GKS (Global Korea Scholarship) - Undergraduate

Frequently Asked Questions

Planning to apply for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)? Our detailed FAQ page is your ultimate resource. We've compiled the most common questions and provided clear, comprehensive answers to help you navigate the application process with confidence. This page is designed to be a valuable resource for GKS applicants from any country, with a special focus on key information and specific queries relevant to students applying from India. Find everything you need to know about the GKS scholarship and maximize your application.

General GKS Information

What is the difference between Embassy track and University tracks?

Every country has a certain number of seat quota. 

Embassy Track: If you apply through Embassy track, your application is first processed by Korean embassy in India and embassy makes the first round of selections based on India’s quota, then selected students’ names are forwarded to NIIED which handles the second round and then the application goes to the universities of your choice where the third round of selections happen. In embassy track, you have the option to choose 2 or 3 universities.

University Track: If you apply through university track

What are the benefits of the GKS scholarship?

  • Full tuition fee
  • Monthly allowance
  • Free airfare (round trip)
  • Medical insurance
  • Settlement allowance
  • Korean language training for 1 year

When does GKS notification come out?

GKS-Undergraduate notifications come out in September every year. GKS-Graduate announcements come out in January-February every year.

Eligibility

I am expected to pass my 12th board exam after a few months? Can I apply?

-Yes, only if you can submit your 12th result within 31st December

I am already enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program. Can I still apply? 

-Yes. You can apply.

I already have a Bachelor’s Degree. Can I apply for GKS-U?

-No. You are not eligible.

I don’t have 80% marks in my 12th but I am in the top 20% in my class. Can I apply?

-Yes. Get a letter from your school to prove it. 

My marks in 10th are low. Can I apply?

-If your 12th marks or the average of 10th, 11th and 12th marks is 80% or above, yes you can apply.

My marks in 10th are low. Can I apply?

-If your 12th marks or the average of 10th, 11th and 12th marks is 80% or above, yes you can apply.

I have done my 12th from open school. Am I eligible to apply?

- Yes

I don’t have TOPIK or TOEFL or IELTS. Can I still apply?

-Yes. Certificates like TOPIK, TOEFL, IELTS give you some extra points but they are not mandatory.

Educational Documents

What is an academic transcript? Can I just submit my 12th board marksheet?

-In Korea, high school means the 3-year period starting from 10th to 12th. An academic transcript should ideally show your grades in all the exams conducted during this period. If you just have separate marksheets for 10th, 11th and 12th (or just 10th and 12th), you can request your school to issue a transcript. 

You can also get it made through some online site (just search on google) and get it printed, signed and stamped by the school. If that’s also not possible, just submit all your marksheets from 10th and 12th. 

NIIED is aware that every country may have a different education system and even a single country may have different exam, grading and certificate systems. They just want the grades of all the candidates to be on the same scale for better comparison and want to make sure that your documents are official.

Should I submit my 10th or 11th marksheets as well?

-Yes, you should submit all your important educational documents. Submitting these marksheets may not be necessary if you are submitting a transcript showing all your grades for 10th-12th. Otherwise it’s always better to submit all the educational certificates and marksheets.

How to Prepare the Transcript? 

-Mention all the results of the 10th, 11th and 12th grades with average of all the three on the school letter head. Get the principal’s signature.

I will be appearing in my board exams. How can I get the certificate of expected graduation?

-You need to consult with your school. They will provide you with the same.

My 12th Marksheet includes the marks of only top 4 or 5 subjects. Should I include just those subjects when preparing the transcript?

-You should include all the subjects that are included in your final grades officially. 

CGPA

The grades in my transcript/school report are different from the GPA scales in the guidelines. How should I submit my CGPA? Can I use the scores I converted from a grade conversion website such as scholaro.com?

If your grades do not belong to any of the GPA scales accepted by NIIED (4.0, 4.3, 4.5, 5.0 or 100 point scale), then you can convert your grades through a grade conversion tool such as scholaro.com. the converted CGPA must be officially acknowledged by your school. Please submit an official certificate or at least a testimonial issued by your school/university that confirms your converted grade. 

This supplementary document does not need to be apostilled but must be properly signed and stamped. The screening committee will determine whether your CGPA is eligible for the program or not based on the information you provide.

My academic transcript/school report only indicates CGPA and does not offer GPA by semester. What should I put in the application form?

If your transcript does not provide GPA of each semester/year, you do not need to fill in the box for each semester/year. However, you must put your CGPA or at least a score percentile of the entire curriculum period. If your transcript does not provide a score percentile, refer to Appendix A. GPA Conversion Table to convert your CGPA into a 100 point scale.

My marksheet/transcript shows a percentage and not CGPA. What to do?

CGPA is nothing but your final grades in a school/university course. Final grades in percentage is also CGPA. Percentage means your grades are already on a 100 scale which is accepted by NIIED.

Apostille

What documents do I need to apostille?

-Please check the document checklist in the guidelines which clearly mentions the documents required to be apostilled. The docs need to be apostilled are - All your educational certificates and marksheets, voter IDs, Birth Certificate.

Do I need to apostille the transcript I prepared and got stamped by school?

- Yes

Do I need to apostille the certificate of expected graduation?

- Yes

Do I need to apostille the certificate of extra-curricular activities, awards, volunteer/internship certificates etc.?

- Not Necessary

Do I need to apostille the passport?

- No

Do I need to apostille and send the original documents or photocopies?

-Apostille the notarized photocopies. You just need to give normal photocopies to the apostille agency. They will get the photocopies notarized first and then they will get them apostilled.

Citizenship and Parents Relationship Documents

What documents can we submit to prove citizenship and relationship with parents?

Any of the below combinations will work: 

  1. Your and parents’ Passport
  2. Your birth certificate and parents’ passports or voter id cards.
  3. Your and your parents’ voter ids.
  4. Nationality or domicile certificate from a govt. office.

I don’t have a passport? Is it mandatory?

- No, you can submit your voter id card.

I don’t have a birth certificate? Is it mandatory?

- No

The spelling of my name or my parent’s name is different in voter ID/birth certificate. What to do in this case?

-It is better to get an affidavit from a public notary explaining the discrepancy.