Ministry of Science and ICT Expands 2026 Budget to 83 Billion Won
More Than 15 New Universities to Be Selected for Participation
The "Research Living Allowance" system, which guarantees a minimum research living expense for graduate students in science and engineering fields, is moving beyond its pilot phase and entering a stage of full-scale expansion. The government plans to significantly increase the budget for 2026 and select additional participating universities, thereby expanding the scope of the program nationwide.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced the "2026 Implementation Plan for the Science and Engineering Research Living Allowance Support Project" and will begin accepting applications for new participating universities from December 19, 2025 to January 19, 2026. Through this call for applications, the ministry plans to select at least 15 new universities to participate in the first and second half of the 2026 project.
The Science and Engineering Research Living Allowance Support Project is a system introduced in 2025 to provide a minimum economic safety net for graduate students in science and engineering. By linking government R&D student labor costs, scholarships, and academic service grants managed by university-industry cooperation foundations, the program guarantees at least 800,000 won per month for master's students and at least 1.1 million won per month for doctoral students. If existing support falls short of these standards, the government covers the shortfall.
In its first year, 2025, a total budget of 60 billion won was allocated, with 35 universities participating. Approximately 50,000 graduate students in science and engineering benefited from the program, and the average monthly student support per participating university increased by about 10% compared to the previous year. Each university established an integrated electronic system to manage student support, streamlining the previously fragmented project-based support structure.
Building on these achievements, the government plans to elevate the program to the "expansion and stabilization" phase in 2026. The related budget for next year will increase to 83 billion won, and while maintaining support for existing participating universities, the government will significantly increase the number of new participating universities to further expand the program's coverage.
Financial support for participating universities in 2026 will include: covering shortfalls to guarantee the standard amount, supporting the creation of university account resources, and providing university-specific project operating expenses. Notably, starting this year, the government will review the previous year's operational performance for continuing universities and provide additional incentives to those with outstanding student support levels.
The Ministry of Science and ICT will also offer customized consulting for each university to ensure that new participants can successfully implement the system. Through this, the government aims to establish the Research Living Allowance as a regular, university-wide support system rather than as an individual project.
This project is a core component of National Policy Task 27, "Establishing a Basic Research Ecosystem and Becoming a Science and Technology Talent Powerhouse." The government plans to develop it as a flagship policy to improve the treatment of graduate students in science and engineering and to create an environment conducive to research immersion. The 2026 project announcement and detailed schedule can be found on the website of the National Research Foundation of Korea.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
