The Ministry of Science and ICT said on Wednesday it will accept applications through June 20 from universities newly seeking to participate in the Research Living Stipend Support Program in the second half of this year.

The programme, included in a government policy task, links government support to student stipends universities provide through government research and development (R&D) projects and other programmes. It guarantees monthly payments of at least 800,000 won for master’s programmes and 1.1 million won for doctoral programmes.

The programme supports participating universities in building a stable student support system by providing funds including shortfalls to ensure the baseline amounts, subsidies to help build university account resources, and operating costs by university. The ministry said that since the programme was introduced last year, a total of 43 universities have participated and about 52,000 science and engineering graduate students have benefited.

It also delivered results in improving stipend levels. The ministry said it confirmed that at 35 participating universities last year, average monthly stipends rose by about 20.5 percent after joining the programme, increasing to 1.57 million won from 1.32 million won for master’s students and to 2.29 million won from 1.88 million won for doctoral students.

The ministry will expand the number of participating universities to around 50 through the second-half call. It will conclude the selection of new universities for the programme’s phase-one introduction period from 2025 to 2027 with this call. In phase two from 2028 to 2030, it will pursue programme advancement based on participating universities’ operating performance and items for institutional improvement.

Lee Jun-bae (이준배), director general for Future Talent Policy at the ministry, said he hopes universities will actively participate so the second-half call can expand the foundation for supporting science and engineering graduate students.