Australia-based Griffith University, in partnership with Padmashree Dr DY Patil University based in Navi Mumbai, on Tuesday launched the first ever Bachelor of Exercise Science course in India and the Border-Gavaskar Scholarship.

The second Griffith University Border-Gavaskar Scholarship would be awarded to an Indian student to complete a Masters by coursework programme at the Australian university and covers university fees, living costs and travel expenses for the duration of the course commencing next July, a media release said.

Rahul Mankad, former Mumbai cricketer and son of late Test all-rounder Vinoo and the South Asian Regional Director of Griffith University, said the scholarship had been started to celebrate the cricketing spirit shared by the two nations.

"The scholarship honours two great cricketers who served their countries through sporting excellence with distinction and pride. Both Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar were keen that it would not be offered as a sports scholarship but they decided on academic merit. So, a student opting for any course will be considered but the one with the best academic results will win it," he said.

The Border Gavaskar Masters Scholarship would be awarded on each occasion that India and Australia play for the coveted Border Gavaskar Trophy.

The Bachelor of Exercise Science Programme, the first ever course on Exercise Science to be launched in the country, targets students interested in a career related to sports. The three and a half year programme is spread between academic stints in both these varsities, the release said.

The first phase, comprising of 18 months of academic studies and six months internship, would be done at the D Y Patil University campus leading to a Diploma of Exercise Science.

The second phase, spanning two years, would be delivered in the Gold Coast Campus of Griffith University leading to a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science.

Students passing out of higher secondary school (10+2 Science Stream) are eligible for entry into the Bachelor of Exercise Science Programme.