A forensic medical student has become the first beneficiary of Government's link-up with the University of West Indies.

Amne Osseyran is starting a course at medical school on Jamaica's Mona Campus next week; she will receive a discount of at least 15 percent on her $25,000 yearly tuition fees.

The 27-year-old mother, a former pupil at East End Primary School, Elliott Primary School and Berkeley Institute, plans to eventually return to Bermuda as a forensic specialist.

Other Bermudians are being encouraged to apply for a similar discount, which comes into play after Premier Ewart Brown signed a memorandum of understanding with UWI vice chancellor Nigel Harris last week.

Education Minister Elvin James said yesterday: "This is in order to make it possible to give all of our students the opportunity to further educate themselves.

"There had always been students who didn't apply for various scholarships because the education was too expensive.

"The UK is fairly expensive as far as tuition is concerned, and the living expenses are very, very high. They were finding it very hard to live in the UK.

"With the West Indies coming on board, we can make further education accessible to all now. The climate is great, the price is right, living expenses are reasonable."

Ms Osseyran, the daughter of Progressive Labour Party Whip Lovitta Foggo, has an extensive educational background in forensics. As part of her most recent degree, she carried out research on gunshot wounds.

She told The Royal Gazette she hopes such knowledge could ultimately come in useful when she comes back to the Island.

Mr. James said: "This reinforces that there are lots of positive things going on in our public schools.

"There have been lots of 'Amnes' through the years, but we hear more about the two percent at the bottom that have a fight, or skip schools, or make noise on the bus.

"These individuals that are positive, we want to make certain they get the best education opportunities that are there."