The GKS Exchange Students Program is a Korean government scholarship for selected undergraduate and graduate exchange students. Current Study in Korea guidance lists a scholarship period of four months, a monthly allowance of KRW 630,000, and round-trip economy airfare based on actual cost. Applicants must meet specific conditions, including foreign nationality, enrollment at an overseas university with an eligible Korean partner, participation in a degree exchange program, and overall home-university academic performance of at least 80%. Students do not apply directly to NIIED; participating Korean universities recommend candidates for final selection.
The Global Korea Scholarship is not only for full degree students.
Korea also operates a separate GKS Exchange Students Program for selected students coming to Korea through university exchange agreements.
This scholarship can reduce the cost of one exchange semester by providing a monthly allowance and round-trip airfare support.
However, being accepted as an exchange student does not automatically mean you receive GKS funding.
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What Is the GKS Exchange Students Program?
The program is operated by Korea’s National Institute for International Education, or NIIED.
Its purpose is to support international student exchange and give selected exchange students an opportunity to experience Korean education and culture.
It is separate from the regular GKS degree programs for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study.
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Scholarship Period
Current Study in Korea guidance lists the GKS Exchange scholarship period as four months, or one semester.
This means it is designed for a single semester rather than a full academic year.
Students who complete the four-month scholarship period cannot extend the GKS Exchange scholarship for another semester under the current rules.
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Current Scholarship Benefits
Current official guidance lists two main forms of support:
Monthly allowance — KRW 630,000 per month
Round-trip airfare — economy-class airfare based on actual cost within the applicable payment rules
The monthly amount can vary depending on the actual stay and semester end date.
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The Scholarship Does Not Necessarily Cover Every Cost
KRW 630,000 per month can reduce your exchange expenses, but it may not cover your full monthly budget.
Housing, meals, insurance, transportation, phone service, travel, and personal spending can still exceed the scholarship amount.
Plan your semester so that you can complete it even if GKS covers only part of your total cost.
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Who Can Be Eligible?
Current Study in Korea guidance allows both undergraduate and graduate students to be considered.
Graduate students can include master’s and doctoral students.
The student must be a foreign national enrolled at an overseas university that has an exchange agreement with a Korean university participating in the GKS Exchange Students Program.
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You Need an Eligible University Relationship
Not every Korean university automatically participates in the GKS Exchange Students Program every year.
NIIED selects Korean universities to operate the program.
Your Korean host university must therefore be part of the relevant program and be able to recommend scholarship candidates.
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You Must Be in a Degree Exchange Program
The current eligibility rules require participation in a regular degree exchange program.
Students coming only for Korean-language training or another short non-degree language course are excluded from this GKS Exchange scholarship.
This is an important distinction between exchange study and language-study programs.
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The Academic Requirement Is 80% or Higher
Current official guidance requires overall academic performance at the home university of at least 80%.
This is a scholarship requirement, not a universal admission requirement for every Korean exchange program.
You can therefore be academically accepted for exchange but still fail to meet the GKS Exchange scholarship standard.
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How Is the 80% Requirement Checked?
Your home-university academic record is used to determine whether you satisfy the scholarship standard.
If your university does not use a percentage scale, the host university may provide instructions on how the academic record should be interpreted or converted for the scholarship process.
Do not invent your own percentage conversion unless the application instructions specifically tell you to do so.
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Previous Korean Government Scholarship Recipients Are Restricted
Current eligibility rules state that students who have previously received a scholarship from the Korean government are not eligible for this program.
If you have received a Korean government-funded scholarship before, tell the host university and ask whether it affects your eligibility.
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Dual Nationals with Korean Citizenship Are Not Eligible
Current official guidance excludes dual nationals who hold Korean citizenship.
The program is intended for foreign-national exchange students.
Nationality requirements should therefore be checked before the host university begins the nomination process.
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Students Already Studying in Korea Are Not Eligible
Current GKS Exchange rules state that students who are already studying in Korea are not eligible.
This scholarship is intended to support students coming from overseas universities into Korea through the exchange program.
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You Cannot Apply to Multiple Korean Universities at the Same Time
The current eligibility rules do not allow one student to apply simultaneously to more than one Korean host university for this scholarship.
If your home university has nominated you to several possible hosts, clarify the scholarship process before any GKS nomination is submitted.
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How the Selection Process Works
The selection process is institution-based rather than a normal direct public application.
Current Study in Korea guidance describes the process as:
NIIED selects Korean universities to operate the GKS Exchange Students Program / participating Korean universities recommend scholarship candidates / NIIED reviews the recommended candidates and makes the final selection
This means your Korean host university is the key scholarship contact.
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You Usually Do Not Apply Directly to NIIED
The GKS Exchange route is different from some full-degree scholarship application tracks.
Exchange students are generally considered through participating Korean universities.
Ask your host international office whether it participates and how it chooses students to recommend.
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Exchange Admission Comes First
Your exchange nomination and host-university admission are separate from GKS scholarship selection.
First secure the academic exchange route.
Then determine whether the Korean host university can consider you for the GKS Exchange Students Program.
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The Host University May Have Its Own Internal Selection
If a Korean university has more eligible exchange students than GKS places, it may need to rank or screen candidates before making recommendations to NIIED.
Internal criteria can include academic performance, exchange suitability, documents, or other university priorities.
Meeting the national minimum does not guarantee nomination.
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Ask About the Scholarship Early
Do not wait until you arrive in Korea to ask about GKS Exchange.
The scholarship nomination process is usually handled before the semester begins.
Once your Korean host university is confirmed, contact the international office and ask whether GKS Exchange support is available for your intake.
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Documents Can Vary by University
NIIED sets the scholarship framework, but participating universities manage candidate recommendation.
The documents requested from students can therefore differ by host university and semester.
Commonly useful documents can include academic transcripts, proof of enrollment, passport information, exchange nomination records, and scholarship forms required by the host.
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Do Not Confuse GKS Exchange with Regular GKS Degree Scholarships
The two programs serve different students.
GKS degree scholarships support students pursuing full Korean degrees.
GKS Exchange supports selected students who remain enrolled at an overseas university and come to Korea temporarily through an exchange agreement.
The eligibility, duration, benefits, and application routes are different.
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Do Not Confuse GKS Exchange with a Tuition Waiver
Many bilateral exchange students already receive host-university tuition waiver through the university agreement.
That tuition arrangement exists independently from the GKS Exchange scholarship.
GKS Exchange adds living allowance and airfare support for selected students rather than creating the exchange tuition waiver itself.
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Airfare Support Has Rules
Current official guidance describes round-trip economy-class airfare based on actual cost.
That does not mean any ticket at any price will automatically be reimbursed.
Follow the host university’s instructions on eligible routes, ticket class, receipts, purchase timing, reimbursement method, and payment limits.
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Do Not Buy an Expensive Flight Assuming GKS Will Cover It
Wait for the scholarship and airfare instructions before making assumptions about reimbursement.
If you must purchase a ticket earlier, ask the host university what documentation will be required.
Keep receipts, e-tickets, and payment evidence.
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When Is the Monthly Allowance Paid?
The exact payment schedule can depend on the host university and semester.
Do not assume the entire four-month allowance will be available on the day you arrive.
Bring enough money to cover your first weeks in Korea, including housing, transportation, food, SIM service, and other setup expenses.
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You Still Need an Emergency Budget
Even a funded exchange student should keep personal emergency funds.
Unexpected expenses can include:
Medical costs / flight changes / housing deposits / travel disruption / lost devices / additional academic expenses
A scholarship reduces financial pressure but does not remove financial risk.
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Can You Receive Other Scholarships at the Same Time?
Whether you can combine GKS Exchange with another mobility grant depends on the conditions of both funding sources.
Your home university, Korean host university, or another scholarship provider may have rules against duplicate funding for the same expense.
Disclose other scholarships when asked rather than assuming they can automatically be combined.
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GKS Exchange Is Competitive
Current Study in Korea guidance lists an approximate national selection quota of around 500 international students, subject to budget changes.
That means the scholarship is selective.
Even a strong exchange applicant with an academic record above 80% should plan financially for the possibility of not receiving it.
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A Strong Academic Record Helps
The formal threshold is 80%, but internal university competition can be stronger than the minimum.
If your host university has limited nominations, higher grades and a strong overall exchange profile can matter.
Prepare accurate academic documents and meet every deadline.
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A Practical GKS Exchange Timeline
Before home-university nomination — confirm Korean partner options
After exchange selection — ask whether the host participates in GKS Exchange
During host application — prepare any scholarship documents requested
Before semester — host university completes its candidate recommendation process
After final selection — follow host instructions for airfare and allowance administration
During exchange — maintain the academic and administrative conditions required by the program
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GKS Exchange Checklist
Foreign nationality confirmed / home university has eligible Korean partner / host university participates in GKS Exchange / regular degree exchange confirmed / overall academic performance at least 80% / no disqualifying previous Korean government scholarship / no Korean citizenship / not currently studying in Korea / only one Korean host scholarship application / host nomination procedure checked
If these points are clear, ask your host international office about the current nomination schedule.
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FAQ
What is the GKS Exchange Students Program?
It is a Korean government scholarship for selected undergraduate and graduate students coming to Korea through qualifying university exchange programs.
How long does the scholarship last?
Current Study in Korea guidance lists four months, or one semester.
How much is the monthly allowance?
The current published amount is KRW 630,000 per month, subject to the actual stay and semester schedule.
Does GKS Exchange pay for flights?
Current guidance includes round-trip economy airfare based on actual cost under the applicable payment rules.
What GPA do I need?
The current national eligibility requirement is overall academic performance of at least 80% at your home university.
Can undergraduate students apply?
Yes. Eligible undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral exchange students can be considered.
Can Korean-language-only students apply?
No. Current rules require participation in a regular degree exchange program and exclude students coming solely for Korean-language courses.
Do I apply directly to NIIED?
Generally no. Participating Korean universities recommend candidates, and NIIED makes the final selection.
Can I receive the scholarship for two semesters?
Current guidance says the four-month scholarship cannot be extended after completion of the semester.
Does meeting the 80% rule guarantee the scholarship?
No. It is an eligibility requirement, not a guarantee of nomination or final selection.
