Job Description

Opportunity Description

Looking to study in South Korea and need a fully funded graduate scholarship? The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), a top-ranked research university in Daejeon, funds master’s, master’s-PhD integrated, and PhD study for international students through the KAIST International Graduate Scholarship. The scholarship covers tuition, national health insurance, and a monthly stipend. It benefits 94% of KAIST’s international student body each year. Non-Korean citizens worldwide can apply for the 2027 spring intake.

Key Details

• Provided by: KAIST Office of Admissions
• Host institution: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
• Location: Daejeon, Republic of Korea
• Admission Deadlines:
  • Fee Waiver Application (Spring 2027 Entry): July 29–August 5, 2026 confirmed as “Open” on the official KAIST Graduate Application Schedule (gradapply.kaist.ac.kr)
  • Online Application Period (Spring 2027 Entry): Based on KAIST’s recurring pattern, expect it to open in mid-to-late August 2026, roughly two weeks after the fee waiver window closes. Check the live schedule at gradapply.kaist.ac.kr before applying.
  • Fall 2027 Entry (Early Track and Regular Track): not yet scheduled on the official portal. Check gradapply.kaist.ac.kr closer to December 2026 (Early Track) and March 2027 (Regular Track).
• Degree Level: Master’s, Master’s-PhD Integrated, PhD
• Gender: All genders
• Type: Scholarship
• Eligible Nations: All nationalities except Korean citizens. Applicants of Korean descent holding foreign citizenship must meet specific extra conditions (see Eligibility Criteria).
• Eligible Degree Programs: Open to all departments, except the Global Technology Innovation Program (GDI-GTIP Track). KAIST does not publish a fixed list of eligible majors for this base scholarship; it applies university-wide.
  • Master’s Degrees: all KAIST graduate departments
  • Master’s-PhD Integrated Degrees: all KAIST graduate departments
  • PhD Degrees: all KAIST graduate departments

Scholarship Benefits

• Full tuition coverage
• National health insurance premiums covered
• Monthly stipend: amount depends on department, academic advisor, and level of research involvement
• Tuition coverage runs for four semesters for master’s students, ten semesters for master’s-PhD integrated students, and eight semesters for PhD students
• Selecting the KAIST Scholarship on your application automatically enters you for two add-on scholarships. See the breakdown below.

Scholarship Awards Summary

KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS)

• Eligible group: Master’s- or Master’s-PhD-integrated applicants
• Award: Full tuition coverage plus a monthly stipend of 1,000,000 KRW for 4 regular semesters
• Tenable at: KAIST, Daejeon
• Note: no separate application is needed, but only highly competitive applicants receive a department head recommendation

KAIST Prestige Scholarship for International PhD Students (KPS)

• Eligible group: Master’s-PhD integrated or PhD applicants
• Award: Full tuition coverage plus a monthly stipend of 300,000 KRW for 8 regular semesters
• Tenable at: KAIST, Daejeon
• Note: the department head recommends outstanding candidates, and the college dean makes the final selection

Eligibility Criteria

• Citizenship/residency status: Applicants must hold citizenship of a country other than Korea. Korean citizens are not eligible. Applicants of Korean descent with foreign citizenship must either submit proof that both they and their parents renounced Korean citizenship or show they completed all of grades 1 through 12 outside Korea (international schools inside Korea do not count).
• Degree equivalency note: KAIST accepts these as equivalent to a Korean bachelor’s degree: a four-year university degree, a three-year Bologna-compliant bachelor’s degree, the first-cycle qualification under the European Higher Education Area framework, or a British-pattern bachelor’s degree with honors.
• Academic qualification: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent by the start of the course for master’s or master’s-PhD applicants, and a master’s degree or equivalent for PhD applicants.
• Language of instruction: English is KAIST’s official language of communication and instruction for international students.
• TOEFL iBT: 83 if taken before January 21, 2026, or 4.5 if taken on or after January 21, 2026. Institutional Code 0195, Department Code 99. Home Edition is accepted. My best scores are not accepted.
• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall band. IELTS Online is accepted. IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted.
• TOEIC: 720 (Listening and Reading)
• TEPS: 326
• English test waiver: Citizens of certain English-speaking countries, or applicants who completed a bachelor’s or higher degree taught in English in an eligible country, can request a waiver. Programs such as the GDI-ITTP track and KINS-KAIST do not require an English proficiency test score at all.

How to Apply?

• Create an account on the KAIST International Graduate Admissions portal (gradapply.kaist.ac.kr), then complete the online application, upload your documents, and pay the application fee once the 2027 Spring application window opens.
• Ask your two recommenders to submit letters directly through the portal before the recommendation deadline listed for your chosen round.

Apply Now