£17m of Scholarships for international students in Wales
Wales is set to prove its commitment to internationalisation within its higher education strategy and to international students by huge increases in the range of scholarships, bursaries and awards available to international students.
Several universities in Wales have launched new scholarships for 2009-2010 or increased existing provision meaning that over £17,000,000 worth of scholarships are available in Wales for 2009-2010. Wales International Consortium is also currently in talks with
several potential partners to increase the scholarship provision even further anticipating that this amount is set to increase again by 2010 – 2011.
Aberystwyth University has recently launched a range of International Excellence Scholarships in addition to a range of postgraduate awards from the School of Management and Business, Computer Science, International Politics and the Institute of Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
Bangor University announced a five million pound investment in up to 125 new research studentships and bursaries launching a five year programme of postgraduate expansion at Bangor University. The expansion, announced for the academic year 2009-10, forms part of the University's 125th anniversary celebrations. Bangor University also has a range of international scholarships available for all subjects. Bangor Business School also offers a range of Gold and Silver Awards to all international students.
Cardiff University offers scholarships for Business, Journalism, Public Relations, Psychology, Pharmacy, Law and Engineering It has also recently announced the launch of two schemes available to students from the US. In conjunction with the Fulbright Commission, it has established two prestigious awards schemes for postdoctoral research to study at Cardiff University. It has also welcomed two Marshall Scholars as part of the new Partnership Scholarships with the Marshall Foundation.
Glyndwr University offers a unique package deal to all its international students giving students free accommodation for the first year of their degree.
University of Glamorgan offers students from Bangladesh, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia, Zimbabwe awards as part of its Undergraduate International Development Scholarships. This is in addition to offering every international student with a confirmed place the opportunity to receive a scholarship. This means that the University of Glamorgan offers the largest range of scholarships in Wales.
University of Glamorgan Business School has also recently awarded two scholarships for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme. The Shared Scholarship Scheme is a joint initiative between the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and UK universities, to jointly support scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom. The two students from Ghana and Bangladesh will begin their studies in September 2009.
Swansea University offers international office scholarships for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses in addition to offering Swansea alumni the opportunity to receive a bursary to continue their studies at Swansea. The James Callaghan Scholarships are also available to students from Commonwealth countries.
Swansea University also recently celebrated the news that Yihui Jia, who achieved a distinction in MSc in Management (Finance) at Swansea in 2007, had been awarded a Doctoral Research Fellowship of £40,000, from one of the world’s largest international risk and insurance brokers the Willis Research Network, for her work into the economic impact of insurance as a risk management technique on the cost of capital – and hence the market value - of Chinese companies.
The International Film School Wales at University of Wales Newport recently announced the launch of two new scholarships of £8,750 to US students to study MA/MFA Film and MA/MFA Animation programmes. Additionally University of Wales Newport offers international scholarships for all courses and an Academic Excellence Scholarship to postgraduate students from India.
In May this year, the Prince of Wales officially launched a groundbreaking £11.4 million Welsh scholarship programme at Clarence house, his official residence in London. The scheme aims to attract the world’s best graduates to place them within research and development-focused businesses in Wales to undertake key research projects.
Virginia West, Director of Wales International Consortium said “Universities in Wales have placed internationalization at the heart of their strategies and recognizes that an integral component of that is attracting the best international students to study in Wales. International students are key to attracting strategic links with international universities, faculty partnerships and research collaborations.
There are currently almost 10,000 full-time international students in Wales an increase of 19% on the previous year. Wales is committed to ensuring that these figures continue to increase by ensuring that its range of scholarships, bursaries and awards are the best in the UK to ensure that the highest calibre of international student is choosing to study in Wales.”