The term Junker (Russian: юнкер (yunker)) had several meanings in Imperial Russia.
The Russian substantive Yunker is derived from the German noun Junker, where it means "young lord".
Junker schools prepared low-rank military for officer rank.
In 1900, the Russian government established junker infantry schools in Moscow and Kiev, and in 1902 a junker cavalry school in Yelizavetgrad.
In order to enroll into a junker school, a student had to attend a gymnasium or cadet corps for six years or pass a corresponding exam.