South Korea has a short list of scholarships, and every one of the 10 below is fully funded. Some come from the Korean government, some from individual science universities, and a couple are tied to development or training programs. If you are a Pakistani student aiming at a degree in Korea, the government route and the science-university route are the two you will spend most of your time on.
The table lists every guide on the site. Open the one that fits, then check the official website for the current cycle, because several deadlines below move from year to year.
| Scholarship | Funding | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP) | Fully Funded | Embassy track around September 2025; university track September-October 2025 |
| KAIST International Scholarship | Fully Funded | Undergraduate: October and January rounds; graduate varies by intake |
| KAIST University Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded | Varies, confirm on official site |
| KOICA Scholarship Programme | Fully Funded | Varies by country and program cycle |
| Korean Government Scholarship Program (GKS) for Undergraduates | Fully Funded | Varies, confirm on official site |
| POSTECH International Scholarship | Fully Funded | Graduate: around September 11, confirm current dates |
| SNU Global Scholarship / Global Korea Scholarship at Seoul National University | Fully Funded | GKS typically February-March (embassy track); SNU admissions later |
| UST Korea Scholarship (University of Science & Technology) | Fully Funded | October 16 annually; opens September 22 |
| World Bank GovTech AI Bootcamp 2026 in South Korea | Fully Funded | Varies, confirm on official site |
| World Bank GovTech AI Bootcamp 2026 in South Korea | Fully Funded | Varies, confirm on official site |
Government-backed degree scholarships
The Global Korea Scholarship is the central option. The guide for Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP) (full details) describes full tuition, round-trip airfare, a monthly living allowance, one year of Korean language training, research support, health insurance, a settlement allowance and a completion grant. That is about as complete as a package gets. It runs an embassy track around September 2025 and a university track in September-October 2025.
The same program appears in two more guides. Korean Government Scholarship Program (GKS) for Undergraduates (full details) focuses on the undergraduate route, and its deadline varies, so confirm it on the official site. SNU Global Scholarship / Global Korea Scholarship at Seoul National University (full details) explains how Seoul National University channels most of its full international funding through GKS. That timeline is separate and earlier than SNU's regular admissions: typically February-March on the embassy track, so check with your local Korean embassy each year.
My view: if you qualify, start with GKS. It covers the most and works at several levels. The catch is timing. The embassy track can close well before university deadlines, so a late start costs you the strongest option.
Science and technology universities
Three guides cover Korea's research-focused institutes, and they work differently from GKS.
- KAIST International Scholarship (full details) offers near-universal full tuition funding for admitted international students from undergraduate to PhD. Undergraduates face an early round around October and a regular round around January. Graduate timing varies by intake. Status is listed as applications open.
- KAIST University Scholarship 2027 (full details) is a separate KAIST entry covering undergraduate, Master's and PhD programs. Its deadline varies, so confirm it on the official site.
- POSTECH International Scholarship (full details) gives an automatic full tuition waiver plus a monthly stipend to international undergraduate and graduate students, with no separate scholarship application. Graduate applicants should look at around September 11 and confirm the current cycle dates. It is listed as open.
The POSTECH model is easy to like: you apply for admission and the funding follows. For a student with a strong science or engineering record, these three deserve a place on the shortlist next to GKS.
Research institute programs for Master's and PhD
UST Korea Scholarship (University of Science & Technology) (full details) is aimed at Master's, PhD and Integrated programs at a consortium of 30 national research institutes. It covers full tuition and health insurance, plus a stipend of KRW 1.6M a month for Master's students or KRW 2.5M a month for PhD students. The deadline is October 16 each year, with applications opening September 22, and the status reads opening soon. Because the date is fixed, it is one of the easiest to plan around.
KOICA Scholarship Programme (full details) is different in purpose. It provides fully funded Master's and PhD study for government officials and professionals from partner countries, to build human resource capacity for sustainable development. Deadlines vary by country and program cycle. Read the guide closely to see whether your work background and country fit before you invest time.
World Bank GovTech bootcamp
The last two entries are not degrees. They are fully funded World Bank GovTech AI Bootcamp 2026 programs hosted in South Korea, focused on artificial intelligence and public sector technology. One guide is here (full details), and the other is here (full details). Both list a deadline that varies, so confirm it on the official site. Treat this as short training, not a route to a Korean degree.
Choosing between Korean options and preparing documents
Sort by what you want. A full degree with the widest support points to GKS. A science or engineering degree at a specific institute points to KAIST, POSTECH or UST. Public-sector experience and a partner-country background point to KOICA. A short course in government technology points to the bootcamp.
Next, line up the calendar. The earliest dates here are the GKS embassy track, then the October rounds and the September-October windows. Many entries say only that deadlines vary, so check each official site before you plan around a date.
Prepare documents early. Transcripts, degree certificates, a study plan, recommendation letters and a valid passport are the usual core, and most programs ask for more. Our documents checklist for international scholarships walks through the list, and the scholarships guide for Pakistani students gives the wider picture.
Frequently asked questions
Are all of these South Korea scholarships fully funded?
Yes. Every scholarship in the table is listed as fully funded. What each one covers differs, so read the individual guide for the exact package.
Which scholarship covers the most?
The Global Korea Scholarship lists tuition, airfare, a monthly allowance, one year of Korean language training, research support, health insurance, a settlement allowance and a completion grant.
Do I need a separate application for POSTECH funding?
No. The guide describes an automatic full tuition waiver plus a monthly stipend, with no separate scholarship application required.
When is the UST deadline?
October 16 each year, with applications opening September 22.
Why do the GKS dates look different across guides?
There are embassy and university tracks, and Seoul National University runs its GKS timeline separately from regular admissions. Confirm the current dates with your local Korean embassy or the official site.
Can I use KOICA to study in Korea?
KOICA is for government officials and professionals from partner countries pursuing Master's and PhD degrees. Check the guide for the eligibility details.
Start with the individual guides linked above, then confirm every date, requirement and benefit on each scholarship's official website before you apply.