A new scholarship programme to give students from Africa the chance to study at the University of East Anglia will be unveiled at the university's annual Court meeting tomorrow .

A new scholarship programme to give students from Africa the chance to study at the University of East Anglia will be unveiled at the university's annual Court meeting tomorrow .

The grants will cover tuition fees for four African PhD students from disadvantaged backgrounds, with the first scholarships distributed in 2013, the university's Jubilee year.

Over the past half century the university has developed many links with countries in Africa and has been at the forefront of building partnerships to address challenges faced by contemporary African societies.

This commitment to supporting the developing world was recognised by the award of the Queen's Anniversary Prize to the school of International Development earlier this year.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Edward Acton said: 'It is very encouraging that we receive high numbers of applications from prospective African PhD students. However, due to the cost of studying in the UK, only a small proportion of these promising candidates are able to fulfil their goal of pursuing doctoral studies.

'These new scholarships will give students from Africa the chance to study with us so that they may return home and take up leadership roles to help solve some of their own country's pressing needs.'

Funds for the scholarships will come from donations to the university - from former students, friends and staff. Money raised will be match-funded by the Government by an extra 50 per cent.

Head of Development and Campaigns, David Street, said: 'While available funds last, the Government's time-limited matched funding scheme will also allow us to add to the value of donations. Together with Gift Aid, this means that for every �1 donated, the university will receive �1.90, so it's a great opportunity for us to grow this fund as we move towards the Jubilee year in 2013.'

The Court event, in Lecture Theatre 1 at 6pm, will also welcome Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk Richard Jewson as the incoming chair of the University Council.

He is a former managing director of Jewson and chair of its parent company Meyer International, from which he retired in 1993. A non-executive director and deputy chair of Anglian Water, Mr Jewson is currently pro-chancellor for the university, as well as being chair of Archant, which publishes the Eastern Daily Press and the Evening News.