Want to study in Scotland? Shell out £5000 yearly

Mou Chakraborty,
Kolkata, February 22, 2007

Eight educational institutions from Scotland are in Bengal scouting for possible tie-ups with various educational institutes in the state.
The team has already been to New Delhi and Kolkata is their final destination. “Currently there are almost 3000 Indian students studying in Scotland. Last year there was a 50 per cent growth in students from India. We are encouraging students to come to Scotland. We are also tying up with local educational institutions for those students who cannot come to Scotland,” said Roy Cross, director of British Council Scotland.
However be prepared to shell out extra. The course fee is £5000 yearly and living expenses will be another £5000. The students will be allowed to work for twenty hours a week and full time during vacation. “A two-year working visa awaits those who get a Scottish degree. The jobs are high-paying and an international work experience further extends the students market value in their homeland,” said Cross.
The delegation will be working on several proposals from their Indian counterpart and would like to offer opportunities like faculty exchange; staff exchange, resource sharing and credit transfer through tie-ups. When the student goes in for a top up programme in Scotland, they can do the same course in an Indian university and get a Scottish degree. If he wants to move to Scotland, he can transfer his old marks.
The team first met with Prof. A.R. Thakur, Vice Chancellor of West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT) and discussed about the possibility of tie-ups. “We are looking for tie-ups with universities and colleges. We have a consortium of colleges with specific programme relevant to both the governments,” said Cross. The delegates are scheduled to meet the members from the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Pailan International School of Business & Media, IIAS, Bhawanipore College and Toonz Webel Academy.
Their trip has been arranged by the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI), which was launched by Prime Ministry Tony Blair during his visit to India in 2005. “Scottish education is going global and we see India as a huge potential. We are talking to industry here and trying to find out their expectation so that our projects have an edge over the others,” said Cross.
Apart from hospitality, travel and tourism, IT, dental technology, aviation and other unconventional courses will be marketed by the team, which includes names like Scotland’s College International, Adam Smith College, Edinburgh’s Telford College, Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, Perth College and North Glasgow College.
The delegation plans to come back to India in a few months and would also invite parents to visit their institutions in Scotland. “We are here to explore opportunities. The proposals which we got will be evaluated and finalised,” said Cross.
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