Vice-Chancellor welcomes international scholars

Some of the most academically elite international students have been welcomed to Cardiff University by the Vice-Chancellor having secured prestigious scholarships to study here.

The University invested £1.3 million in international scholarships this academic year, attracting the highest number of internal and external award recipients than ever before.

24 students from 20 countries received external awards, an increase of 60 per cent on the number who enrolled last year. These scholarships are all highly sought after by students and regularly offered in conjunction with Government organisations. They include awards from the Cardiff Fulbright scheme, Chevening Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, Tullow Oil and the China Scholarship Council.

Recipients of the University's International Scholarships Fund fought off intense competition from almost 1,000 applications to study at Cardiff. The scholarships were awarded to students at all levels, from Foundation through to PhD.

At a special welcome reception held in Aberdare Hall, Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan, said: "I would like to congratulate all students who have secured a scholarship to study at the University. You have been recognised as some of the most talented students in your field of study and I wish you every success for the year ahead.

"I would also like to offer a warm welcome to the representatives here today from some of our key partners, including the Welsh Government and the British Council. I look forward to developing our partnerships in the years ahead so that we can continue to welcome students from all over the world to Wales and to Cardiff University."

Richard Cotton, Director of the University's International Office, added: "Our International Scholarships are designed to attract and reward the best students from all over the world and we are delighted with the calibre of students who have joined us. The competition this year was stronger than ever and I congratulate the students who have shone through to secure a scholarship."

Details of all the international scholarships are available here.