Applying for scholarships can be a daunting and arduous process. With a seemingly endless list of requirements and application materials, some may want to give up before they even try. That being said, a little persistence, patience, and a bit of confidence, can make returns from a lucrative scholarship invaluable. To put things into perspective, let’s say you need to spend six hours preparing an application for a scholarship worth W12 million (about $12,000).
With a record number of international college students coming to pursue their undergraduate degrees in Korea, universities here have stepped up their game to offer more scholarships aimed at attracting the world’s talented young minds. |
With a record number of international college students coming to pursue their undergraduate degrees in Korea, universities here have stepped up their game to offer more scholarships aimed at attracting the world’s talented young minds. Yonsei University offers a plethora of scholarships for full-time undergraduate students and language learners who are studying at the university’s Korean Language Institute. Many of Yonsei’s scholarships distribute funds according to academic performance.
On the premise that the scholarship is awarded, your six hours of work would yield an hourly return of over W2 million! With numbers like these, it’s no wonder that scholarship hunting has become a kind of sport these days. Fortunately, for students who plan on studying abroad in Korea, there is no shortage of scholarship opportunities to help relieve some of the financial burden that typically comes with scholarly pursuits.
Whether you are pursuing your undergraduate studies, a graduate degree, or a specialized field such as art, the government and universities here provide scholarship programs to fit the needs of students at any stage in their academic career.
For example, their “Eagle Scholarship,” which provides a full tuition scholarship until graduation, is awarded to first-year students who maintain a 3.5 GPA and are in the top 3% in their class. Sejong University has partial and full scholarship programs for international students. Sejong’s full scholarship pays for 100% of a student’s tuition fees for eight semesters, while the partial scholarships will cover either 40% or 60%. As with Yonsei University, Sejong’s scholarships are awarded to students who maintain high grades. However, anyone who is serious about their academic studies should have no problem keeping up with the GPA requirements.
Students who plan on attending postgraduate institutions can also receive substantial support from both universities and the government. Korea University’s Graduate School has stated that approximately 89% of admitted international students will receive financial aid in the form of scholarships.
They even provide job placement assistance along with financial aid. Many graduate program scholarships also offer subsidies or fee exemptions from the university’s Korean language programs. The Ministry of Education also runs a comprehensive scholarship program for graduate students that includes a round-trip airfare and monthly stipend. Students who possess high Korean language skills (TOPIK Level 5 or 6) are given additional funding.
Scholarships are also available for students in more specialized fields. The Korean National University of Arts’ “Art Major Asian Scholarship” provides students studying music, dance, fine arts, film, drama, traditional arts, and architecture with up to W18 million in yearly aid. This scholarship is more selective with only 20 eligible applicant countries and approximately 20 recipients.
For more information on scholarship programs, please visit the following homepages.
Seoul National University: useoul.edu
Korea University: korea.edu
Yonsei University: yonsei.ac.kr
Sejong University: eng.sejong.ac.kr
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies: international.hufs.ac.kr
Hanyang University: hanyang.ac.kr
Ewha Woman’s University: ewha.ac.kr
Pusan National University: english.pusan.ac.kr
Kaist: kaist.ac.kr
POSTECH: postech.ac.kr
National Institute for International Education: niied.go.kr
Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies: kfas.or.kr
Study in Korea Homepage: studyinkorea.go.kr