Postgraduates will be able to apply for a scholarship with the Bermuda Foundation For Insurance Studies (BFIS) for the first time ever in the programme's 14th year of running.

Since its inception, BFIS has offered up to 10 major scholarships to undergraduate students interested in careers in Bermuda's insurance industry and has now opened it up to postgraduate students studying for their Master's degree.

BFIS executive director, Catherine Lapsley, said: "Our board of trustees felt that this was the right time and the right step to take to help the best and brightest students achieve their academic goals.

"We don't know how many young Bermudians are heading back to college at this level but it will be interesting to find out the level of interest which this offer brings to us.

"BFIS scholarship applicants need to be studying subjects relevant to the insurance industry. Our criteria has expanded over the years and now includes the specific majors of insurance, risk management, finance, economics, actuarial science, maths, computer science, accounting and corporate law and we have had students studying commerce, statistics, strategic management and international business.

"Don't leave it to the last minute to apply. Last year we awarded over $435,000."

The deadline for applications is April 30 and information on the scholarships and application forms are online at the BFIS website at www.bfis.bm