The Joy Sharing Foundation, in collaboration with Sogang University and the Ministry of Justice, is offering scholarships to two refugee students as part of the 'Sogang University Francisco Scholarship' program. This initiative is linked to Sogang University's foreign refugee admissions process for the spring semester starting in March 2027, with the university covering full tuition for four years and the foundation providing tailored support for academic success.
Sogang University signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Justice on June 15 to support higher education for students with refugee backgrounds. Under this agreement, two students will be selected each year and receive support from Korean language education before enrollment through to employment and entrepreneurship after graduation. This recruitment marks the first since the agreement was established.
Scholarship recipients will receive full tuition for eight semesters at Sogang University. They must complete at least 12 credits in the previous semester and maintain a GPA of 2.8 or higher on a 4.3 scale. After enrollment, they will receive one year of funding for Korean language education at Sogang University’s Korean Language Institute to help them achieve a TOPIK Level 4 certification, which is a graduation requirement. Tutoring and mentoring will be provided as needed, along with customized support for housing, social integration, and psychological counseling. The foundation describes this initiative as a comprehensive program that supports students not just financially but also throughout their academic journey and into their professional lives.
Eligible applicants are those who have received refugee status or humanitarian stay permits from the Ministry of Justice and are expected to graduate from high school, either domestically or internationally. Language requirements include a TOPIK Level 3 or higher, or completion of Level 3 at Sogang University’s Korean Language Institute. Alternatively, applicants may submit recognized English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS, TEPS). For the Humanities, Science, and AI-based Liberal Arts programs, a TOPIK Level 6 is required. Sogang University stated that candidates who meet the educational and language criteria will be selected by the UNHCR Korea office and the Joy Sharing Foundation, with final confirmation by the Ministry of Justice.
Applications can be submitted to the foundation from October 19 to 30. Document screening will take place from November 2 to 6, followed by interviews from November 9 to 13. The interviews will consist of a written test and face-to-face interviews. The foundation will announce the first round of selected candidates on November 25, after which Sogang University will accept admission applications from November 26 to December 2. Following verification by the Ministry of Justice and final review by Sogang University, successful candidates will be confirmed on December 24. There is no application fee, and registration will occur in January of the following year.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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