Korean Government Scholarship (GKS) for Pakistani Students: Fully Funded Guide 2027

The GKS Scholarship is one of the most generous fully funded awards for international students. The Korean Government Scholarship, known as GKS, is one of the most complete fully funded scholarships in the world. It pays for tuition, a full year of Korean language study, a monthly living allowance, and your flights, and it is run by South Korea’s National Institute for International Education (NIIED). For the 2027 intake, NIIED offered 286 places to students from 74 partner countries, and Pakistan is one of those partner countries.

This guide covers the Korean Government Scholarship GKS for Pakistani students in full: the two application tracks, what the award pays, who can apply, the documents you need, and the exact steps to apply. It also gives you the honest status of the current cycle. The 2027 undergraduate embassy track closed on 30 September 2026, the university track runs from September to November 2026, and the 2027 graduate round had not been announced when this article was written, so read the deadline section first if you are short on time.

1. Introduction

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), formerly known as the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP), is South Korea’s flagship award for international students. It is administered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED), an agency under South Korea’s Ministry of Education. Its stated purpose is to widen educational exchange and deepen friendship between Korea and partner countries, and in practice it is one of the few scholarships anywhere that pays for a degree from start to finish: tuition, a year of Korean language training, living costs, health insurance, and flights.

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Quick Facts

Scholarship Name	Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
Host Country	South Korea
Host University	Any eligible South Korean university
Study Level	Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, Research
Funding Type	Fully funded (tuition, airfare, monthly allowance, Korean language year, insurance)
Eligible Nationalities	74 partner countries, including Pakistan
Study Duration	2-3 years (Master’s); 3-4 years (PhD), plus 1 year Korean language
Application Deadline	GKS-U 2027 embassy track closed 30 September 2026; university track September to November 2026 by university; GKS-G 2027 (graduate) not announced yet, expected February 2027
Scholarship Year	2027
Official Website	Study in Korea portal

For Pakistani students, GKS stands out for three reasons. First, the funding is genuinely complete, so a student without family savings can still afford to go. Second, the program includes a full year of Korean language study before the degree starts, so you do not need to know Korean before you apply. Third, NIIED does not set an IELTS or TOEFL score as a general requirement, which removes a barrier that stops many Pakistani applicants from applying to other programs.

The competition is real, and the seats for Pakistan are few. On the 2027 undergraduate embassy track, Pakistan received 3 seats. That number is small, but the university track offers a second way in, and the graduate round opens a new window each year. This article follows the official 2027 GKS undergraduate guidelines published by NIIED in September 2026, and it marks every date and figure that belongs to a cycle that has not yet been announced as unconfirmed. Check the official call on the Study in Korea website before you plan around any date in this guide.

2. Types of GKS Scholarship

GKS runs through two application tracks. You must choose one track for each cycle, because you cannot apply through both the embassy track and the university track in the same round.

Embassy Track

On the embassy track, you apply online through the Study in Korea portal. The Korean Embassy in Islamabad receives the applications from Pakistan, screens them, and recommends candidates to NIIED. For the 2027 undergraduate cycle, Pakistan received 3 embassy track seats. The embassy track window is short and fixed: for 2027 it ran from 15 to 30 September 2026. This is the track most Pakistani students mean when they talk about GKS, and it is also the track with the earliest deadline, so it rewards applicants who prepare months ahead.

University Track

On the university track, you apply directly to one Korean university, following that university’s own instructions and deadline. NIIED sets the overall window, which was September to November 2026 for the 2027 undergraduate cycle, and each university sets its own closing date inside that window. The university track includes two types of places. The UIC track (University and Industry Cooperation) is a specialized track for science and engineering departments that run settlement and employment support plans with industry, and it is open to applicants from all countries worldwide. The Regional University track covers universities outside the Seoul area. One university can already be closed while another is still open in November, so you must read the announcement of the university you want.

Graduate and Research Programs

GKS also funds master’s and doctoral degrees (GKS-G) and a short-term research program. The graduate program uses the same two tracks: embassy track and university track. The research program funds short research stays for scholars, with a monthly stipend of KRW 1,500,000. The graduate round follows its own calendar and is covered in the deadline section below.

3. GKS Scholarship Degree Level

GKS funds study at five levels:

• Associate degree. Two to three years of degree study, plus the Korean language year. Check the University Information file for the exact length of the program you choose.
• Bachelor’s degree. Four years of degree study plus one year of Korean language training, making five years in total for most scholars.
• Master’s degree. Two years of degree study plus one year of Korean language training, making three years in total.
• PhD degree. Three years of degree study plus one year of Korean language training, making four years in total.
• Research program. A short research stay for scholars. The length and the monthly stipend are set in the guidelines for each cycle.

The Korean language year is part of the award for most scholars. You study Korean full time for a year at a language institute, and your degree starts after that year. Scholars who already hold a high TOPIK level may be exempt from part of the language year under the rules in the guidelines, so check the official call if that applies to you.

4. Available Subjects

GKS covers almost every field taught at Korean universities: engineering, natural sciences, computer science, social sciences, humanities, business and economics, medicine and health sciences, Korean studies, agriculture, and the arts. The UIC track focuses on science and engineering departments that work with industry, while the regional university track covers a wide range of fields at universities outside Seoul.

Two things limit your choice. First, each university offers only the departments listed in the official University Information file for that cycle, so your subject must be on that list at a university you apply to. Second, a small number of fields carry limits at some universities, and some programs run longer than the standard degree length. Read the University Information file before you choose a department, and do not copy a subject list from a blog, because the list changes each cycle.

When you choose a subject, pick one that fits your past study. An undergraduate applicant with an FSc background fits science and engineering programs, while an applicant with an FA or commerce background fits humanities, social sciences, and business. For master’s and PhD, your past degree and your research interest should line up with the department, because the university checks that fit when it reviews your file.

5. Scholarship Benefits

GKS is a full award. Nothing is a loan and nothing is repaid, provided you complete the program. The figures below come from the official 2027 undergraduate guidelines for the bachelor’s program, and from the 2026 graduate guide for the master’s and PhD program. Amounts are set by NIIED in each cycle’s guidelines and can change, so treat the current guidelines as the only binding numbers.

Undergraduate program (2027)

• Tuition. NIIED covers up to KRW 5,000,000 per semester. The host university waives any amount above that, plus the admission fee.
• Korean language program fee. KRW 5,200,000 per year, paid in full.
• Monthly allowance, language year. KRW 13,560,000 per year, which is about KRW 1,130,000 per month.
• Monthly allowance, degree years. KRW 14,400,000 per year, which is KRW 1,200,000 per month.
• Airfare. Economy class ticket at actual expense, for travel to Korea and back. Entry airfare is not provided to scholars who already live in Korea at the time of the final announcement, or to scholars who enter Korea from a country other than their country of citizenship.

The monthly allowance is described in the guidelines as an all-inclusive subsidy. That means it already contains what other scholarships list separately: housing, health insurance, the settlement allowance on arrival, the degree completion grant at the end, Korean proficiency grants, and TOPIK examination fees. There is no separate housing payment. Your dormitory or rent comes out of the same monthly figure, which is one reason the choice between a Seoul university and a regional university matters for your budget, since living costs in Seoul run higher.

Graduate program (master’s and PhD)

• Tuition. Admission fees are waived by the host university, and tuition is covered by NIIED and the university, up to KRW 5,000,000 per semester.
• Monthly stipend. KRW 1,000,000 per month, paid through the program including the language year.
• Research allowance. KRW 210,000 per semester for scholars in humanities and social sciences, and KRW 240,000 per semester for scholars in natural and mechanical sciences.
• Settlement allowance. KRW 200,000 paid once, on arrival in Korea.
• Language training. One full year of Korean language training, with the course fee fully covered.
• Dissertation printing costs. Reimbursement of KRW 500,000 to 800,000, depending on actual costs.
• Korean proficiency grants. An extra KRW 100,000 per month for scholars who hold TOPIK Level 5 or 6.
• Airfare. Round-trip economy class ticket.

One condition is worth knowing before you apply. A scholar who withdraws within three months of enrolling at the university must repay the entire amount received. That rule is stated in the 2027 undergraduate guidelines, and similar terms apply across the program. Apply only when you are sure you want to complete the degree, and treat the language year as part of the commitment, not as a trial.

6. Eligible Nationalities

GKS is open to citizens of the countries NIIED designates for each cycle. For the 2027 undergraduate cycle, NIIED invited applicants from 74 partner countries, and Pakistan is one of them. The UIC track is open to applicants from all countries worldwide, including countries outside the partner list.

Two citizenship rules apply to every applicant. First, the applicant and both parents (or legal guardians) must be foreign nationals. Second, applicants who hold dual or multiple citizenship including Korean citizenship are not eligible. These rules are checked with the citizenship documents you submit, so read the guidelines for the exact documents NIIED asks for.

7. Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility rules differ between the undergraduate and graduate programs. The rules below come from the official 2027 undergraduate guidelines, and from the 2026 graduate guide for the graduate program. The 2027 graduate guidelines had not been released when this article was written, so confirm the graduate rules in the official call when it appears.

Undergraduate program (2027)

• Age. You must be under 25 years of age.
• Grades. Your cumulative GPA must be 80 percent or above on a 100-point scale, or you must rank in the top 20 percent of your graduating class.
• Education. You must have completed, or be about to complete, high school. Applicants who were expected to graduate had to be scheduled to graduate by 31 December 2026 for the 2027 cycle.
• Health. You must be in good physical and mental health.
• Citizenship. You and both of your parents must be non-Korean citizens, as described in the nationalities section above.
• One track only. You cannot apply through both the embassy track and the university track in the same cycle.

Graduate program (master’s and PhD)

• Age. You must be under 40 years of age.
• Grades. A cumulative GPA of 80 percent or above, or a ranking in the top 20 percent of your class, is the published standard.
• Education. You must hold a bachelor’s degree to apply for a master’s, and a master’s degree to apply for a PhD.
• Health and citizenship. The same health and citizenship rules as the undergraduate program apply.

Grades matter more in GKS than in many other scholarships, because the 80 percent rule is a hard cutoff in the guidelines rather than a suggestion. If your marks are close to the line, check how your board or university converts your result to a 100-point scale, and confirm the conversion rule in the guidelines before you apply.

8. English Language Requirements

NIIED does not set an IELTS or TOEFL score as a general GKS requirement, and many Pakistani applicants apply without either test. That is one reason GKS is popular with Pakistani students. A small number of departments may ask for proof of English or Korean ability for a specific program, so check the University Information file for the departments on your list.

Korean language ability is not required to apply. The program includes a full year of Korean language study, and your degree is taught in Korean after that year, although some programs are taught in English. A TOPIK score is not required, but it helps: scholars who hold TOPIK Level 5 or 6 receive an extra monthly grant, and a strong TOPIK result also strengthens your file at selection. If you have time before the application window, even basic Korean study is useful, because it shows the reviewers that you are serious about living and studying in Korea.

9. Required Documents

Prepare your documents before the window opens, because the embassy track window lasts only about two weeks. The official document set for the 2027 undergraduate cycle is Forms 1 to 7, plus supporting documents, published on the GKS notice board on the Study in Korea website. Download those forms for your cycle and follow that list exactly, since it changes slightly each year. The documents below are the categories the guidelines ask for.

• Online application form. Completed on the Study in Korea portal for the embassy track. For the university track, you complete the application in the form the university asks for.
• Personal statement. The official form asks about your background, your reasons for choosing Korea and your field, and your plans after the degree.
• Study plan. The official form asks what you want to study, how you will study it, and what you plan to do with the degree.
• Recommendation letter. Written by a teacher or professor who knows your academic work. Check the guidelines for how many letters your cycle asks for.
• Academic transcripts and graduation certificate. Complete transcripts for your past study, plus your graduation certificate or proof that you will graduate by the date the guidelines state.
• Proof of citizenship. Documents that prove the citizenship of you and both of your parents, as the guidelines list them.
• Passport copy. A clear copy of your passport’s information page.
• Language certificates (if you hold any). TOPIK, IELTS, or TOEFL results are optional, but a strong score supports your file.

Documents usually need attestation or apostille, and the guidelines state the exact rule for each document. Do not leave attestation to the last week, because it takes time and a missing stamp can delay your whole file. Keep scanned copies of everything in one folder, and check that every scan is clear and readable before you upload it. NIIED asks finalists for extra checks before departure, and the guidelines list what is needed at each stage, so read the full document, not just the first page.

10. Selection Criteria

Selection runs in rounds, and the rounds differ by track.

On the embassy track, the Korean Embassy in Islamabad screens the applications first. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed, and the embassy recommends its candidates to NIIED. NIIED then runs the second round of screening and announces the final successful candidates. For the 2027 undergraduate cycle, the guidelines set the first-round embassy results for 16 October 2026, and the final results for 7 January 2027. NIIED notes that the schedule can change, so check the notice board for updates.

On the university track, the university screens the applications, runs its own document review and interview, and recommends its candidates to NIIED. NIIED then runs the second round. Universities notify their own first-round applicants in November, and the final results follow the same NIIED announcement as the embassy track.

What the reviewers look at is consistent across both tracks: your academic record, your personal statement, your study plan, your language ability, and your interview. Grades open the door, because the 80 percent rule is a hard cutoff, but the personal statement and study plan decide between applicants with similar grades. Write both in your own words, with concrete reasons for choosing Korea, your subject, and your university, instead of general praise for the country. A TOPIK score and a clear plan for the language year also work in your favor.

11. How to Apply: Step by Step

Embassy track (undergraduate)

1. Read the guidelines. Download the 2027 GKS undergraduate application guidelines and the University Information file from the GKS notice board on the Study in Korea website. Note the quota for Pakistan and the list of universities.
2. Choose your universities and departments. Pick up to three universities from the official list, and check that your subject is offered at each one.
3. Create your account. Register on the Study in Korea portal at studyinkorea.go.kr.
4. Complete the online form. Fill in the application, upload your documents, and submit inside the window. For the 2027 cycle the window was 15 to 30 September 2026, opening at 11:00 and closing at 18:00 Korea Standard Time (2:00 PM Pakistan time on the closing day).
5. Wait for the first-round result. The embassy announces its first-round results, and shortlisted applicants are interviewed.
6. Wait for the NIIED result. NIIED runs the second round and announces the final successful candidates.

University track (undergraduate)

1. Download the University Information file. Use the official file for the university track to find universities and departments.
2. Pick one university and one department. The university track application goes to a single university.
3. Follow that university’s instructions. Each university publishes its own notice with its own deadline and submission method. Apply in the way that university tells you to, inside the September to November window.
4. Wait for the university’s first-round result. The university notifies its own applicants, then recommends candidates to NIIED for the second round.

Graduate program

The graduate round had not been announced when this article was written. Based on the past pattern, the guidelines are expected in February 2027, with the embassy track deadline in early March 2027 and final results around June 2027. The steps are the same as above: choose a track, prepare your documents, apply through the Study in Korea portal for the embassy track or direct to the university for the university track, and wait for the two rounds of results. Confirm every date in the official call when it appears.

If you have a question about the embassy track, you can write to the Korean Embassy in Pakistan at pakistan@mofa.go.kr, the address NIIED lists. GKS charges no application fee, and you should never pay an agent who promises a seat.

12. Deadline

The deadline picture for GKS is split by program and track, so read the line that matches your case.

Undergraduate program, embassy track (2027). The online window ran from 15 September 2026 at 11:00 KST to 30 September 2026 at 18:00 KST, which was 2:00 PM Pakistan time on the closing day. That window is closed. If you did not submit, the embassy form is closed for this cycle.

Undergraduate program, university track (2027). The window runs from September to November 2026, and each university sets its own closing date. One example from a published university notice shows the range: Daegu University accepted UIC track applications from 16 September to 23 October 2026. One campus can already be closed while another is still open in November, so read the announcement of the university you want. If you never applied to the embassy, the university track is the route that may still be open.

Undergraduate program, results (2027). First-round embassy results were set for 16 October 2026, and the final successful candidates are expected to be announced by 7 January 2027. NIIED notes that the schedule can change.

Graduate program (2027). The 2027 graduate round had not been announced when this article was written. Based on the past pattern, the guidelines are expected in February 2027, the embassy track deadline in early March 2027, selection results around June 2027, and the language year starting in September 2027. None of those dates is confirmed, so check the official call on the Study in Korea website before you plan around them.

Next undergraduate cycle. The next undergraduate cycle is expected to open around September 2027, following the same annual pattern as the 2027 cycle. If you missed the 2027 embassy window, use the months ahead to raise your grades, prepare your documents, and learn basic Korean, so you are ready when the next window opens.

Official Sources

• Study in Korea: official GKS portal and notice board (NIIED)
• Korea University Graduate School: 2026 GKS-G application guide and benefits

For questions about the embassy track in Pakistan, the Korean Embassy can be reached at pakistan@mofa.go.kr, the address NIIED lists.

Last verified: November 2026. The 2027 GKS undergraduate embassy track is closed, the university track runs to November 2026 by university, and the 2027 graduate round had not been announced at the time of writing. Check the official call on the Study in Korea website before you plan around any date in this article.

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