Applications are now open for the KOICA Scholarship Program (CIAT) for the 2025/2026 academic year. This fully-funded scholarship, offered by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is intended for government officials and professionals from partner countries who wish to enhance their expertise by pursuing a Master’s or Doctoral degree at prestigious South Korean universities.
As a key instrument of South Korea’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy, KOICA offers this scholarship to support human resource development and foster academic exchange. Since its establishment in 1991, the agency has worked to build strong cooperative ties with partner countries through programs such as this scholarship opportunity, which combines academic excellence with professional capacity-building.
Key Information About KOICA Scholarships
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Level of Study Covered: Master’s and Doctorate
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Funding: Fully funded (tuition, airfare, accommodation, insurance, etc.)
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Study Destination: South Korea
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Participating Universities: 5 leading South Korean universities
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Eligible Applicants: Citizens from specific partner countries
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Application Deadline: July 31, 2025 (may vary by country – applicants are advised to check with their local KOICA office or Korean embassy)
KOICA Scholarship Benefits
The KOICA Scholarship, fully funded by the South Korean government, provides comprehensive support to selected candidates. It covers not only academic expenses but also all essential needs during the study period in South Korea.
The scholarship covers the following:
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Full tuition waiver at participating universities
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Monthly allowance: Approximately 999,000 KRW (around USD 750) to cover daily living expenses
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Round-trip airfare (international transportation to and from the home country)
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Settlement allowance:
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600,000 KRW for Master’s students
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1,200,000 KRW for Doctoral candidates
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University dormitory accommodation
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National health insurance coverage for the entire duration of stay
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Support for academic and cultural activities (field visits, workshops, intercultural events, etc.)
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Graduation grant:
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300,000 KRW for Master’s graduates
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600,000 KRW for Doctoral graduates
Eligibility Criteria – KOICA Scholarship (CIAT)
To be eligible for the KOICA scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria set by the Korea International Cooperation Agency:
General Requirements:
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Be a citizen of an eligible country (see list below)
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Be in good physical and mental health to study abroad
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Be under the age of 40 as of February 1, 2025
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Have proficiency in English, the language of instruction
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Be a currently employed government official or professional, officially recommended by their government
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Have relevant professional experience:
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Minimum 2 years for Master’s programs
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Minimum 3 years for Doctoral programs
List of Eligible KOICA Partner Countries
Africa (38 countries): Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Central and South America (18 countries): Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname.
Asia (13 countries): Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam.
Pacific (11 countries): Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Middle East, CIS, and Eastern Europe (10 countries): Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
Eligible Programs Under the KOICA Scholarship (CIAT)
As part of its commitment to capacity-building in partner countries, the KOICA scholarship enables selected candidates to pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees in fields that support sustainable development.
Participating Programs and Universities:
Application Procedure for the KOICA Scholarship Program
To apply for the academic funding offered by KOICA, applicants must submit a complete application package to the local KOICA office or the Korean embassy in their country of residence. It is essential to observe the specific deadline for each country, which is generally before July 31, 2025.
As submission email addresses may vary by country, it is strongly recommended to directly contact the KOICA office or relevant embassy for accurate instructions. You can find the contact details for your country’s Korean embassy here:
https://www.mofa.go.kr/eng/nation/m_4902/list.do
Required Documents for KOICA Scholarship Application
Applicants must submit the following documents:
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Completed application form (KOICA form)
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Letter of recommendation issued by the relevant government authority (Ministry or agency in charge of cooperation or international scholarships)
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Scanned copy of a valid passport
Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the following:
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Strength of academic background
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Clarity of motivation
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Alignment between the selected program and the applicant’s professional goals
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Demonstrated commitment and engagement
Contacts and Useful Resources
Official page
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