The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 28th that it has selected an additional 6 universities to participate in the 'Support Program for Graduate Students in Science and Engineering' this year. With this, approximately 50,000 graduate students from a total of 35 universities will receive support for a stable research environment.
This program, referred to as the 'Korean-style stipend,' is a research and development support system that integrates student support funds. Its core aim is to provide the minimum living expenses to help science and engineering graduate students focus on their research without economic burdens. Master's students will receive a guaranteed minimum payment of 800,000 won per month, while doctoral students will receive at least 1.1 million won per month.
Earlier, in April, 29 universities across the nation, including Seoul National University, Pusan National University, and Gachon University, were selected in the first round, and the distribution of the stipends began sequentially from the end of June.
The additional universities selected this time include Kyungbuk National University, Kyunghee University, Kookmin University, Sookmyung Women's University, Ajou University, and Chungang University. They were chosen based on comprehensive evaluations of the scale of research and development funding, operational systems, student support status, and financial contributions during the second selection and evaluation process conducted in the second half of the year.
The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to hold a consulting and program guideline briefing session for the newly joined universities this September and will commence full-scale support. The number of science and engineering graduate students who will receive more than the standard amount each month is expected to increase by about 6,000.
Koo Hyuk-chae, the first deputy minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, noted, 'As the two calls for applications conclude, in 2025, the first year of implementing the program, a total of 35 universities and approximately 50,000 science and engineering graduate students will receive stipends.' He added, 'While supporting the leading participating universities to stabilize the system, we will also promote the expansion of this stipend program so that more students can enjoy its benefits in the future.'