Scholarships and Fellowships Requiring Recommendation Letters
These records explicitly require a recommendation letter, a signed recommendation form or a referee submission. That document is different from a university nominating a student to a provider. Recommender identity, submission channel and deadline can differ from the applicant deadline, and historic instructions do not establish a new call.
10 programmes from the published database. Application status as of 2026-10-16 (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.
Designated AI/IT or Semiconductor master’s programmes
Master
Tuition: KRW 7,392,000 per semester for 4 semesters; entrance fee: KRW 1,142,000. Living allowance: KRW 1,500,000/month for 2 years. Airfare: actual expenses up to KRW 3,000,000 total, with KRW 1,500,000 limits for initial entry and final departure. Private medical insurance is provided at the amount set by Korea University.
The university programme page lists these benefits. The latest linked application guide is for Fall 2026; a 2027 intake and application schedule are not announced in the sources reviewed.
Language requirement: TOPIK level 3+ or Academic IELTS 5.5+ or TOEFL iBT (0–120) 71+ or CEFR B2+ or New TEPS 326+. The Fall 2026 guide waives language proof for an English- or Korean-taught bachelor’s degree. Test reports must be valid; IELTS Home Test is not accepted.
Master’s applicants with a completed or expected bachelor’s degree at Korea University Graduate School in Seoul. Only designated AI/IT majors and Semiconductor laboratories are eligible. Up to 20 scholars per cohort: 10 per track. Eligible regions: Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine; Timor-Leste, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines; India and Pakistan. Japan and Taiwan are eligible for the Semiconductor track only. Both parents must hold non-Korean citizenship. AI/IT track: Computer Science and Engineering majors in Artificial Intelligence Applications, Software, Computer Security, Radio Communications Engineering and Computer Education; or Artificial Intelligence. Optional Korean-language training support is described by the university as covering the amount above KRW 1,000,000, at the amount set by Korea University. Ask the programme office how this applies to your course.
AI/IT track: Computer Science and Engineering majors in Artificial Intelligence Applications, Software, Computer Security, Radio Communications Engineering and Computer Education; or Artificial Intelligence.
Both parents must have non-Korean nationality
Eligible nationalities: Austria, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Timor-Leste, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, India, Pakistan
Closed Fall 2026 · Scholarship application deadline: 2026-03-31 KST
Apply online through Study in Korea and upload scanned documents. The Fall 2026 application and document upload closed on March 31, 2026. The recommender had to email the recommendation letter by April 15, 2026. No application fee. Choose one track and one major or lab; multiple SK Global applications are not allowed.
Official source ↗· Sections 1–3: benefits, citizenship, language, majors and procedure
Source checked:
Master
Tuition: KRW 7,392,000 per semester for 4 semesters; entrance fee: KRW 1,142,000. Living allowance: KRW 1,500,000/month for 2 years. Airfare: actual expenses up to KRW 3,000,000 total, with KRW 1,500,000 limits for initial entry and final departure. Private medical insurance is provided at the amount set by Korea University.
The university programme page lists these benefits. The latest linked application guide is for Fall 2026; a 2027 intake and application schedule are not announced in the sources reviewed.
Language requirement: TOPIK level 3+ or Academic IELTS 5.5+ or TOEFL iBT (0–120) 71+ or CEFR B2+ or New TEPS 326+. The Fall 2026 guide waives language proof for an English- or Korean-taught bachelor’s degree. Test reports must be valid; IELTS Home Test is not accepted.
Master’s applicants with a completed or expected bachelor’s degree at Korea University Graduate School in Seoul. Only designated AI/IT majors and Semiconductor laboratories are eligible. Up to 20 scholars per cohort: 10 per track. Eligible regions: Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine; Timor-Leste, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines; India and Pakistan. Japan and Taiwan are eligible for the Semiconductor track only. Both parents must hold non-Korean citizenship. Semiconductor track: designated laboratories in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, and Chemical and Biological Engineering. Japan and Taiwan applicants can apply to this track only. Optional Korean-language training support is described by the university as covering the amount above KRW 1,000,000, at the amount set by Korea University. Ask the programme office how this applies to your course.
Semiconductor track: designated laboratories in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, and Chemical and Biological Engineering. Japan and Taiwan applicants can apply to this track only.
Both parents must have non-Korean nationality
Eligible nationalities: Austria, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Timor-Leste, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, India, Pakistan, Japan, Taiwan
Closed Fall 2026 · Scholarship application deadline: 2026-03-31 KST
Apply online through Study in Korea and upload scanned documents. The Fall 2026 application and document upload closed on March 31, 2026. The recommender had to email the recommendation letter by April 15, 2026. No application fee. Choose one track and one major or lab; multiple SK Global applications are not allowed.
Official source ↗· Sections 1–3: benefits, citizenship, language, majors and procedure
Source checked:
Later semesters and re-application
Tuition support lasts 4 semesters; living expenses and private insurance last 2 years. The Fall 2026 guide applies Korea University academic and conduct regulations, and students are responsible for their housing. It does not state a numerical scholarship renewal GPA. Confirm any additional award conditions with the programme office.
General Graduate External-Project Research Assistant Scholarship
Master; PhD; Integrated
100% tuition + admission fee waiver
Applicant and both parents must be foreign nationals by birth; Korean dual nationality and acquired foreign nationality are excluded. Family circumstances require official nationality documentation. Short-term programs excluded. Graduate scholarships cannot be combined; foreign-government funding may limit university awards. External research-project researcher/assistant recommendation Form7 with advisor handwritten signature: upload and submit original during application period. Credit-based non-thesis Master excluded.
Closed Spring 2027 · Admission application · International General Graduate Admission - Round 1 deadline: 2026-09-21 KST · 17:00 KST
Official source ↗· PDF pages 5, 9, 10, 14–15 (application, GPA, duration and scholarship table)
Source checked:
Master; PhD; Integrated
100% tuition + admission fee waiver
Applicant and both parents must be foreign nationals by birth; Korean dual nationality and acquired foreign nationality are excluded. Family circumstances require official nationality documentation. Short-term programs excluded. Graduate scholarships cannot be combined; foreign-government funding may limit university awards. External research-project researcher/assistant recommendation Form7 with advisor handwritten signature: upload and submit original during application period. Credit-based non-thesis Master excluded.
Upcoming Spring 2027 · Admission application · International General Graduate Admission - Round 2 deadline: 2026-11-13 KST · 17:00 KST
Official source ↗· PDF pages 5, 9, 10, 14–15 (application, GPA, duration and scholarship table)
Source checked:
Later semesters and re-application
For 2027 entrants. First semester:100% admission fee and tuition. Later semesters:85% tuition while participating in the external research project. Advisor recommendation Form7 must be submitted at application and every semester. Master and PhD: maximum 4 semesters; integrated degree: maximum 8 semesters, within the minimum study period. Previous-semester Sejong GPA must be at least 3.8/4.5. Qualification is based on admission documents; later new qualifications do not create or upgrade this award. Credit-based non-thesis Master and short-term programs excluded.
KRW 4,000,000 · 2025 annual award, two installments
Japanese Korean diaspora students studying in Korea. No nationality or previous-school restriction. Must be enrolled in Spring 2025 and plan a regular Fall 2025 semester. No leave, extended semester or exchange enrollment. Interest in Korean-Japanese human rights, peace and related activities. Orientation, two award ceremonies, an annual essay and designated activities required.
Email the application, personal statement, recommendation, confirmation and enrollment certificate to yi97dd@mongdang.org. Submit prescribed forms as Word files, not PDF. Deadline is March 30, 2025, 24:00 in the notice.
The 2025 annual KRW 4,000,000 award is paid as two KRW 2,000,000 installments. Required attendance and activities apply. Automatic support in a subsequent year is not promised in this call.
University application routes (1)
Incheon National University
Closed All 2025 · University route deadline: 2025-03-30 KST · 24:00 KST
Email the application, personal statement, recommendation, confirmation and enrollment certificate to yi97dd@mongdang.org. Submit prescribed forms as Word files, not PDF. Deadline is March 30, 2025, 24:00 in the notice.
Japanese Korean diaspora students studying in Korea. No nationality or previous-school restriction. Must be enrolled in Spring 2025 and plan a regular Fall 2025 semester. No leave, extended semester or exchange enrollment. Interest in Korean-Japanese human rights, peace and related activities. Orientation, two award ceremonies, an annual essay and designated activities required.
KRW 1,000,000 monthly for 12 months, September 2026–August 2027.
GIST foreign PhD/integrated students from Asia, excluding China and India, who entered in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. GIST presidential scholars excluded; academic record and advisor recommendation required.
Submit to GIST’s scholarship office with advisor recommendation. The 2026 deadline was September 14, 17:00 KST.
The award covers the stated 12-month period. A subsequent award requires a new selection.
University application routes (1)
GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)
Closed All 2026 · University route deadline: 2026-09-14 KST · 17:00 KST
Submit to GIST’s scholarship office with advisor recommendation. The 2026 deadline was September 14, 17:00 KST.
GIST foreign PhD/integrated students from Asia, excluding China and India, who entered in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. GIST presidential scholars excluded; academic record and advisor recommendation required.
KRW 1,000,000 monthly for 12 months, September 2026–August 2027.
Government scholarshipResearch;PostdoctoralKorean studies abroad
KF Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research
The Korea Foundation
Research stipend and dissertation printing/editing costs. Amount determined individually from the proposal and host region.
Korea-related postdoctoral research at an overseas university or research institution. PhD obtained within five years before the fellowship begins, or completed before the start. Applicants cannot hold a regular full-time lecturer/researcher position or higher at the start. This call excludes host institutions in North America, Europe and Japan; those regions have separate calls. Citizenship or permanent residence outside Korea is required; Korean nationals must have obtained it by August 2026. Research cannot be hosted by the PhD-awarding university. No parental citizenship requirement is stated.
Apply through the KF portal with a research proposal, CV, dissertation materials, academic transcripts, degree/residency proof and correspondence with prospective hosts. Three referees, including the doctoral supervisor, submit letters through KF. Applications closed September 11, 2026 at 18:00 KST; references closed September 16 at 18:00. Documents must be Korean or English, with notarized translations otherwise. Remain in the host country and conduct full-time research throughout the award.
One year starting in Spring or Fall 2027. Paid in installments of 50%, 40% and 10% after agreement, interim and final reports. Interim report at six months; final report within seven days of completion. Revise and publish the dissertation within three years, acknowledge KF and report progress annually for three years. Previous recipients cannot receive this fellowship again. Concurrent Korean-institution support is prohibited and may require full repayment.
Foundation scholarshipResearch;PostdoctoralResearch fellowship
International Scholar Exchange Fellowship (ISEF)
Chey Institute for Advanced Studies
KRW 3,500,000 per month research stipend; KRW 1,000,000 settlement support; KRW 1,000,000 on submission of the final research paper. Round-trip airfare and medical insurance are provided. Publication incentives have separate conditions.
Doctorate-holding faculty, researchers or postdoctoral researchers currently employed at an overseas university or research institute. Korean nationals and people currently residing or researching in Korea are excluded. In principle, applicants must be aged 50 or younger at the deadline and able to conduct research in English. This is not a degree tuition scholarship.
Apply through the Chey Institute ISEF application system with a research proposal, supporting documents and recommendations. At least one referee must be outside the home institution. The general annual application window is early November to mid-February; exact dates for the next call have not been announced on the reviewed page.
Dates not listed · Scholarship application
Next application dates have not been announced on the reviewed programme page.
Award duration and continued support
Research in Korea for six months or one year. A one-year extension for postdoctoral researchers may be granted after review; it is not automatic. Initial, interim and final research reports are required.
Government scholarshipResearch;PostdoctoralResearch fellowship
AKS Fellowship for Korean Studies
Academy of Korean Studies
KRW 2,000,000 per month; one economy round-trip airfare within the budget cap, except for residents in Korea; up to 50% off AKS guesthouse fees.
Overseas-affiliated Korean-studies researchers in humanities or social sciences with a PhD or completed doctoral coursework (ABD). Korean nationals need foreign permanent residency. AKS fellowship recipients within the previous three years are excluded. ABD applicants need a supervisor recommendation. Documents must be in Korean or English, or have notarized translations.
Apply online through the AKS fellowship notice with the application, CV and affiliation/enrollment proof. ABD applicants also submit coursework-completion proof; the supervisor emails a recommendation. The 2027 call closed July 16, 2026 at 17:00 KST.
Research in Korea for 2–6 months during 2027. No concurrent fellowship. Present at the overseas Korean-studies colloquium and submit research results before the stay ends; acknowledge AKS and submit two copies when publishing.
Government scholarshipResearch;PhD;PostdoctoralResearch fellowship
KF Fellowship for Field Research
The Korea Foundation
Monthly stipend: KRW 2,300,000 for doctoral candidates or KRW 3,000,000 for eligible faculty/PhD professionals. Entry allowance and travel insurance; airfare only for qualifying lower-income countries of residence.
Overseas-affiliated researchers studying Korea-related humanities, social sciences or relevant emerging topics. Type A: doctoral coursework completed and dissertation in progress. Type B: full-time lecturer or higher, or PhD holder active in research/professional work. Foreign citizenship or permanent residency outside Korea is required; Korean nationals must have obtained it by August 2026. Secure a Korean affiliate scholar and host institution before applying. Excludes continuous extension of prior study/research in Korea, Korean-public-institution field-research funding in the preceding three years, concurrent Korean institutional funding and regular degree/language-study applicants. No parental citizenship requirement is stated.
Apply online through KF by October 14, 2026 at 18:00 KST. Referees submit two letters by October 19 at 18:00. Upload nationality/residency proof, CV, research proposal, signed Korean cooperative-research proposal and degree/employment documents; doctoral candidates also need coursework completion and transcripts. Research and documents must be Korean or English, with translations where needed. Accommodation is not provided. Entry allowance: KRW 500,000 for doctoral candidates, KRW 1,000,000 for PhD holders or KRW 1,500,000 for tenured associate/full professors; only the highest applicable amount is paid. Economy return airfare is restricted to residence in eligible DAC least-developed, low-income or lower-middle-income countries; upper-middle-income countries are excluded.
Field research in Korea for 1–6 months during 2027, starting by November 30. Submit the final report two weeks before completion. Doctoral candidates should obtain their degree within two years and send the dissertation to KF. Faculty fellows are encouraged to publish an article within two years or a book within three. Acknowledge KF and report progress annually for three years. Concurrent support from Korean institutions is prohibited.
Government scholarshipMaster;PhD;ResearchResearch fellowship
AKS Graduate Fellowship
The Academy of Korean Studies · Graduate School of Korean Studies
KRW 750,000 per month for six months; free on-campus dormitory and Korean language courses. Economy return airfare reimbursed at actual cost within the city ceiling, capped at KRW 2,088,000 per person.
As of September 1, 2026: enrolled in a master’s or doctoral programme at an overseas university, or master’s coursework completed with dissertation pending. Doctoral ABD applicants are ineligible. Research must concern Korea/Korean studies. Foreign nationals qualify; Korean nationals must have completed all equivalent primary, secondary and university education outside Korea. Previous AKS Graduate Fellows cannot reapply. Korean proficiency is preferred; no minimum TOPIK/English score is stated. No parental-nationality requirement is stated. This is a non-degree research visit in Korea, not tuition support for enrollment in a Korean degree.
The 2026 call is closed: online application April 27, 2026, 10:00–May 8, 17:00 KST through gradaks.recruiter.co.kr. Name an AKS academic advisor. Upload application, personal statement, research plan, degree/enrollment/coursework certificates, transcripts, passport and photo; valid language certificates are optional. The home-university advisor must email a recommendation from their own account within the same application period. Documents must be Korean or English, or accompanied by notarized translations. Selected fellows submit original documents by post. Up to five fellows; no selection if none qualifies. Insurance is advised at the fellow’s own cost. Final report minimum: 16,000 Korean characters or 5,000 English words, excluding bibliography. Obtain prior approval for exceptional overseas conference travel, acknowledge AKS in publications and provide return-ticket details. No later call dates are announced here.
September 1, 2026–February 28, 2027; no extension. Select an AKS advisor and complete at least one advisor-taught course or independent study with a successful grade. Present findings, submit a final thesis/report and proof of stay in Korea; complete obligations at least two weeks before departure. Academic-status proof was due September 21. Paid work and registration at another Korean institution are prohibited. Delayed arrival, early departure or time abroad reduces the stipend by KRW 25,000 per day. Airfare is paid after completing obligations; certain cases receive one-way fares only. Unsuccessful courses or missing reports/presentations can remove airfare; false information or non-compliance can revoke support and require repayment.
Government scholarshipUndergraduate;Master;PhDResearch fellowship
AKS Hanmun (Classical Chinese) Fellowship · Advanced Course
The Academy of Korean Studies
KRW 750,000 per month; economy round-trip airfare; free AKS guesthouse; accident insurance.
Non-Korean undergraduate, master’s or doctoral students majoring in Korean studies at an overseas university. Coursework-completed students may apply; graduates may not. Prior basic Hanmun coursework and advanced Korean proficiency are required. This is non-degree language and research training at AKS in Korea, not admission to a Korean degree. No numeric TOPIK minimum or parental-nationality requirement is stated.
The 2026 advanced-course re-announcement is closed: online applications March 24–April 13, 2026 through the AKS website. Submit the application, enrollment or coursework-completion certificate, an academic-advisor recommendation explaining the need for Hanmun, and prior Hanmun course proof or an AKS Hanmun completion certificate. Include a TOPIK report if previously taken. Documents must be Korean or English, or accompanied by notarized translations. Shortlisted applicants interview individually; the announced interview period was April 21–30. The notice does not announce a 2027 application window.
One 2026 training session, September 1–December 18, at AKS. Submit a final report at least 15 days before the session ends. Concurrent financial support from another institution cannot be received. A later session requires its own published call; no automatic renewal is stated.