Full tuition waiver plus approximately 350,000 KRW per month
Duration
8 Semesters (4 Years)
Deadline
Early: October; Regular: January; Late: May (Exact dates vary annually)
Level
Undergraduate
Acceptance
Varies by application cycle and pool quality
Difficulty
Very High
Quick Summary
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) offers KAIST Global Scholarship, a fully funded opportunity designed for international students heading to South Korea. The award covers Provides a full tuition waiver for 8 semesters, a monthly living allowance of 350,000 KRW, and covers national health insurance premiums. and is open to undergraduate students studying all undergraduate programs offered at kaist (natural sciences, life science and bioengineering, engineering, liberal arts and convergence science, business). The scholarship runs for 8 semesters (4 years) and may be renewed annually based on academic performance. Eligibility is generally based on open to non-Korean citizens with high academic achievement in high school; must apply for admission to KAIST to be considered. The application deadline is Early: October; Regular: January; Late: May (Exact dates vary annually), with an acceptance rate of approximately Varies by application cycle and pool quality. EduAtlasHub tracks updated deadlines, coverage details and eligibility requirements for this scholarship as they change.
✨ Should I Apply for KAIST Global Scholarship?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
75%
Eligibility Match
50%
Win Probability
7/10
Difficulty
10/10
Reward Score
30-45 hrs
Time Required
Estimated 10% to 15%
Competition
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
Full tuition waiver plus approximately 350,000 KRW per month
⏳
Duration
8 Semesters (4 Years)
📅
Deadline
Early: October; Regular: January; Late: May (Exact dates vary annually)
🔬
Fields
All undergraduate programs offered at KAIST (Natural Sciences, Life Science and Bioengineering, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Convergence Science, Business)
🏆
Awards/Year
Varies (Awarded to most admitted international students who meet the criteria)
🌏
Study Country
South Korea
🏛️
Provider
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
📊
Acceptance
Varies by application cycle and pool quality
The KAIST Global Scholarship is the primary funding mechanism for international undergraduate students at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. It is designed to attract top-tier global talent by removing financial barriers to high-level STEM education. The scholarship is automatically considered upon application for admission, provided the applicant checks the scholarship request box.
👥 Who Should Apply
Open to non-Korean citizens with high academic achievement in high school; must apply for admission to KAIST to be considered.
🤝 Sponsor
KAIST / Ministry of Science and ICT
🔬 Fields of Study
All undergraduate programs offered at KAIST (Natural Sciences, Life Science and Bioengineering, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Convergence Science, Business)
✨ Key Benefits
Provides a full tuition waiver for 8 semesters, a monthly living allowance of 350,000 KRW, and covers national health insurance premiums.
🎯 Target Students
International undergraduate students
🏷 Tags
South KoreaFully FundedUndergraduateSTEMInternational StudentsEngineering
📊 Statistics & Competitiveness
Varies (Thousands of applications globally)
Applicants Last Year
Varies (Majority of admitted international students receive the scholarship)
Winners
Varies by application cycle and pool quality
Acceptance Rate
Estimated 10% to 15%
Competition Level
Win Probability
50%
Match Score
75%
Competition
50%
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
100% of tuition fees for 8 semesters
Living Stipend
350,000 KRW (approx. 260 USD) per month
Total Award
Full tuition waiver plus approximately 350,000 KRW per month
✈️ Travel: Not provided🏠 Accommodation: No (Students must pay dormitory fees from their stipend or personal funds)💊 Health Insurance: Full coverage of the Korean National Health Insurance premium🔄 Renewable: Yes💳 App Fee: 80,000 KRW or 80 USD
🎓 Tuition Coverage
100% of tuition fees for 8 semesters
🏠 Living Stipend
350,000 KRW (approx. 260 USD) per month
🏡 Accommodation
No (Students must pay dormitory fees from their stipend or personal funds)
✈️ Travel Allowance
Not provided
💊 Health Insurance
Full coverage of the Korean National Health Insurance premium
🎁 Other Benefits
Access to high-tech research facilities, Korean language support programs, and global networking opportunities
🔄 Renewable
Yes
📋 Renewal Conditions
Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher out of 4.3 at KAIST
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
International applicants who do not hold Korean citizenship and have graduated or will graduate from high school.
🎓 Academic Level
Undergraduate
📊 Minimum GPA
Check official website (Highly competitive, typically requires top 10% class rank)
🗣️ English Requirement
TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0, TOEIC 720, or TEPS 600 (Waiver available for native speakers or English-medium instruction)
🍢 Age Limit
No specific age limit, but must meet high school graduation requirements
💼 Work Experience
Not required
🏆 Leadership
Preferred (Demonstrated through extracurricular activities)
💰 Financial Need
Considered secondary to academic merit
🎯 Target Students
International undergraduate students
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes (Statement of Purpose and personal essays within the application)
Rec Letters
Yes (One recommendation letter from a teacher)
Interview
Case-by-case (Applicants may be contacted for an interview if deemed necessary)
Application Fee
80,000 KRW or 80 USD
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
Yes (One recommendation letter from a teacher) Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Personal Statement / Essays
TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0, TOEIC 720, or TEPS 600 (Waiver available for native speakers or English-medium instruction)
Interview: Case-by-case (Applicants may be contacted for an interview if deemed necessary)
Min GPA: Check official website (Highly competitive, typically requires top 10% class rank)
📋 Application Process
Focus on showcasing strong STEM skills, participate in Olympiads or science fairs, and write a compelling SOP that aligns with KAIST's innovative culture.
💡 Insider Tip: Submit standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, AP, IB) if available, even if not mandatory, to strengthen the application.
🗾️ Application Roadmap
1
Research eligibility and gather requirements
Start Early
2
Collect all required documents
Start Early
3
Request recommendation letters early
4
Write compelling essays and personal statement
⚠ High Risk Stage
5
Submit complete application before deadline
6
Await shortlisting and attend interview if required
⚠ High Risk Stage
📅 Key Dates & Timeline
📅 Opens
Early: September; Regular: November; Late: March
⏰ Deadline
Early: October; Regular: January; Late: May (Exact dates vary annually)
🎤 Interview
Case-by-case (Applicants may be contacted for an interview if deemed necessary)
🎓 Study Starts
Spring Semester (February) or Fall Semester (September)
Early: September; Regular: November; Late: March
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
Early: October; Regular: January; Late: May (Exact dates vary annually)
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
Case-by-case (Applicants may be contacted for an interview if deemed necessary)
Shortlisting and Interview
Selected candidates invited for interview
After results
Award Announced
Successful applicants notified
Spring Semester (February) or Fall Semester (September)
Studies Begin
Commence degree at host institution
⚖️ Selection Process
📋 Selection Criteria
Academic excellence, potential for research, extracurricular activities, English proficiency, and personal integrity.
Open to non-Korean citizens with high academic achievement in high school; must apply for admission to KAIST to be considered.
This scholarship covers: Provides a full tuition waiver for 8 semesters, a monthly living allowance of 350,000 KRW, and covers national health insurance premiums.. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The deadline is Early: October; Regular: January; Late: May (Exact dates vary annually). Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Estimated 10% to 15%. Acceptance rate: Varies by application cycle and pool quality. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
Yes
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0, TOEIC 720, or TEPS 600 (Waiver available for native speakers or English-medium instruction), Yes (One recommendation letter from a teacher) recommendation letters, CV, personal statement/motivation letter. Check official website for the complete list.