Korean Government Scholarship Program

South Korean scholarship

The Korean Government Scholarship Program, or KGSP, is an academic scholarship funded and managed by the National Institute for International Education [ko] (NIIED), a branch of the Ministry of Education in South Korea.[1] This scholarship provides non-Korean scholars (or overseas Koreans who fulfil certain criteria) with the funding and opportunity to conduct undergraduate or postgraduate level studies in South Korea after completing one year of intensive Korean language studies.[2] Since its conception in 1967, over 3,000 students from 148 countries have successfully completed the scholarship program.[3]

And another Korean Government Scholarship Program, Korea Student Aid Foundation or KOSAF[4] is an executive quasi-governmental institution under the Ministry of Education that provides student funds to university students. It is a foundation created by the government to reduce the burden on university students even a little during the Lee Myung Bak administration, where half-price tuition demonstrations continued.

## Overview

[edit]

The Korean Government Scholarship Program is designed to bring overseas talent to South Korea, and to integrate the scholars into Korean culture and society. If accepted, each scholar typically spends one year in South Korea learning the Korean language, followed by a 2 - 4 year university program, depending on their level of studies. In 2015, 820 students from 162 countries were accepted into the scholarship program.[3] However, 270 scholars failed to obtain their degree in the years 2011 - 2015, citing language and cultural barriers.[5]

Each scholar is provided financial support by the Korean government in the form of a monthly allowance. Undergraduate students receive 800,000 KRW a month whereas graduate students receive 1 000,000 KRW a month.[citation needed] In addition, NIIED provides airfare to student to and from their home country at the beginning and end of the program. Stipends and other allowances are also given to each scholar.[2]

### Language Program

[edit]

Prior to starting their degree studies, KGSP scholars are required to take one year of intensive language studies at a designated language institute. All scholars are required to obtain at least level 3 (intermediate) in the Test of Proficiency in Korean[6] (TOPIK) before they can continue to their degree studies.[7] According to NIIED, TOPIK level 3 allows the individual to "perform basic linguistic functions necessary to use various public facilities and maintain social relationships."[8]

The normal duration for the language program is one year, but it can be waived, shortened or extended depending on the scholar's TOPIK results. Scholars who have previously obtained a TOPIK level of 5 or 6 (advanced) are exempted from the language program, and are required to start their studies immediately. If a scholar obtains TOPIK 5 or 6 within the first six months of the language program, then they are required to start their studies at the beginning of the next semester, reducing their time at the language institute by six months. Additionally, scholars who fail to achieve TOPIK 3 after one year of language studies cannot proceed to their degree studies, and must do another six months of language study at their language institute.[9] Students may not leave South Korea during the language program so that they may concentrate on their studies. However, exceptions are made in case of emergencies and family matters .

The language institute is designated by NIIED and cannot be changed.[7] The language institutes include schools like Keimyung University and Dongseo University, and are typically in a different city than the school chosen for the degree program. This gives each scholar the opportunity to explore multiple cities within South Korea.

Those without a resident visa are required to have a D-4 visa to undergo language studies.[10]

### University Studies

[edit]

During the application process, scholars choose a program and university for their degree program which cannot be changed, barring extreme circumstances. The scholarship program allocates four years for scholars pursuing their bachelor's degree, two years for a master's degree and three years for a PhD. The graduation requirements for each scholar is dependent on their program and university.

Scholars who have TOPIK level 5 or greater are granted an additional 100,000 KRW a month for their monthly allowance during their degree studies. Additional money is given to scholars in postgraduate research based fields.[2]

Those without a resident visa are required to have a D-2 visa to undergo their studies.[10]

## Participating Countries

[edit]

As of 2014, citizens from 157 countries are able to apply for KGSP.[11]

List of Countries with KGSP Quotas

Afghanistan | Albania | Algeria | Angola | Argentina | Armenia
Australia | Austria | Azerbaijan | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Barbados
Belarus | Belgium | Benin | Bhutan | Bolivia | Botswana
Brazil | Brunei | Bulgaria | Burkina Faso | Burundi | Cambodia
Cameroon | Canada | Central African Republic | Chile | China | Colombia
Costa Rica | Côte d'Ivoire | Croatia | Czech Republic | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Denmark
Djibouti | Dominica | Ecuador | Egypt | El Salvador | Equatorial Guinea
Estonia | Ethiopia | Fiji | Finland | France | Gabon
Gambia | Georgia | Germany | Ghana | Greece | Greenland
Guatemala | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Guyana | Haiti | Honduras
Hungary | India | Indonesia | Iran | Iraq | Ireland
Israel | Italy | Japan | Jordan | Kazakhstan | Kenya
Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Latvia | Lebanon | Lesotho
Liberia | Libya | Madagascar | Malawi | Malaysia | Mali
Mauritania | Mauritius | Mexico | Mongolia | Montenegro | Morocco
Mozambique | Myanmar | Namibia | Nepal | Netherlands | New Zealand
Nicaragua | Niger | Nigeria | Norway | Oman | Pakistan
Palestine | Panama | Papua New Guinea | Paraguay | Peru | Philippines
Poland | Portugal | Qatar | Republic of Seychelles | Republic of South Africa | Republic of the Congo
Romania | Russia | Rwanda | Sao Tome Principe | Saudi Arabia | Senegal
Serbia | Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia | Solomon Islands | Somalia
Spain | Sri Lanka | Sudan | Suriname | Swaziland | Sweden
Switzerland | Syria | Taiwan | Tajikistan | Tanzania | Thailand
The Bahamas | The United Arab Emirates | The United Kingdom | The United States | Timor-Leste | Togo
Trinidad and Tobago | Tunisia | Turkey | Turkmenistan | Uganda | Ukraine
Uruguay | Uzbekistan | Venezuela | Vietnam | Yemen | Zambia
Zimbabwe

## Eligible Universities

[edit]

As of 2014, 60 universities are designated by NIIED as eligible institutions for postgraduate degree studies.[11]

List of KGSP Affiliated Universities in South Korea

Ajou University | Chonbuk National University | Chonnam National University
Chung-Ang University | Chungbuk National University | Chungnam National University
Daegu University | Daejeon University | Dong-a University
Dongguk University | Dongseo University | Ewha Womans University
Gangneung-Wonju National University | Gyeongsang National University | Hallym University
Handong Global University | Hankuk University of Foreign Studies | Hannam University
Hanyang University | Hongik University | Inha University
Inje University | Jeju National University | Jeonju University
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | Kangwon National University | KDI School of Public Policy and Management
Keimyung University | Kongju National University | Konkuk University
Kookmin University | Korea University | Korea University of Technology and Education
Kumoh National Institute of Technology | Kyonggi University | Kyunghee University
Kyungpook National University | Kyungsung University | Myongji University
Pai Chai University | Pohang University of Science and Technology | Pukyong National University
Pusan National University | Seoul National University of Science and Technology | Seoul National University
Sogang University | Sookmyung Women's University | Soonchunhyang University
Soongsil University | Sunchon National University | Sungkyunkwan University
Sunmoon University | The Graduate School of Korean Studies in the Academy of Korean Studies | Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
University of Science & Technology | University of Seoul | University of Ulsan
Woosong University | Yeungnam University | Yonsei University

## See also

[edit]

* Scholarships in Korea
* Education in South Korea

## External links

[edit]

* National Institute for International Education
* Study in Korea

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About NIIED". Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
2. ^ a b c "KGSP (Korean Government Scholarship Program)". Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
3. ^ a b "NIIED News". June 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
4. ^ "Intro | 한국장학재단". www.kosaf.go.kr. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
5. ^ "Foreign students quitting studies in Korea on rise". September 8, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
6. ^ "TOPIK 한국어능력시험". cdn.topik.go.kr. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
7. ^ a b "NIIED Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) 2015". February 12, 2015. Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
8. ^ "About the Examination (TOPIK)". Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
9. ^ "Foreign Government Awards Program - Korea". March 23, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
10. ^ a b "Issuing Visa and Immigration". Retrieved November 2, 2015.
11. ^ a b "2014 Korean Government Scholarship Program Guideline for International Students in Graduate Programs" (PDF).