GWANGJU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (GIST)
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) Scholarships
full · masters, phd
- 100% tuition (~3,805,000 KRW / semester)Tuition coverage
- ~1,140,000 KRW / month (M.S.)Master's stipend
- ~1,812,000 KRW / month (Ph.D.)Doctoral stipend
- One-way flight reimbursedTravel support
- 60% of National Health InsuranceHealth coverage
- M.S., Ph.D., Integrated MS-PhDLevels covered
At a glance
full
Funding
€1k
Max amount
Apr 10, 2027
Deadline
All countries (international students worldwide)
Country
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST)
Provider
The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) offers fully funded scholarships to international students for Master's, PhD, and Integrated MS-PhD programmes in South Korea. GIST, established by the Korean government in 1993 and based in Gwangju, teaches primarily in English and focuses on engineering, life sciences, natural sciences, information and communication technology (ICT), and environmental science. The scholarship covers 100% of tuition (3,805,000 KRW per semester), waives or covers the 680,000 KRW matriculation fee, and pays a monthly stipend of about 1,140,000 KRW for Master's students and about 1,812,000 KRW for PhD students, including research-assistant allowances. It also supports 60% of National Health Insurance and reimburses a one-way flight to Korea for first-time students. There are two intakes: Spring 2026, starting in March with applications around September to October 2025 and notification on December 4, 2025, and Fall 2026, starting in September with applications around March to April 2026 and notification on June 4, 2026. English requirements include TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 750, or NEW TEPS 285, with exemptions for English-medium education. Because allowances, fees, and the application windows are set each cycle, confirm the current 2026/2027 figures and deadlines on the official GIST admissions page before applying.
What's covered
- Tuition fee — 100% of tuition is covered, equal to about 3,805,000 KRW per semester (roughly ~€2,500 (est.) per semester).
- Matriculation fee — The 680,000 KRW matriculation fee is covered, with a waiver available on submission of a recommendation letter.
- Monthly stipend — A monthly stipend of about 1,140,000 KRW for Master's students (~€780 (est.)) and about 1,812,000 KRW for PhD students (~€1,240 (est.)), including student and research-assistant allowances.
- Flight reimbursement — Reimbursement of a one-way flight to Korea for first-time international students.
- Health insurance — 60% of the cost of National Health Insurance is supported for scholarship holders.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online through the GIST Admission Portal during the published window for each intake.
- Submit the online application — Apply via the GIST Admission Portal and upload all required documents in English or Korean (notarised if in another language).
- Document review — Applications are reviewed over about 30 days; shortlisted candidates may be contacted for an interview.
- Receive admission notification — Spring 2026 results are notified on December 4, 2025 and Fall 2026 results on June 4, 2026.
- Confirm enrolment and fees — Submit enrolment documents and pay the matriculation fee or apply for a waiver, then send verified certificates within 10 days.
- Apply for a student visa — Use the Certificate of Admission to apply for a Korean student visa before travelling.
Eligibility
Academic qualificationMaster's applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree; PhD applicants must hold a Master's degree.
Academic recordsOfficial transcripts and degree certificates, apostilled, notarised, or embassy-certified.
Recommendation lettersTwo letters from academic or professional supervisors.
English proficiencyTOEFL iBT 80, TOEFL PBT 550, IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 750, or NEW TEPS 285, with exemptions for English-speaking countries or English-medium institutions.
A valid passport copy is required. Conditional admission is possible if English scores are unavailable at the time of application. Documents in other languages must be notarised; verified original certificates must be sent within 10 days of enrolment.
Eligible countries
All countries (international students worldwide)
Deadlines
Spring 2026 (March start)~2 October 2025 (est.)
Fall 2026 (September start)~10 April 2026 (est.)
Selection
Applications are screened through a roughly 30-day document review of academic records, recommendation letters, and the research or study fit with GIST's programmes. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview, and final scholarship awards go to admitted international students who best match the institute's research priorities in science, engineering, ICT, and life sciences.
Verified sources
- GIST Admissions (International)admission.gist.ac.krofficial
About the provider
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is a public research university in Gwangju, South Korea, established by the Korean government in 1993. It teaches primarily in English, focuses on engineering, life sciences, natural sciences, ICT, and environmental science, and ranks highly for research output and citations per faculty.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who can apply for GIST scholarships?
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All international students worldwide holding a Bachelor's degree (for Master's) or a Master's degree (for PhD), depending on the programme, are eligible.
Are GIST scholarships fully funded?
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Yes. They cover 100% of tuition, a monthly stipend, 60% of National Health Insurance, and a one-way flight to Korea for first-time students.
What programmes are eligible for the scholarship?
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Master's, PhD, and Integrated MS-PhD programmes in Engineering, Life Sciences, Natural Sciences, ICT, and Environmental Science.
What is the monthly stipend?
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Master's students receive about 1,140,000 KRW per month and PhD students about 1,812,000 KRW per month, including research-assistant allowances.
What is the English language requirement?
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TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 750, or NEW TEPS 285, with exemptions for students from English-speaking countries or English-medium institutions.
Can I apply without an English test score?
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Yes. Conditional admission is possible if scores are not available at the time of application.
What documents are required?
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Official transcripts, degree certificates (apostilled or notarised), two recommendation letters, a passport copy, and English proficiency scores.
How do I submit my application?
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Applications are submitted online through the GIST Admission Portal.
When are the deadlines for Spring and Fall 2026 intakes?
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Spring 2026 applications close around October 2, 2025, and Fall 2026 applications close around April 10, 2026; confirm exact dates officially.
Are scholarships open to students from all countries?
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Yes. The scholarships are open to all international students worldwide.
How long does the review process take?
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Document review typically takes about 30 days, after which shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview.
Does the scholarship cover travel to Korea?
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Yes. A one-way flight to Korea is reimbursed for first-time international students; confirm current terms on the official GIST page.