The Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation selects and supports outstanding undergraduate and graduate students from developing countries who are currently studying in Korea as Global Hope Scholars. For the fall semester of 2025, the foundation will carry out a new round of selection.
Applicants must be recommended by one of the foundation’s partner universities. Final recipients will be selected through a document review and interview process. To ensure diversity and prevent overrepresentation of any single country, each university may recommend no more than two students per nationality.
Eligible applicants must be from countries listed on the DAC List of ODA Recipients. They should come from financially disadvantaged backgrounds and demonstrate strong academic ability and language proficiency in either Korean or English. A minimum of Level 2 in the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) is required. Applicants are expected to show a commitment to social contribution, including volunteer work, and possess a clear intention and potential to contribute to their home country after graduation. They must also be willing to actively participate in educational programs run by the foundation.
Students of Korean descent, even if from DAC-listed countries, are not eligible. Those currently receiving a Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) are also ineligible. Again, each university may only recommend up to two students per nationality.
Selection will be based on financial need, academic and research capability (including grades, awards, and study/research plans), language proficiency (speaking and writing in Korean or English), clarity and feasibility of academic and career plans, motivation for studying in Korea and choosing a specific major, and previous volunteer experience or plans for social contribution after graduation.
The scholarship amount is KRW 4.8 million per semester, available to both undergraduate and graduate students. Support is provided for up to 8 semesters for undergraduate programs, up to 4 semesters for master’s programs, up to 6 semesters for doctoral programs, and up to 8 semesters for integrated master’s-doctoral programs. Semesters beyond these limits will not be supported.
Required documents include the application form and consent form for the use of personal information, a self-introduction and academic plan, a letter of recommendation with consent form, a certificate of enrollment (or an admission letter for newly admitted students), academic transcripts from undergraduate and graduate programs as applicable, language proficiency certificates (Korean or English), and a certificate of scholarship history (available on uDRIMS, not required for new students). Optional documents may include proof of research activities, records of extracurricular activities such as volunteer work or clubs, and documents proving the financial situation of the applicant’s parents.
All documents must be submitted as originals. If original documents cannot be submitted, certified copies verified by the recommending institution may be accepted. Submitted documents will not be returned. For graduate student applicants, the recommender must be their academic advisor.
A total of two students will be selected. However, if no suitable candidates are found, the foundation may choose not to select any recipients.
The application deadline is Monday, July 21st, 2025. Results of the first round of document screening will be announced on Wednesday, July 30th. Final interviews will take place between Thursday, August 21st and Monday, August 25th. Final selection results will be announced on Monday, September 1st, 2025.
All documents should be submitted in person or by post to the Global Student Team, Room 9139, New Engineering Building, Dongguk University. The mailing address is: [04620] Room 9139, New Engineering Building, Dongguk University, 30 Pildong-ro 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
For inquiries, contact the Global Student Team at 02-2260-3440 or via email at scf@dongguk.edu. Attached are the list of DAC recipient countries and the Korean application forms, one copy each for undergraduate and graduate programs.