Study in Korea 360 — Scholarships, Admissions, Visa & Student Life (2026)
Complete Study Guide in South Korea • Updated 2026

Study in Korea 360

Your complete guide to fully funded scholarships, admissions, visa (D-2), Living costs, and student life in South Korea — written simply and kept fresh.

International students at a Korean campus
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How can I study in Korea for free?

Apply to fully-funded programs like GKS (undergrad/grad), KOICA (Master’s), KAIST/UST (STEM), and AKS (humanities). These usually cover tuition, monthly stipend, airfare, and health insurance.

  • ✔ Check eligibility + deadlines (updated each cycle)
  • ✔ Prepare SOP, recommendation letters, and language proof (IELTS/ TOPIK or waivers)
  • ✔ Choose Embassy or University track where applicable
2026 cycle

What’s the typical timeline?

Calls open between Aug–Nov for many programs, with selections in Q1–Q2. Always verify the official notice on each program page.

  • 📅 Announcement → Application window → Document screening → Interviews → Final results
  • 🛫 Visa (D-2) steps begin after acceptance
Scholarships

Fully Funded Scholarships in South Korea (2026)

Explore government, university, and institute programs. We keep pages simple and updated—no fluff, just what you need to apply.

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

Undergrad & Graduate • Tuition, stipend, tickets, insurance

View Guide

KOICA Scholarship (Master’s)

Gov-funded programs for professionals from partner countries

View Guide

KAIST Scholarships

STEM-focused funding for BS/MS/PhD applicants

View Guide

UST Scholarships

Research-intensive MS/PhD funding across institutes

View Guide

AKS Fellowships

Humanities & Korean studies research fellowships

View Guide

More Programs

University & private funding (Yonsei, SNU, POSTECH, POSCO, etc.)

Browse All
Universities

Top Universities for International Students

Compare programs, admission criteria, English-taught tracks, and deadlines.

KAIST

  • • Engineering, CS, Natural Sciences
  • • English-taught options available
Programs & Deadlines

Seoul National University (SNU)

  • • Comprehensive programs
  • • Highly competitive admissions
Programs & Deadlines

Yonsei / Korea University

  • • Strong business & social sciences
  • • Exchange & full-degree options
Compare Universities
How to Apply

Admissions & Visa — Step-by-Step

Visa (D-2) Process

Eligibility, required documents, embassy steps, processing times.

Visa Guide

Embassy vs University Track

Understand the difference, pros/cons, and key timelines.

Read Guide

Documents & Templates

SOP/LoR samples, CV template, study plan, checklist (download).

Download

Without IELTS?

Universities & scholarships that accept alternatives or waivers.

See Options
Student Life

Costs, Jobs & Accommodation

Cost of Living (Seoul vs other cities) Part-time Work Rules Dorms vs Apartments Health Insurance

Cost of Living (2026)

Average rent, food, transport, and monthly student budgets.

View Breakdown

Part-time Jobs & Rules

Work hours limit, D-2 visa rules, where to find jobs.

Learn More
Updates

Latest Guides & Deadlines

GKS 2026 Timeline

Embassy & University tracks, documents, and tips.

Read Update

KOICA 2026 Call

Eligible countries, priority majors, deadlines.

Read Update
Free resources

Checklist & Deadlines (PDF)

Download the 2026 application checklist and master deadlines in one page.

Download PDF

Weekly “Study in Korea” Updates

Deadlines, new scholarships, and visa updates—no spam.