THE STAR, TUESDAY 12 MARCH 2019

COURSE FOCUS
2 Scholarship & Loans THE STAR, TUESDAY 12 MARCH 2019

Preparation is key
By NGEH CHEE YEN

THE day arrives. As you wait in the

noisy hall with your peers, your
excitement for what is to come
heightens. Your Sijil Pelajaran
Malaysia results are finally being
released today. You step up to
receive your results when your
name is called, and your hands
tremble while opening the
envelope that will determine your
future.
Receiving your SPM results is
only the first step in achieving your
future goals and aspirations.
Depending on those results, a
student will then choose if she
wants to go the academic or
vocational route, according to her
interests and talents.
However, a student’s financial
situation can sometimes dampen
her dream to learn a specific skill,
especially in academics where
university tuition is increasing at a
rate higher than the average salary
increase. While a lucky few may
have the luxury of their parents
fully funding their education, not
everyone can afford to pay for
their studies.
This is where scholarships come
in, closing the gap between
financial ability and rising tuition.
Opportunities abound for students
to be able to further their
education. They just need to know
where to look and be well
prepared when the time comes to
showcase their worth for said
scholarships.
But where does one start? How
does one prepare herself to
compete with her peers in
obtaining those funds? Applying for a scholarship may seem daunting, but the payoff is worth it. Make sure to approach the process as a learning experience and be well
prepared for what may come your way.
Look before you leap “While private scholarships can Retention initiative offered by companies in that attending an interview. Prepare
Before applying for a be more organisation-centric by l Pay off your bond in full industry, while if you aspire to be good questions to ask the
scholarship, you must first be placing graduates in a specific should you not be able to secure a a civil servant, applying for a interviewers at the end of the
aware and understand the company, public scholarships can job public scholarship will be the best interview and avoid asking
differences between the be more open, placing graduates in choice. Other important things to questions you could easily find the
scholarships you are applying for. any bond-serving organisation.” The private sector, in this case, take note of are the companies’ answers for online. It is also good
A broad example can be the Another example is if you are would prefer to bond its specialisations, values, goals and to know why you’re interested in
differences between scholarships sponsored under the Public Service graduates. While this can present assessment methods. the course you’re applying for and
from the public and private Department (JPA) scholarship, you the misconception of limited do some research on it,” she says.
sectors, as which one you choose
will affect your education and
are bonded to the Malaysian
government upon finishing your
options, it provides the graduate
with a job in his field of expertise.
The nitty-gritty Currently studying software
engineering at the University of
career path. studies. Last year, TalentCorp This is especially desirable Upon understanding the unique New South Wales, Australia, Tan
Intan Zalila Mohd Yusof, senior Malaysia published an article titled when Malaysia has a youth nature of a scholarship provider, cautions students to always be on
vice-president of Yayasan 3 ways to fulfil your JPA scholarship unemployment rate of 10.8% in it is now time for you to tailor the lookout should a scholarship
Khazanah, says, “We believe that bond on www.talentmatters.com. 2017, of which graduate your application to its provider try to contact them.
both public and private my, which said that to serve your unemployment is 40.5%, requirements. Tan Yin Huey, a “I have friends who have missed
scholarships have the same JPA bond, you can either: according to Malaysian Industrial Maybank Scholarship recipient, scholarship opportunities just
objective: to develop talent for the l Work in the public sector for Development Finance’s Economic shares some tips on preparation because they didn’t check their
future. However, there is a several years Review | 2017 Labour Market. and avoiding mistakes during the email. Checking your email
difference between those two l Work in the private sector Therefore, if you intend to work application and selection process. regularly and picking up calls from
scholarships in terms of talent under TalentCorp Malaysia’s for a certain industry, it is best “It is important to research the
placement. Scholarship Talent Attraction and that you apply for scholarships scholarship provider before > SEE NEXT PAGE

Inside the mind of the judges

Competing with the nation’s
best can be overwhelming.
Therefore, good preparation is
necessary to increase your
chances at scoring that
scholarship.
An article titled How
scholarships are judged: an
inside look, published on
Fastweb, a United States-based
scholarship search provider,
provides further insight into the
scholarship judge’s mind. Author
Roxana Hadad details the steps
that scholarship judges go
through to pick the best
candidate:
l Making sure minimum
requirements are met.
l Separating the “okay” from
the great.
l Making their final decisions
by comparing the following:
academics, leadership,
community service involvement,
creativity and special
circumstances.
She advises, “It isn’t easy being
a scholarship judge. Deciding
who will receive an award is a
tough decision. By knowing
what scholarship judges want,
you’ll have a better chance at
being one of those winners.”
Intan Zalila Mohd Yusof,
senior vice-president of Yayasan
Khazanah, shares her
experience on how scholarship
judges review the many aspects
of a candidate’s eligibility for the
scholarship. Common minimum
requirements are:
l Academics – Excellent
results in SPM or STPM
l Non-academics –
Extracurricular involvement,
positions held in societies/clubs,
participation in social and
community activities.
l Potential to grow as leaders
Nevertheless, to pick the most
deserving candidate, Intan Zalila
elaborates on how Yayasan
Khazanah uses specific
benchmarks to vet each student.
“We are able to gauge a
student’s potential through the
many levels of assessment
during the application and
selection cycle, granted that most
of the candidates that apply to
our scholarship programmes are
meeting the minimum
requirements.
“However, the challenge lies
with identifying those we believe
have greater potential in
purpose, personal traits and
people traits, in line with the
leadership model we employ.
The model consists of eight
leadership competencies and
these competencies are all
embedded in the tools and
questionnaires we give
applicants.
“It is designed to be generic
and universal as we feel that it
reflects most, if not all, of the
values, beliefs, goals and
motivations of many
organisations. This is pertinent
as our scholars are placed in a
range of organisations, not just Preparing for a scholarship begins way before you get your SPM results,
one.” so start researching your options at least a year in advance and work
towards those goals.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 12 MARCH 2019
Research your
options and be
ready for the call
> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
unknown numbers in the few
months after you submit your
application might just change
your life. In addition, for
scholarship interviews, make
sure you are dressed
appropriately and remember to
smile and be confident.”
Even with these tips, you may
still make careless mistakes
during the application process.
Intan Zalila says, “There is no
special formula for applying for
a scholarship. The level of
preparedness is key to success.
From the point of application,
to undertaking the online
assessments, to attending the
interview session, the candidate
must present himself well and
be able to tell the assessors
about himself in a calm,
confident manner.
“Practising and rehearsing
could be beneficial before
attending the selection
assessment. However,
overdoing it could potentially
be a disadvantage.”
She highlights several crucial
steps that are commonly
overlooked:
l Prepare required
documents well in advance,
including copies of transcripts,
certificates for participation in
co-curricular activities and
other personal documents.
l Familiarise yourself with
the specific requirements of the
scholarship programme.
l Get acquainted with the
online application process.
l Start planning for your
future and how the scholarship
can help you obtain what you
want.
Taking the chance
Because hopeful candidates
Tan Yin Huey,
a Maybank
Scholarship
recipient who is
studying software
engineering at
University of
New South
Wales, Australia.
Scholarship & Loans 3
A student’s
financial situations
can sometimes
dampen her dream
to learn a specific
skill, especially in
academics where
university tuition
is increasing at a
rate higher than
the average salary
increase.
vastly outnumber the
scholarships available,
competition can be fierce,
especially when you are
competing with the nation’s best.
However, nothing can bear fruit
if you don’t apply for fear of
rejection.
Intan Zalila encourages
applicants to look at the process
as a learning experience and
motivation to try harder.
“We have received close to
5,000 applications in our March
cycle, with a success rate of less
than 5%. It is quite a feat as we
have a strong pool of applicants.
Nonetheless, the learning
experience that comes with the
whole process is rewarding and
beneficial.”
Tan echoes Intan Zalila’s
sentiment, saying, “Don’t try to
be anyone other than yourself
during the interviews. Be sincere
and honest, and never fake your
achievements. Do your research
on the scholarships’ terms and
conditions before applying. Try
your best and enjoy the process,
regardless of the outcome.”
4 Scholarship & Loans
Preparing
future
engineers
EVERY year, the University of
Southampton Malaysia (UoSM)
sponsors scholarships for Sijil
Pelajaran Malaysia graduates
and pre-university students who
are interested in pursuing a
degree in engineering. These
bond-free scholarships are open
to Malaysian and international
applicants and are based on
academic excellence and
achievements.
University of Southampton Malaysia has offered scholarships to eligible engineering students for six consecutive “These scholarships are a
years. reflection of UoSM’s mission to
ensure a robust pipeline of
engineering talent is entering
the engineering profession,”
says Prof Neil Stephen, UoSM
head of academic affairs.
Full scholarships
available
From foundation year to
undergraduate applicants,
UoSM offers a wide range of
scholarships. These scholarships
cover the main fields of
engineering: electrical and
electronic engineering,
mechanical engineering, and
aeronautics and astronautics.
These scholarships include:
n Engineering Foundation Year
l Top Achiever Scholarship
– A full scholarship for students
who obtain 8A* and above in
SPM/O-Level or equivalent.
l High Achiever Scholarship
– A 10%, 25% or 50% reduction
in tuition fees for students who
achieve 5As to 8As in SPM or 4A*
in O-Level, 9As to 10As in SPM or
5A* in O-Level, and 11As and
above in SPM or 6A* in O-Level,
respectively.
l Dean’s Progression
Scholarship – Awarded to
foundation students who have
successfully progressed to an
undergraduate programme at
UoSM.
n Undergraduate Programme
l Top Achiever Scholarship
– A full scholarship awarded to
all students who achieve a
minimum of 4A* in A-Levels (or
3A* and 1A) or its equivalent.
l Exceptional Achiever
Scholarship – A 60% scholarship
to all students who achieve a
minimum of 3A* in A-Levels or
its equivalent.
l High Achiever Scholarship
– A 25% scholarship to all
students who achieve A*A*A in
A-Levels or its equivalent.
l Transition Bursary –
Awards 20% scholarships to
students who successfully
progress from Year 2 at UoSM to
Years 3 and 4 at University of
Southampton. Students must
complete Years 1 and 2 at UoSM
to receive this scholarship. No
separate application is needed as
students are automatically
considered.
The scholarships are a
reduction of tuition fees and
applicable for the first year of
study only. To date, the
university has awarded
THE STAR, TUESDAY 12 MARCH 2019
These scholarships
are a reflection of
UoSM’s mission
to ensure a
robust pipeline
of engineering
talent is entering
the engineering
profession.
scholarships to engineering
students for six consecutive
years. Last year, the university
awarded scholarships worth
RM194,000.
A launch pad for dreams
“The Dean’s Progression
Scholarship has motivated me
in my undergraduate course.
With the scholarship, I can
sustain my academic
endeavours and gain freedom
to further nurture my robotics
hobby, especially as robotics
parts can be costly,” says Chia
Tze Hank, a Year 1 engineering
student at UoSM.
Chia, who is now the
president of the university’s
Robotics Club, notes that since
joining UoSM for its foundation
programme, his passion for
building robots has only
grown.
“I have built robots such as
Wall-E, the university’s hornbill
robot, a snake robot, a line-
following robot and a Facebook
like counter to keep track of my
club’s page performance. My
next aim is to venture on
Internet of Things devices to
allow me to digitise house
appliances for energy
conservation and security.”
Former A-Levels student
Angus Khaw Han Zhe received
the full scholarship award for
the first year of his studies at
UoSM.
“A career in research and
development intrigues me. I
wish to contribute to the
evolution of human technology.
An earth-shattering
breakthrough would be the
ultimate dream, but a small step
forward would be just as
satisfying, because it would
mean that I left the world better
than it was,” says Khaw. He
plans to pursue a career in
research once he finishes his
integrated master’s programme.
Intake applications for
Engineering Foundation Year
are due on Apr 8 while
undergraduate applications are
ongoing until Sept 16.
n For more information
regarding programmes and
scholarships, contact the
university at 017-261 5759 or
email marketing.malaysia@
southampton.ac.uk
THE STAR, TUESDAY 12 MARCH 2019
A helping
hand for
your tertiary
education
WORRIED about being bogged
down with hefty academic
course fees that will burden
your family? Disappointed at
not being able to choose your
preferred course because of
expensive tuition fees?
These are just a few
concerns school-leavers are
likely to face, despite having
passed their exams with flying
colours. Most students hope to
receive a quality education at
top-notch institutions, only to
realise that it may not be
possible because of their
financial status.
To assist students with their
hopes and ambitions, Sunway
College is committed to
providing financial assistance
to deserving students and
rewarding high achievers with
attractive scholarships.
Created with parents of
today in mind, Sunway’s new
scholarship support packages
offer families the support they
need to assist with their
children’s educational
ambitions and hopes while
also providing tangible
financial assistance.
Inspired by support from the
Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and
embracing the spirit of
“Education for All”, one of the
United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals, Sunway’s
2019 scholarships provide
young Malaysians with a
springboard to success and a
brighter future.
New scholarships for
the new year
The Jeffrey Cheah Entrance
Scholarship 2019 is applicable
for pre-university
programmes, the American
Degree Transfer Programme
(ADTP), diploma programmes
and professional accounting
programmes.
For pre-university
programmes and professional
accounting programmes, the
undergraduate entrance
scholarship awards are divided
into three categories – Ontario
Secondary Certificate,
Cambridge GCE O-Level and
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia school-
leavers.
Applicants who have
attained 95% and above in
their Ontario Secondary
Certificate are eligible for a full
scholarship. School-leavers
with minimum SPM results of
9A+ and Cambridge GCE
O-Level graduates with 9A*
and above are also eligible for
a full scholarship.
As for ADTP, minimum SPM
results of 9A+ or Cambridge
GCE O-Level results of 9A* are
required for a full scholarship
Scholarship & Loans 5
Created with
parents of today
in mind, Sunway’s
new scholarship Sunway is giving high achievers the chance to obtain quality education through several new scholarships.
support packages
offer families the
support they need
to assist with their
children’s educational
ambitions and hopes
while also providing
tangible financial
assistance.
for the first 30 credit hours.
Those with 9A1 or more in the GRANT WORTH
OVER RM1,000,000
Unified Examinations
Certificate are also eligible for
this scholarship quantum.
For pre-university
programmes, professional
accounting programmes such Improve Your Employability
as Certified Accounting
Technician and Certificate in
Finance, Accounting and
Business, and ADTP, applicants
with a score of 5As (either A+,
A or A-) in SPM, 5As (A* or A)
in Cambridge GCE O-Level or
5As in UEC can apply for the
Special 2019 Merit Award.
The newly introduced
Special 2019 Merit Award is Skill Academic Grant (SAG) to Upskill and Empower You
only applicable for 2019
Benefit from SEGi’s quality education and create a pathway towards a better future.
intakes, with a valid 2018
academic certificate prior to Obtain technical and vocational skills with academic qualifications in one programme.
joining Sunway College Kuala
Lumpur or Sunway University. • Fully-borne training & tuition fees* • Meal vouchers included*
Eligible diploma programme
applicants who have attained • Accommodation provided* • Higher employability potential*
a minimum of 9As (A+, A or
A-) in SPM or 9As and above in
Cambridge GCE O-Level will be Industry Opportunities for Graduates:
awarded a scholarship
quantum of their first year’s
tuition fees. Business & Building &
Sunway’s scholarships not Hospitality
Entrepreneurship Construction
only reward academically
gifted straight-A students, but,
more importantly, recognise
and reward entry-level Allied Health Beauty /
Oil & Gas
students to whom the Sciences Cosmetology
challenge and need of a
brighter future is even greater.
All scholarship applications
will be evaluated and
Food & Information
shortlisted before the Beverages Technology *Terms & conditions apply.
awarding process.
n Learn more about Sunway Entry Requirements:
College’s scholarships at • Minimum of 3 credits (Grade C & above) in SPM
college.sunway.edu.my or visit
the institution on its Open Day
• From rural and suburban communities*
this Saturday and Sunday as DK250-04(B) • 187620-W • DK250-02(Q)
well as Mar 23 and 24 from
10am to 4pm. Prospective Register today! segi.edu.my
students or their parents can
register online for the Open Subang Jaya DK250-04(B) 603 8600 1777 6016 212 9154 Penang 187620-W 604 263 3888 6013 629 4880
Day at my.sunway.edu.my/ Kuala Lumpur DK250(W) 603 2070 2078 6012 988 9627 Sarawak DK250-02(Q) 6082 252 566 6017 859 2566
openday
6 Scholarship & Loans
Get noticed with
these top essay tips
A HIGHER education qualification is seen
as a necessity by many who wish to
improve their future career prospects. The
steep tuition cost, however, might prove a
hindrance. But, don’t be discouraged yet.
There are financial aids you can apply for
to help ease your burden.
Common forms of aid in Malaysia
include scholarships, loans, waivers and
more, mostly funded by government
bodies or private companies.
In this tough economy, competition for
financial aid has never been more stiff. To
stand out from the crowd, a solid
application essay could very well help you
score that scholarship or loan. Therefore,
here are some key tips to writing an
impressive application essay.
Make sure you meet the
application’s requirements
This might seem obvious, but you may
be surprised at how many applicants fail
to do this.
Before you start writing, do some
research and familiarise yourself with the
application’s criteria. You want to make
sure you are eligible for that scholarship
or loan, or you will be disqualified no
matter how impressive your application.
Also, take note of all the requirements – be
it an essay, form, or both, and allocate
enough time to complete them.
Think from the organisation’s
perspective
Put yourself in the organisation’s shoes
Using education counsellors to your advantage
SO, you’ve survived high school.
Congratulations. Now that exams are over,
everyone’s asking you what’s next.
For many, it might feel impossible to make
such a monumental decision when it seems
like so much is at stake. Luckily, there are
professionals out there called education
counsellors, whose job is to help you make
this perilous decision and support you along
the way.
The role of counsellors is to be a support
system to students, be it helping you with
your higher education plans or things that
are keeping you up at night. Here are some
of the ways in which you can use them to
your advantage.
Career guidance
School counselling was established for this
very reason – to help students decide on a
career path and identify and outline the
necessary steps to achieve it.
If you find yourself at a loss as to what to
do after high school, do consider seeking the
advice of a professional, who will possess
valuable insight into the many different
types of possible careers or paths you can
take. Through one-on-one discussions,
counsellors can help you narrow your
choices down to one, depending on your
interests and strengths.
Help with finding the right
college/university for you
Once you have locked down your course
of choice, the next step is to decide where
you want to study. This process is tedious
and will require a lot of research. To be able
to make comparisons between institutions,
you need to know and consider many
factors, from subject ranking and entry
and think about what values and traits
they would look for in a potential
candidate. Read up on the organisation’s
mission statement and aim to tailor your
response so that it resonates with the
judges.
Additionally, instead of focusing on
what the organisation can do for you,
think about what you can offer them –
for example, how you would be able to
contribute to their mission statement. The
organisation would want to be confident
that you are the ideal candidate for its
scholarship or loan, as it is the one
investing in you.
Be direct and concise
It might be tempting to show off your
extensive vocabulary with flowery prose
with the hope of impressing the judges.
However, it could just come across as
inefficient communication. Judges go
through countless applications every day
and would rather not spend extra time
trying to decode your message. Getting
your points across in a succinct manner
would be a much better gauge of good
communication.
Nonetheless, avoid falling into the trap
of using generic statements like “I deserve
this because I am a hard worker” or “I
have good grades”, as your essay will
come across as predictable and, thus,
forgettable.
Personalise your application
essay
This is key when distinguishing yourself
Counsellors can offer insightful suggestions on which institutions are better suited for you
based on your individual needs.
requirements, to employment opportunities
and student support.
As education is not cheap, you might want
to make sure it is a worthwhile investment.
Counsellors can offer insightful suggestions
on which institutions are better suited for
you based on your individual needs, by
helping you weigh the pros and cons of
different programmes from different
schools.
Assistance with university
applications and visas
Counsellors are always ready to help
should you face any problems during this
from your competitors, as this is your
chance to share your personality, quirks
and long-term goals. Weave your personal
narrative into a smooth-flowing
conversation to turn your essay into an
engaging read.
Also, don’t be afraid to mention your
weaknesses, so long as you demonstrate
the active steps you have taken to improve
yourself. No one expects a perfect
candidate, but most organisations do look
for someone who demonstrates initiative
and drive.
Proof read, check and check
again
It is an inevitable fate of writing that we
will almost always overlook tiny errors in
the essay. To avoid this, enlist the help of a
trusted advisor or friend to proofread
your essay before sending it in. They
might even offer some constructive
feedback.
Lastly, double-check that you have
included all the necessary details and that
your essay is grammatically correct and
free from spelling errors.
stage. Some even offer personal statement
workshops in conjunction with university
representatives to help you nail that
statement to impress your school of choice.
Additionally, if you require a visa to study
overseas, they can brief you on the latest
visa requirements and share relevant
resources with you so that you know exactly
what you need to do. To ease things even
further, some will help with translating and
sending off your documents for you so that
your visa application will be ready on time.
Your mental well-being
Although counselling was founded to
provide vocational guidance to students, it
THE STAR, TUESDAY 12 MARCH 2019
Get a letter of recommendation
This is an extra step you could take to
boost your chances of nailing that
sponsorship or loan. Don’t be afraid to
request a letter of recommendation from
your former teachers to get a good word
in for you.
That being said, your academic prowess
is not the only thing that matters –
extracurricular activities and what you do
outside of school are just as important.
Many do not know that they can also get
recommendations from the seniors at
their part-time jobs and club leaders, to
show that their achievements go beyond
grades.
Last words: Be persistent
Remember that you might need to
apply for numerous scholarships or loans
before receiving a single offer. It is not an
easy process so do not get discouraged if
you don’t receive any offers after the first
few tries.
Ultimately, discipline and persistence
are crucial. So, take each application as a
learning experience and try and try again.
If you find yourself at a
loss as to what to do after
high school, do consider
seeking the advice of a
professional, who will possess
valuable insight into the
many different types of
possible careers or paths
you can take.
has since evolved to also focus on the
student’s mental health.
Most students go through a lot of stress
and pressure throughout their academic life,
on top of their own personal issues. If
something has been bothering you lately, a
private session with a counsellor you trust
can do wonders. Recognising that you need
help is not something to be ashamed of, but
a sign of strength.
Counsellors are trained to deal with these
issues and help you overcome them. By
working together, you will work towards
overcoming your problems in a safe and
non-judgemental environment.
However, if you feel like your counsellor is
being unprofessional, feel free to switch
counsellors! Be wary of counsellors who
seem more interested in imposing their own
beliefs on you instead of listening to your
side of the story and being non-judgemental.
Be it over education choice or personal
reasons, a good counsellor will help lay out
the pros and cons to every option ahead of
you so that you are able to make a more
informed decision.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 12 MARCH 2019
Empowering
students with
the right skills
IT is difficult to gain employment if you are
not equipped with the right skills and
qualifications. Many graduates and school-
leavers face strong competition in the job
market. According to MIDF Research in its
2017 labour market report, one reason for
the high unemployment rate among youth is
skills mismatch.
In The School-To-Work Transition
published by Khazanah Research Institute
(KRI) early this year, the results of a school-
to-work transition survey shows that the
Government’s commitment to improving
human capital is evident in a range of
policies, including a focus on transforming
technical and vocational education and
training (TVET) to meet industry demand,
improving the quality of education and
enhancing labour market efficiency. Yet,
mismatches between the supply of, and
demand for, young manpower and talent
remain a serious issue.
This is even more pronounced for youth
from rural and suburban communities. The
challenges they face most often are lack of
training options and employment
opportunities. Most need technical and
vocational training to break into the
employment market. Financial assistance is
also a significant hurdle these youths need
to overcome for them to gain necessary
skills and training.
However, the KRI survey found that TVET
is not a popular education pathway among
youth. Only 13% of all upper secondary
students are pursuing TVET courses, while
at the higher education level, less than 9%
are in polytechnics. Yet, young job seekers
and young workers, especially men, identify
TVET as the most useful qualification for
getting a good job.
However, employers express a preference
for university graduates for skilled/
professional jobs and secondary school
graduates for low-skilled/manual jobs, and
offer TVET graduates salaries that are
significantly lower than what is offered to
university graduates, and only slightly above
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia holders.
To improve TVET, a complete structural
overhaul of the system and the promotion of
competency-based education and training
are required.
Acknowledging this gap between
SEGi is committed to bridging the skills mismatch and ensuring its students will always have
a leg-up on the competition.
Scholarship & Loans 7
To ensure youth from rural
and low-income husehold
have the same opportunity
to compete in the job market,
SEGi is offering financial
assistance by providing the
Skills Academic Grant (SAG),
starting this year.
mismatched industry-relevant skills and
training and the competitive job market, and
in line with the Government’s initiative to
provide youth employment opportunities and
supply the country with the right talents to
propel Malaysia’s economic growth, SEGi is
committed to bridging the gap by offering
skills- and training-based programmes to
ensure its students pick up relevant technical
and vocational skills, acquire positive
academic qualities and inculcate
entrepreneurial skills for them to be future
ready in terms of their skills, knowledge and
attitude. This ensures that they are better
able to compete in the job market.
In addition, to ensure youth from rural and
low-income household have the same
opportunity to compete in the job market,
SEGi is offering financial assistance by
providing the Skills Academic Grant (SAG),
starting this year. SAG is aimed at helping
youth from rural and low-income households
acquire academic qualifications through the
National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN)
and offers them the opportunity to be trained
in the skills required for them to be
employable in the food and beverage,
building and construction, oil and gas
engineering, personal care and marketing
industries.
n For further details about SAG, speak to
SEGi’s counsellors at 03-8600 1777/016-212
9154 (Subang Jaya), 03-2070 2078/012-988
9627 (Kuala Lumpur), 04-263 3888/013-629
4880 (Penang), 082-252 566/017-859 2566
(Sarawak) or visit www.segi.edu.my
8 Scholarship & Loans
Making education affordable
TUNKU Abdul Rahman University College
(TAR UC) stands by its mission and vision to
continuously provide an education that is
not only top-notch but also affordable to all
Malaysians.
In line with this principle, TAR UC
provides financial assistance and
scholarships to underprivileged and
deserving students, respectively, to ensure
that the institution’s holistic education
remains accessible. Such financial
assistance is made available in the form of
interest-free study loans and scholarships/
grants.
In recent years, TAR UC has started
offering sibling discounts as additional
financial support for parents with two or
more children studying at TAR UC. Under
the sibling discount, newly registered
students with sibling(s) who are full-fee-
paying students in the same semester at TAR
UC are eligible for a discount of RM1,000 off
their first semester tuition fee.
The TAR UC Merit Scholarship, which was
introduced in 1997, provides up to 100%
scholarship for students who excel in their
examinations. To date, close to RM100mil
worth of merit scholarships have been
disbursed to more than 22,000 students.
There are also scholarships/bursaries
administered by TAR UC in partnership with
external organisations or its alumni
association. These include The Star
Education Fund, Sin Chew Daily Education
Fund, Nanyang Tertiary Education Fund,
TAR UC – TAA Scholarship, TAR UC-TAA
Scholarship (Top Glove) and TAR UC –
Jinbodhi Bursary.
Two TAR UC students, Hemavanan
Krishna Kumar and Nicholas Ho Yi Ming,
were thankful to receive financial assistance
via the TAR UC – Jinbodhi Bursary and TAR
UC – TAA Scholarship, respectively.
“I feel so grateful to be a recipient of the
TAR UC – Jinbodhi Bursary as it has greatly
helped me and my family and allowed me
to continue my studies,” says Hemavanan.
The Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Logistics
What to know before applying for a study loan
AFTER going through the hardships of Sijil
Pelajaran Malaysia and Sijil Tinggi
Persekolahan Malaysia, it is now time for
you to step into the world of academia and
scholarship.
For a lucky few, you may be offered full or
partial scholarships through your exemplary
grades or sports expertise to fund your
studies.
However, the skyrocketing cost of tertiary
education can significantly set Malaysians
back financially, even with the help of partial
scholarships.
According to a 2015 survey by London-
based Expert Market, Malaysia is one of the
most expensive countries in the world to
study in, according to the tuition fee to salary
ratio. On average, Malaysian parents have to
fork out 55% of their salary to pay for their
child’s education.
Therefore, as a fresh secondary school
graduate who is looking to further your
studies at your dream university, how are
you going to fund your goal?
Finding alternatives
Loans are a way of obtaining funds to
financially support your way through
university. However, receiving easy money
from financial organisations has its pros and
cons. Here are some things you should look
out for when applying for an education loan:
l Loan eligibility – Before applying for a
loan, you will first have to ensure you are
eligible for it. Ethnicity, income, exam grades,
and active participation in extracurricular
activities are part of what some loan
providers look for in an applicant.
There is no point in applying for a loan
that you are not eligible for. Therefore, try to
make your advantages stand out.
For example, if you are a Bumiputera
student from a lower-income family, you
The latest batch of TAR UC students who have been awarded the TAR UC – Jinbodhi Bursary Award with TAR UC senior management and
officials as well as committee members of Bodhi Meditation Malaysia.
and Supply Chain Management student
adds that the bursary enabled him to
continue his studies after completing his
self-funded foundation programme during
which he had to take on part-time jobs to
finance his education.
“By receiving this bursary, I am able to
focus on my studies and participate in
extracurricular activities which not only
keep me fit and healthy but also helps me
improve my communication skills,” he
concludes.
Ho, a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
While study loans will help you pay off the high fees for tertiary education, be conscious of
the interest rates stipulated and the duration you will need to repay the loan.
have a higher chance of obtaining a loan
from Majilis Amanah Rakyat’s (MARA) Study
Loan Scheme to further your studies either
locally or abroad.
l Interest rates – Loans are not a “take a
certain amount and return a certain
amount” type of transaction, unless you are
borrowing unofficially from a family
member or friend. It is crucial to take note of
a loan’s interest rates as it could cost you in
the long run when you start repaying your
dues.
While Government-run loans such as the
National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN)
offer interest rates of as low as 1%, privately
Electrical and Electronics student, holds the
mantra “Believe in yourself, and most
importantly, give yourself a chance” close to
heart. This belief eventually landed him the
scholarship.
“It was quite intimidating having to ask
strangers for financial support, but I was
desperate to help ease my family’s financial
burden. I took charge of my own destiny
and gave myself a shot at this scholarship.
Now, I can set my gaze on my goals and
move forward, thanks to TAR UC and TAA,”
he says.
run financial institutions might charge
higher rates.
Therefore, if you do not want to risk
ending up with a loan repayment amount
many times the original amount borrowed,
it is better to opt for a loan with lower
interest rates.
l Repayment scheme – It is common
sense that if you borrow something from
someone, it is essential that you return the
exact amount, if not more. When you apply
for an education loan, you must realise that
you will be repaying this loan for a very
long time.
Taking into consideration the tuition fee,
THE STAR, TUESDAY 12 MARCH 2019
Attractive scholarships are also available
at TAR UC on the basis of academic merit
and sibling discount for eligible students.
n To find out more about the programmes
offered by TAR UC, visit its Open Day, which
is being held from this Thursday to Apr 14
(9am to 5pm) at its Kuala Lumpur main
campus and all TAR UC branch campuses
in Penang, Perak, Johor, Pahang and Sabah.
Alternatively, visit TAR UC’s booth at major
education fairs nationwide or www.tarc.
edu.my
fresh graduate salary rates and daily living
costs, it is good to consider the pros and
cons of getting a loan to fund your studies.
For instance, if you are assured that your
potential job as a doctor can rake in a high
fresh graduate salary but you have a
family to support in addition to your
higher tuition fees, it is better to minimise
the loan amount to reduce the money and
time needed to repay the loan before other
expenses creep into your daily costs.
l Terms and conditions – Paying
attention to the terms and conditions of a
contract can sometimes make or break
your future. Take note of repercussions of
late repayments or contract breaches, in
addition to any extra requirements, such
as maintaining a certain Cumulative
Grade Point Average to keep your loan
benefits.
Keep in mind that some education loans
provide incentives, such as converting the
loan into a full scholarship if a first-class
honours grade is attained by the end of
your degree. This can either be of benefit
to you or come back to haunt you. It is
advised to look at your study abilities and
loan requirements to make sure you fit
the terms and conditions to ensure a
smooth study and work life later on.
Be a good borrower
Even after considering these points, it is
important to keep in mind that the money
given to you by the loan providers is
meant to support you in your studies so
that you will have a positive impact on
Malaysia and their organisation in future.
Do not take the money for granted.
Study well and repay what you owe so
that the money can be passed forward to
help other people who need it to further
their studies, in a virtuous cycle.