Guide
What Does GKS-G Cover? Graduate Stipend and Research Support
GKS-G is genuinely fully funded, and the graduate stipend is higher than the undergraduate one, with research and thesis support on top. Here are the numbers.
This guide breaks down what GKS-G pays. For the program overview, see the GKS-G complete guide. The figures below follow the most recent guidelines; GKS amounts are set each cycle and can change, so always confirm them in the current year's official guidelines.
- Tuition is fully covered, the same way as the undergraduate program: NIIED pays up to a per-semester cap and the university covers the rest, plus the admission fee.
- The monthly stipend is higher than the undergraduate one. Recent cycles have set it in the region of KRW 1,000,000 to 1,400,000 per month for master's and doctoral scholars, with the exact figure published each cycle.
- Research and thesis support is added for graduate scholars: help with thesis printing, academic materials, and related research costs.
- A funded year of Korean is included unless you are exempt by TOPIK level.
- Round-trip economy airfare, a one-time settlement allowance (around KRW 200,000), medical insurance, and a degree-completion grant round it out.
The full benefit breakdown
| Benefit | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Fully covered | NIIED pays up to a per-semester cap; the university covers the excess and the admission fee |
| Monthly stipend | Around KRW 1,000,000 to 1,400,000 / month | Higher than the undergraduate allowance; master's and doctoral levels, set each cycle |
| Korean language training | One funded year | At a university language institute, unless you are exempt by TOPIK level |
| Research / thesis support | Included | Thesis printing, academic materials, and related research costs |
| Airfare | Round-trip economy | Actual expense; not provided to scholars already residing in Korea |
| Settlement allowance | Around KRW 200,000 | One-time, on arrival, for household setup |
| Medical insurance | Included | Covered for scholars |
| Degree completion grant | Included | Paid on finishing the degree |
Why the research support matters
The graduate package is designed around research, which is the difference from the undergraduate scholarship. On top of the living stipend, GKS-G adds support for the costs that come with a thesis or dissertation: printing, academic materials, and in some cases fieldwork. Combined with full tuition and a stipend you can live on, it means you can focus on your degree rather than funding it. The GKS-G universities guide explains why your advisor and lab shape how far that support goes.
How long the funding lasts
| Program | Total funded period |
|---|---|
| Master's degree | 3 years (1 year Korean + 2 years degree) |
| Doctoral degree | 4 years (1 year Korean + 3 years degree) |
| Research program | 6 months to 1 year |
If you already hold a high enough TOPIK level, you can be exempt from the language year and start your degree directly. The Korean language programs guide shows how the funded year works.
What to do next
- Check you qualify in the GKS-G eligibility guide.
- Prepare the documents and research plan.
- Compare the funded path to self-funding in the cost of studying in Korea guide.