The Korea Foundation

Program Outline

The KF Scholarship for Graduate Studies (GS) program aims to foster a new generation of Korean studies scholars by providing scholarship support to students who are currently enrolled in an M.A. or Ph.D. program in Korean studies.

Eligible Applicants

◾ M.A. or Ph.D. students currently enrolled in graduate programs at a university located outside Korea (as of September 2023) and focusing on a Korea-related topic in the humanities, social sciences, arts, or cultural studies, and who do not already hold a doctorate.*

* Excluded programs: natural sciences, medicine, engineering, MBA, law school, translation and interpretation. 

◾ Hold citizenship or permanent residency status in a country outside Korea.*
*Applicants must already have obtained permanent residency status as of March 2023.

Number of Available Scholarships

Approx. 45

Grant Period

1 year (April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2024)

Grant Amount

◾ M.A. students: ¥700,000 per year

◾ Ph.D. students: ¥1,200,000 per year

Application Schedule

◾ Application submission period: March 15 to April 25, 2023 (18:00 KST)

-      Please be aware that the deadline for reference submissions is 18:00 KST on April 28, 2023. After that, letters of reference can no longer be submitted.

◾ Notification of acceptance: By the end of June 2023

-       Please note that the notification date is subject to change without prior notice.

Required Documents

1. Online Application (https://apply.kf.or.kr/)

2. Supplemental Materials (uploaded together with the online application)

 ① Research proposal (must not exceed 3 pages)

-       Download and fill out the Foundation’s research proposal form (attached) and then upload the completed form to the Online Application Portal. Please attach a separate bibliography.

-       Applicants who are applying for a second to fourth scholarship period should describe the progress made during the previous scholarship period, and include a thesis abstract.

②   Academic transcript

◾ Master’s level: Academic transcript of undergraduate degree.

-  Applicants who are applying for a second scholarship period are only required to submit the academic transcripts of the previous scholarship period.

    ◾ Doctoral level: Academic transcripts of master’s degree and undergraduate degree.

   -  Applicants who are applying for a second to fourth scholarship period are only required to submit their doctoral transcripts.

 ③ Curriculum vitae

◾ Information about educational experience (including the title of scholarship recipients’ thesis), professional experience, previously awarded scholarships and grants, and a list of research accomplishments and publications.

 ④ Three (3) letters of reference*

   ◾Dissertation/Thesis supervisor: 1 reference** 

   ◾A professor who is qualified to assess your research proposal: 1 reference 

   ◾An individual who is able to verify your Korean language competency: 1 reference

*Applicants should contact their referees before completing the application process. The KF Online Application Portal will automatically send an email to the referees provided in the application. The email will request that the referees write a letter of reference, and upload it onto the KF Online Application Portal. Please be aware that the deadline for reference submissions is Friday, April 28, 2023 (18:00 KST).

**Applicants who are applying for a second to fourth scholarship period are only required to submit one reference from their dissertation/thesis supervisor.

⑤ Proof of nationality or permanent residency

- passport, picture ID indicating nationality, residency permit, etc.

How to apply

Click on the “Apply” button at the bottom of this program announcement and complete the online application form.

The “Apply” button is only activated during the application period March 15, 2023, to April 25, 2023 (18:00 KST).

-        The application form and all other required documentation must be submitted in Korean or English. However, the research proposal (7. Study/Research Proposal) can be written in Japanese.

-        As system errors may occur at the end of the application period due to heavy web traffic, please submit your application as soon as possible. If you cannot submit your application by the due date, even if caused by a system error, the KF cannot guarantee that it will be accepted.

Important Reminders on Application Process

◾ M.A. students are eligible for funding from the GS program for up to two years. Ph.D.

students are eligible for funding from the GS program for up to four years.

◾ Applicants must reside in the country of the university at which they are registered.

◾ Scholarship recipients may not hold concurrent scholarships from either the

Foundation or any other Korean third-party institution.

◾ Enrollment may not be deferred to the following year.

◾ Scholarship recipients must enroll in the program applied to at the semester indicated on the application. In the case that recipients leave the university during the scholarship period, the scholarship grant must be immediately returned to the Foundation.

◾ Scholarships shall be awarded in two installments, as follows:

- 80 percent of the total grant shall be disbursed when all required documents are submitted, and enrollment at the university is confirmed.

- The remaining 20 percent of the total grant shall be disbursed when the final report is appropriately submitted and reviewed by the KF.

◾ The university’s scholarship administrator will be notified of the final selection results through the email address indicated on the application form.

◾ All personal information contained in the application form will only be used for the

program’s purposes. By submitting your application, you agree to the collection of your personal information by the KF.

◾ Starting with the 2024 academic year, this scholarship program will merge with the general KF Scholarship for Graduate Studies program. The application window will open in the second half of 2023, without separate application procedures for the applicants at institutions in Japan.

Responsibilities of Scholarship Recipients

1. Submission of a report

Scholarship recipients are required to submit a report within one month of the end of the scholarship period, detailing the progress made during this period. The report must be drafted and submitted using the KF’s report form.

2. Further reporting requirements

Scholarship recipients, upon obtaining their degree, are required to submit a copy of their MA thesis or PhD dissertation to the Foundation.*

*The Korea Foundation will monitor scholarship recipients’ research progress annually for three years following the conclusion of the scholarship period. Scholarship recipients who do not fulfill their responsibilities will not be eligible for future support from the Korea Foundation.

3. Recommended Participation in Events by the KF Tokyo Office

Every year, the KF’s Tokyo office conducts workshops for scholarship recipients, and students who receive scholarship support are encouraged to participate in the Foundation’s events that are held in Japan. (Support for travel expenses is available.)

Further Inquiries

◾ Program inquiries (English/Korean): scholarship@kf.or.kr

◾ Program inquiries (Japanese): kftokyo@kf.or.kr (KF Tokyo office)

◾ Questions regarding the KF Online Application Portal: tech-support@kf.or.kr