Freshmen at regional national universities in the 2027 academic year will receive full scholarships. Ten thousand university students who enroll at regional private universities will also receive a "regional talent scholarship."
The Ministry of Education on the 28th unveiled the core youth programs in the 2027 government budget proposal—the "regional balanced development scholarship" and the "first career project for university students"—at the "Youth budget unboxing 2027" event.
According to the Ministry of Education, the government will create the "regional balanced development scholarship," which includes full scholarships for regional national universities, in next year's budget proposal. The program will receive 328 billion won in state funds.
First, through the "full scholarship for regional national universities," any freshman entering a regional national university in the 2027 academic year who applies for a national scholarship will have all tuition covered. However, medical, dental, pharmacy, and veterinary colleges are excluded.
The government plans to gradually expand the supported cohorts for the full scholarship at regional national universities through 2030. Next year only first-year freshmen will receive it, in 2028 second-years will be included, in 2029 third-years, and in 2030 fourth-years, providing full coverage. As a result, freshmen entering regional national universities next year will have reduced tuition burdens until graduation.
However, to prevent a surge in so-called "half-year retakers" who, after entering regional national universities, retake the College Scholastic Ability Test to transfer to metropolitan-area schools, the government will require students who drop out or otherwise leave mid-course to return the support funds.
In addition to regional national universities, the number of recipients of the "regional talent scholarship" for 10,000 young people entering regional private universities will be expanded from the current 4,000 to 10,000.
The "first career project for university students," designed with hiring practices that demand practical experience in mind, will also begin next year. The government and corporations will each cover half of the pay (internship stipend) to help 60,000 university and junior college students gain about four to six months of on-the-job experience. Participating students will receive a monthly internship stipend of 2.3 million won.
In addition to the internship stipend, 100,000 won for transportation and lodging will be provided. Universities will receive 900,000 won per student in operating funds for pre-training, monitoring, and related activities.
A Ministry of Education official said, "Students will build practical job experience and resumes to improve their competitiveness in hiring, and corporations and institutions will be able to verify students' job competencies during the internship process and expand opportunities to identify outstanding talent."
Minister Choi Kyo-jin of the Ministry of Education said, "What young people need amid worries over tuition and jobs is practical help that directly changes their lives," adding, "We will actively push youth programs to become a sturdy ladder of growth that helps young people step confidently into society."