BBC Worldwide, the commercial consumer arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), is set to launch BBC Learning in India. As part of the launch, BBC Worldwide will be offering two online MBA scholarships from a renowned business school in London. Scholarship students will begin their study in late 2004 through UK eUniversities Worldwide, which is backed by the government of UK to provide online degrees from universities in the country.

To avail of these scholarships, one hundred students from India will be chosen at random and asked to submit an essay in 1,000 words on the benefits of gaining an MBA qualification and the impact of business education in Indian industry and commerce. Additionally, students must meet the qualification criteria for the course and successfully apply to the programme directly.

"This is part of our commitment to bringing the best in e-learning from the UK to India," says Mark Young, managing director, Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, BBC Worldwide. "By offering students in India the opportunity to study with a leading UK institution, we encourage learners to look to e-learning as a convenient method of gaining a world-renowned degree," he adds.

BBC Worldwide will pay the course fees for the MBA scholarships with applications accepted from Indian nationals residing in India for the last 12 months.