Scholarships in Korea Selected by Relative Merit Ranking
These programmes explicitly use relative evaluation or relative merit ranking. Meeting a stated GPA, language score or admission condition may only place an applicant in the eligible pool; the university or department can still rank candidates and apply budget limits. This is different from a guaranteed threshold award.
9 programmes from the published database. Application status as of 2026-10-18 (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.
Top5% previous-semester ranking. First2 semesters ranked together; from semester3 STEM and humanities/social-science groups ranked separately. At least12 credits and GPA2.0/4.5; required campus education completed.
Admission track: korean
Minimum GPA: 2 / 4.5
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Official source ↗· PDF page 3 timeline; PDF pages 4–6 departments; PDF pages 10–11 scholarships
Top5% previous-semester ranking. First2 semesters ranked together; from semester3 STEM and humanities/social-science groups ranked separately. At least12 credits and GPA2.0/4.5; required campus education completed.
Admission track: english
Minimum GPA: 2 / 4.5
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Official source ↗· PDF page 3 timeline; PDF pages 4–6 departments; PDF pages 10–11 scholarships
Source checked:
Later semesters and re-application
Selected again each semester by previous-semester ranking. At least12 credits, GPA2.0/4.5 and the applicable language score are required. Complete sexual-violence prevention and Korean-law education each semester.
Above5% to15% previous-semester ranking. First2 semesters ranked together; from semester3 STEM and humanities/social-science groups ranked separately. At least12 credits and GPA2.0/4.5; required campus education completed.
Admission track: korean
Minimum GPA: 2 / 4.5
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Official source ↗· PDF page 3 timeline; PDF pages 4–6 departments; PDF pages 10–11 scholarships
Above5% to15% previous-semester ranking. First2 semesters ranked together; from semester3 STEM and humanities/social-science groups ranked separately. At least12 credits and GPA2.0/4.5; required campus education completed.
Admission track: english
Minimum GPA: 2 / 4.5
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Official source ↗· PDF page 3 timeline; PDF pages 4–6 departments; PDF pages 10–11 scholarships
Source checked:
Later semesters and re-application
Selected again each semester by previous-semester ranking. At least12 credits, GPA2.0/4.5 and the applicable language score are required. Complete sexual-violence prevention and Korean-law education each semester.
Above15% to30% previous-semester ranking. First2 semesters ranked together; from semester3 STEM and humanities/social-science groups ranked separately. At least12 credits and GPA2.0/4.5; required campus education completed.
Admission track: korean
Minimum GPA: 2 / 4.5
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Official source ↗· PDF page 3 timeline; PDF pages 4–6 departments; PDF pages 10–11 scholarships
Above15% to30% previous-semester ranking. First2 semesters ranked together; from semester3 STEM and humanities/social-science groups ranked separately. At least12 credits and GPA2.0/4.5; required campus education completed.
Admission track: english
Minimum GPA: 2 / 4.5
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Official source ↗· PDF page 3 timeline; PDF pages 4–6 departments; PDF pages 10–11 scholarships
Source checked:
Later semesters and re-application
Selected again each semester by previous-semester ranking. At least12 credits, GPA2.0/4.5 and the applicable language score are required. Complete sexual-violence prevention and Korean-law education each semester.
From semester 2. At least 12 credits, no F grades, GPA 2.5 or higher and the applicable year-specific TOPIK standard are required. Sungkok (100% tuition) additionally requires GPA 3.8 or higher. Awards are selected by relative ranking, not guaranteed by meeting these minimums. The English guide exempts KIBS from the TOPIK requirement. Government-funded students follow the separate government scholarship rules.
Minimum GPA: 2.5 / 4.5
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Separate relative selection each semester from semester 2: Sungkok 100%, top-of-class 70%, grade type 1 50%, grade type 2 30% tuition. At least 12 credits, no F grades, GPA 2.5 or higher and the applicable year-specific TOPIK standard are required. Sungkok (100% tuition) additionally requires GPA 3.8 or higher. Awards are selected by relative ranking, not guaranteed by meeting these minimums. Intensive Korean Course students cannot receive Sungkok.
All required: prior GPA threshold (or equivalent 3.83/4.3, 3.57/4.0, 90/100); language threshold TOEFL iBT90 OR IELTS7.0 OR New TEPS386 OR TOPIK6; department recommendation. Relative selection; all required academic, language and recommendation conditions must be satisfied. Business Analytics excluded; no concurrent GKS/foundation award.
Foreign graduate applicant
Minimum GPA: 4 / 4.5
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Official source ↗· Requirements A–C, first-semester restriction, Benefits A–C
Source checked:
Later semesters and re-application
The entrance award covers the first semester only. From semester 2, apply and be selected again each semester based on GPA; the award rate can differ by college. Continued funding is not automatic.
All required: prior GPA threshold (or equivalent 3.36/4.3, 3.14/4.0, 85/100); language TOEFL iBT82 OR IELTS6.0 OR New TEPS337 OR TOPIK4; department recommendation. Relative selection; all required academic, language and recommendation conditions must be satisfied. Business Analytics excluded; no concurrent GKS/foundation award.
Foreign graduate applicant
Minimum GPA: 3.5 / 4.5
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Official source ↗· Requirements A–C, first-semester restriction, Benefits A–C
Source checked:
Later semesters and re-application
The entrance award covers the first semester only. From semester 2, apply and be selected again each semester based on GPA; the award rate can differ by college. Continued funding is not automatic.
Natural sciences/engineering foreign scholarship; official page notes language/GPA qualifications and department recommendation. Medicine only this 65% type; Business Analytics ineligible. Relative selection; all required academic, language and recommendation conditions must be satisfied. Business Analytics excluded; no concurrent GKS/foundation award.
Foreign graduate applicant
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Official source ↗· Requirements A–C, first-semester restriction, Benefits A–C
Source checked:
Later semesters and re-application
The entrance award covers the first semester only. From semester 2, apply and be selected again each semester based on GPA; the award rate can differ by college. Continued funding is not automatic.
International undergraduate students: previous semester ranking within college, top7% or ranks8–37%.
Application dates are not listed for this policy. Check the official announcement for a new call.
Official source ↗· PDF pages 4–8 timeline and campus recruitment; PDF page 12 language documents; PDF page 19 scholarships
Source checked:
Later semesters and re-application
Assessed each semester using the preceding semester performance within your college. Top7% receive approximately80% tuition; ranks8–37% approximately20%.