Scottish Government
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Attracting overseas students
An additional 51 scholarships of £2,000 will be awarded to students from the US this year allowing them to study at universities in Scotland.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, said that the move is part of the Scottish Government's continuing support for the 'brightest and best' US students to come and study in Scotland.
The cost of the bursary is shared between the Scottish Government and the host universities and the overall scheme is managed by Education UK Scotland.
The US Graduate Scholarship scheme aims to raise the profile of studying, living and working in Scotland and increasing interest internationally in the post graduate qualifications Scotland has to offer.
Ahead of addressing overseas students at a British Council Scotland Welcome Reception for US Graduate Scholarships and students on the Scottish International Scholarship Programme, Ms Hyslop said:
"International students make a substantial economic and cultural contribution to Scotland, which is why we are continuing funding for scholarships bringing the best graduates from the US to come and study in Scotland.
"Scotland's future economic success is underpinned by attracting skilled and talented individuals to chose to live and work here - our US Graduate Scholarships scheme helps with this aim.
"Through the Scottish International Scholarship Programme we also support a number of students from China and India to study here. In the coming months we will look to how we increase this support by broadening access in same way we have done for US scholars.
"We have identified the US, China and India as key countries that have the highest economic, cultural and social benefits for Scotland, therefore we are focusing our scholarship funding on students from these three regions.
"As we approach Scotland's Year of Homecoming in 2009, the positive impact we have on people across the world will be highlighted. Overseas students who come here to study often make long and lasting links with Scotland, choosing to remain here or return to live and visit in the future."
The US Graduate Scholarship scheme is currently funded on a 50/50 basis by British Council Scotland and the host universities. From academic year 2009-10 it will be funded on the same basis by the Scottish Government and the host universities. The awards are evenly distributed with each university initially offered three awards. The scheme aims to differentiate and raise awareness of Scotland's unique education offering in the US graduate market.
Under the Scottish International Scholarship Programme, twelve students from China and India are receiving scholarships to undertake 12 month Masters level courses in Scotland.
Education UK Scotland - part of the British Council Scotland - manages the US Graduate Scholarship scheme and the Scottish International Scholarship Programme.
Related Information
