SKorea to groom promising students as Nobel candidates

Seoul, Jan 13 (Yonhap) The South Korean government willselect 300 doctoral students for an extensive two-year fundedprogramme to nurture them as future candidates for NobelPrizes, the education ministry said.

The ministry and the state-run National ResearchFoundation of Korea (NRF) will operate the programme jointlyto allow promising students to focus on their studies andresearch free from financial burdens, officials said.

Each of the 300 selected students will receive USD 2,200monthly stipend for two years, which they can spend ontuitions, living expenses and overseas research programs,officials said.

The students must submit a report and receive anevaluation each year on the progress of their research. Thosewho excel will be able to receive a state grant even after thetwo-year period and get favours in post doctoral studies,according to the officials.

To become eligible for the programme, applicants need tobe full-time students and pass academic qualifications,language tests and interviews.

Students in the fields of natural science, technology andmedicine as well as cultural and social science, education andarts can apply for the programme, officials said, adding thespecific number of recipients for each major will be confirmedby the end of this month.

The applications will be accepted from January 18 toFebruary 10.(Yonhap)