[Korea Foundation](https://www.kf.or.kr/kfEng/main.do?langTy=ENG)

September 2026 (Full application & reference letters, projected)

1-year stipend, amount determined by region and proposal; paid in three installments.

Supports recent Ph.D. holders in Korea-related fields to conduct full-time postdoctoral research outside Korea.

Applicants from North America, Europe, and Japan are not eligible for this cycle.

--- ## Description The KF Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research is designed to foster the development of Korean studies by supporting emerging scholars who have recently obtained a Ph.D. in a Korea-related field. The fellowship enables recipients to conduct full-time research at a university or research institution outside of Korea, revise their dissertations, and produce significant academic publications. Fellows are expected to remain in the country of their host institution, devote the fellowship period entirely to research, and actively participate in Korea-related academic activities. The fellowship lasts for one year, with the Korea Foundation monitoring scholarly progress for three years after completion. --- ## Due Dates - September 2026: Full application submission deadline (anticipated/projected) - September 2026: Reference letter submission deadline (anticipated/projected) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Fellowship duration: 1 year (starting from either the 2026 Spring or Fall semester) - Stipend amount: Determined based on the applicant’s proposal and the region of the host institution - Payment: Disbursed in three installments (50% after agreement, 40% after interim report, 10% after final report) --- ## Eligibility - Recent Ph.D. holders (within 5 years of the fellowship start date) or current Ph.D. candidates scheduled to receive their degree before the fellowship begins - Field: Humanities, social sciences, arts & cultural studies, media & communications, contemporary Korean studies, or other Korea-related topics - Must not hold a university position equivalent to or exceeding full-time lecturer/senior researcher at a research institution - Must hold citizenship or permanent residency in a country outside Korea - Korean citizens must have obtained permanent residency outside Korea as of July 2025 - Applicants from North America, Europe, and Japan are NOT eligible for this cycle - May not conduct research at the university from which the Ph.D. was obtained - Previous recipients of this fellowship are not eligible to reapply - No concurrent grants or fellowships from the Korea Foundation or other Korean institutions allowed --- ## Application Process - Applications are submitted online via the [KF Application Portal](https://apply.kf.or.kr/) - Required documents (in Korean or English, or accompanied by translation): - Research proposal (free narrative, including bibliography) - Curriculum vitae - Copies of letters to proposed host institutions (up to 3) - Acceptance letter from host institution (if available at application, otherwise to be submitted later) - Dissertation details (abstract, table of contents, chapter summaries, sample chapter, publication plan) - Academic transcripts (M.A. and Ph.D.) - Ph.D. degree certificate (if available; required before fellowship start) - Proof of nationality or permanent residency (with all unique ID info masked) - Three reference letters (including one from doctoral supervisor), submitted directly by referees via the portal - Application and all documents must be complete and submitted before the deadline; incomplete applications will be excluded - Reference letters must be submitted by the projected deadline or the application will be deemed ineligible --- ## Additional Information - Fellowship recipients must revise their dissertation and publish it as a book or research paper within three years of fellowship completion, acknowledging KF support - Interim and final reports are required; progress is monitored annually for three years post-fellowship - Recipients must remain in the host country and fully devote themselves to research during the fellowship - Fellowship periods cannot be deferred to the following year --- ## External Links - [KF Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research Program Page](https://apply.kf.or.kr/selectNoticeAndApplicationView.nkf?anucNo=A1P0000979&pageIndex=1) - [Korea Foundation Main Page](https://www.kf.or.kr/kfEng/main.do?langTy=ENG) - [KF Application Portal](https://apply.kf.or.kr/) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Email | Phone | |----------------------------------|-------------------------------|-----------------| | Program inquiries | scholarship@kf.or.kr | +82-1644-7707 | | Technical support (portal issues)| tech-support@kf.or.kr | | For detailed program information, visit the [KF Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research page](https://apply.kf.or.kr/selectNoticeAndApplicationView.nkf?anucNo=A1P0000979&pageIndex=1).

2025-26 KF Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research

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