Increase of 1,303 Master's and Doctoral Quotas in Advanced New Technology Fields for the 2023 Academic Year

907 Master's and 396 Doctorates
Among 621 in the Semiconductor Field Alone

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[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The quota for master's and doctoral students in advanced new technology fields, which are future growth industries, will be expanded.

On the 29th, the Ministry of Education announced that it will increase the quota for master's and doctoral students in advanced fields such as semiconductors by 1,303 for the 2023 academic year. The Ministry explained that this increase was decided to cultivate high-level professionals who are core to future industries and to support the enhancement of national competitiveness.

To this end, the Ministry of Education improved the system as a follow-up measure to the government's national task of 'training one million digital talents' through the 'Semiconductor Talent Training Plan' and the 'Comprehensive Digital Talent Training Plan,' allowing quota increases as long as the teacher securing rate standard is met. Until now, all four major requirements?faculty, land, teachers, and basic property for profit?had to be met for a net increase in graduate school quotas.

Accordingly, 1,303 master's and doctoral quotas (907 master's and 396 doctoral) in advanced fields across 69 departments at 24 universities will be increased. Specifically, 621 for semiconductors, 341 for software and communications, 117 for mechanical and electronic engineering, 115 for energy and new materials, and 109 for life sciences (bio), among others.

Of these, 1,037 quotas, accounting for 79.6%, will be increased at universities in the metropolitan area, while 266 will be added at universities outside the metropolitan area. By university establishment type, 483 (37.1%) are at national and public universities, and 820 (62.9%) at private universities.

Current Status of Increased Enrollment by University and Major

The Ministry of Education reviewed the submitted increase plans from each university through a Graduate School Quota Adjustment Review Committee composed of experts in advanced fields. The committee focused on △the necessity of establishment or increase △faculty securing status △possession of experimental and practical equipment △linkage and cooperation with regional industries.

Universities approved for quota increases can select new students for master's and doctoral programs from the 2023 academic year according to their circumstances and operate the corresponding educational programs. The Ministry plans to conduct a mid-term check on the preparation status for operating advanced field curricula in the first half of 2023 for the universities with increased quotas and support the operation of high-quality curricula.

Along with this, the Ministry of Education will actively support graduate school innovation by increasing the budget for the representative graduate school support project, the 4th phase Brain Korea 21 project, from 408.1 billion KRW in 2022 to 526.1 billion KRW in 2023. Graduate student research scholarships will also increase by 300,000 KRW each: 700,000 KRW per month for master's students, 1,300,000 KRW per month for doctoral students, and 1,000,000 KRW per month for doctoral candidates.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, said, "Advanced new technology fields such as semiconductors require responses at the national survival strategy level, and through this increase in master's and doctoral quotas, we expect to timely cultivate high-level talents who will lead new technology fields in Korea," adding, "We will continue to reform regulations on universities to expand the cultivation of high-level talents in advanced new technology fields such as semiconductors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.