Editor,

Reference is made to the article, "Scottish varsity offers Rwandans unlimited PhD scholarships” (The New Times, March 25).

We are delighted to be working with the University of Rwanda to support academic development and the sharing of ideas, and are grateful for the warm welcome our students recently received.

Together we are exploring the opportunities for joint teaching programmes with the University of Rwanda, exchange opportunities, collaborative research efforts, and the potential for PhD scholarship support.

We are pleased to confirm our commitment to provide PhD scholarship support, to enable appropriately qualified Rwandan scholars to study at St Andrews.

However, contrary to some recent reports, this support will be for one student annually to study a subject of doctoral research of academic value in connection with the development of Rwanda in the context of the Africa and the world.

It is of particular concern to us that students should have realistic expectations of the bounds of our resources, as well as of the boundless potential this opportunity may represent for one gifted student each year.

Emma Shea, Deputy Director of Communications University of St Andrews