UK offers RI students over 200 scholarships

UK offers RI students over 200 scholarships

JAKARTA (JP): More than 200 scholarships to study in Britain
are being offered to Indonesian students by British schools,
colleges and universities, an executive of the British Council
said.

The council's senior consultant for education and training,
Geoff Evans, said Thursday that the scholarships were offered as
part of a Friendship Package.

The package coincides with the 50th anniversary of the British
Council's existence in Indonesia, Evans said.

"The scholarships are part of a plan of assistance that
British institutions, the British Council and with help from
British industry, have developed for Indonesian students who are
in a dilemma resulting from the current currency crisis."

The 200 scholarships, which partially or totally cover tuition
fees, ranging from US$1,333 to $62,200, are for A level and
foundation studies, for undergraduate degrees, postgraduate
studies and research.

Evans said the scholarships were provided by 33 of Britain's
top schools, colleges and universities.

University of Exeter topped the list by providing 100
scholarships worth US$3,555 each.

The subjects offered include earth sciences, geography,
physics and astronomy, psychology, mathematics and sciences,
humanity and social sciences, engineering, medicine, management
studies and others.

"In some universities, the students are quite free to choose
any course of study in the curriculum," Evans said.

"The scholarships are surely going to benefit over 200
students."

He said the countries shared a good relationship and he urged
some parties in Britain to assist Indonesian students who were
studying in Britain.

"There have been also some cases where universities have
frozen their level of fees or are offering substantial reduction
on fees to Indonesian students."

Evans also revealed that the Friendship Package was aimed at
making Britain a feasible and competitive study destination.

Included in the program are special student and parent
airfares from British Airways, free medical care, subsidized
transport within Britain, financial counseling by Standard
Chartered Bank, and career guidance by Hanesa Human Resources
Organization.

To reach Indonesian students, the 33 British institutions will
hold a program in four cities -- Surabaya, Jakarta, Bandung and
Medan -- to talk about the courses and counsel students and their
parents, he said in a statement.

"The long-traveling program is designed to assist parents and
students to see a way to still realize their plans and to be able
to do so without experiencing severe discomfort," he said. (emf)