Jewellery and gemstone industry veterans, enthusiasts and other interested participants can now apply for scholarships at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) until March 31, 2021.

A total of US$2 million has been set aside for this year’s educational programme, according to GIA. 

“In the previous scholarship application cycle, we received a record-breaking number of applications, which shows that now, more than ever, students are in need of financial support to transform their educational goals into reality,” said Duncan Pay, GIA senior vice president of education and chief academic officer. “This cycle was also the first time we began offering need-based scholarships.” 

Classes will start in June through December 2021.

Scholarships are open to students around the world. For this application cycle, all prospective students may apply for distance education programmes, with limited on-campus scholarship availability due to pandemic-related capacity restrictions. 

GIA has awarded more than US$15 million in scholarships since 2010, helping more than 3,000 students study at GIA schools around the world and through distance education programmes.