UK woos Indian students with scholarships worth Rs 14 cr

To attract more number of students from India, the UK has increased the number of scholarships to 401 worth over Rs 14 crore this year.

The British Council has launched the 'GREAT Britain Scholarships' under which 401 scholarships are available this year across 57 UK institutions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

"Indian students in the UK can stay on to work after study in graduate-level employment (20,000 pounds) for three years with possible extension for a further three," Minister Counsellor (Political and Press) of the British High Commission, Andrew Soper told reporters.

He said that with its cosmopolitan and multi-cultural outlook, UK varsities have a varied student body which welcomes Indian diaspora.

"And as far as getting student visa is concerned, anyone who has got admission into a UK university will get a visa," Soper said. Last year, around 24,000 Indian students had secured admissions in the UK and in the coming academic session they are targeting an increase of 10-15 per cent students. Altogether, 420,000 foreign students study at various British universities. The UK is also offering the Chevening scholarships which is fully-fund one-year masters degree programme. "This has expanded in India by four times and from next year onwards we will be offering more than 150 Chevening scholarships for India which would be the largest for any country," the official said.