Alex Mackay (Administrator, WCIP), Prof Paul Garside, Sir Andrew Pocock, Prof James Brewer (Course Director, MSc Infection Biology), and Prof Andy Waters standing together for camera at Beit Scholarship meeting

An ongoing collaboration between the Institute, the College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences (MVLS), the Wellcome Centre For Integrative Parasitology (WCIP), and the Beit Trust has presented a life-changing opportunity to three new African students.

The partnership sees the organisations join forces to jointly fund the Beit Glasgow Medical Scholarship for outstanding scholars from Malawi, Zambia or Zimbabwe.

These extremely competitive studentships have proven hugely successful, with recipients from Malawi going on to win Commonwealth Scholarship Commission support to fund PhD studies at the University of Glasgow.

This year's applicants were so outstanding, in fact, that the Beit Trust took the decision to award an additional fully-funded studentship to the University, increasing the number of openings from two to three.

As a result of the extra funding, this year three outstanding African female students will join the programme towards the end of 2020.

Sir Andrew Pocock, Secretary of the Beit Trust, explained: “The Trust welcomes the chance to do two things: to identify and support outstanding young scholars from Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, in a medical field of huge importance to the countries to which they will return, and to partner a world-class institution like the University of Glasgow.

"We look forward to maintaining this relationship, and the remarkable results that have flowed from it.” 

Professor Paul Garside, Dean of Global Engagement (Africa and Middle East) said: “It is wonderful to offer a warm welcome to Glasgow to three fantastic new scholars from Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

"They join a growing band of alumni from this programme and we hope they enjoy their experience as much as previous participants”

Professor Andy Waters, Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology Director, added: “We are delighted to welcome students Cleopatra, Alice, and Luwani to Glasgow, WCIP, iii, and MVLS, where they will receive our special mentoring as well as a first-class education. 

"We are also grateful for the faith that the Beit Trust have placed in us through the award of an additional full fellowship that enables all three of these excellent candidates to enjoy the Glasgow experience.”


First published: 24 June 2020