Admissions for Spring 2026 at KAIST University are now open!
KAIST, one of the world’s leading universities, invites international students to begin their academic journey in South Korea. If you’re inspired by the vibrant Korean culture and university life, this is your chance. The KAIST Graduate Scholarship (Spring 2026 Track) is available for students worldwide who wish to pursue Master’s, Master’s leading to PhD, or PhD programs. Final-year undergraduate students are also eligible to apply. Below, you’ll find detailed information about the application process, scholarship benefits, and eligibility criteria.

Details About KAIST University Graduate Scholarship 2026 (Spring 2026 Early Track)

• Host Country: South Korea
• University Name: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
• Who can Apply: Master’s, Ph.D.
• Study Begins: March 2nd, 2026
• Financial Benefits: Fully Funded
• Application Deadline: 2nd September 2025

Scholarship Benefits

KAIST University offers various types of scholarship programs. Selected students will automatically be considered for the KGPS, KPS, or KAIST CoE PhD Fellowship.

1. KAIST University Scholarship
2. KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS)
3. KAIST Prestige Scholarship for International Ph.D. Students (KPS)
4. KAIST CoE PhD Fellowship
5. GKS Scholarship (From the Korean Government) Application timeline varies.

Benefits of the KAIST University Scholarship

• Total Tuition Fee Exemption for 4 semesters for Master’s degree candidates, 10 for Master’s-Ph.D. integrated degree candidates, and 8 for Ph.D. degree candidates.
• Monthly Stipend: Students will cover the cost of Accommodation and other Expenses from the Stipend.
• National Health Insurance Premium

Benefits of KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS)

• Full Tuition Grant: 4 semesters (Masters, PhD)
• Monthly Stipend Guarantee: KRW 1,000,000 for 4 semesters

Benefits of KAIST Prestige Scholarship for International Ph.D. Students (KPS)

• Full Tuition Grant: 8 semesters (Masters, PhD)
• Monthly Stipend Guarantee: KRW 300,000

Benefits of KAIST CoE PhD Fellowship

• Full Tuition Grant: 4 Academic Years
• Monthly Stipend Guarantee: 2,500,000 KRW

Benefits of the GKS Scholarship at KAIST (Global Korea Scholarship)

• Full Tuition Fee
• Monthly Stipend
• Accommodation
• Airfare Tickets
• Insurance
• Books

Degrees and Programs Offered at KAIST

• College of Natural Sciences
• Life Science and Bioengineering
• College of Engineering
• College of Liberal Arts and Convergence Science
• College of Business

Eligibility Criteria

• The scholarship is open to only international students who do not hold Korean citizenship.
• You need to show a bachelor’s degree if applying for the Master’s program.
• You need to show a Master’s degree proof if you are applying for the Ph.D. degree program.
• Final-year students can also apply.
• Over 80 to 90% of lectures are offered in English.
• English Language Proficiency Required Grades:
  • TOEFL iBT: 83
  • IELTS: 6.5
  • TOEIC: 720
  • TEPS: 326

Request for English Proficiency Waiver

You can submit a request for an English Test proof waiver if you meet one of the following conditions:

If you are from one of these countries listed below OR have completed your previous education from the countries mentioned below, then you do not need to provide an EPT score.

• Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, U.K., U.S.A.

You do not need to provide an EPT score if you hold citizenship of the following countries AND have completed an academic qualification from these countries.

• Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Republic of South Africa, Sudan, Republic of South Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
• Read the Eligibility

Required Documents

All documents must be submitted in either Korean or English:

• Secondary copy of your national identity card.
• Scanned copies of your parents’ national identity cards.
• Certificate of family registration demonstrating your relationship with your parents.
• Certificates of all completed degrees.
• If a degree is incomplete, provide a certificate or official letter stating your expected graduation date.
• English proficiency report (taken within two years of September 2024).
• Two recommendation letters from your academic advisors.
• If recommendation letters are from your employer, provide a CV.
• Honors, awards, and employment proofs.

How to Apply for the KAIST University Graduate Scholarship 2026?

• Complete the Online Application Form. The online application system is available at this link: https://gradapply.kaist.ac.kr/intergradapply/
• Pay the $80 application fee, which is non-refundable.
• Read FAQs
• Read Eligibility Criteria
• The Link to the Official Scholarship announcement is given below.