KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (Fully Funded)

If you’re searching for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship, you already know it’s one of the most generous fully funded awards available to international students in South Korea. The KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS) covers full tuition and a monthly stipend for outstanding graduate applicants at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), one of Asia’s top-ranked research universities.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship — what it covers, who qualifies, how to apply, and how it compares to KAIST’s other funding options — so you can apply with confidence

What Is the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship?

The KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship is a fully funded award offered by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) to exceptional international graduate applicants.

Unlike scholarships that require a separate application form, the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship has no standalone application. When you apply for admission to a KAIST graduate program and select “KAIST Scholarship” as your funding source, you are automatically considered for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship, alongside two related options: the KAIST Prestige Scholarship (KPS) and the KAIST CoE PhD Fellowship.

KAIST reports that roughly 94% of admitted international graduate students receive some form of KAIST funding — which means the real competition is admission itself, not a separate scholarship contest.

KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship Overview

Benefits of the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship

Recipients of the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship enjoy one of the most competitive funding packages available to international students in Asia. Core benefits typically include:

• Full tuition exemption for the funded semesters of your program.
• A monthly living stipend (around KRW 1,000,000) to help cover housing, food, and daily expenses.
• National health insurance coverage while studying in South Korea.
• Access to KAIST’s research labs and global faculty, ranked among the best in engineering, science, and technology.
• No separate scholarship application — one admission form covers both your program and your funding review.

Because the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship is merit-based and automatic, a strong graduate application is the single biggest factor in winning it.

Eligibility Requirements for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship

To be considered for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship, applicants generally must meet the following criteria:

• Hold no Korean citizenship (the scholarship is exclusively for international students).
• For Master’s or Master’s–PhD Integrated programs: hold or expect to hold a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a four-year Korean bachelor’s degree.
• For PhD programs: hold or expect to hold a master’s degree by the intended enrollment date.
• Demonstrate strong academic performance in previous studies (a high GPA significantly improves your chances).
• Meet English proficiency requirements or qualify for a waiver (see below).
• Apply through KAIST’s official graduate admissions system and select the KAIST Scholarship funding option.

Final-year undergraduates who will graduate before the program start date can also apply for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship through the Master’s track.

Required Documents

When applying for admission — and by extension, the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship — prepare the following:

• Completed online application form
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree certificate (or proof of expected graduation)
• Official academic transcripts
• Statement of purpose / research plan
• Two letters of recommendation
• English proficiency proof (or waiver documentation)
• Valid passport copy
• Application fee payment receipt

How to Apply for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship

There is no separate form for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship — you apply through KAIST’s regular graduate admissions process:

1. Choose your program and department on the official KAIST admissions site.
2. Create an account on the KAIST graduate application portal.
3. Complete the online application, selecting “KAIST Scholarship” as your source of financial support — this is what triggers automatic consideration for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship.
4. Upload all required documents listed above.
5. Pay the non-refundable application fee (approx. $80 USD).
6. Submit recommendation letters before the recommender deadline.
7. Wait for the admission decision — scholarship results are announced together with your admission outcome.

Application Deadlines

KAIST typically runs two main intakes each year — Spring and Fall — with the Fall intake split into Early and Regular tracks. Because exact dates shift slightly every cycle, always confirm the current deadline on the official KAIST admissions page rather than relying on last year’s dates. As a general pattern:

• Fall Early Track: applications open in early December
• Fall Regular Track: applications open in early March
• Spring Track: applications open in late August

There is no deadline specific to the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship itself — it follows the general graduate admissions deadline for your chosen intake.

English Language Requirements

Most KAIST courses are taught in English, and 80–90% of lectures use English as the medium of instruction. Applicants for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship typically need one of the following:

• TOEFL, IELTS, or TOEIC scores meeting KAIST’s minimum requirement, or
• A waiver, available to applicants who completed a prior degree taught fully in English or who are citizens of specific English-speaking countries.

Check the current waiver list on the official admissions page, since it is updated periodically.

KGPS vs. Other KAIST Scholarships

KAIST offers several funding tracks, and the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship is only one of them. Here’s how it compares:

All of these are triggered by the same single application, so choosing “KAIST Scholarship” in your admissions form keeps you eligible for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship and every related award you qualify for.

Tips to Strengthen Your Application

• Target departments strategically — funding availability can vary slightly by college, so check department-level notices alongside the general KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship criteria.
• Write a focused research statement — KAIST faculty look for applicants whose interests align with ongoing lab research.
• Secure strong recommenders early — late letters are the most common reason applications stall.
• Don’t wait for a “perfect” English score — apply for the waiver first if you qualify; it can save time and money.
• Apply during the Early Track when possible — earlier decisions give you more time to plan your move to South Korea.

What People Also Ask

Is the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship really fully funded?
Yes. The KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship covers full tuition for the funded semesters plus a monthly stipend, making it a genuinely fully funded scholarship for eligible international students.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship?
Most applicants need an English proficiency score, but KAIST offers waivers for applicants from certain English-speaking countries or those who completed a prior degree taught entirely in English.

Can undergraduate students apply for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship?
The KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship is a graduate-level award. Undergraduates should look at KAIST’s separate undergraduate scholarship track instead.

How many students receive the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship each year?
KAIST doesn’t publish an exact quota, but roughly 94% of admitted international graduate students receive some form of KAIST funding, of which the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship is one option.

What is the difference between KGPS and KPS at KAIST?
The KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS) is open to Master’s, Integrated, and PhD applicants, while the KAIST Prestige Scholarship (KPS) is reserved for PhD and Integrated program applicants with longer funding duration.

Is there an age limit for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship?
No. KAIST has not published any age restriction for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship at either the graduate or undergraduate level.

Related Scholarships to Explore

Continue your South Korea and fully funded scholarship search with these LicensureHub guides:

• Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): Fully Funded
• Graduate Assistantship at Pohang University of Science and Technology (Fully Funded)
• All South Korea Scholarship Opportunities
• Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships: 70+ Best Options
• Browse All PhD Scholarship Opportunities
• Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS
• 60 Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students

Other fully funded scholarships worth exploring (official pages, not yet covered on LicensureHub):

• DAAD Scholarships — Germany
• Chevening Scholarships — United Kingdom
• Fulbright Foreign Student Program — United States
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s — European Union

Final Thoughts

The KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship remains one of the strongest fully funded paths into South Korea’s top research university — full tuition, a monthly stipend, and no separate application form required. If your academic record is strong and your research interests match KAIST’s departments, applying for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship through the standard graduate admissions process is one of the smartest moves you can make this cycle.

For the most current benefits, deadlines, and eligibility rules, always cross-check with the official KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship page and start your application on the KAIST graduate application portal.