Korea Foundation - The Korea Foundation Fellowship for Field Research Program

What the Korea Foundation Fellowship gives you

You will receive a monthly scholarship to carry out research for 1 to 6 months in South Korea. PhD students receive approximately 1,650 EUR per month (2,300,000 KRW). Researchers who have already completed their PhDs receive approximately 2,150 EUR per month (3,000,000 KRW). You will also receive a one-off arrival allowance and travel insurance for the duration of your stay. If your home country is on the OECD list of least developed countries, low-income countries or lower-middle-income countries, the Foundation will also cover the cost of your return economy-class flight. The Korea Foundation, a public institution dedicated to promoting Korean studies abroad, supports around 25 people each year. You must organise your own accommodation and the set-up of your research base; the Foundation does not cover these costs for you.

Who can apply

• Level: You are either a PhD student who has completed their coursework and is currently writing their thesis, or a lecturer, professor or researcher who has already obtained a PhD.
• Field of study: You work in the humanities, the social sciences, the cultural sector or the arts, and have a clear connection to Korea.
• Where you go: You are carrying out your research on site in South Korea.
• Language: You may carry out your research in Korean or English.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. If you are a Korean national, you must also hold a permanent residence permit or be a national of another country.
• Korean research partner: You are required to select a Korean researcher or institution with which to collaborate and to specify this in your application. The Foundation does not arrange any contacts for you.
• Recent Korean funding: You are not eligible to apply if you have received this scholarship or any other public research funding from Korea for Korean Studies within the last 3 years. Nor are you eligible to apply immediately after a period of study or research in Korea.

How to apply

Applications and the submission of all supporting documents must be made via the Korea Foundation’s online portal by 1 September (18:00 Korean time). Letters of recommendation must be submitted one week later. The results will be announced in December, and your research must begin before the end of November in the funding year.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is aimed at a specific target group: researchers who are working on Korea-related topics, are able to find a Korean partner, and work in Korean or English. This already narrows down the pool, and only around 25 people are selected each year. If your project has a clear focus on Korea, you can demonstrate that you have a confirmed Korean collaboration partner, and you have a compelling research proposal, your chances are good. Apply early, as the portal becomes very busy shortly before the application deadline.