Scholarships in Korea for Students from Developing Countries
These programmes explicitly refer to developing countries or an OECD DAC ODA-recipient list in their reviewed eligibility. The term is not inferred from nationality, income or a general partner-country description. Country lists can change by programme and call; some awards also require a government or university recommendation, a specific field, financial need or female leadership.
9 programmes from the published database. Application status as of 2026-10-12 (KST); source review dates are recorded individually. Past calls remain labeled by their year and deadline. A policy without dates is not treated as an open call.
University scholarshipAdditional eligibility conditions
Ewha Womans University · Seoul
Ewha Global Partnership Program (EGPP)
Women applicants · Developing countries
Undergraduate
Full tuition including admission fee; dormitory fees for dormitory residents; stipend.
Women from developing countries on the OECD DAC ODA-recipient list, applying through Ewha international special admission. Selection considers potential for female leadership. Applicant and both parents must be non-Korean; admission qualifications apply.
Both parents must have non-Korean nationality
Closed Spring 2027 · Admission application · International Undergraduate Admission deadline: 2026-10-08 KST · 17:00 KST
Full tuition including admission fee; dormitory fees for dormitory residents; stipend.
Women from developing countries on the OECD DAC ODA-recipient list, applying through Ewha international special admission. Selection considers potential for female leadership. Applicant and both parents must be non-Korean; admission qualifications apply.
Both parents must have non-Korean nationality
Closed Spring 2027 · Admission application · International Graduate Admission deadline: 2026-10-08 KST · 17:00 KST
Full tuition including admission fee; dormitory fees for dormitory residents; stipend.
Women from developing countries on the OECD DAC ODA-recipient list, applying through Ewha international special admission. Selection considers potential for female leadership. Applicant and both parents must be non-Korean; admission qualifications apply.
Both parents must have non-Korean nationality
Closed Spring 2027 · Admission application · International Graduate Admission deadline: 2026-10-08 KST · 17:00 KST
Full tuition including admission fee; dormitory fees for dormitory residents; stipend.
Women from developing countries on the OECD DAC ODA-recipient list, applying through Ewha international special admission. Selection considers potential for female leadership. Applicant and both parents must be non-Korean; admission qualifications apply.
Both parents must have non-Korean nationality
Closed Spring 2027 · Admission application · International Graduate Admission deadline: 2026-10-08 KST · 17:00 KST
Maximum support: freshman undergraduate 8 semesters; transfer 4; master’s 4; doctoral or combined 6. Undergraduate recipients must meet GPA and credit requirements; graduate recipients must meet GPA requirements. The reviewed guide does not give numerical EGPP renewal thresholds; confirm your award terms.
Africa, South America, or other developing countries; excellent admission results.
Developing-country international freshman
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Official source ↗· Printed17 (PDF18): scholarship benefit and renewal; printed5–6: nationality; printed1: deadline
Source checked:
Later semesters and re-application
Full tuition for up to 4 semesters if awarded. Renewal requires At least 12 credits and GPA 3.0 every semester. This is the same entrance scholarship, with no separate merit application. Outstanding admitted student from Africa, South America, or another developing country; Seoul Campus.
Criteria A: university nomination; nationality must be an OECD DAC ODA recipient country with at most 3 students enrolled at SKKU and visa-free entry eligibility. The university publishes the eligible country list.
Eligible nationalities
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Maintain 12 credits (9 in the semester before the final semester), GPA 3.5+ and no F grades. One failure suspends the next semester award; two failures end remaining eligibility. An eligible 100% language award can cover the first term; this scholarship then covers 50%.
Foundation scholarshipUndergraduate;Master;PhD;Integrated
Samsung Global Hope Scholarship
Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation
KRW 4,800,000 per semester from the foundation. University arrangements may supplement this amount.
Students from DAC ODA-recipient countries at partner universities, with financial need, strong academic performance and TOPIK level 2 or higher. University recommendation, a commitment to community service and participation in foundation education are required. Excludes students who completed one or more semesters of primary or secondary education in Korea, and current GKS recipients.
Apply through the partner university’s recommendation call. New recipients are selected only where graduating recipients create places. Each university limits recipients of each nationality to two. Student deadlines and nomination places vary by university; the general January/July schedule is not a current application call.
Dates not listed · Scholarship application
Award duration and continued support
Maximum: undergraduate 8 semesters, master’s 4, PhD 6, integrated 8. Continued support is decided through semester academic review; remaining regular semesters and university nomination terms apply.
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism / Korea National University of Arts
Full regular-semester tuition; KRW 800,000/month living support (may increase under admission rules); airfare, language training and health insurance. Settlement: KRW 200,000; graduation support: up to KRW 1,000,000.
Applicant and both parents must hold eligible DAC-recipient citizenship, including all dual nationalities. Arts portfolio and Korean proficiency requirements vary by department. Previous Korean government scholarship recipients face reapplication restrictions; consult the guide.
2027 intake closed May 15, 2026. Apply online through K-Arts; selected candidates submit authenticated originals by July 31. Next-intake information is expected in February 2027; this is not an application opening date.
Regular semesters only. Required language training needs 85% attendance; withdrawal after arrival can require repayment. TOPIK 5–6 generally exempts pre-entry training; department exceptions apply.
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism / Korea Sports Promotion Foundation / Seoul National University
ODA-recipient-country students: full scholarship covering tuition, airfare, dormitory, living expenses and insurance. Other-country sports administrators or athletes may receive partial scholarships; no fixed percentage is promised.
Former/current sport administrators or athletes with a bachelor's degree in any field; applicant and both parents must be non-Korean. English: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80 or TEPS 269; a fully English-taught prior degree may provide alternative proof. English-medium classes.
Fall 2026: email scanned documents by March 29, then submit originals after confirmation; originals must arrive by April 10. Both deadlines are 18:00 KST. The next intake has no verified application schedule here.
Support belongs to the selected Global Sport Management master's programme. The reviewed financial-aid page does not specify a universal renewal GPA or payment duration; the recipient's award terms apply.
KRW 20,000,000 per year, paid as KRW 10,000,000 per semester.
Foreign SNU engineering graduate students from developing countries, including eligible new entrants. GPA at least 3.1; at least 2 semesters remaining; department recommendation. GKS/university scholarships allowed; other company/foundation awards excluded.
Apply through the engineering department. The verified ECE student deadline was March 4, 2026, 17:00 KST; other departments may set different submission dates.
Master’s: up to 2 years; PhD: 3; integrated: 5, while eligibility is maintained. Master’s support ends after coursework completion.
University application routes (1)
Seoul National University
Closed All 2026 · University route deadline: 2026-03-04 KST · 17:00 KST
Apply through the engineering department. The verified ECE student deadline was March 4, 2026, 17:00 KST; other departments may set different submission dates.
Foreign SNU engineering graduate students from developing countries, including eligible new entrants. GPA at least 3.1; at least 2 semesters remaining; department recommendation. GKS/university scholarships allowed; other company/foundation awards excluded.
KRW 20,000,000 per year, paid as KRW 10,000,000 per semester.
SUNY Korea · Stony Brook Shared Prosperity Scholarship
SUNY Korea · Stony Brook University
Full tuition, room and board for eligible semesters. During the required SBU visit, tuition and fees are covered at the SBU rate, excluding miscellaneous costs.
Outstanding students from developing countries; individual interview required. Recipients share a room with a Korean student. Stony Brook students complete a required one-year New York residency. Confirm the coverage for that year in your award letter.
Submit the scholarship form and essay with the online admission application. Requests after submission are not accepted. Selection is competitive. Interview and programme requirements apply.
Dates not listed · Scholarship application
Apply in the university’s announced application period. Selection and the award letter determine your award.
Award duration and continued support
1–8 eligible semesters. Full-time enrollment of at least 12 credits; term and cumulative GPA at least 3.2/4.0; at least 12 GPA credits completed; no academic dishonesty or misconduct. Award length follows the award letter.
Full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend for most recipients; applicants from other countries may receive partial scholarships.
Foreign nationals meeting KDI School academic qualifications. Full benefits are mainly intended for OECD DAC ODA-recipient-country nationals. Other nationalities may qualify for partial awards.
Submit the online admission application by its deadline. No separate scholarship application is required. Awards are selected by the school.
Dates not listed · Scholarship application
Apply in the university’s announced application period. Selection and the award letter determine your award.
Award duration and continued support
Master’s programme: about 1.5 years / 4 semesters; PhD: at least 3–4 years. The award letter determines scholarship duration and continuing obligations.