GIST Scholarship 2027 in South Korea

GIST Scholarship 2027 Overview

The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology is accepting international graduate applications for Spring 2027. Applicants can seek admission to an M.S., Ph.D. or integrated M.S./Ph.D. program in science, engineering, artificial intelligence, biomedical science and other research-focused fields.

Direct answer: GIST fully supports the listed semester tuition and offers several monthly allowances and additional benefits. However, applicants should not assume that every personal expense is covered: housing carries fees and a deposit, and admitted students normally pay a one-time KRW 680,000 matriculation fee unless a hardship waiver is approved.

Who Can Apply for the GIST Scholarship 2027?

• International applicants seeking admission to an eligible GIST graduate program.
• Applicants for an M.S. or integrated M.S./Ph.D. route should be ready to document their undergraduate degree; Ph.D. applicants should document their relevant undergraduate and graduate studies.
• Expected graduates may submit an official expected-graduation letter when the final degree certificate is not yet available.
• Applicants must meet the English-language requirement or obtain GIST approval for an applicable exemption or conditional route.
• All academic records, recommendation letters and other required materials must be submitted through the process described by GIST before the deadline.

Admission remains competitive and department-specific. Meeting the minimum document or language standard does not guarantee admission.

English-language scores

GIST lists the following minimum scores: TOEFL iBT 80, TOEFL PBT 550, IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 750 or New TEPS 285.

Applicants who completed a bachelor’s degree or higher at an institution physically located in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States may request an exemption, but prior approval from GIST is required. If a test score cannot be provided for an unavoidable reason, GIST may consider a certificate stating that the applicant’s previous degree was taught in English; conditionally admitted students must provide an official score within six months after admission. GIST still strongly recommends an official score because immigration authorities may request it.

GIST Scholarship Funding and Benefits

• Tuition: KRW 3,607,000 per semester is fully supported for all students.
• Student allowance: KRW 140,000 per month for M.S. students and KRW 295,000 per month for Ph.D. students.
• Meal allowance: nearly KRW 100,000 per month.
• International-student allowance: KRW 120,000 per month.
• Research assistantship: GIST reports an average of KRW 6,400,000 per year for M.S. students and KRW 13,740,000 per year for Ph.D. students, based on 2022 figures and participation in a research project.
• Health support: 60% of the national health-insurance contribution plus an annual medical checkup.
• Travel: one-way flight reimbursement to South Korea for incoming international students, available for first-time use only.
• Housing: campus housing is available, but residence fees and a deposit apply.

The student and meal allowances require at least nine credits in the previous semester. The international-student allowance requires a previous-semester GPA of at least 3.0 on GIST’s 4.5 scale. Newly admitted students should confirm how the first-semester rules apply.

Available Degree Programs

GIST lists M.S., Ph.D. and integrated M.S./Ph.D. study routes across the following schools and departments:

• 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, and AI Policy and Strategy
• Integrated Neuroscience and Physiology
• Mathematical Sciences — M.S. route only

Check the official program page and the relevant department before selecting a degree. Research fit should guide the choice of laboratory and program.

Required Documents

• Completed online application.
• Official degree certificates and transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate study.
• An official expected-graduation letter if the final degree is still pending.
• The grading scale used by each institution that issued a transcript.
• Two recommendation letters submitted electronically by the referees.
• An official English-language test score or approved alternative documentation.
• A copy of the applicant’s passport.

Optional supporting items can include a matriculation-fee-waiver request, an English-medium-of-instruction certificate, a university profile and evidence of honors or awards. Follow the official document format and upload rules exactly.

How to Apply

1. Review the official degree programs and identify the best academic and research match.
2. Open the GIST international graduate application portal and complete the online form.
3. Pay the required application fee. The amount was not stated on the official pages reviewed for this guide, so confirm it inside the application portal before payment.
4. Upload every required academic, identity and English-language document.
5. Enter two referees. After the application fee is paid, recommendation requests are handled electronically through the GIST process using Google Forms.
6. Monitor the email address used in the application for document requests, interview instructions or an admission decision.
7. If admitted, accept the offer, submit enrollment documents and pay or request a waiver of the matriculation fee.
8. Provide apostilled or Korean-embassy-authenticated original academic certificates within 10 days after enrollment, then complete the visa process.

ScholarshipHubNow never charges an application fee. Any fee shown inside the official GIST portal is charged by the institution or its application provider.

Important Dates

Spring 2027 admission

• Application period: September 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. to October 7, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. KST.
• Admission-result announcement: December 4, 2026.
• Enrollment deadline: January 4, 2027.

Fall 2027 admission

• Application period: March 9, 2027 at 10:00 a.m. to April 8, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. KST.

GIST marks the schedule as subject to change. Applicants outside South Korea should convert the deadline from Korea Standard Time and avoid leaving uploads or recommendation letters until the final day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GIST Scholarship 2027 fully funded?

GIST fully supports the listed tuition and provides monthly allowances, research-assistantship opportunities, insurance support and a one-way flight reimbursement. Housing fees, a housing deposit, personal costs and the one-time matriculation fee can still apply, so the package should not be described as covering every expense automatically.

What is the Spring 2027 application deadline?

The official deadline is October 7, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Korea Standard Time. The online application and required materials should be complete before that time.

Does GIST accept IELTS?

Yes. GIST lists a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. It also accepts TOEFL iBT 80, TOEFL PBT 550, TOEIC 750 or New TEPS 285, subject to the current official admission rules.

How many recommendation letters are required?

Two recommendation letters are required. Referees submit them electronically after the application-fee step through the process specified by GIST.

Is there a GIST application fee?

Yes, the official procedure requires payment of an application fee. The official public pages reviewed for this article did not state the amount, so applicants should verify it in the application portal instead of relying on an unofficial figure.

Where can I verify the scholarship details?

Use the official GIST pages for the admission schedule, application procedure, required documents, degree programs and financial support.

Related Scholarships and Fellowships

• Humboldt Research Fellowship 2027 in Germany
• Rhodes Scholarship 2027 for U.S. Applicants