KDI School Scholarship 2027 in South Korea | Tuition + Stipend

Last checked: 5 November 2026

You want a funded Master’s in Asia, but every deadline seems to close before you find it. On top of that, many students read old posts with the wrong dates. That is why so many people search for the KDI School Scholarship 2027 and still feel lost.

The KDI School Scholarship 2027 is the funding that comes with admission to the KDI School of Public Policy and Management in Sejong, South Korea. Most admitted international students get a full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. Also, you do not fill in a separate scholarship form.

However, timing matters. KDI School has closed the Spring 2027 round, and the KDI School Fall 2027 scholarship works in a different way. This guide uses the official KDI School guideline and notices, and it covers the KDI Global Ambassador Scholarship too.

Quick Answer: The KDI School Scholarship 2027 supports international Master’s and PhD students in public policy at KDI School in South Korea. KDI School considers every admitted student automatically, and most receive a full tuition waiver plus a monthly stipend. The Spring 2027 round closed on 14 August 2026. For Fall 2027, expect partner routes such as ADB-KFP and GKS, with deadlines between February and April 2027.

Details About the KDI School Scholarship 2027

• Host: KDI School of Public Policy and Management (KDIS)
• Location: Sejong City, South Korea
• Degree level: Master’s and PhD
• Programs: MPP, MDP, MPM, MIPD, MDS and PhD in Public Policy or Development Policy
• Language: English
• Funding: Full tuition waiver and monthly stipend for most admitted students
• How to Apply: Direct online application at apply.kdischool.ac.kr. Partner routes such as GKS and ADB-KFP have extra rules, and some need nomination.
• Intakes: Spring (February start) and Fall (September start)
• Spring 2027 status: Closed. KDI School released the final results on 19 October 2026.
• Deadline: Fall 2027 not confirmed on the official page. Fall 2026 routes closed between 27 February and 1 April 2026 (18:00 KST).

Also check: GKS Korea Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Study in Korea

Benefits

• Full tuition waiver: All internal KDIS awards include a full tuition waiver, according to the Spring 2027 guideline.
• Monthly stipend: Internal awards also pay a monthly stipend and other institutional support. Past KDI School notices listed about KRW 1,000,000 a month for Master’s students, but the 2027 guideline does not state an amount.
• Round-trip airfare: The ADB-KFP route adds round-trip airfare to the tuition waiver and stipend.
• Health insurance: KDI School also registers admitted students for Korea’s National Health Insurance.
• Short Master’s: Most Master’s programs take about 1.5 years, and early graduation is possible with a high GPA.
• One application: Instead of a separate form, the funding decision comes with your admission result.

Funding Routes for 2027

KDI School offers internal and partner awards. For example, the table below shows the main routes and who they suit. However, partner terms can change, as the school notes in its guideline.

Is the Global Ambassador Award Open for Fall 2027?

The Global Ambassador Scholarship (GAS) is KDI School’s internal award, now listed in the guideline as the KDIS Scholarship. Many websites say GAS is open for both Spring and Fall 2027. In fact, that is not what KDI School says.

In its January 2026 notice, KDI School stated that internal awards such as GAS and G20 would not run for the Fall 2026 semester. Fall applicants could only use ADB-KFP and GKS. For Spring 2027, the internal award was open, and that round closed on 14 August 2026. So, if you want GAS, plan for the Spring 2028 round, which should open around August 2027.

What It Does NOT Cover

• Airfare on internal awards: The Spring 2027 guideline lists airfare only for some partner routes, not for the internal KDIS award.
• Housing: The guideline does not say the internal award pays for a dormitory.
• Part-time study: The part-time Master’s gives no student visa and no financial support.
• Long PhD stays: Beyond the fourth academic year, stipend support is not guaranteed.
• Side income: Full-time students cannot take any job during their stay.

Also check: Seoul National University Scholarships 2027 in South Korea

Eligibility for the KDI School Scholarship 2027

• Nationality: You must be a foreign national, and both your parents must be foreign nationals.
• Master’s: You need a completed Bachelor’s degree of at least three years.
• PhD: You need both a Bachelor’s (three years or more) and a Master’s degree.
• Graduated already: You must hold an official graduation certificate before you apply. However, only graduates of Korean or Japanese universities may apply as expected graduates.
• English test: You need a valid score, unless you are a national of, or studied in, a majority English-speaking country.
• ODA status: KDI School publishes a list of ODA recipient and non-recipient countries for eligibility. For example, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt are all on the recipient list.

Who Is NOT Eligible

• Dual citizens who hold Korean nationality.
• Anyone who already received a Korean government scholarship (including from KDI School) for the same degree level.
• Applicants who cannot show an approved English test score. Besides, KDI School does not accept a Medium of Instruction letter.
• ADB-KFP applicants who are over 35, have under three years of government work, or live and work outside their home country.

Be Realistic About Your Chances

KDI School does not publish an acceptance rate, so treat any number you see online with care. Still, the process is selective. First, the school reviews your documents, and then only shortlisted applicants get a Zoom interview.

Work experience also matters. For instance, KDI School asks for an employment certificate on its own form, and the ADB-KFP and Hyundai CMK routes are only for public officials. Therefore, a fresh graduate with no work history should apply, but also keep a backup plan such as GKS or a university scholarship.

Also check: GIST Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded MS and PhD in South Korea

Required Documents

• Online application and online Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Passport-size photo (35×45 mm, JPG, under 3MB)
• Copy of passport, valid until at least January 2028 for Master’s or December 2030 for PhD
• Online survey (first step in the system)
• Two online recommendation letters, sent by your recommenders before the deadline
• English test score report
• Official degree certificate(s) and full transcripts
• Employment verification on the KDI School form, if you have work experience
• Dissertation research proposal on the official template (PhD only)
• Optional for PhD: English writing sample and GRE score

How Do I Prove English Proficiency?

In total, KDI School accepts five tests. However, you must take the test within two years of the deadline.

Can I Apply Without IELTS?

Yes, but only if you are a national of, or earned your degree in, a majority English-speaking country such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia or Jamaica. Otherwise, you need one of the five tests above. KDI School is clear that a Medium of Instruction certificate is not accepted, so posts that promise a KDI scholarship without IELTS for all applicants are wrong. For most students, Duolingo (100) is also the cheapest option.

How Do I Legalize My Degree?

After you get an offer, you must Apostille or consular-certify your Bachelor’s degree certificate before you can get a visa. First, Apostille countries use their own government authority. In contrast, other countries need consular verification at the Korean Embassy, and Chinese degrees need CHESICC documents. So start early, because KDI School warns that this can take months.

Available Fields of Study

• Master of Public Policy (MPP)
• Master of Development Policy (MDP)
• Master of Public Management (MPM)
• Master of Intellectual Property and Development Policy (MIPD)
• Master of Data Science for Public Policy and Management (MDS)
• PhD in Public Policy
• PhD in Development Policy

Who Should Apply?

KDI School is the graduate school of the Korea Development Institute, the country’s leading economic think tank. There, you study how Korea grew from an aid recipient into a donor, in English, with classmates from many governments.

• Civil servants and public sector staff who plan to return home and lead reforms
• Policy, economics and development professionals with a few years of work
• NGO and international organization staff who want a short Master’s
• Researchers who want a PhD in public or development policy

How to Apply for the KDI School Scholarship 2027

1. Choose your intake and route. Spring uses the internal KDIS award. In contrast, Fall uses partner routes such as ADB-KFP, GKS and Hyundai CMK.
2. Book your English test. Then get your score before the deadline.
3. Collect your documents. Also, ask your employer for the KDI School employment form early.
4. Create an account at apply.kdischool.ac.kr and complete the online survey first.
5. Request two recommendation letters in the system. Then each recommender must submit before the deadline.
6. Write your SOP and upload all files, then submit. After that, you cannot edit anything.
7. Attend the online interview if you pass the document review.
8. Legalize and post your degree to KDI School once you get an offer.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying to more than one program in the same cycle. KDI School allows only one.
• Uploading a selfie or group photo instead of a formal passport photo.
• Leaving recommendation letters until the last day. As a result, a late letter makes your file incomplete.
• Sending a Medium of Instruction letter instead of a test score.
• Waiting until you are admitted to start the Apostille process.

Avoid Scholarship Scams

KDI School takes applications only through its own portal, and there is no separate form for the award. So never pay an agent who promises a guaranteed place or a “KDI scholarship code”. If in doubt, email intladm@kdischool.ac.kr, which is the official admissions address.

Also check: Scholarship Motivation Letter | Guide, Sample and Template

Important Dates

Fall 2027 dates are not official yet. Therefore, the dates below are from the Fall 2026 cycle and are a guide only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Articles

• GKS Korea Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Study in Korea
• Seoul National University Scholarships 2027 in South Korea
• GIST Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded MS and PhD in South Korea
• More Study in Korea Opportunities

Know a civil servant or policy graduate who wants to study in Korea? If so, share this guide with them before the Fall 2027 window opens.

Khalid Amin

Founder of Insurab | Global Opportunities Researcher

Khalid Amin is the founder of Insurab, a resource for international students and young professionals searching for scholarships, fellowships, internships, conferences, free online courses and study abroad guidance. He tracks opportunities across Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East, and verifies every program against its official source before it is published. Articles are reviewed regularly and updated when deadlines, eligibility rules or benefits change.

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