KAIST Graduate Scholarship 2027 in South Korea: Fully Funded Scholarship, Eligibility, Benefits and Deadline

International students aspiring to pursue higher education in South Korea can apply for the KAIST Graduate Scholarship 2027, a fully funded opportunity offered by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The scholarship is open to talented students from all countries seeking admission to Master’s, Master’s leading to PhD, or PhD programmes.

The programme is scheduled to begin on March 1, 2027, while the application deadline is September 1, 2026. Final-year undergraduate students who are expected to complete their degrees before enrolment may also apply.

KAIST Graduate Scholarship 2027: Key Details

• Host country: South Korea
• University: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
• Study level: Master’s, Master’s-PhD and PhD
• Study start date: March 1, 2027
• Application deadline: September 1, 2026
• Funding: Fully funded/tuition support with stipends depending on the scholarship

KAIST Scholarship Benefits

Selected international students may be considered for several scholarship schemes, including the KAIST University Scholarship, KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS), KAIST Prestige Scholarship (KPS), KAIST CoE PhD Fellowship and Global Korea Scholarship (GKS).

Under the KAIST University Scholarship, eligible students receive a full tuition fee exemption for four semesters for Master’s programmes, 10 semesters for integrated Master’s-PhD programmes and eight semesters for PhD programmes. Students may also receive a monthly stipend and national health insurance support.

The KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS) provides a full tuition grant and a monthly stipend of KRW 1,000,000 for four semesters.

The KAIST Prestige Scholarship (KPS) provides a full tuition grant and a monthly stipend of KRW 300,000, while the KAIST CoE PhD Fellowship offers a full tuition grant for four academic years and a monthly stipend of KRW 2.5 million.

Students selected through the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) may receive tuition support, a monthly allowance, accommodation, airfare, insurance and book assistance, subject to the applicable GKS scheme and selection process.

Programmes and Eligibility

KAIST offers graduate programmes across areas including natural sciences, life science and bioengineering, engineering, liberal arts and convergence science, and business. More than 80–90% of lectures are offered in English.

Applicants must be international students without Korean citizenship. Master’s applicants generally need a bachelor’s degree, while PhD applicants need a relevant master’s degree. Final-year students may apply if they will graduate before enrolment.

For applicants required to submit English proficiency scores, the minimum scores include TOEFL iBT 83, IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 720 or TEPS 326. Certain applicants may request an English proficiency test waiver if they meet KAIST’s specified conditions, including completing previous education in eligible countries.

Prospective applicants should check the official KAIST admission guidelines for the latest programme-specific requirements, scholarship conditions and application procedures before submitting their applications.