[DigitalToday Jin-ho Lee] The Ministry of Science and ICT said on Monday it will recruit candidates until April 10 for the second cohort of its science and technology specialist officer master's programme.

The science and technology specialist officer programme is designed to train outstanding science and technology talent as specialist personnel in defence science and technology, and to have them conduct research on advanced weapons systems and equipment and advanced technology. MSIT and the Ministry of National Defense select top science and engineering students, put them through a candidate training course and support them to conduct defence research and development at institutions such as the Agency for Defense Development as active-duty officers.

MSIT and the defence ministry expanded eligibility last year from bachelor's-level to bachelor's and master's levels and selected 15 candidates for the first master's cohort.

Master's candidates go through training courses, including defence field placements, while enrolled in master's programmes and receive 900,000 won a month in professional competency development support for up to 4 semesters. After obtaining their degrees, they undergo 8 weeks of military training and are commissioned as second lieutenants as R&D officers (science and technology specialist officers), serving 3 years at defence R&D institutions such as the Agency for Defense Development.

For the second cohort this year, 25 master's candidates will be selected with no gender restriction. Applicants must be enrolled in master's programmes at science and engineering graduate schools nationwide and be enrolled in the first semester of 2026 or scheduled to return for the second semester of that year. Recruitment fields are mechanical and aerospace; electrical, electronics, computer and artificial intelligence; and materials, chemical engineering, energy, physics, chemistry, life sciences and other science and engineering and natural science fields.

For the first time this year, the ministry will recruit preliminary master's candidates among fourth-year undergraduates in science and engineering who plan to enter master's programmes. Those selected as preliminary master's candidates who enter master's programmes the following year will be confirmed as master's candidates through a qualification screening.

For the third cohort, 12 preliminary master's candidates will be selected with no gender restriction, targeting fourth-year students at science and engineering universities nationwide who are scheduled to enter master's programmes in March 2027. Recruitment fields are the same as for master's candidates.

Applicants can apply online through the science and technology specialist officer programme website until April 10. Recruitment briefings by major regions are also scheduled to be held in March.