Selection — 2,000 Slots

Embassy Track

800 slots

Apply through Korean embassy in your country. Must include ≥1 regional university (Type B).

University Track — General

160 slots

Apply directly to participating universities.

University Track — R-GKS (Regional)

480 slots

Regional (Type B) universities only. Lower competition — recommended strategy.

University Track — R&D

403 slots

STEM fields only. No country restrictions. Includes KAIST, POSTECH, Seoul Tech.

University Track — Global Network

80 slots

English-medium programs. KDI School dominates (75 slots).

Key Requirements

  • →GPA in the top 20% of your previous program (or equivalent)
  • →Under 40 years of age at time of application
  • →Citizenship different from Korea (Korean nationals excluded)
  • →TOPIK 3+ earns 10% bonus; TOPIK 5–6 allows skipping the language year
  • →TOEFL/IELTS scores provide additional bonus points
  • →STEM applicants receive an additional 5% bonus

⚠️ Risks to Know

  • → Competition is significant — estimated 5–10:1 ratio per country quota
  • → Must pass TOPIK 3+ during the language year to proceed to degree program
  • → E-7 minimum salary (₩31,120,000) is lower than F-5 income requirement (₩43,000,000 avg). Plan your salary trajectory from day one.
  • → University assignment for Embassy Track is determined by NIIED — you list 3 preferences but are not guaranteed your first choice
Check My GKS Readiness →E-7 Visa Guide →

Source: NIIED Official GKS 2026 Guidelines · studyinkorea.go.kr · Not affiliated with NIIED or the Korean government.