02 December 2019

The British Council is delighted to announce that the GREAT Scholarships are once again available for Malaysian students looking to study at postgraduate level in the UK.

The GREAT Britain Campaign is the UK government's initiative to promote the UK internationally as a GREAT place to visit, study and do business. The British Council is a partner in the campaign to raise awareness and promote the UK's strengths in education, English language and the arts.

The GREAT Scholarships scheme is jointly funded by the UK government's GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council, and participating UK higher education institutions, targeting prospective postgraduate students from a selected number of countries who will enrol into UK universities in the autumn of 2020.

The GREAT Scholarships 2020 - Malaysia offers more than RM500,000 worth of scholarships to qualifying Malaysian students intending to undertake postgraduate taught studies in the UK. This year, nine UK universities have partnered with the British Council to offer scholarship opportunities under the GREAT Scholarships 2020 - Malaysia scheme. These universities are University of Bristol, Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust at the University of Cambridge, Durham University, University of Kent, University of Leeds, The University of Manchester, Sheffield Hallam University, Staffordshire University and Ulster University.

The UK attracts more than 17,000 Malaysian students every year, most of whom head to the UK to pursue their undergraduate studies. In recent years, trends suggest that a growing number of Malaysian students are interested in pursuing postgraduate studies in the UK. Currently, the number of postgraduate student accounts for about 15 per cent of the total number of Malaysian students in the UK.

'As well as world-recognised universities, the UK offers one-year postgraduate degrees, making it better value for money compared to other countries. This also allows graduates to begin applying their knowledge in the workplace a lot sooner,' said Sarah Deverall, Director Malaysia at the British Council. 'Malaysia is a key country for the nine universities that have chosen to partner with the GREAT Scholarships 2020 - Malaysia, and they value the diversity and academic contribution that Malaysian students bring.'

The GREAT Scholarships are only available for one-year postgraduate taught programmes in the UK for the 2020/21 academic year. Malaysian students intending to apply for the scholarships must have received an offer of entry from any of the nine participating universities mentioned above and must satisfy all entry requirements for the chosen course as stated by the respective university.

For more information about the GREAT Scholarships 2020 - Malaysia, please visit: https://www.britishcouncil.my/great-scholarships-malaysia

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 80 million people directly and 791 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with - changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. www.britishcouncil.org

The British Council has been working with Malaysia since 1948.

About the Universities

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
With over 6,500 international students from over 140 countries, the University of Bristol has one of the largest and most vibrant international communities in the UK. Founded in 1900, the University of Bristol is a Russell Group institution and is consistently listed as a top 20 university in the UK league tables. The University of Bristol is ranked 49th in the QS World University Rankings 2020, cementing its position as a global top 100 university.

CAMBRIDGE COMMONWEALTH. EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL TRUST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge has attracted many of the very best minds since it was first established in 1209. It comprises more than 20,000 students, including 7,500 graduate students (of whom about 50% are from outside the UK). The University and its 31 Colleges are spread throughout the city. Masters courses are challenging. But if you have the commitment, ability and motivation, you can expect great rewards - exhilarating intellectual satisfaction and a capability much sought after by employers in industry, academia and other sectors.

DURHAM UNIVERSITY
A university with modern values but long traditions, Durham has been forward-looking since its establishment in 1832. A World Top 100 University (QS World Rankings 2020), our 25 departments offer over 200 undergraduate and 130 taught postgraduate programmes as well as many postgraduate research opportunities. Durham has a long history of welcoming students and academics from all over the globe; 40% of our academic staff and 30% of our students are of non-UK origin, creating an outward-looking, globally-minded and inclusive University. Our worldwide alumni community go on to help shape the world and contribute to society, through entrepreneurship, charity, sport, sciences, and arts.

UNIVERSITY OF KENT
With an active Malaysian student society and over 200 Malaysian students, Kent offers high-quality teaching, world-leading research, stunning study locations in Canterbury, Medway and mainland Europe and a superb student experience. A wide range of globally recognised degrees available and outstanding student support, Kent offers a welcoming environment for students from over 140 countries.

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
University of Leeds - prestigious Russell Group university in one of the UK's most exciting and student-friendly cities. 3rd in the UK for student experience (Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2018) we are renowned for the quality of our learning, teaching and research. Located in the heart of a vibrant, affordable and student-friendly city, Leeds has over 33,000 students from 151 different countries and one of the widest ranges of degrees in the UK.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
Part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, The University of Manchester enjoys an international reputation for pioneering research and innovation. Some of the world's most important achievements took place at Manchester. Our story is one of world firsts and brilliant discoveries, with 25 Nobel Prize winners having worked or studied here.

SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY
Sheffield Hallam is a welcoming community of students and staff from more than 120 countries. With more than 31,000 students, we are among the largest universities in the UK. We offer exceptional teaching across 700 programmes at foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate and research degree level. We embed work experience and real-world case studies into our teaching, so you have many opportunities to put your learning into practice. The Guardian University Guide 2020 ranked Sheffield Hallam 55th in the country overall, up from 70th last year.

STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY
Staffordshire University has over 100 years of education heritage, dating back to 1914. It became North Staffordshire Polytechnic in 1970 and was granted university status in 1992. The City campus is based in Stoke-on-Trent and features excellent learning and teaching facilities, good transport links and stimulating social spaces. The University has Centres of Excellence in Healthcare Education in Stafford and at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, with considerable investment in these specialist facilities. The institution's first London campus, the Digital Institue London, will open in September 2019.

ULSTER UNIVERSITY
Ulster is Northern Ireland's largest university, with four inspiring campuses located across the country. From teaching inspired by world-class research, to first class resources and facilities - we strive to ensure you excel in your chosen area of study. We are one of the top 150 young universities in the world (THE Young Rankings, 2018) yet our history dates back to 1865. Our student population is diverse, welcoming international students from over 100 countries worldwide.