Application and Disbursement

The application process, selection process and criteria, timeline, and award disbursement methods vary, depending on the programs. Applicants and recipients must adhere to all guidelines, rules, procedures and timelines set forth by KOSAF and the respective schools' financial aid offices.

UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS
FOR RECEIVING GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

Note: All applications must be completed and submitted through KOSAF’s Korean website (http://www.kosaf.go.kr/). Students who plan to apply for a grant or a scholarship program should refer to the detailed instructions on the Korean site. The process described here is generalized, and each step may or may not be included in any one particular program.

1.For programs requiring demonstration of financial need:
- obtain verification documents issued in the applicant’s name indicating his or her income level
2.Register online for free at the KOSAF Korean website. Refer to the Korean website for deadlines for the programs and make preparations to collect and submit all documents in a timely manner.
3.Submit appropriate documents, including terms of agreement, proof of eligibility, and other application materials to KOSAF and the financial aid office of the applicant’s school.
4.KOSAF and the school’s financial office review the application materials and gather referrals.
5.Applicants are notified of the results.
6.For selected applicants: grants and scholarships are given according to the determined amount, disbursement methods, schedule, and other conditions.

DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility differs based on types of scholarships and aids. Most of the grants and scholarships require, at a minimum, the following:

Korean citizenship,
- excluding those who have declared overseas immigration on their Korean national identification cards and green card holders/permanent residents;
High school diploma from Korea or abroad
Proof of passing the university entrance exams
- for the national College Scholastic Aptitude Test : scores above a minimum satisfactory level in at least two test subject areas, and
- Proof of admission to a university
Current or planned enrollment in a degree or certificate program in a qualifying postsecondary institution;
official records for academic performance in postsecondary school(s) and/or high school,
- and in the case of scholarships that take academic performance into consideration, this may include grades within a minimum satisfactory level for all courses and/or for courses in the student’s field of study, grades that demonstrate outstanding academic merit, total number of credits earned, and so on; and
periodic confirmation of maintaining any specified minimum level of academic performance.

To determine eligibility for need-based grants (and for merit-based scholarships that may offer additional awards for students with financial need), KOSAF helps potential applicants collect the required materials to verify their income status.

Some scholarships give priority consideration to applicants who have specific individual and/or household characteristics—usually with a possibility of personal hardships for the student. In such cases, students who desire to be recognized as priority applicants must meet the additional relevant qualifications.

MEETING THE BASIC CONDITIONS FOR AWARD DISBURSEMENT

To receive (and continue to receive) grants or scholarships, Recipients are required to be in study during the regular academic year. Disbursement is also conditioned on whether recipients meet the minimum academic requirements (usually, academic records are verified each semester).

AWARD DISBURSEMENT METHODS

In accordance with the conditions for each grant or scholarship, there are several options for receiving award payments. The options available depend on each program’s requirements and on the recipient‘s profile.

Tuition Waiver Option
The amount of scholarship is deducted from a recipient’s tuition bill.

Tuition Waiver Option
STEP 1	STEP 2	STEP 3
Institution	Recipient	KOSAF
Tuition Waiver Option: Deducts a scholarship amount from student’s tuition bill.	Pays the remaining balance of tuition bill.	Reimburses the institution for the amount it deducted from the recipient’s tuition bill.

Loan Principal Repayment Option
KOSAF’s grants and scholarships are usually disbursed to students in the form of a tuition waver, but in some cases the school’s financial aid office may be unable to deduct the award amount from the tuition bill ahead of time. In such cases, a student might need to apply for a loan to pay for the tuition in advance. Loan principal repayment option is for students who take out loans while waiting for their grant/scholarship award. KOSAF allows students to deduct the grant/scholarship award directly from the student’s loan principal.

Loan Principal Repayment Option
1	2	3
Student	School	KOSAF
A student qualified for the National Grants pays full amount of tuition & fees. (Students may apply for KOSAF student loans)	The student’s school verifies the student’s application materials. If the student is a National Grant recipient, schools submit an online request for the scholarship award to the student	KOSAF transfers the award to the school, which disburses the award to the student.(Students who took out a loan from KOSAF can choose to deduct the award directly from the loan principal)

MULTIPLE SOURCES OF STUDENT AID

Recipients of National Grant Type I, II, Multiple Child Grant, or merit scholarships may not apply for loans or scholarships from KOSAF or other institutions. They may apply for work-study aids.