Summary
- University: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Location: Daejeon, South Korea
- Study Level: Master’s, Master’s-PhD Integrated and PhD
- Eligible Applicants: International students
- Funding: KAIST Scholarship
- Tuition: Fully covered
- Health Insurance: National Health Insurance covered
- Stipend: Monthly living allowance; amount varies by programme/college
- KGPS: Full tuition + KRW 1,000,000 monthly for eligible Master’s/Master’s-PhD applicants
- KPS: Full tuition + KRW 300,000 monthly for eligible doctoral applicants
- Application Fee: Applicable according to the admission track
- Spring 2027 Application: 18 August – 1 September 2026
- Recommendation Deadline: 8 September 2026
- Scholarship Application: No separate scholarship application
About the Scholarship/Programme
The KAIST Scholarship provides financial support to international students admitted to eligible KAIST graduate programmes in South Korea.
KAIST is one of Asia’s leading research universities, with graduate programmes covering science, engineering, life sciences, computing, business and other advanced fields.
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Get Your Copy →The scholarship is not a separate external award. International applicants select the KAIST Scholarship as their financial resource during the graduate admission application. Eligible admitted students are then automatically considered for the relevant KAIST scholarship schemes.
KAIST states that its scholarship support benefits around 94% of its international student body and is designed to allow students to focus on their academic and research work.
The main KAIST Scholarship covers full tuition, national health insurance and a monthly stipend. The exact stipend can vary according to the student’s college and research involvement.
Highly competitive applicants may also be considered for the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS) or KAIST Prestige Scholarship for International Ph.D. Students (KPS).
Scholarship Benefits
KAIST Scholarship
The general KAIST Scholarship provides:
- Full tuition coverage.
- National Health Insurance.
- Monthly stipend.
- Potential additional research-related income through research projects.
The exact monthly stipend depends on the student’s programme, college and research involvement.
KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS)
Eligible international applicants to Master’s or Master’s-PhD Integrated programmes may be considered automatically for KGPS.
Benefits include:
- Full tuition coverage.
- KRW 1,000,000 monthly stipend.
- Support for four regular semesters.
No separate KGPS application is required. Only highly competitive applicants are recommended by the department head.
KAIST Prestige Scholarship for International Ph.D. Students (KPS)
Eligible applicants to Master’s-PhD Integrated or PhD programmes may be considered for KPS.
Benefits include:
- Full tuition coverage.
- KRW 300,000 monthly stipend.
- Support for eight regular semesters for eligible PhD students.
Selection is based on outstanding academic and research achievements.
Who Can Apply?
The KAIST Scholarship is open to international applicants applying to eligible KAIST graduate programmes.
Applicants can apply for:
- Master’s programmes.
- Master’s-PhD Integrated programmes.
- PhD programmes.
Applicants must meet the academic and programme-specific admission requirements for their chosen department.
KAIST offers international graduate admission through Spring, Fall Early and Fall Regular tracks, although the programmes accepting applications can vary by admission cycle.
The general KAIST Scholarship is available across departments, except the Global Technology Innovation Program (GDI-GTIP Track).
Applicants should therefore confirm that their intended programme is accepting international students for the specific intake.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Choose Your Graduate Programme
Explore KAIST’s graduate programmes and identify the department and research area that match your academic background.
Step 2: Check the Admission Requirements
Review the specific requirements for your selected department and admission cycle.
Step 3: Prepare Your Documents
Prepare the required application materials, which may include academic transcripts, recommendation letters, identification documents and other programme-specific materials.
Step 4: Complete the Online Application
Create an account through the KAIST graduate application system and complete the relevant application sections.
Step 5: Select KAIST Scholarship as Your Funding Source
When completing the financial-resource section, select KAIST Scholarship if you are seeking KAIST funding.
There is no separate application for the general KAIST Scholarship.
Step 6: Submit the Application and Recommendation Letter
Complete the application and ensure that your recommender submits the recommendation by the applicable deadline.
For Spring 2027 admission, the online application closes on 1 September 2026 at 5:00 PM KST, while recommendation letters are due by 8 September 2026 at 6:00 PM KST.
Step 7: Await the Admission Decision
Eligible applicants are considered for scholarship support as part of the admission process.
Important Deadline
For Spring 2027 International Graduate Admission:
- Application period: 18 August – 1 September 2026
- Application deadline: 1 September 2026 at 5:00 PM KST
- Recommendation letter deadline: 8 September 2026 at 6:00 PM KST
For Fall 2027 admission, KAIST currently lists the application dates as To Be Announced (TBA).
Applicants should therefore check the official KAIST admission timeline before planning a Fall 2027 application.
Related Opportunities
- NUS IRIS Internship 2027 in Singapore — a funded international research opportunity for undergraduate and Master’s students.
- CERN Technical Studentship 2027 in Switzerland — a paid technical research opportunity for university students in engineering, computing and related fields.
- MITACS Globalink Internship 2027 in Canada — an international research internship opportunity for eligible undergraduate students.
Official Application Link
Official KAIST Graduate Admission Timeline:
Official KAIST Scholarship Information:
Official Graduate Application Portal:
Final Note from AK Travels LTD
The KAIST Scholarship is one of the major funding opportunities available to international graduate students in South Korea.
One important point applicants should understand is that there is no separate KAIST Scholarship application. Applicants select KAIST Scholarship as their financial resource during the graduate admission application, and eligible admitted students are considered for the relevant funding.
For Spring 2027, applications are currently open from 18 August to 1 September 2026, with recommendation letters due by 8 September 2026.
The general KAIST Scholarship provides full tuition coverage, national health insurance and a monthly stipend. Highly competitive Master’s and Master’s-PhD applicants may additionally be considered for KGPS, which provides a KRW 1,000,000 monthly stipend, while eligible doctoral applicants may be considered for KPS.
Applicants should not assume that every applicant receives the higher KGPS or KPS awards. These are competitive scholarship schemes with additional selection criteria.
For Fall 2027, KAIST has not yet published the application dates. Interested applicants should monitor the official admission timeline for the announcement.
Website: http://www.aktravelsltd.com
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