KOICA Scholarships in South Korea 2025

12 May 2025

492

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

Level of Study Covered: Master’s and Doctorate
Funding: Fully funded (tuition, airfare, accommodation, insurance, etc.)
Study Destination: South Korea
Participating Universities: 5 leading South Korean universities
Eligible Applicants: Citizens from specific partner countries
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:

Full tuition waiver at participating universities
Monthly allowance: Approximately 999,000 KRW (around USD 750) to cover daily living expenses
Round-trip airfare (international transportation to and from the home country)
Settlement allowance:
1. 600,000 KRW for Master’s students
2. 1,200,000 KRW for Doctoral candidates
University dormitory accommodation
National health insurance coverage for the entire duration of stay
Support for academic and cultural activities (field visits, workshops, intercultural events, etc.)
Graduation grant:
1. 300,000 KRW for Master’s graduates
2. 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:

Be a citizen of an eligible country (see list below)
Be in good physical and mental health to study abroad
Be under the age of 40 as of February 1, 2025
Have proficiency in English, the language of instruction
Be a currently employed government official or professional, officially recommended by their government
Have relevant professional experience:
1. Minimum 2 years for Master’s programs
2. 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:

Handong Global University
1. Master in e-Government and Public Management
2. PhD in e-Government and Public Management
Sungkyunkwan University
1. Master in e-Government and Public Management (2nd program)
Yonsei University
1. Master in Health Policy and Capacity Building
2. PhD in Health Policy and Capacity Building
KOICA (in partnership with selected Korean universities)
1. Master in Economic Development Policy for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth
2. PhD in Economic Development Policy for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth
3. Master in Capacity Building for Climate and Environmental Change Management

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:

Completed application form (KOICA form)
Letter of recommendation issued by the relevant government authority (Ministry or agency in charge of cooperation or international scholarships)
Scanned copy of a valid passport

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following:

Strength of academic background
Clarity of motivation
Alignment between the selected program and the applicant’s professional goals
Demonstrated commitment and engagement