KAIST International Scholarship

What the scholarship covers

• Full tuition waiver
• Monthly stipend for living expenses
• National health insurance coverage
• Korean language classes provided

Eligibility requirements

• Non-Korean citizenship, including both parents
• Relevant prior degree for the level applied to
• Strong record in mathematics and science subjects
• English proficiency: Korean is not required for most programmes

Documents you will need

• Online application through the KAIST portal
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates
• Statement of purpose and study plan
• Two letters of recommendation
• English proficiency certificate (TOEFL/IELTS)

How to apply, step by step

1. 1

   Choose your department and programme

   KAIST admits by department. Read the specific research groups before writing anything.

2. 2

   Check the intake you are applying for

   Spring and Fall intakes have separate deadlines several months apart.

3. 3

   Prepare the study plan

   Name the research areas and, ideally, the professors whose work you want to join.

4. 4

   Arrange recommendation letters

   Submitted online by the referees themselves, so give them the link early.

5. 5

   Submit the online application

   Scholarship consideration is part of the admission application, there is no separate form.

When to do what

Counting backwards from the deadline. Applications rushed in the final fortnight are the ones that fail.

1. 16 weeks before

   Research KAIST departments and identify target labs.

2. 12 weeks before

   Book TOEFL or IELTS if you have no valid score.

3. 10 weeks before

   Draft the statement of purpose and study plan.

4. 8 weeks before

   Request recommendation letters with the online link.

5. 5 weeks before

   Gather transcripts and degree certificates.

6. 2 weeks before

   Complete and submit the online application.

What the panel is actually looking for

• Academic record in mathematics and science
• Fit between your interests and the department's research
• Clarity of the study plan
• Strength of recommendation letters

Common mistakes to avoid

• A study plan that names no specific research area or professor.
• Missing that Spring and Fall intakes have entirely separate deadlines.
• Assuming a separate scholarship form exists when it is part of admission.
• Requesting recommendations too late for referees to submit online.

Fields of study