In a move which marks the entry of Romania to the EU in January 2007, the University of Kent has become the first UK university to be part of a financial support scheme for talented postgraduate students from the Eastern European country. In partnership with the Ratiu Foundation UK , the University has developed a package which includes tuition fees and a £3,000 Ratiu Foundation Scholarship for two student places – one on the MSc in Information Security and Biometrics and one on the MSc in Biomedical Imaging. According to Dr Robin Baker, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, ‘We are very pleased to have this opportunity to work with the Ratiu Foundation in this way. Kent ’s strong European involvement means it is ideally placed to help young Romanians develop expertise in specialist areas.’ Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman of the Ratiu Foundation , said ‘ By supporting and stimulating top Romanian scholars in these special fields at Kent the extraordinary potential of further young Romanian scientists can now be fulfilled’. The Ratiu Foundation was established in London in 1979 by Ion and Elisabeth Ratiu . Through its scholarships, the Foundation enables talented Romanian graduates and young professionals to gain skills in the UK which they can adapt and apply back home in Romania . The University of Kent is one of the country’s leading universities and has a global reputation for its research in the fields of biometrics and biomedical imaging. The scholarships are available for courses starting in September 2007 and selection is made on the grounds of academic excellence.

Application Process

All candidates should inform their prospective department that they are applying for this scholarship. They must also hold an offer of a place on one of the above courses to be eligible for this scholarship. For the part of the scholarship covering the living expenses (£3,000 each), candidates should make their scholarship applications in writing to: Mr Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman, The Ratiu Foundation UK, 8th floor, 54 - 62 Regent Street, London, W1B 5RE, United Kingdom; Tel: + 44 (0)20 7439 4052 ; E-mail: mail@ratiufamilyfoundation.com

Information Security and Biometrics

www.ee.kent.ac.uk/postgraduate/pg_biometrics.aspx For further details, please contact: Dr Konstantinos Sirlantzis; Tel:+44 (0) 1227 824412; E-mail: K.Sirlantzis@kent.ac.uk; Web site: www.ee.kent.ac.uk/~ks30; Address: Department of Electronics, University of Kent , Canterbury , Kent , CT2 7NT , UK To apply on-line, go to http://records.kent.ac.uk/external/admissions/pgapplication.php select “MSc - Master of Science Taught” and then “Information Security and Biometrics”

Biomedical Imaging

www.kent.ac.uk/kimhs/courses/postgrad/bmi-msc-course-description.html For further details, please contact: Louise Bullock; Tel:+44 (0) 1227 824780; E-mail: L.A.Bullock@kent.ac.uk; Address: Kent Institute of Medicine and Health Sciences, Research & Development Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7PD, UK To apply on-line, go to http://records.kent.ac.uk/external/admissions/pgapplication.php select “MSc - Master of Science Taught” and then “Biomedical Imaging” www.kent.ac.uk/recruitment/PG_Funding/Ratiu_Foundation.html