The University of the West Indies has joined the University of Porto, Portugal in a partnership with the European Commission that will fund graduate studies in countries such as Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
 
The Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 Programme facilitates cooperation and mobility in higher education through partnerships between higher education institutions (HEIs) in Europe and African, Caribbean & Pacific (ACP) countries. The Mundus ACP II project, which falls under the umbrella of Erasmus Mundus is managed by the University of Porto. The scheme will see the disbursement of approximately 4 million Euros for the movement of graduate students and researchers from HEIs in ACP countries to study at Mundus ACP European partner institutions. 
 
There are approximately 12 scholarships exclusively available to UWI alumni as well as current students and staff. They include eight full Master’s scholarships, two scholarships for mobility within doctoral programmes and two academic/administrative staff scholarships. Funding will comprise a monthly scholarship ranging between 1,000 and 2,500 Euros, return airfare, health, accident and travel insurance and tuition fees to the host institution, where applicable. 
 
Eligible are nationals of ACP countries Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.  Candidates must not have resided for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in one of the partner European countries and must submit applications before February15th, 2012.
 
Under Mundus ACP II, 16 core fields of study are approved for funding: Agriculture Studies; Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning; Art and Design; Business Studies/Management Science; Education, Teacher Training; Engineering/Technology; Humanities; Languages and Philological Sciences; Law; Mathematics/ Informatics; Medical Sciences, Natural Sciences; Social Sciences and Communication and Information Sciences.       
 
For application forms or further information on the Mundus ACP scheme please visit http://mundusacp2.up.pt/ or contact the International Students Office at UWI, Mona via telephone at (876) 702-3737 or e-mail isomona@uwimona.edu.jm.