SINGAPORE - A new scholarship that will allow low-income students here to become the first in their family to study overseas has been established by alumni of the University of Warwick.
Two students will be awarded the first undergraduate scholarships next year for the September intake, and will receive up to $50,000 a year. A fundraising dinner, attended by Minister in Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing, was held at the Pan Pacific Hotel on Thursday.
Mr Gautam Banerjee, chairman of investment and advisory firm Blackstone Singapore and trustee of The Friends of the University of Warwick in Singapore, which started the scholarship, said that financial difficulties should not prevent Singaporeans from getting overseas exposure.
"There are lots of scholarships in Singapore, but this one is unique because you have to be academically bright and also from a family where they are not able to send their children overseas for education for financial reasons."
The scholarships are open to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents who have been accepted to the university. Applicants must have a family income of less than $2,500 a month, or per capita income of less than $625 a month, and establish that they would be the first in their family to experience international higher education.
The university, which is in England, currently has over 280 Singaporean students.
Said professor Nigel Thrift, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, "Singaporean students are some of best students at the university, and we're very happy to welcome more of them. It is also very appropriate timing, since both Singapore and the university are celebrating their 50th birthdays this year."
