Fully Funded KDI School Scholarships for Master’s and PhD Programs in South Korea 2027
Applicant criteria
- No specific age required
- Both
Opportunity criteria
Opportunity description
KDI School of Public Policy and Management in South Korea has opened applications for international students seeking admission to its master’s and doctoral programs for the Spring 2027 intake. The school offers a wide range of fully funded scholarships in public policy, development, public management, intellectual property, and data science.
All admitted students are automatically considered for KDI School scholarships, and most international students receive 100% funding based on the decision of the admissions committee. Internal scholarships generally include a full tuition waiver, a monthly living allowance, and other forms of institutional support. No separate scholarship application is required, as the type of funding is determined and announced together with the admission result.
This opportunity is considered one of the leading fully funded master’s and doctoral scholarships in South Korea. It is open to applicants of all nationalities, including students from all Arab countries, provided they meet the academic and language admission requirements. Admission, however, does not automatically guarantee a scholarship, as funding decisions are based on the strength of the applicant’s academic and professional profile and a comprehensive evaluation of the application.
Master’s Programs
- Master of Public Policy – MPP.
- Master of Development Policy – MDP.
- Master of Public Management – MPM.
- Master in Intellectual Property and Development Policy – MIPD.
- Master of Data Science for Public Policy and Management – MDS.
Benefits
- Full tuition waiver through the school’s internal scholarships.
- Monthly living allowance.
- Additional institutional support, depending on the scholarship.
- Possible coverage of airfare under selected special scholarships.
- The opportunity to study in South Korea within an international academic environment.
- Access to specialized programs in policy, development, management, and data science.
- Learning from academics and experts in development and public policy.
- Building an international network with students, government officials, and researchers from different countries.
- Programs taught in English.
- The possibility of completing certain master’s programs in approximately 18 months.
- Opportunities to participate in research and academic and professional activities.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must:
- Be international students who do not hold Korean citizenship.
- Not hold dual citizenship that includes Korean nationality.
- Ensure that both the applicant and their parents are non-Korean citizens, with documents proving nationality and family relationships submitted when required.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university to apply for a master’s program.
- Hold both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from recognized institutions to apply for a doctoral program.
- Have officially graduated and obtained the relevant degree certificate before submitting the application, except for certain graduates of Korean or Japanese universities under the applicable regulations.
- Submit all required academic and professional documents.
- Meet the English language proficiency requirements.
- Not have previously received a Korean government scholarship, including a KDI School scholarship, for the same academic degree level.
- Meet the specific requirements of any external scholarship selected.
English Language Requirements
Applicants must submit a valid score from one of the following tests:
- TOEFL iBT: minimum score of 72.
- IELTS: minimum score of 6.0.
- OPIc: minimum level of IM3.
- TEPS: minimum score of 286.
- Duolingo English Test: minimum score of 100.
Required Documents
Applicants must submit:
- A completed online admission application.
- A Statement of Purpose.
- A recent formal photograph.
- A valid copy of the applicant’s passport.
- The online questionnaire available on the application platform.
- Two electronic recommendation letters.
- A valid English language test result.
- A bachelor’s degree certificate and academic transcript for master’s applicants.
- Bachelor’s and master’s degree certificates and academic transcripts for doctoral applicants.
- Proof of employment for applicants who include professional experience in their application.
- A research proposal for doctoral applicants.
- An academic writing sample in English for doctoral applicants, optional.
- A GRE score, optional.
- Documents proving nationality and family relationships, when required.
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