The application is now open for the 2026 GIST Master’s and PhD Scholarships, available to international applicants in South Korea. The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) offers nearly 300 scholarships at the Master’s, Ph.D., and Integrated MS/Ph. D. levels in various disciplines to international students.

The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is one of the best research and technology hubs in South Korea. It provides world-class education and research to help students advance their research skills and leadership tools. So, if you are interested in studying at such an institution, begin your journey toward esteemed education!

Key Details

• Application Period (Spring): September 2, 10:00 – October 2, 17:00 (KST)
• Application Period (Fall): March 10, 10:00 – April 10, 17:00 (KST)
• Examination of Documents: 15 days
• Documents Review: 30 days
• Notification of Admission Result (Spring): December 4, 2025
• Notification of Admission Result (Fall): June 4, 2026
• Enrollment Deadline (Spring): January 5, 2026
• Enrollment Deadline (Fall): July 6, 2026
• Host Country: South Korea
• Host Institution: Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST)
• Study Levels: MS, Ph.D., and Integrated MS/Ph.D. Degree
• Fields of Study: Almost all fields
• Funding Type: Fully-Funded
• Duration of Scholarship:
  • Master’s program: 2 years
  • Ph.D. Programs: 4 years

Scholarship Benefits

The GIST Master and PhD Scholarships provide all expenses, including the following items:

• Tuition fee of 3,607,000 KRW/semester (100% coverage)
• Living allowance (140,000 KRW/month for master’s and 295,000 KRW/month for PhD
• International student allowance: 120,000 KRW/month
• Meal allowance (special for international students) 100,000 KRW/month
• Health insurance (60%) and yearly medical checkups
• Research assistance for those who participate in research projects (6,400,000 KRW per year for M.S. and 13,740,000 KRW per year for Ph.D.)
• Flight reimbursement for incoming international students (one-way flight to Korea)

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List of Degree-Offering Schools at GIST

Applicants can apply for the following degree programs offered by the GIST:

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical and Robotics Engineering
• Environment and Energy Engineering
• Life Sciences
• Physics and Photon Science
• Chemistry
• Biomedical Science and Engineering
• AI Convergence
• Semiconductor Engineering
• AI Policy and Strategy

Eligibility Criteria for the GIST Scholarship

Applicants should meet the following requirements to apply for the GIST Scholarship:

• Open to international students of any nationality
• For master’s degree programs, applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Applicants applying for Ph.D. programs should have a master’s degree or equivalent.
• Provide evidence of English language proficiency in one of the internationally recognized tests, such as the TOEFL iBT 80, TOEFL PBT 550, IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 750, or NEW TEPs 285.

Required Documents

Applicants should provide the following documents:

• Online application form
• Official transcripts and the degree of previous study
• Two letters of recommendation (directly from the recommender)
• Valid English proficiency certificate
• Scanned copy of the passport
• A letter of recommendation for a Matriculation fee waiver (Download the format)
• Certificate of English language proficiency from the applicant’s last home institution

How to Apply?

All international graduate students are automatically granted GIST scholarships without requiring a separate application process. To apply for admission, please click the link below:

Apply Now

Please review this guideline for application guides. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the university’s International Admissions Coordinator via email at admis@gist.ac.kr.

Visit the website of GIST for detailed information about the 2026 GIST Scholarships in South Korea.

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