Korea GKS and Japan MEXT Scholarships: eligibility and how to apply

Short answer: GKS (South Korea) and MEXT (Japan) are government scholarships that cover tuition, a monthly stipend and often language preparation. In both cases you apply through an embassy or a university. Exact conditions are updated every year, so check the official announcement.

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GKS (Global Korea Scholarship)

GKS is the Korean government scholarship covering bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. Key features:

• support for tuition, a monthly allowance, airfare and medical insurance (amounts vary by year);
• usually one year of Korean language training before the degree;
• two routes: the Embassy track (through the Korean embassy) and the University track (directly through a university).

Applicants need strong academic results; age limits and GPA requirements are listed in each year's announcement. The embassy track often opens early in the year and the university track in the second half, but dates change.

MEXT (Japanese Government Scholarship)

MEXT is the Japanese Ministry of Education's scholarship. The most common route is Embassy recommendation: you apply to the Japanese embassy and, after initial selection, documents are forwarded to Japan. Categories include research students, undergraduates, colleges of technology and specialised training colleges.

• tuition exemption;
• a monthly allowance;
• airfare support (subject to conditions);
• Japanese language preparation when needed.

For master's and PhD applicants in the research student category, contact with a potential supervisor and a research plan are essential.

GKS vs MEXT at a glance

Criteria	GKS (Korea)	MEXT (Japan)
Levels	Bachelor's, master's, PhD	Bachelor's, research student, master's, PhD
Routes	Embassy and University track	Embassy and University recommendation
Language preparation	Usually 1 year of Korean	Often Japanese preparation
Selection	Documents, grades, interview	Documents, written exam, interview, research plan

Preparing your documents

1. Passport and previous education documents (apostille and notarised translation requirements are listed in the announcement).
2. Transcript and GPA.
3. Motivation letter and study plan.
4. Two recommendation letters (especially for master's and PhD).
5. Language proof: IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught programmes; TOPIK and JLPT are helpful for Korean and Japanese.
6. Medical certificate.

Take the motivation part seriously. Our guides on writing a motivation letter and requesting recommendation letters will help.

Approximate preparation timeline

When	What to do
6-9 months before	Watch for the expected announcement and quota; choose subject and university
3-6 months before	Language certificate, recommendation letters, motivation letter
Announcement period	Complete and submit the full set of documents
After the result	Visa, language preparation, departure

Common mistakes

• Waiting for the announcement before starting. Notarisation and apostille take time.
• Relying on one scholarship only. Track others in parallel: master's scholarships 2027, Stipendium Hungaricum.
• Writing a generic research plan.

FAQ

Do I need Korean or Japanese?

Many programmes do not require it at the start because a language year is included. English-taught programmes may still need English proof.

Can I apply to both in the same year?

Usually yes, as they are separate bodies. Check each announcement.

Is a bachelor's degree possible?

Yes, both have an undergraduate category, but age and education requirements are strict.

Let's choose together

EDDE Global has supported students since 2018 with choosing a country, university and scholarship. Book a free consultation or start with our major selection test.

Note: terms, quotas and dates can change every year. For official and up-to-date information, check the embassy and university websites of Korea and Japan.