One of the most prominent universities in South Korea, Seoul National University (SNU), has declared that the Global EDGE Fellowship Program will begin in the autumn of 2025. This fellowship, which is offered under the Brain Korea 21 Four (BK21 FOUR) Project, aims to draw outstanding PhD candidates from all over the world and give them complete financial assistance so they can pursue academic excellence and cutting-edge research.
Both new PhD students and integrated master’s-PhD students who have progressed to the doctorate stage in the first or second semester of 2025 are eligible for the SNU Global EDGE Fellowship, a fully supported PhD award.In particular, it helps students whose departments and research projects receive funding from the BK21 FOUR Project, a nationwide program designed to improve South Korea’s graduate education and research capabilities.
In addition to covering all tuition costs, this fellowship offers a sizeable monthly stipend, allowing scholars to completely commit to their studies and academic development. Fellows also join an international academic community dedicated to innovation and international cooperation, as well as having access to SNU’s top-notch research facilities.
One of the most competitive PhD programs in Asia is the Seoul National University Global EDGE Fellowship 2025, which provides international researchers with an unmatched chance to pursue research excellence with full academic and financial support.
Host Country: South Korea
University: Seoul National University
Opportunity Type: PhD
Subjects: All Subjects
Eligibility Country: International Students
Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
Eligibility Criteria:
- Admission Requirement: Candidates must be either integrated master’s-PhD students who progressed to the doctoral level during the same time period, or newly accepted doctoral students in the first or second semester of 2025.
- Affiliation: Applicants must be enrolled in a BK21 Four Project-supported department.
- Research Participation: It is required that participants actively engage in research projects supported by the BK21 Four Project.
- Funding Restrictions: Candidates who are already receiving financial assistance from another BK21 Four Research Project or other scholarships that cover tuition are ineligible.
Benefits:
Monthly Stipend: Recipients receive a living allowance of KRW 1,800,000 per month.
Duration of Support: Funding is provided for a maximum of 4 semesters (2 academic years), within the standard study period.
Academic Requirement: Scholars must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.3 throughout the fellowship.
Research Engagement: Continued and active participation in BK21 Four Project activities is required to remain eligible.
Performance-Based Renewal: Ongoing funding is strictly tied to academic performance and research involvement under the BK21 Four initiative.
Deadline: 14 October 2025
