WOMEN can study for free on a postgraduate course at Sunderland University.

The university has obtained funding from the European Social Fund to waive course fees for 20 female students on the full-time Master of Arts course in gender, culture and development. Bursaries of £2,250 are also available.

The course, which can also be studied part-time, examine cross-cultural issues of gender and culture in local, national and international contexts.

Alka Kurian, programme leader, said: "The course is proving attractive to people in the voluntary and community sectors."

The next course begins this month. For more information contact 0191-515 3000.