Guide
Want to study in Korea from Pakistan?
Two things work in your favour: you study in English already, and your documents now move faster on the apostille. The real question is how you pay for it. Here are all the ways.
Korea actively recruits international students, and Pakistan has a steady pipeline. For Pakistanis, two things help: much of your education is already in English, and since 2023 your documents move on the apostille. So the real work is funding. Most people only know one scholarship; in reality there are four ways to pay for a degree in Korea.
- There are four ways to pay, not one: GKS, university scholarships, foundation or corporate scholarships, and the self-funded route.
- English is an advantage. Much of Pakistani higher education is in English, so you can target English-taught Korean degrees that need an English score, not TOPIK.
- University scholarships are underrated. Collectively they fund more international students than GKS does.
- Self-funding is realistic. National-university tuition is often near USD 3,500 a year, plus partial scholarships and part-time work.
- The apostille is straightforward. Pakistan joined the apostille system in 2023, so a single certificate replaces consular legalization.
- GKS from Pakistan runs through the Korean Embassy in Islamabad, under Pakistan's quota.
English: a quiet advantage
Because English is the medium of instruction across much of Pakistani higher education, you start with an edge. Korea offers full bachelor's and master's degrees taught in English, especially in engineering, computer science, business, and the sciences. These ask for an English proficiency score such as TOEFL or IELTS rather than TOPIK, and many applicants meet the requirement through prior English-medium study. You do not need Korean to enroll. The details are in Study in Korea in English.
How Pakistani students actually fund Korea
Think in four routes. Strong applicants stack them, applying for GKS while also sending regular applications that carry their own university scholarships.
| Route | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| GKS | The Korean government scholarship, fully funded | Tuition, stipend, airfare, and a year of Korean; applied for through the embassy in Islamabad |
| University scholarships | Awards from the universities themselves | KAIST, POSTECH, SNU, Yonsei, Korea University, Hanyang, SKKU and more; collectively fund more students than GKS |
| Foundation and corporate | Private and company-funded awards | POSCO Asia Fellowship, Hyundai Chung Mong-Koo, Samsung Global Sungkyun |
| Self-funded | You pay, with partial help | National-university tuition is often near USD 3,500 a year; part-time work on a D-2 visa helps |
1. GKS, the government scholarship
The Global Korea Scholarship covers tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, and a funded year of Korean. From Pakistan, undergraduates apply on the embassy track through the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Islamabad, under Pakistan's country quota. It is competitive, so treat it as one bet among several.
2. University scholarships
This is the route most people overlook. Korean universities offer their own tuition waivers and stipends to international students, and in aggregate they fund more international students than GKS does. Strong options include KAIST International and POSTECH Global in science and engineering, Seoul National, Yonsei (including the English-medium Underwood International College), Korea University, Hanyang, and Sungkyunkwan. Many are awarded automatically based on your admission profile, so a regular application can come with funding attached. Browse them in the scholarships directory and the fully funded scholarships guide.
3. Foundation and corporate scholarships
Private foundations and companies fund international students too, often with their own focus. Examples include the POSCO Asia Fellowship, the Hyundai Chung Mong-Koo scholarship, and Samsung Global Sungkyun at SKKU. Worth checking against your field.
4. The self-funded route
You do not need a full scholarship to study in Korea. Tuition at national universities is often around USD 3,500 a year, lower than many assume, and private universities are higher but frequently discount tuition for international students. Add a partial scholarship and part-time work, which a D-2 student visa allows within limits, and a self-funded degree is realistic. Run the numbers with the cost of studying in Korea guide.
The application route from Pakistan
Use one or both of two channels: the GKS embassy track, and direct applications to universities.
| Channel | How it works |
|---|---|
| GKS embassy track | Apply through the Korean Embassy in Islamabad under Pakistan's quota; name up to three universities; the embassy, then NIIED, then the universities review you |
| Direct to universities | Apply to each university's international admissions, where university and foundation scholarships are decided |
The 2026 GKS undergraduate cycle moved to a mandatory online application through the official Study in Korea site, though the embassy may keep its own step. Confirm with the Korean embassy in Islamabad how and when to submit.
Your documents: apostille and translation
Korea needs your academic documents authenticated. Because Pakistan joined the apostille system in 2023, you can authenticate your documents with a single apostille certificate instead of the longer consular legalization chain, which makes this step faster than it used to be.
| Step | Notes |
|---|---|
| Authenticate | Apostille your matric and intermediate certificates, degree, and transcripts through the competent Pakistani authority |
| Translate | Any document not in English or Korean needs a certified translation |
| Confirm format | Check whether your university wants the apostille on the original, the translation, or both |
Even with the apostille, start early: collecting official transcripts and certificates and getting them apostilled still takes time. The full list is in the application documents checklist.
What to do next
- Run the KoreaAdmit quiz to see the English-taught programs and scholarships you qualify for from Pakistan.
- Browse the scholarships directory and the fully funded scholarships guide for university and foundation awards.
- Map your dates with the application timeline.
- Apostille and translate your documents early.
- Budget with the cost of studying in Korea guide.