In the backdrop of a decline in number of Indians opting for International
English Language Testing System (IELTS), the British Council today
launched a scholarship for students in the country who wish to study
abroad.
The British Council will select "eight students" from India and each of
them would get an award of Rs 3 lakh towards the cost of tuition fee,
Kevin Mclaven, First secretary, education services, British High
Commission, told reporters. The programme is being launched in three
countriessimultaneously including India.
Mclaven said the award winners can start a full time post graduate
programme at any overseas university which uses IELTS as part of its
admission requirements. "British Council is committed to promoting
higher education links between India and UK," he added.
Devi Meghera, deputy country exam manager British Council IELTS, said
that there was a drastic decline in the number of IELTS aspirants ever
since Australia changed its student visa rules but did not reveal the
figures.
Admitting that several fake colleges had opened in UK in the past couple
of years, Vishal Bhasin, Head India Examinations Projects, claimed that
nearly 14,000 such institutions have been closed in just one year.