Queen's University's Abdul Kalam scholarship for Indian students

The scholarship will be awarded to 100 meritorious students who apply for a master's programme in engineering and science programme at Queen's University, Belfast, U.K.

Queen's University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Peter Gregson with G. Thiruvasagam, Vice Chancellor, University of Madras. Photo: Special Arrangement

Queen's University, Belfast, has launched Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Scholarships for Indian engineering and science students worth up to $ 400,000. The scholarship is open to 100 talented Indian students who wish to enrol in postgraduate engineering and science programmes at Queen's University in 2012.

The scholarships have been named after Kalam, the former President of India, who visited Queen's University in 2009, where he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate that recognised his contribution to science, engineering and public service to India.

Sir Peter Gregson, the vice chancellor of the university, told

The Hindu Education Plus that the scholarship aims to provide opportunity for students to upgrade knowledge and to return to their country (is it a condition?) to use the skills gained. The university is a centre for excellence in secure infotech, thereby making the institution most sought after for electronics, electrical engineering and computer science.

After the launch of the scholarships at a function in the University of Madras, Isabelle Husilos, international officer of Queen's University said there was no separate application for the scholarship, but all those students from India who apply for a masters course in Queen's University and who qualify for the scholarship would be automatically considered for the scholarship. Selected students would get a fee waiver of $ 4000 in their tuition fee. “Students coming to Queen's can experience a unique amalgamation of British and Irish culture at Belfast. The cost of living in much less than any other part of the U.K and also enjoy the advantage of living in the capital city.”

Queen's University Belfast is the current holder of the U.K. Times Higher Education Outstanding Engineering Research Team of the Year. The award recognises the team's work in tackling the world's worst case of ongoing mass poisoning and creating the first low-cost chemical free arsenic removal plant in India. In 2009, Queen's University Belfast was named the UK Times Higher Education Entrepreneurial University of the Year.