Education and Lifelong Learning Secretary Fiona Hyslop is set to outline ongoing support to attract the most skilled and talented students from overseas to Scotland.

Addressing overseas students at a British Council Scotland welcome reception for the Scotland USA Graduate Scholarships Scheme and Scottish International Scholarship Programme, Hyslop will announce that a further 51 scholarships of £2,000 will be awarded to US students this year.

Funded by the Scottish Government and the host universities, and managed by Education UK Scotland, the US Graduate Scholarships Scheme is aimed at encouraging US students to come study and work in Scotland.

"International students make a substantial economic and cultural contribution to Scotland, which is why we are continuing funding for scholarships bringing the best graduates from the US to come and study in Scotland," Hyslop said.

"Scotland's future economic success is underpinned by attracting skilled and talented individuals to chose to live and work here - our US Graduate Scholarships Scheme helps with this aim.

"Through the Scottish International Scholarship Programme we also support a number of students from China and India to study here. In the coming months we will look to how we increase this support by broadening access in same way we have done for US scholars."

The Cabinet Secretary suggested that attracting students from the US, China and India offered "the highest economic, cultural and social benefits for Scotland".

Currently 12 students from India and China are benefitting from the Scottish International Scholarship Programme and are undertaking a Masters degree at Scottish universities.