Top Scholarship Opportunities for Indian Students Pursuing Studies in South Korea in 2023-24

Do you want to study in South Korea? Have you heard of the country’s scholarships for Indian students? Are you yet to discover what studying in South Korea entails for Indian students? Or have you started making arrangements already? Whichever it is, feel free to ride along through this write-up and get knowledgeable insights about scholarship opportunities for Indians in South Korea.

This smart guide will walk you through all the depths you should know before you pursue higher education in South Korea. We will move forward quite smoothly so that you can understand things effectively. So, let’s begin!

Why Should You Study in Korea?

Every year, the number of foreign students attending South Korea increases rapidly. Living in the nation is among the safest options available worldwide.  Based on GDP, Korea's economy was ranked as the eleventh largest in the world in 2015. Studying abroad in South Korea can provide students with many cultural experiences, excellent academic credentials, and resume-building opportunities. Whether you want to polish your Korean language skills or seek a bachelor's degree in engineering, South Korea is a popular destination for Indian students.

Major reasons why Indian students looking to study abroad should consider South Korea:

• Affordable Cost of Living
• Good Quality of Education
• Lucrative Scholarship Options
• Safety and Rich Culture
• Outstanding Information and Communication Technology
• Attractive Employment Opportunities

A List of Top Universities in South Korea

Here is a list of the best institutions in South Korea to assist you in choosing your academic path. There are a few among these universities that offer international scholarships for Indian students.

• Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
• Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
• Kyung Hee University
• Seoul National University
• Sejong University
• Hanyang University
• Yonsei University (Seoul campus)
• Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
• Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
• Korea University

Scholarships for Indian Students in Korea

Approximately 1,300 Indian students are studying at different levels in South Korea, including graduate, undergraduate, and research programs. This is because there are 400 public and private educational institutions in the country, many of which have cutting-edge research facilities across a wide range of scientific fields.

Despite South Korea's low cost of life and education, not everyone feels comfortable spending the estimated amount on higher education. As a result, a lot of students decide to take paid internships and part-time jobs to help them pay for their education. However, if you want to study there at a lower cost, you have the opportunity to apply for generous scholarships available. Let’s find out what are different types and options available to study in South Korea.

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Scholarship Options and Types

1. Type A Scholarships (private universities in the metropolitan area of Seoul)

This grant reimburses undergraduate students with an exceptional GPA record for 30% of the minimum tuition.  Graduate students who meet faculty recommendations and have an exceptional GPA record are excluded from paying the total tuition cost.  Only 80% of tuition will be awarded to students who are simply suggested by the staff and do not have excellent grades. If a graduate student enrolling in the international relations program has an exceptional GPA record, they will receive a complete tuition fee exemption.

2. Type B Scholarship (private universities outside the metropolitan area of Seoul)

With this grant, undergraduate students with exceptional GPA records will have 50% of their tuition costs covered.  Graduate students who are recommended by professors, researchers, or research institutes are excluded from paying the entire tuition cost. Approximately 80% of tuition fees are waived for graduate students with exceptional language proficiency.  Graduate students will receive 50% tuition reimbursement if they have an exceptional GPA record.

The colleges here provide a variety of international scholarships for Indian students. However, these scholarships are often awarded based on the GPA of the candidate. But there are also some other options. Through the Indian Embassy in Korea, the Korean government provides many scholarships for undergraduate, graduate, and research programs. International students come to South Korea in large numbers from all over the world. To draw in foreign students, thirty percent of lectures at Korean universities are given in English. Apart from this, there are also scholarships from private universities.

Let’s discover a few of the different types of scholarships for Indian Students. The eligibility criteria for each one have been provided along with them.

1. Korean Government Scholarship Program

The Indian government and the Korean government collaborated to create the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP). Indian students can apply for fully financed scholarships through this initiative. Students taking graduate, postgraduate, and doctorate-level coursework are eligible to apply for this award to get financial assistance for continuing their education.

Eligibility

• The applicants cannot be dual citizens or citizens of Korea.
• The candidate's academic and educational records cannot be exceptionally strong.
• For UG degrees, candidates must be under 25 years old.
• For graduate degrees, the student's age must be under 40.
• The candidates' CGPA must have been higher than 80%.
• The candidates ought to be in good mental and physical health.

2. Global Korean Scholarships

Now known as the Global Korea Scholarship (or GKS), the scholarship program is available to any international students who wish to pursue higher education in Korea. Promoting international educational exchange and fostering stronger ties between participating countries are the objectives. Scholarships for bachelor's and associate's degree programs are available through the GKS program. For Bachelor's programs, the course usually lasts 5–7 years, with one year of Korean language instruction and 4–6 years of degree coursework.

Eligibility

• The candidates cannot be citizens of Korea.
• Upon joining, candidates must be under 25 years old (undergraduate).
• The candidates' final educational institution-grade (CGPA) must have been at least 80% [2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5, or 3.23/5.0].
• Both the candidates' physical and mental well-being must be high.
• To apply to PG and PhD programs, students must have completed at least 16 and 18 years of formal education, respectively.

3. Seoul National University

With the fully-funded SNU Scholarship 2023, Seoul National University is making it possible for Indian students to pursue Master's, MPhil, PhD, and MS degrees leading to PhDs starting in the spring semester of 2023.

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Eligibility

• On a 100% scale, applicants must have received at least 80% of the possible points in their most recent educational setting.
• It is necessary for candidates to be in good mental and physical health.
• Candidates for doctoral programs need to have a master's degree or above.
• A completed bachelor's degree or higher is required for admission to master's, combined master's, and PhD programs.

4. Samsung Global Hope Scholarship Program

This Korean scholarship is provided to Indian students for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs that Samsung's partner universities specifically offer. Applications from nations listed on the Development Assistance Committee's (DAC) list of recipients of Official Development Assistance (ODA) are currently being accepted for the scholarship program. Also, this ranking comprises the least developed countries as well as low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries.

Eligibility

• The Samsung Global Hope Scholarship is awarded to recipients based on several criteria, such as financial need, language competence in both Korean and English and academic achievement.
• Every applicant needs to be at least proficient at TOPIK Level 3.
• Candidates who are likely to return home and actively participate in the development of their native nations are given preference.

5. Korean Government Support Program for Foreign Exchange Students

Approximately 200 international students are eligible to apply for international scholarships under this program, which is available to exchange students. Financial aid will only be given to students from the chosen nation or countries who are talented, industrious, and deserving. Undergraduate and graduate students can apply for this scholarship program through the National Institute for International Education (NIIED).

Eligibility

• The candidates cannot be citizens of Korea.
• The individuals need to have outstanding grades and academic records.
• The candidates' final educational institution must have awarded them 80% or more of the possible points (out of 100%).
• The candidates need to have finished a minimum of two semesters.
• Both the candidates' physical and mental well-being must be high.

Checklist for Scholarship Application for Higher Studies in South Korea

The list of essential documents to apply for scholarships for Indian students in 2023 should have on hand is provided below.

• Study plan, personal statement, and letter of intent.
• Two recommendation letters from two distinct recommenders
• signed the scholarship contract.
• Official transcript and bachelor's certificate of graduation.
• Official transcript and master's certificate of graduation (applicable to doctorate aspirants).
• A duplicate of the candidate's passport or another official document verifying their nationality.
• Copies of the passports for both parents and another official document proving their nationality.
• Additional official records demonstrating the applicant's and his or her parents' parent-child relationship.

The Right Time to Apply for Scholarship for Indian Students in South Korea

Similar to other well-known nations, South Korea has a two-semester system. Therefore, take a look at the following information if you intend to study in South Korea and would like to know more about the specifics of the fall versus spring semesters:

• The classes always begin in March.
• September admissions are also available at some universities.
• Applications for March enrollments are accepted from September through November.
• In contrast, applications are taken in May and June for September admissions.

Application Procedure for Scholarships for Indian Students in South Korea

Upon meeting the eligibility requirements of any of the aforementioned Korean scholarship programs, candidates may submit an online application via the MHRD Sakshat portal. The Korean Government scholarship program's Indian nominating agency is the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). Additionally, students must mail their completed application form in a physical copy to MHRD, together with the necessary paperwork. The following is a detailed explanation of the application process:

• Go to the Sakshat portal's official MHRD website.
• Click the "Apply" button after selecting the "Korean Government Scholarship Program."
• Complete the online application.
• Include all corroborating documentation.
• Complete and submit the online form.
• Download the Korean government's prescribed application from its official website following the successful submission of the online application.
• Complete all required fields and affix the required paperwork.
• Submit the filled-out application to – The Under Secretary (Scholarship), Ministry of Human Resource Development

The MHRD is responsible for making the first shortlist of applications for scholarships for Indian students to study abroad. And the same goes for the Korean scholarship program. First of all, a list of all the applications received is created based on merit. Institutions of national significance, centrally supported educational institutions (CEFIs), and NAAC-accredited schools whose candidates have finished or are pursuing their qualifying exams are given preference. After being narrowed down to 15, the applications are submitted to the Korean government for possible nomination. Once it gets done, only ten nominations Korean government are shortlisted for scholarship awards.

A Few Factors to Consider On Applying For A Scholarship For Indian Students To Study Abroad

The goal of many who want to study abroad is to do so with financial assistance. However, a lot of people believe it is unachievable, primarily due to ignorance of how to obtain a scholarship to study overseas. Since there are numerous considerations to make while applying for a scholarship, you must grasp the process.

The following are some pointers for Indian students looking to apply for international scholarships. Go through each one of them carefully.

• Do thorough research on the various available scholarships: Many general and university-specific scholarships are available for a variety of courses and nations. Investigate every source and compile the scholarship information.
• Write down the information unique to your scholarship: Make sure you know exactly what you want to study, where you want to study it, and how much money you need.
• Examine your needs and marks: For many scholarships, you have to apply with a minimum percentage. Examine your grades and only apply for scholarships that you are most likely to receive. This will help you avoid applying for scholarships that you know you won't be awarded in the future.
• Give specifics about the intended nation: You can conduct a thorough search for all available scholarship options once you've decided on the nation in which you wish to study. If not, you'll have to endure a tedious hunt through several nations' worth of resources!
• Consult the organization that offers scholarships for accurate information. Always choose genuine sources and original websites. A lot of websites provide information, most of it erroneous or outdated.

Conclusion

There is a plethora of options available to Indian students wishing to study in South Korea in their quest for academic achievement. Throughout this thorough guide, you have been guided to the route to higher education in South Korea by getting scholarships. Undoubtedly, South Korea has excellent educational institutions in addition to a secure and stimulating environment. Moreover, this nation is even more alluring because of the scholarships that are offered, such as the Global Korea Scholarship and the Korean Government Scholarship Program. With thorough knowledge of the requirements for eligibility and the application process, Indian students can travel to South Korea with assurance. So, get started on your application today and start living the life of your dreams!