International students pursuing graduate studies at the Master’s, PhD, or Integrated MS-PhD levels can apply for fully financed scholarships from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in South Korea. Since its founding by the Korean government in 1993, GIST has developed into one of the leading research-oriented universities in South Korea, known across the world for its superiority in science, engineering, and technology.
English is the main language of teaching at this very international academic institution, which is situated in the energetic city of Gwangju. By providing top-notch graduate programs in disciplines like engineering, biological sciences, natural sciences, and information and communication technology (ICT), GIST draws exceptional students and researchers from all over the world.
GIST’s strong dedication to innovation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and practical research is shown in its consistent ranking among the top universities in the world for research impact, especially in citations per faculty member. With its state-of-the-art research facilities, globally renowned staff, and innovative culture, the institute gives students the chance to work on cutting-edge projects that influence science and technology in the future.
Students can fully concentrate on their academic and professional growth thanks to the GIST International Scholarship 2026, which provides comprehensive financial support that includes tuition, living expenses, and research expenditures. Because of this, GIST is among the most alluring places for foreign students looking to pursue higher education in South Korea.
Host Country: South Korea
University: Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
Opportunity Type: Bachelor, Masters, PhD
Subjects: All Subjects
Eligibility Country: International Students
Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
Eligibility Criteria:
- Educational Requirements: Master’s (M.S.) applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree, and Ph.D. applicants must hold a Master’s degree.
- Academic Documents: Degree certificates and official transcripts that have been notarised, apostilled, or embassy-certified must be submitted by applicants.
- Recommendation Letters: Academic or professional supervisors must provide two letters of recommendation.
- English Proficiency: One of the following minimum scores must be included in a valid test score report:
- TOEFL iBT score: 80
- PBT on the TOEFL: 550
- IELTS score: 6.5
- TOEIC: 750
- NEW STEPS: 285
- Exemptions: Candidates who have studied at English-medium institutions or who are from English-speaking nations may not be required to submit their test results.
- Conditional Admission: Candidates may be given consideration for conditional admission if they are unable to submit their English test results when they apply.
- Identification: The application must be submitted with a copy of a current passport.
Benefits:
- Tuition Fees: The entire cost of tuition, which is 3,805,000 KRW every semester.
- The standard matriculation cost is 680,000 KRW, although it may be waived if a reference letter is submitted.
- Stipend per month and research assistantship
- Students pursuing master’s degrees: roughly 1,140,000 KRW per month, which covers research assistantship, international student allowance, lunch allowance, and student allowance.
- Students pursuing Ph.D.: around 1,812,000 KRW per month.
- Flight Support: Payment for a one-way ticket to Korea (only for first-time visitors).
- Health Insurance: 60% of the costs are covered by National Health Insurance.
Deadline: 10 April 2026
