The government will pick 300 talented doctoral students for an extensive two-year funded program to nurture them as future candidates for Nobel Prizes, the education ministry said Wednesday.
The ministry and the state-run National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) will operate the program jointly to allow promising students to focus on their studies and research free from financial burdens, officials said.
Each of the 300 selected students will receive a 2.5 million won (US$2,200) monthly stipend for two years, which they can spend on tuitions, living expenses and overseas research programs, officials said. The scholarship recipients cannot receive any other types of state grants during the period.
The students must submit a report and receive an evaluation each year on the progress of their research. Those who excel will be able to receive a state grant even after the two-year period and get favors in post doctoral studies, according to the officials.
To become eligible for the program, applicants need to be full-time students and pass academic qualifications, language tests and interviews.
Students in the fields of natural science, technology and medicine as well as cultural and social science, education and arts can apply for the program, officials said, adding the specific number of recipients for each major will be confirmed by the end of this month.
The applications will be accepted from Jan. 18-Feb. 10.