KAIST Scholarship 2027 in South Korea: Fully Funded Undergraduate Scholarship for International Students
Are you a Nigerian student looking for a fully funded undergraduate scholarship abroad? Do you want to study science, technology, engineering, mathematics or another related field at one of South Korea’s leading universities?
The KAIST Scholarship 2027 could be an excellent opportunity to consider.
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) offers a scholarship to eligible international undergraduate students. The scholarship provides full tuition exemption for up to eight semesters, a monthly living allowance of KRW 350,000 and national health insurance.
For students searching from Abuja, Nigeria, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Ibadan and other African cities, this is an opportunity to study in South Korea without paying the regular undergraduate tuition fees if selected for admission and the scholarship.
What Is the KAIST Scholarship?
The KAIST Scholarship is financial support provided by KAIST for eligible international undergraduate students.
Unlike many scholarships where students first gain admission and then compete separately for funding, KAIST’s undergraduate scholarship is integrated into the international admission process.
According to KAIST, international applicants should select “KAIST Scholarship” in the Statement of Financial Resources section of the online admission application. There is no separate scholarship application process.
This makes the opportunity particularly attractive to students who are looking for a fully funded undergraduate scholarship in South Korea.
What Does the KAIST Scholarship Cover?
The current KAIST scholarship information lists three major benefits.
1. Full tuition exemption
The scholarship provides a 100% tuition fee exemption for eight semesters.
This means an eligible scholarship recipient can have undergraduate tuition covered for up to four years, subject to the scholarship’s conditions.
2. Monthly living allowance
KAIST provides:
KRW 350,000 per month
This is intended to help students with living expenses while studying at KAIST.
3. Health insurance
The scholarship also includes medical/national health insurance according to KAIST’s scholarship information.
The combination of tuition exemption, monthly stipend and health insurance makes this one of the more attractive undergraduate scholarships for international students in South Korea.
Who Can Apply for the KAIST Scholarship?
The scholarship is designed for applicants applying through the KAIST International Student Admission route.
KAIST’s current eligibility requirements for the 2027 undergraduate intake state that applicants must meet the relevant high-school graduation requirements.
For Spring 2027, applicants must have graduated or be scheduled to graduate from high school by February 28, 2027.
For Fall 2027, applicants must have graduated or be scheduled to graduate by August 31, 2027.
Applicants must also meet KAIST’s nationality requirements.
Generally, international applicants must hold foreign citizenship, and applicants with Korean citizenship, including dual Korean citizenship, are not eligible to apply as international students. Applicants of Korean origin have additional education requirements.
Can Nigerians Apply?
Yes.
Nigerian citizens can apply through KAIST’s international undergraduate admission route, provided they meet the university’s academic and eligibility requirements.
The same applies to eligible applicants from other African countries.
Therefore, if you are searching for:
- KAIST scholarship for Nigerians
- South Korea scholarships for Nigerian students
- Fully funded undergraduate scholarships for Africans
- Undergraduate scholarships in South Korea
- Scholarships for African students to study abroad
the KAIST Scholarship is an opportunity worth investigating.
What Can You Study at KAIST?
KAIST is particularly well known for science, technology, engineering and research.
One interesting feature of the undergraduate system is that students enter without a declared major and can choose their major after their freshman year. KAIST states that there is no quota for each department or major when students make their choice.
This can be particularly attractive to students who are interested in areas such as:
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Biological Sciences
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Materials Science
- Industrial Design
- Business and Technology
Applicants should check KAIST’s current undergraduate program information to confirm the available programs and any program-specific requirements.
KAIST Scholarship Requirements
Getting the scholarship is closely connected to gaining admission to KAIST.
Applicants should therefore prepare a strong academic and personal application.
The application generally requires materials such as:
- Online application form
- High school academic transcript
- Recommendation letter
- Proof of nationality
- Statement of financial resources
- English proficiency evidence where applicable
- Standardized test results, if available
- Honors and awards, if applicable
- High school profile
KAIST’s recent international undergraduate guidelines identify the application form, recommendation letter, high school/university transcript and nationality documentation among the required materials. Standardized test scores and honors can be submitted where applicable.
KAIST also states that an interview is not mandatory for every applicant. Applicants who need an interview will be contacted individually.
Does KAIST Require SAT or IELTS?
This is a question many Nigerian applicants ask.
KAIST’s recent international undergraduate guidelines list standardized tests such as SAT, AP, IB and GCE A-Level as possible supporting materials, with standardized test scores described as optional/recommended rather than universally mandatory in the cited guideline.
For English proficiency, KAIST’s recent guideline recommends strong English proficiency and gives examples including:
- TOEFL iBT
- IELTS
- TOEIC
However, applicants should carefully check the latest admission guide for their specific intake, because requirements and accepted exemptions can change.
Do not rely solely on information from scholarship blogs when preparing your application.
How to Apply for the KAIST Scholarship 2027
The application process is relatively straightforward because there is no separate scholarship application.
Step 1: Check your eligibility
First, confirm that you qualify for KAIST International Undergraduate Admission.
Check your expected high-school graduation date and nationality requirements.
Step 2: Prepare your documents
Start preparing your academic transcripts, recommendation letter, passport or nationality documentation, English-language evidence and other supporting materials.
Step 3: Complete the KAIST online application
Create an account through the appropriate KAIST international undergraduate application portal when the relevant application window opens.
Step 4: Select KAIST Scholarship
When completing the Statement of Financial Resources, select:
KAIST Scholarship
KAIST states that there is no separate scholarship application.
Step 5: Pay the application fee
Applicants should follow the instructions in the current admission guide regarding the application fee and payment process.
Step 6: Upload your documents
Upload all required documents before the document-submission deadline.
Your recommender must also complete the recommendation process within the specified period.
Step 7: Monitor your application
Continue checking your application status and email for any communication from KAIST.
If KAIST determines that an interview is necessary, the university will contact you.
KAIST Scholarship Application Deadline 2027
This is an important point for applicants.
KAIST has Early and Regular admission tracks for international undergraduate applicants. The university’s currently indexed calendar page displays the previous 2026 admission timeline, while its current eligibility page already provides the eligibility dates for Spring 2027 and Fall 2027.
Therefore, applicants should not assume that the previous year’s deadline is the 2027 deadline.
For CLACACHI readers, the safest approach is:
Check the official KAIST International Undergraduate Admission Calendar before submitting your application.
The official KAIST admissions website is the authoritative source for the 2027 application opening and closing dates.
Where to Apply for the KAIST Scholarship from Nigeria
You can apply online from Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Ibadan or anywhere else in Nigeria.
There is no requirement to travel to South Korea just to submit the initial application.
Direct official application page
KAIST International Undergraduate Admissions
From the KAIST international undergraduate page, applicants can access:
- Eligibility requirements
- Online application
- Application guidelines
- Admission calendar
- Recommendation letter information
- Scholarship information
- Admission decisions
How Much Money Does KAIST Scholarship Provide?
The current KAIST undergraduate scholarship provides:
| Benefit | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 100% tuition exemption |
| Living allowance | KRW 350,000/month |
| Health insurance | Provided |
| Scholarship duration | Up to 8 semesters |
KAIST’s current cost-of-attendance page also shows the scholarship covering the full listed tuition amount for four years once admitted, while the monthly stipend is calculated at KRW 350,000 × 12 months.
Students should understand, however, that “fully funded” does not necessarily mean every personal expense is paid by the university. Housing, food, transportation, flights, visa-related expenses and other personal costs may still need to be managed within the scholarship and the student’s additional resources.
Scholarship Renewal Requirement
Receiving the scholarship is not simply a one-time guarantee with no conditions.
KAIST states that students must maintain a GPA above 2.7 out of 4.3 after their freshman year to continue receiving the scholarship.
This means students should be prepared to maintain good academic performance throughout their studies.
Why Nigerian Students Should Consider KAIST
For ambitious Nigerian students interested in STEM and technology, KAIST provides an opportunity to study in South Korea at a highly research-focused institution.
The university’s strengths in science and technology make it particularly relevant for students interested in:
Artificial Intelligence • Computer Science • Engineering • Robotics • Data Science • Biotechnology • Physics • Mathematics • Technology
For a student who cannot afford international undergraduate tuition, the combination of full tuition exemption + monthly stipend + health insurance can make studying at KAIST significantly more accessible.
Final Advice for Applicants
If you are currently in secondary school or have recently completed your secondary education in Nigeria and want to study abroad, don’t wait until the application portal opens before preparing.
Start now by:
- Improving your academic results.
- Preparing your academic transcripts.
- Identifying a strong recommender.
- Preparing your passport/nationality documents.
- Building a record of academic achievements.
- Gathering relevant awards and extracurricular achievements.
- Checking English-language requirements.
- Reviewing the latest KAIST admission guide.
- Monitoring the official 2027 application calendar.
Remember that admission comes first. KAIST states that international applicants who are admitted and selected for the scholarship receive the KAIST Scholarship automatically; there is no separate scholarship application.
Ready to Apply for the KAIST Scholarship?
If you are a Nigerian or African student looking for a fully funded undergraduate scholarship in South Korea, KAIST should be on your list.
The scholarship can provide full tuition coverage for up to eight semesters, KRW 350,000 monthly living expenses and health insurance.
Don’t wait until the application deadline.
Click Here to Apply>>> https://admission.kaist.ac.kr/intl-undergraduate?
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