Once you've decided to go for this, you should do your very best. It includes risk - time, money, and resources. YOU CAN NEVER GET THOSE RESOURCES BACK such as your documents. . .once you submit it so better have a BACKUP copy, Photocopy, extra copy. . . Okay?
***NOTE: This is based on GKS 2020 requirements but usually the details are the same every year for GRADUATE STUDIES. The basic requirements are stated here.***
For Uni Track: Only Two-rounds of selection.
- Must submit ONE set of original application documents.
For Embassy Track: Has Three-rounds of selection.
- Must submit ONE set of original application forms and THREE sets of photocopied application forms.
Be prepared. The competition is very tough.
1. QUALIFICATIONS
Nationality
- All applicants and their parents must not hold Korean citizenship.
- Korean citizens and dual citizenship holders (one who have Korean citizenship and citizenship of another country) are NOT eligible to apply.
- Applicants and their parents who had previously held Korean citizenship must submit the document that proves their renunciation of Korean citizenship. (※Exception: For overseas Korean applicants holding Japanese citizenship, if their parents hold "Permanent Residency Permit" within Japan while holding Korean citizenship, are eligible to apply.)
- Must be under 40 years of age as of September 1, 2020 (born after September 1, 1980)
- Academic professors who are under 45 years of age as of September 1, 2020 (born after September 1, 1975) and hold citizenship of one of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients listed in the table below are eligible to apply.
Degree Requirements
- Applicants must hold or must be expected to hold a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral degree by August 31st, 2020*.
- Applicants who are expected to graduate at the time of applying must first submit the certificate of expected graduation at the time of applying. The official degree certificate (or diploma) and final academic transcript must be submitted by August 31st, 2020 at the very latest.
- Prospective applicants who have attained a Bachelor‟s, Master's, or a doctoral degree in Korea are NOT eligible to apply. (※Exception: Overseas Korean Adoptees and GKS scholars)
- All applicants must have maintained the overall grade point average (CGPA) equivalent to or higher than any ONE of the following from their respective universities:
- 2.64 on a 4.0 scale;
- 2.80 on a 4.3 scale;
- 2.91 on a 4.5 scale;
- 3.23 on a 5.0 scale; or
- Score percentile: 80% or above on a 100 point scale or be ranked within the top 20% within one's class (Exception: Previous or current GKS scholars must hold the grade of 90% or above on a 100 point scale or be ranked within the top 10% within one's class)
- If an applicant has a CGPA below the minimum grade requirement, the applicant will be disqualified and the application will be disregarded.
- If an applicant holds a transcript that does not include information on grade point average or is unable to convert his or her grades into any one of the GPA criteria mentioned above, then the applicant must submit an official document issued by the applicant's university describing the university's grade system.
- All applicants must be in good health, both mentally and physically, to study in Korea for the full duration of degree or research programs.
- All applicants must submit Form 6 or the “Personal Medical Assessment” at the time of applying.
- All applicants who pass the 2nd round of selection must receive a comprehensive medical checkup and submit the certificate of health and medical examination result issued by a medical doctor or a licensed physician.
- If an applicant is found to be in one of the following conditions, the applicant will be disqualified in the final round of selection:
- An applicant is tested positive on drug tests;
- An applicant who owns serious illness that prevents him or her to study abroad for long period of time including the full duration of degree or research program in Korea.
Preference
- Applicants who received outstanding scores for their proficiency in Korean or English may be given preference. Some examples include the following:
- Proficiency in Korean: TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean)
- Proficiency in English: TOEFL, TOEIC, or IELTS Academic (TOEFL ITPs are NOT acceptable)
- Applicants who apply for majors in the field of Natural Science and Engineering are given priority when they receive the same marks as other candidates.
- Applicants who apply for majors under the Industrial Professionals Training Project are given priority when they receive the same marks as other candidates.
- Academic professors holding citizenship of developing countries, especially ODA recipients, are given priority when they receive the same marks as other candidates.
- Descendants of Korean War veterans will receive an additional 5% of the total marks.
- Applicants from low-income families or underprivileged backgrounds will be given preference.
- Applicants who are confirmed to be the "third-generation" or "post-third generation" overseas Koreans will be given preference.
2. QUOTA
Scholarships have a quota. In GKS, the quota for every country varies per year. Please see below the quota for Graduate Degree in 2020 (Embassy vs University).
*note: this is not the complete list of the countries based on image.
3. REQUIREMENTS
Here's the list of the required documents for Masters and Doctoral Degree applicants.
Notes for ALL applicants:
- All application documents must be written either in Korean or English.
- Documents written in languages other than Korean or English must accompany a complete Korean or English translation, authenticated by the issuing institution or notarized by a notary public.
- All application documents must be presented in their original forms. If an applicant has to submit photocopied documents, the applicant MUST have the photocopies notarized, apostilled, or receive consular confirmation and submit those certified documents.
****For the applicants who are certain that they will not be able to get their academic documents reissued in the future, we strongly recommend them to submit notarized, apostilled, or consular-confirmed academic documents in lieu of original documents.
- All documents submitted will NOT be returned to the applicants in any case.
- Application documents must be submitted in the order of the checklist on the first page of the application forms. Each required document must be numbered and labeled on the top right corner. (ex. 9. Certificate of Bachelor’s degree)
- Any fraudulent or incomplete applications will be disregarded and even if a scholar has been selected, he or she will forfeit his or her scholarship if the application is found fraudulent.
- Applicants who are expected to graduate at the time of applying must first submit the certificate of expected graduation at the time of applying. The official degree certificate (or diploma) and final academic transcript must be submitted by August 31st, 2020 at the very latest.
- The recommendation letters must be written by two different recommenders, who can give a thorough assessment of the applicant's academic abilities.
- The applicants of Korean Language Teaching Professionals must include a recommendation letter written by the chairman of their employed institution (the Principal of the School or the President of the University).
- The recommenders must seal recommendation letters in an envelope and sign across the back flap. The letters with a broken seal or sign will be considered invalid.
- For the published papers, research papers, and awards, photocopies are acceptable.
- The proof of citizenship must be government-issued documents. The examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- An original birth certificate issued by the government of the applicant's country;
- An original family register issued by the government of the applicant's country
- Passport copies of the applicant and applicant's parent (No need for notarization)
4.VAPPLICATION FORM / UNIVERSITY INFORMATION / FAQs
The form is really long so I'll send the link on my Google Drive: GKS 2020 Information
5. APPLICATION SUBMISSION
Application Submission
- Applicants must apply either to a Korean Embassy where they hold citizenship or directly to one of the designated universities.
- Institutions accepting applications
- 116 Embassies of the Republic of Korea: In countries where Korean Education Center or Korean Cultural Center is located, these institutions may accept and review GKS applications in lieu of Korean embassies. We highly recommend applicants contact the Korean embassy in their countries to check which party is accepting the application.
- 64 Korean Universities designated by NIIED
- If an applicant submits an application to more than ONE institution mentioned above, his or her application will be discarded.
- Overseas Koreans must apply to the Korean embassies in their home countries. Only those who own citizenships of the countries with the separate Overseas Koreans quota ( are eligible to apply.
- The applicants of Korean Language Teaching Professionals must apply only to the Korean embassies in their home countries. Only those who own citizenships of the countries with the separate Korean Language Teaching Professionals quota (refer to II.) are eligible to apply.
- Chinese applicants must submit their applications to the China Scholarship Council, in accordance with the agreement between the government of Korea and the government of China.
- The Czech Republic applicants must submit their applications to the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic, in accordance with the agreement between the Korean government and the Czech Republic government.
6. DEADLINE OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION
- The application deadline is set by each Korean embassy or university.
- All applicants must check the deadline for application submission by contacting the relevant embassy or desired university directly.
7. SELECTION PROCEDURES
- University Track applicants who pass the 2nd round of selection are confirmed admission to the university. In order to be selected as GKS scholars, these University Track applicants MUST submit their comprehensive medical examination results and other additional required documents.
- Comprehensive Medical Examination
- All candidates who pass the 2nd round must get comprehensive medical examinations based on NIIED‟s Certificate of Health form and submit the medical examination result issued by a medical doctor or a licensed physician.
- The Certificate of Health form will be posted in the GKS Notice board along with the announcement of successful candidates of 2nd round of selection.
- If the medical examination result shows that an applicant is not suitable to study and live overseas for an extended period of time, he or she will be disqualified.
PRIOR NOTICE (EFFECTIVE 2021)
Assuming you passed the document screening, let's Talk about the interview on my next post! See you! :)
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