Need-Based Scholarships in Korea for International Students
These university and external awards explicitly use financial need, low-income status or household-income evidence in selection. Need does not replace academic, enrollment, nationality, nomination or document requirements. University mirror records of the same external programme are deduplicated so one programme is not counted twice.
6 programmes from the published database. Application status as of 2026-10-14 (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.
For students admitted from Spring 2021 through Fall 2024 (and eligible consenting 2018–2020 cohorts). At least 15 credits in the prior semester. Household income at most USD 10,000: applicant and parents if unmarried, applicant and spouse if married. Income evidence must have a Korean translation notarized in Korea. Cannot combine with merit-based tuition waiver. New selection each semester.
For students admitted from Spring 2021 through Fall 2024 (and eligible consenting 2018–2020 cohorts). At least 15 credits in the prior semester. Household income at most USD 10,000: applicant and parents if unmarried, applicant and spouse if married. Income evidence must have a Korean translation notarized in Korea. Cannot combine with merit-based tuition waiver. New selection each semester.
For students admitted from Spring 2021 through Fall 2024 (and eligible consenting 2018–2020 cohorts). At least 15 credits in the prior semester. Household income at most USD 10,000: applicant and parents if unmarried, applicant and spouse if married. Income evidence must have a Korean translation notarized in Korea. Cannot combine with merit-based tuition waiver. New selection each semester.
For students admitted from Spring 2021 through Fall 2024 (and eligible consenting 2018–2020 cohorts). At least 15 credits in the prior semester. Household income at most USD 10,000: applicant and parents if unmarried, applicant and spouse if married. Income evidence must have a Korean translation notarized in Korea. Cannot combine with merit-based tuition waiver. New selection each semester.
Reapply each semester with income evidence. Earn at least 15 credits in the previous semester; GPA 3.2 gives 40%, 3.4 gives 50%, 3.6 gives 60%, and 3.8 gives 70% tuition support. Selection and income rules apply each time; this is not automatic continuation. The cohort restriction remains in force.
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.
KRW 5,000,000 twice a year: KRW 10,000,000 annual living allowance. This is not a tuition waiver.
Enrolled graduate students nominated by a participating university. Foreign students are explicitly included among priority groups; financial need and university selection apply.
Apply to your university or graduate school when its nomination call opens. The foundation does not accept individual applications.
Dates not listed · Scholarship application
Award duration and continued support
One annual award paid over 2 semesters. Continued payment requires enrollment and the university’s recipient conditions. No automatic multi-year renewal.
Korean or international students studying at schools in Korea. Strong academic achievement or low-income household. Master’s students eligible; integrated Master–PhD support limited to Master’s curriculum semesters. Students on leave or preparing for re-entry exams excluded. Proof of acceptance required when moving to a new education level. Recommendation, transcript and other application documents required. Scholarship ceremony attendance required.
Download the foundation forms from https://www.ikdream.kr, combine required documents as a PDF and email to dream@insulationkorea.co.kr.
One award per person. The 2026 notice explicitly prohibits multiple payments to the same individual.
University application routes (1)
Incheon National University
Closed All 2026 · University route deadline: 2026-01-05 KST · 15:00 KST
Download the foundation forms from https://www.ikdream.kr, combine required documents as a PDF and email to dream@insulationkorea.co.kr.
Korean or international students studying at schools in Korea. Strong academic achievement or low-income household. Master’s students eligible; integrated Master–PhD support limited to Master’s curriculum semesters. Students on leave or preparing for re-entry exams excluded. Proof of acceptance required when moving to a new education level. Recommendation, transcript and other application documents required. Scholarship ceremony attendance required.
KRW 5,000,000 · 2026 annual award, two installments
Japanese Korean diaspora students (or their children) studying or planning to study in Korea, with financial need, strong academic achievement and character. At least two semesters remaining as of March 2026. Documents, interview and attendance at award ceremonies are required.
Submit all required documents by registered post to the Korean-Japanese Entrepreneurs Association scholarship office. Documents must arrive by February 4, 2026. Address: 19F Shinhan Bank Head Office, 20 Sejong-daero 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 04513.
The planned 2026 annual support is KRW 5,000,000, paid in two installments. Two payments are part of the same annual award; they do not establish automatic support in later years.
University application routes (1)
Incheon National University
Closed All 2026 · University route deadline: 2026-02-04 KST
Submit all required documents by registered post to the Korean-Japanese Entrepreneurs Association scholarship office. Documents must arrive by February 4, 2026. Address: 19F Shinhan Bank Head Office, 20 Sejong-daero 9-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 04513.
Japanese Korean diaspora students (or their children) studying or planning to study in Korea, with financial need, strong academic achievement and character. At least two semesters remaining as of March 2026. Documents, interview and attendance at award ceremonies are required.
New students admitted to Mason Korea who demonstrate financial need. Documentary evidence, an essay and an interview may be required.
Submit a separate need-based scholarship application and financial documents during the announced application period.
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
Full-time enrollment and cumulative GPA at least 2.0. Renewed annually after assessment of academic results and family finances. Mason Korea semesters only.