The winners of the prestigious Scottish International Scholarship Programme have been announced.

 

The British Council, who manage the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Executive, have awarded 22 international students with funding to attend year-long Masters degree courses in higher education institutions across Scotland in 2007-8.

 

The scholars, who are from China, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, beat off stiff competition from over 350 applicants for the award, which covers tuition fees, airfares and a monthly living allowance.  

 

The scholarship, which was launched in 2004, forms part of the Scottish Executive’s Fresh Talent initiative which aims to attract and retain bright, motivated and hard working people to live, work and study in Scotland. The programme offers unique opportunities for scholars to enhance their experience of Scotland, attend business networking events and cultural visits. They are also encouraged to stay on for two years after studies to work in Scotland on Fresh Talent visas.

 

Roy Cross, Director British Council Scotland said:

 

“The Scottish International Scholars are outstanding graduates in their fields, with several years of industry experience before coming to study in Scotland. Our education is world renowned and these scholars will have the opportunity to learn from the some of the very best in their fields. I am confident that the scholarship will be a rewarding and career enhancing experience. Previous scholars have set a high academic standard, with several graduating with distinctions and merits. Around half of last year’s graduates chose to stay on after graduation to live and work in Scotland.”

 

Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture Linda Fabiani said:

“I congratulate this year’s successful international students who will soon experience all that Scotland has to offer through world-class education and valuable business experience. We want to create a lasting connection between Scotland and international industry leaders and entrepreneurs as they go on to establish themselves both here and abroad. 

“Already many international students have contributed towards Scotland’s growing economy through the Fresh Talent Initiative. This scholarship programme is just one of a range of initiatives to attract talented international students and to showcase Scotland around the world as a premier destination to live, work and study.”

 

For further information please contact:

 

Davina Shiell, Communications Manager, British Council Scotland

Tel: 0131 524 7739, Mobile 07887 833 941, Davina.shiell@britishcouncil.org

 

Notes to Editors:

Scholars for 2007/8 will be placed in a range of universities:

COUNTRY

NAME

UNIVERSITY

CHINA

Mr Chen Ying

Edinburgh

 

Mr Jie Shen

Edinburgh

 

Mr Song Linmao

Edinburgh

 

Mr Wang Xiaofeng

Glasgow

 

Ms Zhang Chunhui

Edinbugh

 

Ms Zhang Lin

Stirling

 

Ms Jiao Bei

Napier

 

Mr Qu Hongbin

Stirling

 

Ms Li Yue

Edinburgh

INDIA

Ms Sandhya Prabhakaran

Edinburgh

 

Mr Shabeer Hussain Amirali

Glasgow

 

Mr Rahul Puranik

Heriot Watt

 

Ms Pragya Roongta

Glasgow School of Art

 

Mr Neeraj Bhagat

Edinburgh College of Art

 

Ms Chinmai Gupta

Stirling

NEW ZEALAND

Ms Dana Finnigan

Glasgow School of Art

AUSTRALIA

Mr Lachlan Cameron

Edinburgh

 

Mr Michael Hallit

RSAMD

SOUTH AFRICA

Ms Catlin Comrie

Edinburgh College of Art

 

Ms Dolly Mthethwa

Edinburgh

SINGAPORE

Mr Kevin Low

Heriot Watt

 

MsTan Hwee Ching

Aberdeen

 

§         For further information about the scholarship please see www.scotlandscholarship.com

§         The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. Our purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UK’s creative ideas and achievements. www.britishcouncil.org