UK-India Education and Research Initiative

Over the next five years, the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) aims to substantially improve research and education links between India and the UK, ensuring in the longer term that we become each other's partner of choice in education.

The initiative is based on mutuality and was discussed by Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Tony Blair at meetings in 2004 and 2005. Since then there have been discussions between a wide range of government ministers on both sides. Most recently the University Grants Commission co-hosted two conferences that brought together experts from universities and research institutions to discuss the Initiative benefits and design. On 18th April, at an event at No 10 Downing Street attended by the Indian High Commissioner to UK, Tony Blair called attention to the benefits to both countries.

The UK Government has committed over £12 Million to the Initiative through the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) and the British Council. BAE Systems, BP, GlaxoSmithKline and Shell are Corporate Champions of the Initiative, and have pledged around £ 2 million cash and a similar value in-kind support. We are in discussions with the Government of India as well as Indian private sector sponsors about further collaborative involvement.

Under the UK-India Education and Research Initiative upto 10 PhD Scholarships will be available over the period 2006-2007 for Indians who have excellent academic background to carry out research leading to PhD, DPhil etc in UK institutions. Applications are welcome from candidates in all disciplines although the majority of the awards are likely to be in areas related to science and technology.

Download Guidelines and application form. For details please contact ukieri@britishcouncil.org with UKIERI PhD Scholarship in the Subject line.

UKIERI Research Fellowships will be made available to support up to 50 Indian and UK researchers for periods of up to 12 months in each others country. Applications should be made through the research centre that will host the research. The deadline for applications to commence up to 31 March 2007 is 30 September 2006.

Download Fellowship guidelines and UKIERI fellowship application form. You may also e-mail an electronic copy of the application form at ukieri@britishcouncil.org with UKIERI Fellowships in the Subject line.

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