Bolashak Scholarship Programme

Type of Award: Scholarship
Year of Entry: 2025/26

Overview

The Bolashak Scholarship Programme was established in Kazakhstan in 1993. Its primary objective is to facilitate the education of Kazakhstani citizens in countries renowned for their advanced educational systems. Funded by the Kazakhstani government and managed by the Centre for International Programmes, this scheme aims to support highly skilled specialists, scientists, and professionals across diverse fields. Recipients are expected to make significant contributions to Kazakhstan’s socio-economic and technological advancement. The programme encompasses a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, such as Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Medicine, Law and Business.

How to apply

Please email Izabella Penier directly to discuss applying for this scholarship.

The Research Internship Programme is overseen by members of the School of Medicine and Dentistry, the Clinical Spectroscopy Laboratory, and the LAMP Laboratory. The programme, including workshops focused on contemporary diagnostic methods, is run in our labs with state-of-the-art equipment. Medical professionals participating in the programme also benefit from clinical placements in hospitals across Lancashire tailored to their specialties.

During the laboratory workshops, fellows will explore clinical spectroscopy of biological molecules and its application in early detection and diagnosis through analysis of natural tissues and liquid biopsies. The diseases that can be diagnosed with vibrational spectroscopic techniques include infections, inflammatory conditions and various cancers such as cervical, prostate, breast, oesophageal, and colorectal cancers. Fellows will become familiar with such spectroscopic techniques as Fourier transform infrared (FITR) and Raman spectroscopy (RS) which can be used in medicine, dentistry and biosciences as well as in structural and compositional analysis of natural materials.

The training in the LAMP Lab is focused on molecular assays based on Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) technology. This innovative technique facilitates rapid detection of infections and diseases in both humans and animals. The LAMP Lab collaborates with Optigene, a company specialising in LAMP-based assays. Fellows will have an opportunity to learn about studies on the EEHV1 virus, validation of the Campylobacter assay, and the development of MRSA and PVL assays, as well as using the LAMP technology in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

To date, we have hosted 20 research fellows from Kazakhstan, with additional fellows expected to join the programme in 2025 and 2026.

We welcome applications from specialists in disciplines such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, ophthalmoscopy, veterinary medicine and other life sciences, We also welcome researchers with an interest in medical education and UK standards and practices in assessment. Kazakhstani professionals interested in applying for the programme are encouraged to contact My APA for further details regarding the application process.