KOREA INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY (KOICA)
KOICA Scholarship Program (CIAT)
full · masters, phd
- 109scholarships planned in the most recent intake
- Master's & PhDdegree levels supported at Korean universities
- Fully fundedtuition, airfare, living costs and accommodation covered
- ~$1,000+/month (est.)monthly living allowance (confirm current rate)
- Government nominationofficial nomination by your government is required
- 2–3 yearsminimum work experience (master's vs PhD)
At a glance
full
Funding
€30k
Max amount
Jul 31, 2026
Deadline
KOICA partner / developing countries (list set per cycle)
Country
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)
Provider
The KOICA Scholarship Program, run through the Korea International Cooperation Agency's Capacity Improvement and Advancement for Tomorrow (CIAT) scheme, funds master's and PhD study at universities in South Korea for professionals from developing countries. In the most recent intake KOICA planned to award about 109 scholarships to candidates from eligible partner countries, concentrated in development-related fields such as public policy and governance, international development, environmental studies, ICT and engineering, public health, and agricultural and rural development. The award is comprehensive: it covers full tuition, return international airfare, a monthly living allowance, a settlement grant, free university accommodation, national and private medical insurance, and a completion grant after graduation. Applicants must be citizens of a KOICA partner country and be officially nominated by their government — direct applications without government nomination are not accepted. Master's applicants need a bachelor's degree plus at least 2 years of work experience, while PhD applicants need a master's degree plus at least 3 years. Candidates are preferably under 40, in good health and fluent in English. The award count, fields and deadline are set fresh each cycle, so confirm the current details on the official KOICA page before applying.
What's covered
- Tuition fees — Full tuition coverage at the host South Korean university for the duration of the degree.
- International airfare — Free round-trip economy airfare between the home country and South Korea.
- Monthly living allowance — A monthly living allowance to cover day-to-day expenses, commonly around ~$1,000 (est.) per month — confirm the current KOICA rate.
- Settlement and completion grants — A one-time settlement grant on arrival and a completion grant after graduation.
- Accommodation — Free university accommodation (dormitory) for the study period.
- Medical insurance — National and private medical insurance for the duration of the programme.
How to apply
Applications must be nominated by your national government and submitted through the official KOICA process before the deadline.
- Visit the official KOICA page — Go to the KOICA scholarship portal to read the current course list, eligibility rules and required documents.
- Download the application materials — Download the application form and all required documents for the programme you are interested in.
- Obtain government nomination — Secure an official nomination from your national government, which is a mandatory part of the process.
- Submit your complete application — Submit the full application package through the required channel before the deadline.
Eligibility
NationalityMust be a citizen of a KOICA partner (developing) country.
Government nominationMust be officially nominated by your government — this is mandatory.
Work experienceMaster's applicants need a bachelor's degree and at least 2 years of work experience; PhD applicants need a master's degree and at least 3 years.
Age, health and languagePreferably under 40, in good physical and mental health, with a strong command of written and spoken English.
Applicants with manageable disabilities are eligible. For PhD applicants, preference may be given to those who previously completed a KOICA master's programme.
Eligible countries
KOICA partner / developing countries (list set per cycle)
Deadlines
2026 KOICA Scholarship intake~31 July 2026 (est.)
Selection
Candidates are first nominated by their national government, then assessed by KOICA and the partner universities on academic background, work experience, the relevance of the proposed study to national development, English ability and health. Final selection results are communicated through the official KOICA channels.
Verified sources
- KOICA (official, English)koica.go.krofficial
About the provider
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), established in 1991, is South Korea's official development cooperation agency. Through its CIAT scholarship scheme it trains professionals from partner developing countries at Korean universities to support long-term development goals.
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.
Is the KOICA Scholarship fully funded?
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Yes. It covers tuition, return airfare, a monthly living allowance, settlement and completion grants, free accommodation and medical insurance.
How many scholarships are awarded?
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The most recent intake planned around 109 scholarships; the exact number is set each cycle.
Who can apply?
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Citizens of KOICA partner (developing) countries who are officially nominated by their government.
Can I apply without government nomination?
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No. Official nomination by your government is a mandatory part of the application process.
Do I need work experience?
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Yes. Master's applicants need at least 2 years and PhD applicants at least 3 years of relevant work experience.
What degree levels are offered?
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Master's and PhD degrees at top South Korean universities.
What level of English is required?
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A strong command of written and spoken English is expected for both study and communication.
Is there an age limit?
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Applicants are preferably under 40 years old at the time of application.
What fields can I study?
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Mainly development-related fields such as public policy, international development, environment, ICT and engineering, public health and agriculture.
Is accommodation provided?
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Yes. Free university accommodation is provided for the duration of the programme.
When is the deadline?
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The deadline for the upcoming intake is expected around ~31 July 2026 (est.). Always confirm on the official KOICA page.
Are applicants with disabilities eligible?
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Yes. Applicants must be in good health, but those with manageable disabilities are eligible.