To mark the city’s success in securing the Commonwealth Games, the University of Glasgow is to launch scholarship programme aimed at helping students from developing countries.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme will give 53 students – one for each country of the Commonwealth – the opportunity to study at the University.

And it will help the city give something back to the Commonwealth, as the students return to their home country to contribute to future economic, social and political development.

Launching the scheme, University of Glasgow Principal, Sir Muir Russell, said: “In creating this suite of scholarships our aim is to offer real and new opportunities to bright students and further enrichment of our campus and city life; and, in fostering and deepening the links between the city and Commonwealth Nations, to plant seeds that will produce benefits long after the Games are over.

“We are very conscious of the fact that the University has had a long association with many Commonwealth countries.

“We have over the years sought to support postgraduate students from such countries as Kenya, Malawi and Pakistan. It was therefore natural for us, following the announcement that Glasgow had won the games, to begin to think about the ways in which we could extend and develop these links.”

The scheme was launched at a reception held for the Princess Royal at the University on Monday evening.

Students will be encouraged to come to Glasgow for a one year Masters course, with the first arriving in September 2010.

And it is intended that the scholarships will run beyond the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the city, acting as a legacy for the games.

Welcoming the announcement, Councillor Steven Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "This is a fantastic and really exciting proposal from the University of Glasgow.

"As the second city of the Empire, Glasgow benefited for years though our links with our cousins in the Commonwealth. As part of our bid to win the right to host the 2014 Games, we gave a commitment that the city would pay something back to those countries, and we are currently developing our plans to do so.

"So I'm delighted that the University of Glasgow has also decided to play its part in marking the success of our bid and welcoming our friends to the city.

"The university's generous proposal will go a long way towards the city's goal of ensuring the 2014 Commonwealth Games leave a legacy, not only for Glasgow and Scotland, but also for everyone throughout the Commonwealth.”

Full support – funding for fees, maintenance and travel costs - will be offered to those students coming from the 14 least developed countries of the Commonwealth. The Government’s Department for International Development currently identifies these countries as Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

For the remaining 39 scholars, full fees will be provided.

The University will now work towards achieving the success of the scheme, through securing support from external funding, donors and friends for the maintenance and travel costs.

First published: 18 February 2008

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