South Korea GKS 2027 Applications Now Open for Indian Students

South Korea GKS 2027 Applications Now Open for Indian Students

Reviewed & Updated: 16 September 2026

Indian students looking for a government-funded opportunity to study in South Korea have an important scholarship window open now.

Applications for the 2027 Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate Degrees (GKS-U) have opened for the Embassy Track. The 2027 guidelines were officially published by South Korea’s National Institute for International Education (NIIED) on 9 September 2026.

For Indian applicants, the Korean Education Centre India has confirmed that applications must be submitted online through the official Study in Korea portal and must be completed before the Indian Embassy Track deadline of 30 September 2026. Offline applications are not accepted.

GKS 2027 at a Glance

DetailGKS 2027 InformationScholarshipGlobal Korea Scholarship – UndergraduateCountrySouth KoreaIntake2027Application opened15 September 2026India Embassy Track deadline30 September 2026Deadline time18:00 KST / 2:30 PM ISTIndia Embassy Track quota4 placesGeneral quota for India2R-GKS quota for India2Total GKS-U scholars worldwide286Application modeOnlineOfficial portalStudy in Korea

The 2027 programme plans to select 286 scholars worldwide, including 156 through the Embassy Track and 130 through the University Track.

For India, the published Embassy Track allocation is 4 places: 2 General and 2 R-GKS places.

What Is the Global Korea Scholarship?

The Global Korea Scholarship, commonly known as GKS, is a scholarship programme supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea and administered by NIIED.

It is designed to give international students an opportunity to pursue higher education at participating Korean universities.

For undergraduate applicants, the scholarship can include Korean-language training followed by the selected degree programme.

What Does GKS 2027 Cover?

GKS provides substantial financial support to selected students. Benefits under the programme can include:

• Economy-class airfare
• Tuition support
• Korean-language training
• Degree programme allowance
• Other scholarship support specified under the official GKS guidelines

The published degree-programme allowance is approximately:

KRW 14.4 million per year

which is approximately:

KRW 1.2 million per month

during the degree programme.

Tuition support is provided up to approximately:

KRW 5 million per semester

subject to the detailed conditions in the official guidelines. The programme is widely described as a full scholarship because tuition, allowance, airfare and language training are among its major support components.

How Many GKS Scholarships Are Available in 2027?

The 2027 GKS-U programme plans to select:

286 international students

The allocation is divided as follows:

Application routeNumber of scholarsEmbassy Track156University Track130Total286

Within the Embassy Track, the official allocation is:

• 88 General
• 61 R-GKS
• 7 Overseas Koreans/Adoptees

Within the University Track:

• 100 UIC places
• 30 Associate Degree places

India Gets 4 Embassy Track Places

For the 2027 undergraduate cycle, India has:

4 Embassy Track places

These are divided into:

General: 2 places

R-GKS: 2 places

Students should understand that these are India-specific Embassy Track allocations. The University Track operates separately and has its own programme rules and selection structure.

Who Can Apply for GKS 2027?

Applicants must satisfy all requirements in the official 2027 guidelines. Important basic requirements include the following.

1. Nationality

The applicant and their parents must generally meet the GKS nationality requirements and must not hold Korean citizenship.

2. Age

Undergraduate applicants generally need to be:

Under 25 years of age as of 1 March 2027

Applicants should confirm their exact date-of-birth eligibility from the 2027 official guidelines.

3. Education

Applicants for a Bachelor's programme must have completed, or be expected to complete, the required high-school education.

For the 2027 intake, qualifying education generally needs to be completed by:

31 December 2026

4. Academic performance

Applicants generally need academic performance equivalent to at least:

80%

or be within approximately:

Top 20% of their class

Equivalent CGPA conditions are also provided in the official guidelines.

Embassy Track vs University Track

Students should carefully understand the two application routes before applying.

Embassy TrackUniversity TrackApplication begins through the Korean diplomatic/education authorityApplication begins through a designated Korean universityIndia has 4 Embassy Track placesSeparate University Track quotaOnline application through Study in Korea for Indian Embassy Track applicantsProcedure depends on the participating universityMultiple university choices may be available depending on programmeUsually one designated university/programme routeIndia deadline: 30 September 2026Deadlines vary by university

Students should not submit duplicate applications through incompatible tracks. Always follow the current GKS guidelines.

How Can Indian Students Apply?

For India's 2027 Embassy Track, the application process is online.

Step 1: Visit Study in Korea

Create an account on the official Study in Korea website.

Step 2: Read the 2027 GKS-U Guidelines

Before choosing universities or uploading documents, download and read:

• 2027 GKS-U Application Guidelines
• Application Forms
• Embassy Track University Information
• Programme and department information

NIIED published the 2027 guidelines and participating university information on 9 September 2026.

Step 3: Select the Appropriate Track

Understand whether you are applying under:

General

or

R-GKS

and make sure your chosen universities are permitted under that programme.

Step 4: Prepare Your Documents

Depending on the applicant's circumstances, documents may include items such as:

• Application form
• Personal statement
• Study plan
• Recommendation
• High-school graduation or expected-graduation certificate
• Academic transcripts
• Proof of applicant and parents' citizenship
• Proof of family relationship
• Other certificates or supporting documents required under the guidelines

Students should use the exact 2027 document checklist instead of relying on older GKS application lists.

Step 5: Submit Online

Indian Embassy Track applicants are required to submit their applications through the official Study in Korea system.

The Korean Education Centre India specifically states:

Offline applications are NOT accepted.

GKS 2027 Deadline for Indian Students

The most important date is:

30 September 2026

The application closes at:

18:00 Korea Standard Time

which is:

2:30 PM IST

Indian students should therefore not assume they have until midnight on 30 September.

Because the application window is short, applicants should start preparing documents immediately rather than waiting until the final few days.

Is IELTS Required for GKS 2027?

Students should not automatically assume that IELTS is compulsory for every GKS programme or university.

Language requirements can depend on the university, department, programme and track. Applicants should check the university information file and the official GKS guidelines for their chosen programme.

TOPIK, IELTS, TOEFL or other recognised language results may also strengthen or support an application where applicable.

How Long Does the Scholarship Last?

For Bachelor's applicants, the scholarship period can generally include:

1 year of Korean-language training

followed by approximately:

4–6 years of degree study

depending on the programme.

This can result in an overall scholarship period of approximately 5–7 years for certain Bachelor's programmes.

Important Advice for Indian Applicants

With only 4 India-specific Embassy Track places, applicants should treat the application seriously.

Do not select universities simply because they are popular. Check:

• Whether the university is permitted under your chosen GKS track
• Whether your preferred major is available
• Academic requirements
• Programme language
• University classification
• Your academic profile
• Your study plan
• Document requirements

A strong application should clearly explain why you want to study your chosen subject, why South Korea fits your academic goals and how the degree connects to your future plans.

This is professional application guidance rather than an additional GKS eligibility rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GKS 2027 open for Indian students?

Yes. Indian students are included in the 2027 GKS-U programme, subject to meeting the applicable eligibility requirements.

What is the GKS 2027 deadline for India?

For the Embassy Track, the deadline announced by the Korean Education Centre India is 30 September 2026.

How many GKS Embassy Track places does India have?

India has 4 places: 2 General and 2 R-GKS for the 2027 Embassy Track.

How many students will receive GKS-U worldwide?

The 2027 undergraduate programme has a total planned quota of 286 scholars worldwide.

Is the application online?

Yes. Indian Embassy Track applicants must create a Study in Korea account and apply online. The Korean Education Centre India states that offline submissions are not accepted.

Does GKS provide tuition support?

Yes. GKS provides tuition support together with other benefits such as living/degree allowances, Korean-language training and airfare, subject to the programme rules.

Final Takeaway

The South Korea GKS 2027 undergraduate scholarship application window is now open, giving eligible Indian students an opportunity to pursue a degree in South Korea with significant government scholarship support.

For Indian Embassy Track applicants, remember the key deadline:

🇰🇷 GKS 2027

🇮🇳 India Embassy Track: 4 Places

📅 Deadline: 30 September 2026

⏰ 2:30 PM IST

💻 Online Applications Only

Students planning to apply should download the official 2027 guidelines, shortlist eligible universities, prepare their documents carefully and complete the application well before the deadline.

Official Sources

Korean Education Centre India — 2027 GKS-U Application Announcement

Study in Korea — Official 2027 GKS-U Guidelines

Study in Korea — GKS Scholarship Information

Author: Clear My Udaan
Staying Grounded, Flying High.