KAIST Scholarship Stipend 2027: KAIST vs KGPS vs KPS Stipend Comparison
KAIST can cover far more than tuition for international graduate students, but there is one point applicants frequently misunderstand: there is not one fixed “KAIST monthly stipend” paid to every scholarship holder.
For 2027 applicants, funding can come through the standard KAIST Scholarship, the KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS) or the KAIST Prestige Scholarship for International PhD Students (KPS). Your degree level and competitiveness determine which funding route may apply.
KAIST Scholarship vs KGPS vs KPS
| Scholarship | Who Can Receive It? | Main Funding |
|---|---|---|
| KAIST Scholarship | Master’s, MS-PhD, PhD | Full tuition + National Health Insurance + monthly stipend |
| KGPS | Master’s, MS-PhD | Full tuition + KRW 1,000,000/month |
| KPS | PhD, MS-PhD | Full tuition + KRW 300,000/month |
How Much Does the Standard KAIST Scholarship Pay?
The regular KAIST Scholarship covers full tuition, National Health Insurance and a monthly stipend.
However, KAIST does not advertise one universal stipend amount for every graduate student. The amount can differ by college and according to research involvement.
KAIST says approximately 94% of its international graduate students benefit from its scholarship system, with research-project participation potentially providing further financial support.
This means applicants should avoid assuming that every funded Master’s or PhD student receives exactly the same monthly payment.
Who Can Receive KRW 1 Million Per Month?
The KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS) is the standout option for highly competitive international Master’s and MS-PhD Integrated applicants.
Selected scholars receive:
- Full tuition;
- KRW 1,000,000 per month;
- funding for four regular semesters.
You do not submit a separate KGPS application. International applicants selecting the KAIST Scholarship as their financial resource are automatically considered when eligible, although only highly competitive candidates are recommended by their departments.
What Is the KAIST Prestige Scholarship?
The KAIST Prestige Scholarship (KPS) targets outstanding international PhD and MS-PhD Integrated students with particularly strong academic and research achievements.
It provides:
- full tuition;
- KRW 300,000 per month;
- Support for up to eight regular semesters.
For students entering through the MS-PhD Integrated programme, KPS begins when they enter the PhD portion of the programme.
Eligible applicants are considered automatically, with departmental recommendation and final selection at college level.
Which KAIST Scholarship Should You Apply For?
For most applicants, there is no need to choose between three separate KAIST scholarship applications.
The practical route is to select KAIST Scholarship as your financial resource when applying for graduate admission. KAIST then considers eligible applicants for KGPS or KPS according to their degree programme and academic competitiveness.
The key distinction is simple: KGPS offers the strongest clearly fixed monthly stipend for Master’s/MS-PhD applicants, KPS targets exceptional doctoral candidates, while the standard KAIST Scholarship remains the broader funding route for international graduate students.