South Korea is significantly increasing its government scholarship offerings for international postgraduate students for the 2026 academic year, with a notable boost for Vietnamese applicants. The National Institute for International Education (NIIED) of South Korea announced earlier this week the Government Scholarship Program (GKS), which aims to attract global talent.

The total number of scholarships has risen to 2,000, reflecting South Korea's commitment to international education. Vietnamese students are among the primary beneficiaries, set to receive at least 55 slots across different application tracks, making them one of the top recipients globally.

The scholarship program offers comprehensive support, covering tuition fees, living expenses, language training costs, health insurance, and round-trip airfare. This extensive coverage aims to alleviate financial burdens for international students pursuing higher education in South Korea.

Applicants have two main avenues for submission: either through the South Korean Embassy in their home country, allowing for up to three university preferences, or by applying directly to a desired university. The Embassy track has seen an increase to 800 scholarships, up by 80 from last year. Notably, Vietnamese and Indonesian international students each receive an additional three scholarships, bringing their total to 33 slots per country—the highest allocation among 143 participating nations and territories.

The campus of Korea University, South Korea. Photo: Korea University Fanpage.

For the direct university application track, the number of available scholarships has increased by 100, reaching 1,200 slots. A significant portion, 403 of these, are specifically designated for research and development (R&D) fields, an increase from 300 last year. All these specialized fields fall under STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) disciplines. Beyond the R&D focus, Vietnamese students will also receive 22 slots for any other field within this direct university application category.

Eligibility requirements stipulate that both applicants and their parents must be foreign nationals, without South Korean citizenship. Applicants must be under 40 years old and have achieved a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 80% or higher (e.g., 8/10) in their most recent academic program. For master's degree candidates, a bachelor's degree is required, or expected graduation by 31/7. Similarly, doctoral candidates must hold a master's degree or complete their program by the same deadline.

Application deadlines vary by track. For those applying via the Embassy, submissions are open on the Study in Korea website from 12/2 to 25/2. The deadline for direct university applications typically extends until April, depending on the specific institution.

South Korea continues to be a highly attractive study abroad destination in Asia. The country successfully met its goal of attracting 300,000 international students two years ahead of schedule. Among this diverse student body, Vietnamese international students form the largest group, numbering nearly 108,000 individuals.

Khanh Linh