Your GKS preparation tracker

18 months before

• Protect your CGPA — GKS scoring is heavily academic
• Take on leadership roles in clubs, NSS, student bodies
• Start research publications or a paper with a professor
• Volunteer work and community service records
• National / international competitions
• Internships aligned with your intended Korean major
• Begin Korean language study (Hangul → TOPIK I)
• Apply for or renew your Indian passport

12 months before

• Shortlist 3 universities (Embassy Track) or 1 (University Track)
• Read the previous year's official GKS guideline cover to cover
• Research professors and labs; note research areas
• Prepare a Korean-format CV
• Collect certificates, awards, activity proofs
• Register for your first TOPIK attempt in India

9 months before

• Draft your Statement of Purpose (personal statement)
• Draft your Study Plan
• Approach recommenders early; brief them properly
• Draft a research proposal (doctoral / research applicants)
• Request official transcripts from your university

6 months before

• Notarisation of academic and personal documents
• MEA Apostille via the state authentication route
• Certified English or Korean translations
• Document verification against the official checklist
• Passport renewal if validity is short
• Medical certificate as per the official NIIED form

3 months before

• Full application review against the official checklist
• Interview preparation with the question bank
• Mock interviews and recorded self-review
• Final document checklist and copies
• Submission to the Embassy / university before the deadline