THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018

COURSE FOCUS
SCHOLARSHIP & LOANS
2 Course Focus THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018

Cover your tuition fees

TERTIARY education can be
considered a luxury by some
students. Even if one were to excel
in his studies, there is no guarantee
of gaining entry into a top
university or enrolling in a tertiary
education programme, especially
without sufficient funds to pay the
tuition of various institutions.
It is due to such cases that
scholarships become vital, allowing
students to fulfil their dreams of
graduating university and entering
the workforce with the required
qualifications.
In Malaysia, thousands of
will be able to include information
A majority on being a recipient of this type of
scholarship in your future
of academic curriculum vitae (CV) as it proves
scholarships cover you were able to handle the
challenging application process
only part of your and manage stress from an early
age.
tuition. Nonetheless, Alternatively, the most popular
university examinations with
flying colours.
The downside is that you are
bound to face a stiff level of
competition due to many people
vying for the same limited number
of scholarships from various
providers. A majority of academic
scholarships cover only part of
usually require you to perform and
maintain above average scores
throughout your tertiary studies.
Failing to do so may lead to
providers being forced to exercise
their rights to forfeit the
scholarship agreement.
In some cases, the scholarship
agreements include a clause that

you should still give

scholarships are granted to eligible
students every year.
While most scholarships are
awarded to high-achievers who
consistently pass examinations
and commonly sought-after type of
financial aid – academic or merit
it a shot if you are scholarships – can be secured as
long as you pass your pre-
qualified because
your tuition.
Nonetheless, you should still give
it a shot if you are qualified
because any amount of fee waived
would help ease your financial
binds you to the provider’s
company either by repaying a
small portion of the scholarship
upon entering the workforce or
working for the company for a

any amount of fee

with flying colours, there are also burden. stipulated number of years.
scholarships that are offered based Academic scholarships
on creative talent, medical
conditions or financial situations. waived would help > SEE NEXT PAGE

Course Focus takes a look at

some forms of financial aid
ease your financial
available for Malaysians and what burden.
it takes to be eligible for them.

Be a standout essays and sit for

A high-achievement scholarship a number of
is probably the strictest and interviews and
toughest to qualify for but it is also other assessments
the most rewarding. but it will all be
To be considered for this worth it in the
scholarship, you must not only end as such
excel in your studies but also show scholarships
enthusiasm and great initiative in generally cover
extracurricular activities. your tuition in
Being recognised as a top its entirety.
achiever in your school, winning Such
accolades in sports or having scholarships
participation certificates for may even cover
external events will be looked the cost of your
upon favourably by those textbooks, laptops
evaluating your scholarship and accommodation
application. while also
The more achievements you providing a small
have, the higher your chance of monthly
securing this scholarship. allowance.
The stringent application process The other plus
may require you to write multiple point is that you

An impressive CV sells
YOUR curriculum vitae (CV) is
like a white canvas and you will
be the one drawing, colouring
and making art on it with your
triumphs and achievements.
However, some people under
18 may find it a challenge to
build an attractive CV while still
in school.
You should therefore make
full use of your time in school
since you spend a large part of
your teenage life in it anyway.
There are multiple ways to
beautify your canvas that are
not necessarily limited to what
you achieve in the classroom.
Below are other activities you
can participate in to build a
colourful CV that will impress
future employers.
l Be active and get involved
There are a plethora of clubs
and societies in school and it
boils down to you to make the
most of it.
There is no need to restrict
yourself to a single club or
society. As long as you are
interested and have the time for
it, participate in various
activities and learn as much as
you can.
Running for committee
positions in clubs will add some
extra credibility to your CV.
After all, you would want to
prove that you are able to
assume leadership roles when
you step into society as a
working adult.
Let the positions you hold in
clubs and the list of activities you
help manage be an early indication
of what you are capable of doing in
the workplace.
Do not let precious time slip
away and participate as much as
you can because every stroke of
your brush counts!
l Participation is key
When out of school, be involved
in events happening in your
community or indulge in a hobby
and document everything.
How about starting a
photography blog to show off your
camera skills? You could perhaps
be part of a recycling drive your
neighbourhood is organising or
help in the organisation of healthy
lifestyle events.
These are perfect opportunities
for you to showcase your
commitment to proper time
management as well.
You will also be able to
understand and learn several
practical skills that will stay with
you throughout your life such as
managing, planning and
coordinating.
Not only that, you will be able to
hone your communication and
leadership qualities while working
in teams.
Accumulating these know-hows
and showing enthusiasm in such
activities will make you a highly
desirable and well-regarded
candidate for any organisation.
Companies will be able to coursework and assignments. subsequent experience and
recognise your ability to juggle and These days, employers are always achievement. It is important that
handle multiple responsibilities. desiring people who have specific you build a CV that you can be
skills that can benefit their proud of to captivate the
l Saying no to slacking companies. attention of your future
Remember, the early bird The experience and knowledge employers without it being
catches the worm. you obtain while writing your ignored and dismissed.
The sooner you start and the less thesis will be an added advantage. Thus, if you feel you haven’t
you procrastinate, the more time The art of building a great CV is been giving your all to improve
you can spend on your CV. never-ending and it will only get your CV, you should definitely
Take up part-time jobs or do more vibrant with every start now.
some freelance work whenever
you are on break from school. You
will not only earn extra pocket
money but also be able to gain
different experiences and
continuously learn new things.
You can also seek shadowing
opportunities or internships, in
which you would be able to work
under someone in your favoured
profession and get a clearer picture
of how things work before
completely committing yourself to
your dream career.
l Doing your best
The trickiest part is being able to
prioritise throughout the journey
because you should not be too
focused on building your CV
through extracurricular activities
and neglecting your studies as a
result.
Excelling in your studies and
raking in several awards and
achievements such as a President’s
Award or making it onto a Dean’s
list will certainly make your CV
more attractive.
The same applies to your
THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018
Changing the game
> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Even if you do not top the class
for academic performance, you
should not lose hope as there are
various other scholarships that
recognise students who possess
creative or sporting talent.
The application process for
these scholarships usually involve
interviews, auditions and proof
of talent.
Hence, if you are a musician,
artist or athlete, it is time to hone
your skills and impress the
scholarship provider with an
interesting and colourful CV.
You are encouraged to apply
for this scholarship if you have
represented the state or country
in any form of sports or
performance.
Besides that, certain
organisations offer scholarships
to students pursuing programmes
similar to their line of business
In Malaysia,
school-leavers can
seek financial aid
from a variety of
providers including
the Government,
private companies
and from private
colleges and
universities they
wish to attend.
such as Next Academy offering
modelling scholarships and
Samsung Malaysia offering
financial aid for students interested
in pursuing computer
programming.
You will need to meet some
requirements to maintain your
scholarship, including having
consistent above-average results.
After completing your studies,
you may be required to work for
the scholarship provider
depending on the terms and
conditions of the agreement.
Equal-opportunity aid
A needs-based scholarship
is designated for people who
wish to further their studies
but face difficult living conditions
or challenging circumstances
including students who are
from rural areas or have a
physical disability.
Do not be surprised if you have
to support your application with
supporting documentation such as
your parents' paycheques in
addition to attending interviews.
The coverage of scholarships
awarded to you will be dependent
on your situation or condition.
In Malaysia, school-leavers can
seek financial aid from a variety of
providers including the
Government, private companies
and from private colleges and
universities they wish to attend.
Looking for the right
sponsorship will not be an easy
feat and you should always aim to
improve your CV before
completing secondary education.
Prepare yourself as early as
possible. Start looking for
Course Focus 3
scholarships online as it is the
easiest way to familiarise yourself
with the many scholarships offered
to students and the requirements
for each application.
All the information you need is
at your fingertips and the Internet
is a good place to start as you can
find extended lists of the various
scholarships available to students
for tertiary education.
Take note of the application
deadlines for each scholarship,
manage your time and plan your
schedules accordingly so you have
ample time to revise and review
your application before submitting
your documents and details.
Take the time to choose
wisely and apply for scholarships
that match your needs and
eligibility.
4 Course Focus
GOOD schools usually come with a
hefty price tag, and it is in this
respect that Quest International
University Perak (QIUP) stands out.
The founders of this university
firmly believe that good education
should be available to all and not
just a privileged few. QIUP aims to
help people from all levels of
society benefit and excel regardless
of their financial background.
Burdening parents with heavy
school fees and having students in
debt before they even begin
working is no longer appropriate
today.
What with rising property prices,
a stagnant salary scheme and
expensive city costs, expensive
school fees will only deter many
from reaching their full potential
as they concentrate on just getting
by.
At QIUP, courses are made truly
affordable for the average family
without compromising on quality.
QIUP offers scholarships to
students with excellent academic
results in their examinations to
pursue programmes at the
university. This scholarship is
aimed at helping students pay
tuition and assisting them in
achieving their educational goals.
Many students have benefited
from these scholarships and are
now pursuing their studies at the
university.
For school-leavers, those who
achieve 6As and above are eligible
for a 100% waiver on tuition to
pursue QIUP’s foundation
programmes or a 50% waiver if
they decide to pursue any of the
diploma programmes.
Those who obtain 3As and above
are eligible for a 50% waiver for
foundation programmes or a 25%
waiver for diploma programmes.
As for Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran
Affordable education
for deserving students
Purshothaman Paramesavan is now realising his dream of becoming a doctor through a scholarship offered by
Quest International University Perak.
Malaysia graduates, those who
obtain CGPA of 3.5 and above are
eligible for a 50% tuition waiver
for most degree programmes while
a CGPA of 3.25 to 3.49 will entitle
them to a 25% waiver.
These merit scholarships are also
offered to high achievers who have
sat for the O-Levels, A-Levels or
Unified Examination Certificate or
graduated from other courses such
as foundation, matriculation or
diploma programmes and wish to
pursue programmes offered at
QIUP.
In addition to merit scholarships,
QIUP also offers sports scholarships
for those who represent their state
or the country in any sporting
event. These deserving students
brought fame to their state and
country will be eligible for a 50%
tuition waiver on most
programmes offered at the
university.
Besides internal scholarships,
QIUP has also tied up with external
parties to offer scholarships to
deserving Malaysians who want to
obtain a quality tertiary education
but are unable to due to financial
constraints.
These tie-ups include
THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018
collaborations with The Star
Education Fund, Nanyang Tertiary
Education Fund and MIC President
Scholarship Programme.
Understanding that students
have various financial needs, QIUP
also works with many education
loan and scholarship providers to
ensure students get the best in
terms of fulfilling their education
financial needs.
Many people think that
scholarships are only for the poor
and needy but financial aid paves
the way to one's dreams and
ambitions.
A lot of financial aid options are
now made available and more
students are realising that there
are avenues they can choose to
achieve success not only in their
studies but more importantly in
their prospective careers.
QIUP’s interim campus is
strategically located in Ipoh, away
from the distractions of bustling
city life. It provides a conducive
learning environment and lower
cost of living.
Should you have hopes of
having a fulfilling student life and
opportunities to interact with the
best academicians, QIUP is the
answer.
n For more information,
call 05-2490500, e-mail
enquiries@qiup.edu.my or
visit www.qiup.edu.my
THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018
Why financial
aid matters
WE have all felt the guilt of
burdening our parents for our
education, making tertiary
studies a bittersweet journey.
Quality education should be
made affordable for everyone
and that is what Infrastructure
University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL)
celebrates – an abundance of
financial support to those who
need it.
Furthering your studies is an
essential investment and the right
monetary support could be your
ticket to a successful future.
Before you select your
programme, check out a
summary below of the financial
assistance available at IUKL that
has helped more than 7,000
students.
Rewarding excellent
results
IUKL scholarships are available
for students who perform well at
the elementary levels including
SPM, STPM, O-Levels, A-Levels,
UEC, foundation studies and
diploma.
With a minimum of 5As in
your SPM or O-Levels, you are
entitled to a 50% scholarship and
with 8As or above you are
entitled to a full scholarship. For
STPM or A-Levels students, you
will need a minimum CGPA of
3.00 for 50% scholarships and
3.50 for full scholarships.
Diploma and foundation
graduates will need a minimum
CGPA of 3.50 to be eligible for
partial scholarships and 3.75 or
above for full scholarships. As for
UEC students, 3As will entitle you
to a 50% scholarship while 5As
will get you a full scholarship.
Keep playing sports
The IUKL Sports Excellence
Scholarship is offered as a
reward to students with
outstanding achievements in
sports at the state and national
levels. This scholarship is for
Malaysian students who have
represented the state or the
country in any sports competition
three years prior to joining IUKL
or less.
It is also offered to
international students who have
represented their country in any
sports competition three years
prior to joining IUKL or less.
Malaysian students are entitled
for a 100% waiver on tuition
while international students are
entitled to a 50% waiver on
tuition throughout their IUKL
journey.
Encouraging consistency
It pays to study hard at IUKL.
In addition to the scholarships,
the IUKL tuition waiver scheme is
offered to existing students every
semester. The scheme offers up
to 50% off the semester tuition
for students who manage to
maintain a CGPA of 3.75 and
above every semester.
This is IUKL’s initiative
to encourage students to
concentrate and excel in
their studies while reducing
the financial burden of students
and parents at the same
time.
Course Focus 5
With this
advantage, study
loans from the
National Higher
Education Fund and
financial assistance
from various state
foundations are also Deciding to pursue tertiary studies is an important milestone that deserves suitable financial support to ensure you
available to students achieve your ambitions.
who choose to study and 25. Registering on-the-spot 20th anniversary. The kit contains n For more information, call
at IUKL. during your visit will entitle you to a
RM2,000 rebate and a “Lucky 20” kit
limited-edition IUKL merchandise
for you to kick-start your journey
1800 88 STUDY (78839), e-mail
branding@iukl.edu.my or visit
in conjunction with the university’s there. www.iukl.edu.my
All you have to do is to study
hard.
Flexible and convenient
The fee structure at IUKL is
designed to ease the burden of
students. Tuition per semester
can be paid via flexible
instalment. Payments can be
made throughout the semester
but the latest would be within
two weeks before semester
examinations.
Explore other options
Being a full-fledged university,
IUKL’s programmes are
approved by the Higher
Education Ministry and the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency
(MQA). Most of its programmes
have also attained either partial
or full accreditation from MQA.
With this advantage, study
loans from the National Higher
Education Fund and financial
assistance from various state
foundations are also available to
students who choose to study at
IUKL.
In addition offering its own
scholarships, the university also
collaborates with two of the
largest media education funds,
The Star Education Fund and Sin
Chew Education Fund to provide
deserving students an
opportunity to pursue higher
education.
Scholarships provided cover
multiple disciplines at the degree
level. The best thing about these
scholarships is that they are all
bond-free.
IUKL – being the foremost
infrastructure university in
Malaysia that emphasises the
integration of both hard and soft
aspects of infrastructure – aspires
to produce technopreneurs and
skilled manpower with
outstanding communication,
technological and managerial
skills.
As a subsidiary of Protasco
Berhad, a company listed on the
main board of Bursa Malaysia,
IUKL is committed to engineering
the future of tomorrow’s leaders.
For 20 years, IUKL has been
providing quality education and
excellent professional services in
various fields of infrastructure.
IUKL is open on weekdays
from 8.30am to 6.30pm and
weekends from 10am to 4pm.
Walk-in registration is available.
IUKL’s Info Day will be held
from 10am to 4pm on March 24
6 Course Focus THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018

Pursuing medicine in Ireland

FULL scholarships worth more
than RM3mil are being offered to
eligible students who apply to the
Penang Medical College (PMC)
medical degree programme.
PMC is the first accredited
private medical school in
Malaysia. Graduates will be
awarded globally recognised
medical degrees from the
National University of Ireland.
The scholarship application
is open to Malaysian and
international students who have
completed a pre-university
programme (subject to admissions
requirements).
A full scholarship to study
medicine is also being offered
under The Star Education Fund to
a Malaysian student who meets
requirements of the scholarship.
Application details are available on
The Star's website. Two recipients of the 2017 scholarship award, Rachel Leong Qi Qi (middle, left picture) and Ayesha Khalidah Mohamed Khamir (middle, right picture) together
This year marks the fourth year with ambassador of Ireland to Malaysia Eamon Hickey (in white) and PMC's president and CEO Prof Stephen Doughty.
that PMC is awarding full medical
degree scholarships in Qi Qi, Ayesha Khalidah Mohamed medical career entails and above significantly lower tuition. degrees and its inclusion in
collaboration with the Royal Khamir and Ng Kuan Yee – and an all, being able to demonstrate PMC is owned by RCSI and UCD – the World Directory of Medical
College of Surgeons in Ireland international student from potential as ambassadors for PMC, two renowned medical universities Schools as an Irish medical
(RCSI) or University College Dublin Pakistan, Talal Almas. RCSI and UCD. in Ireland. Students will spend two school enable its graduates to
(UCD). The scholarship application is PMC students study and practise and a half pre-clinical years in undertake training and pursue
Since 2015, 17 outstanding available on the PMC website. with international students from Dublin at the RCSI or UCD. careers in many countries
students have been pursuing their Applicants will be shortlisted for around the world. On your first They then continue with clinical worldwide.
dream of studying medicine, interview based on the quality of day at RCSI or UCD, you will join training for another two and a half Nearly 1,600 medical
made possible with these their applications, essays and an international network of years in teaching hospitals that doctors have graduated from
scholarships. references. colleagues, classmates, staff and work exclusively with PMC in its PMC and now practise in
Students who are exemplary in Successful applicants will be organisations in Dublin. capacity as the only medical school many countries including
academics and have personalities required to display all-roundedness PMC students will have early in Penang. Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore,
fit for career aspirations in in terms of being academically exposure to patient contact and Ireland, the United Kingdom,
medicine are chosen from almost
100 applicants every year.
well-qualified, having a good
balance of academic and non-
undertake the same academic
programme and examinations as
Worldwide career Malta, Australia and
New Zealand.
Last year, the scholarships were academic interests, showing students who are completing the prospects
awarded to four Malaysians – evidence of social engagement, full medical programme in RCSI or n For more information, visit
Jamie Tan Wan Lin, Rachel Leong appreciating what the pursuit of a UCD while having the advantage of PMC’s internationally recognised www.pmc.edu.my

Do genes determine your make-up?

THE inroads made by sequencing
of the reference human genome
and, subsequently, of a large
number of human beings and
other species has been a
remarkable scientific achievement
of the past 15 years.
Through the sequencing of
deoxyribonucleic acid, scientists
have been able to understand
genetic variation and how it
leads to disabilities in some
human beings as well as gain
knowledge about the evolution of
species.
Monash University Malaysia’s
three-year BSc in Genomics and
Bioinformatics programme exposes
students to the infinite possibilities
that come from learning about
genes and genomes through high-
throughput sequencing and
bioinformatics analyses.
“Genomics is the process of
examining the complete genetic
makeup of an individual,
population or species by
sequencing nucleic acids, the basic
chemical units that they are made
of,” explains Dr Qasim Ayub,
associate professor of genomics at
the School of Science, Monash
University Malaysia.
Where genome sequencing and
the subsequent release of results
took years in the past, it can now
be done in a matter of hours or
days. As a result, there is a plethora
of information that is released on a
daily basis.
This has necessitated the
development of computational
tools to assist researchers in data
analysis.
Students who enrol in the BSc in
Genomics and Bioinformatics
programme not only learn about
gene and genetics, but crucially,
they also learn to use tools to mine
data efficiently, examine
relationships between the
sequences and identify differences
between them.
“Foundation of genomics and
population genetics gives you the
theoretical foundation for the
course, and bioinformatics gives
you the tools that will help you
access the data,” adds Dr Qasim.
Students pursuing this
programme can access the most
up-to-date and sophisticated tools
in the field of bioinformatics.
The Genomics Facility at Monash
University Malaysia is equipped
with Illumina’s MiSeq and Oxford
Nanopore Technologies’ MinION
platforms, which represent the
short-read and long-read
sequencing technologies
respectively.
“We use these machines to
sequence genomes and use
bioinformatic tools to understand
the sequencing data,” he says.
“We can use tools to either map
the sequences that are generated
by these machines to a reference
genome, such as the human
reference genome, or assemble it
from scratch, make sure it is
reliable and subsequently examine
the variation within the
sequencing data to address
biological questions.”
Graduates of Monash University
Dr Qasim Ayub.
Malaysia’s BSc in Genomics and
Bioinformatics will be very
versatile as the variety of jobs
available will provide students
with many career paths to choose
from.
“Right now, the limitation is that
we don’t have a wide array of
expertise in bioinformatics.
Furthermore, the techniques learnt
aren’t just confined to the field of
biological sciences but can be used
in personalised medicine,
computer sciences, banking,
finance and marketing, to name a
few,” says Dr Qasim.
Harvard Business Review
labelled data scientist as “the
sexiest job of the 21st century”,
showing that there is a growing
demand for professionals who can
manipulate large datasets to obtain
useful insights from them.
n For more information about the
School of Science, Monash
University Malaysia, visit
www.sci.monash.edu.my
THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018
A penny saved
is a penny earned
LOOKING at the current
condition of the economy, it is
essential to have wise money
management to ensure minimal
debt and a healthier financial
position.
This is especially true for
students who have applied for
loans to further their studies.
They will undoubtedly need to
work hard to save every cent so
they are able to reduce and
ultimately pay off their debts as
soon as possible upon
graduation.
These following steps may be
able to help students achieve
better money management.
l Working during breaks
The first step to saving money
is earning it. Take up part-time
or freelance jobs when possible,
especially during semester
breaks.
If you have certain skills or
something you are great at, put
them to good use. For instance,
if you have good writing skills
you can utilise them by taking
up freelance jobs for websites or
publishing companies that are
in need of good content.
It may not seem much at first,
but you would be surprised by
the amount at the end of the
semester break if you are
consistent.
l Put it away
Keep the money you have
earned in a savings account
rather than having it in an
envelope in your drawer. This
will help you spend less because
the money is not physically
within your reach.
Course Focus 7
You just need to invest a
If you fail to pay little more time to survey,
compare and check the
back the amount condition of the items but in
you spent, it will the end it will all be worth it
if you manage to grab a good
accumulate over deal.
time and sooner or l Avoid credit card debt
later it will continue It is true that having a
credit card these days may be
snowballing with quite convenient and it is also
relatively easy to sign up for If you fail to repay the amount on time.
the high interest one. you spent, it will accumulate over Therefore, you should always
rates. However, it is still not encouraged
to use any, so stick to cash to avoid
time and sooner or later it will
continue snowballing with high
think twice before swiping your
credit card.
overspending. Spending with credit interest rates.
cards is risky as you are technically Spending hundreds now may These wise money management
spending money that is not yours result in needing to pay thousands tips will slowly but surely improve
Instilling this in your mind yet. later if you fail to pay it back your financial status.
also prevents you from being a
penny wise but pound foolish
person. This way, you can also
save more as you gain some
interest in your savings. Again,
it may not seem much in the
beginning but the more you
save, the more you get back.
l Say no to loans
You should not be tempted by
how the crowd lives their lives.
Just because others have a
lavish lifestyle does not mean
you should follow suit.
Student loans or car loans
may be essential but taking a
loan to get the latest gadget is
unnecessary. Furthermore, you
can opt for used items such as
laptops or cars to reduce your
expenses.
Buying pre-loved items will
usually help to save up more
than half of the price of new
ones and most times, they work
just fine.
Getting a part-time job is a
good way of ensuring a steady
flow of pocket money.
8 Course Focus
Fulfilling the need for doctors
THERE have been many adverse reports
recently about the number of medical
graduates inundating the Malaysian health
sector. The fact remains that the nation is
still short of the 1:400 doctor-to-population
target ratio to be achieved by 2020 as set by
the Malaysian Government.
It has become imperative that students
who harbour aspirations of pursuing a
career in healing choose the right medical
school.
None has been more highly recommended
than the Melaka-Manipal Medical College
(MMMC), which has campuses in Bukit Baru,
Melaka and Muar, Johor.
MMMC ensures its students have a
thorough grounding through its Bachelor of
Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
programmes with the belief that their
students already have an eye on
postgraduate qualifications after they
graduate.
The college also provides preparatory
courses for the Professional and Linguistic
Assessments Board test and United States
Medical Licensing Examination at its campus
in Melaka.
MMMC has been in the forefront of
medical education since its inception in 1997
and celebrated its 20th anniversary last year.
Its twinning degree programmes ensure
that students have the benefit of pre-clinical
training in the Manipal, India campus before
returning to Malaysia to improve their
clinical skills.
MBBS students perfect their clinical skills
in hospitals in Melaka, Johor and other
government hospitals while dentistry
students hone their clinical skills in MMMC’s
own on-campus dental clinic.
In this twinning programme, students
complete 2.5 years of pre-clinical basic
science studies at the Manipal campus.
They then return to Malaysia for another 2.5
years of comprehensive clinical training.
With the full allocation of RM150,000 from
the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN)
available for MBBS applicants, those who
hesitated to apply previously for the MBBS
can now look forward to fulfilling their
dreams.
PTPTN loans are also available for BDS
applicants though terms and conditions
differ from that of MBBS applicants. Both
the medical and dental programmes are
conducted in collaboration with the
renowned Manipal University in India.
Manipal University, founded in 1953,
is recognised for imparting high-quality
professional education and has been the
preferred destination for students from over
57 countries for the past 65 years.
The university has 20 constituent colleges
that offer over 195 courses across 14 streams
including medicine, dentistry, engineering,
nursing, allied health sciences, pharmacy,
life sciences, hotel management,
regenerative medicine, geopolitics and
cultural studies.
The MMMC’s Foundation in Science (FIS)
is a one-year pre-university programme
conducted fully at the Melaka campus.
This programme is designed to provide
students with a sound academic foundation
especially for those aiming for medicine and
dentistry studies at MMMC and other health
sciences programmes.
Unlike the pure sciences and mathematics
offered in general foundation programmes
in Malaysia, MMMC’s FIS is embedded with
pre-clinical introductory subjects such as
basic anatomy and physiology, basic
pharmacology, forensic science and oral
biology.
Scholarships of up to 100% coverage for
the FIS programme are now being offered to
students with straight As in last year’s SPM
Snag that scholarship
APPLYING and getting approved for
scholarships require research, proper
planning and execution. You can either opt
for hard work or smart work. Here are some
ideas on how you can make the process
simpler for yourself.
l Start by looking for private
organisations or universities that offer
scholarships in your desired field of
education.
l Then, from the websites of the
university or organisation offering the
scholarship, figure out what they are asking
for. For instance, some universities require
you to write an essay on a topic to be
considered for a scholarship while others
might require you to score above a certain
grade in your examinations.
l Gather all the documents required for
the scholarship application and try to get
THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018
The
MMMC
campus in
Muar.
and GCE O-Levels examinations. Even
those with 7As are eligible for financial
incentives.
The facilities in both the Manipal and
Malaysian campuses are second to none.
Both campuses are equipped with various
teaching and learning facilities including
auditoriums, lecture halls, classrooms,
multidisciplinary labs, clinical skills
learning centres, fully equipped libraries
and computer laboratories.
Other amenities include student hostels,
cafeterias, a gymnasium, a swimming pool,
a sauna, squash courts, a football field, a
basketball court and simulated games.
The Information Technology System and
facilities are regularly updated and made
accessible to students.
n For information, call 1800 226 662,
e-mail info@manipal.edu.my or visit
www.manipal.edu/melaka
recommendations from notable people as
well, if you can. Make sure you don’t forget
to mention your achievements and attach all
the documents necessary to authenticate
those achievements.
Scholarship providers tend to prefer
students who are all-rounders rather than
students who have just glowing marks but
have never participated in any extra-
curricular activities.
l Try to send your application in as much
ahead of the deadline as possible. This goes
towards displaying your preparedness and
proactiveness.
l If you are required to write an essay,
make sure you take your time to write one
that covers a wide enough scope to showcase
your uniqueness.
> SEE NEXT PAGE
THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018
Showing exceptional quality
> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Do your research to
provide facts and data
but also be bold in
voicing your opinion.
This will go a long way in
showcasing yourself in
the best light.
Once you are done
applying for your
scholarship, the easy part
of the process is over. Next
will be the interview, the
step that will make or break
your application. If you are
terrified of facing a panel of
interviewers, relax and follow these
tips:
l Prepare for the interview in
advance – Research the university
or the organisation that is providing
the scholarship to understand their
value system and mission.
With that you will be more than
equipped to answer questions they
may have.
Be truthful and answer from your
heart. Interviewers can tell if you
are merely quoting answers from
the Internet or actually telling them
your opinion about the subject at
hand.
l Arrive well ahead of time –
You should never, ever be late for
an interview, whatever the situation
is, this is a given. But by arriving
Alleviating
financial burden
SINCE its establishment in 1969,
Tunku Abdul Rahman University
College (TAR UC) has been providing
quality and affordable education
that has transformed the lives of
many young Malaysians.
This is in line with TAR UC’s
mission and vision to make holistic
education accessible to all
Malaysians, made possible by the
provision of financial assistance and
scholarships to deserving students
through internally and externally
administered education funds.
One of the forms of financial
assistance provided is the TAR UC
Merit Scholarship. Since its
introduction in 1997, the TAR UC
Merit Scholarship has disbursed
approximately RM100mil to benefit
more than 20,000 deserving
students.
Automatically awarded to
outstanding students pursuing pre-
university and undergraduate
programmes at TAR UC, the
scholarship covers up to 100% of
tuition.
Education funds that are awarded
by external organisations or
foundations, such as the Kuok
Lim Hang
Seng.
just in time for your scholarship
interview would not give you the
necessary time to calm your nerves
before facing the panel.
Just ensure you have more than
enough time in your hands when
you arrive so that you can stay calm
and be more confident when you
enter the interview room.
l Be well-dressed – It cannot be
emphasised enough how important
being well-dressed for an interview
is. Well dressed means be clean, neat
and tidy.
l Body language – Interviewers
are experienced people who notice
more than just your appearance and
read more than what you are saying
to them.
Foundation, have their own
selection criteria, administrative
procedures and terms and
conditions.
In terms of internally
administered education funds, TAR
UC currently has 32 interest-free
revolving student loan funds
available to provide financial
assistance to needy and deserving
students, whereby almost RM31mil
worth of student loans have been
given out since 1979.
Sabrina Chong is one of the three
pioneer recipients of the of the TAR
UC – TAA Scholarship, which has
enabled her to advance her studies
at TAR UC.
“My family’s financial burden is
lessened as the scholarship provides
financial assistance for both my
education and living expenses,” she
explains.
“It is a well thought out
scholarship that I believe will bring
positive change to the community
and among TAR UC students
themselves. Moreover, I am
thoroughly satisfied with the quality
and knowledge of educators and
lecturers at TAR UC.”
Currently enrolled in TAR UC’s
Bachelor of Communication (Hons)
in Journalism programme, Chong
aspires to publish her own book in
hopes of inspiring and making an
impact in society.
Lim Hang Seng has also been
given financial aid to pursue his
tertiary education at TAR UC. Under
the Kuok Foundation Study Grant,
he completed his diploma and is
pursuing his bachelor’s degree with
financial assistance from the Kuok
Foundation Undergraduate Awards.
“Being awarded this grant has
lightened my financial burden
tremendously as it helps pay my
tuition fees,” he says.
Course Focus 9
Your body language is important
since whatever you talk about says
a lot about other aspects of your
personality such as your confidence,
the authenticity of what you are
saying and so on.
Practise in front of a mirror so
you will know what you look like in
an interview and what your
mannerisms are like.
While some students may prefer
a one-to-one interview instead of
facing a panel, the latter is typically
better as it would mean at least one
panelist would like you.
The trick is to find a positive in
every situation. If you are confident
and positive about the result, you
have already won half of your
scholarship battle. Best of luck!
Sabrina
Chong.
“It was not easy for me to work
part time and study at the same
time. When I enrolled in my
diploma programme, the
Department of Student Affairs
helped me get in touch with the
Kuok Foundation to apply for the
grant so that I could focus on my
studies.”
Lim graduated with a Diploma in
Mass Communication (Public
Relations) and is currently in Year 2
of the Bachelor of Public Relations
(Hons) programme.
“In future, I hope to become a
good public relations practitioner. It
is a challenging field but I believe I
can succeed. Studying at TAR UC
encourages my passion for learning
in my area of study.
“The lecturers really put in a lot
of effort in teaching and guiding us
in our studies. Additionally, I have
made a lot of friends and I really
enjoy my time here,” adds Lim.
Individuals who want to know
more about financial assistance can
visit TAR UC’s open day from March
12 to April 1 at its Kuala Lumpur
main campus and branches in
Penang, Perak, Johor, Pahang and
Sabah or visit TAR UC’s booth at
major education fairs.
Merit scholarships and sibling
discounts are available for eligible
students.
n For more information, visit
www.study.utar.edu.my
10 Course Focus
Adjusting to pre-university life
FOR many, enrolling in college will
seem like a brand new life as it
may involve moving out of the
family home and certainly getting
onto a whole new level of being
independent. Now that you are out
from under the purview of your
parents, you have to be properly
responsible for yourself.
As a pre-university student you
cannot rely on just eating things
like instant noodles and roti canai
and hope to have the energy to
cope with classes.
Similarly, sleeping late and
rushing to class is just going to
make you inattentive, which isn’t
great since you are meant to be
educating yourself instead of
sleeping in class. Here are some
ideas in staying healthy during
your pre-university days.
l Eating healthy
Once you move out, you will
definitely be missing your mother's
warm meals. It is actually not that
hard to eat healthy as there are
many simple recipes online.
Cooking your own food is
beneficial and you get to control
what you eat and use healthier
ingredients instead of flavour
enhancers like most restaurants
these days.
It is important to have a healthy
diet as a freshman so that you will
not fall sick even in the midst of
environmental change. Drink more
water, eat fruits, vegetables and
most importantly, avoid junk food,
instant food and even carbonated
drinks if possible.
Contrary to popular belief,
cooking a nice, balanced meal for
yourself every day does not always
take a long time.
l Healthy lifestyle
Make sure you are not always
locked up indoors when you
should really just get outside
and relax.
Outdoor activities such as
jogging and walking will make you
healthier and freshen you up for
the toil behind the computer
screen.
Doing short and simple exercises
such as sit-ups or jumping jacks
daily will get your heart pumping
and adrenaline rushing through
your bloodstream. Stay away from
cigarettes or things that are
harmful to your health in general
and get regular medical check-ups.
Besides that, you should aim for
a regular sleep routine and have at
least eight hours of sleep every
night to allow for ample rest for
your mind and body.
Allocate more time or the
weekends for your family and
spend some therapeutic quality
time together.
If you are feeling down or
discouraged, sometimes all you
need to do is talk to your family
and friends to make yourself feel
better.
l Time management
To get healthier, it is
crucial to have good
time management so
that everything falls
into place accordingly.
Life is not all about
studying.
During your free time, you
should not be just cramming your
lessons into your head. Allot some
time for yourself to just relax, read
a book or even do yoga or
meditate.
Giving a break to your mind will
work wonders. Other than that,
you may also try out new things or
use the free time as an opportunity
to grow and improve yourself
rather than staying idle.
After a week of hard work,
it is only fair that you make
time for the things you love
A valuable
learning experience
AN academic pursuit can be an
overwhelming task, especially
within the economic constraints
of this decade. In addition to
finding the right university or
college, learners will also need
to find the right type of funding
to pay for their education.
Fortunately, at Advance
Tertiary College (ATC), your
education is treated with value
and worth.
Students who have completed
their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
and are seeking a prestigious
foundation course can enrol in
the Cambridge Assessment
International Education A-Levels
programme (March intake) at a
special rate of RM11,900.
Last year, an estimated 80% of
ATC students obtained passes in
two or more subjects in the
A-Levels programme, making
ATC one of the top performing
colleges in Malaysia.
Students Leong Bow Yee
(A*A*A), Lai Li Jun (A*AAB),
Wendy Wong Wei Wei (A*AA)
and Pushan Qin Nathan
Visvanathan (A*ABB) were some
of the top achievers who are
currently pursuing degrees in
their desired fields.
Pushan was also the recipient
of the High Achievement award
by Cambridge Assessment
International Education.
The A-Levels programme at
ATC is no stranger to producing
top achievers both in Malaysia
and in the world.
Pushan joins the ranks of
many top achievers including
Vanessa Tan Yun Xin (Top in
Malaysia for AS English
Language 2016), Ng Kar Mun
(Top in the World for AS
Mathematics 2014), Karisma Jay
(Top in Malaysia for Law 2014),
THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018
and relieve your stress.
Cultivating healthy habits is
essential for a newly independent
college student especially in the
midst of a changing environment.
There will be more challenges in
the near future and it is only with
a sharp and productive mind that
you will be able to conquer them.
Adopting all these healthy habits
will also help you to grow and
prosper as an individual. After all,
every difficulty mastered is an
opportunity won.
Liu Ming (Top in Malaysia for
Law 2014), Ting Ee Lin (Top in
the World for Law 2012), Chang
Heng Joe (Top in Malaysia for AS
Economics 2012) and Daniel
Wong (Top in the World for Law
2006).
Awarded by the University of
Cambridge, the A-Levels
programme was designed with
the objective of giving students
an opportunity to pursue
further education in a variety of
fields.
ATC has been the leading
college in managing the
programme for more than two
decades. Examinations are held
twice a year, allowing students
the chance and time to prepare
themselves for their respective
subjects.
In the last 15 years, ATC has
expanded regionally through
branches in Penang, Singapore
and Hong Kong. ATC has
strongly committed itself to
providing students with
unparalleled quality of
education.
Having more than 2,000
students pursuing pre-tertiary
and professional studies at ATC
is a testament to its strong
reputation and leadership in
private education.
A holistic, integrated approach
to learning is what ATC firmly
believes in. With highly
dedicated and experienced
lecturers and at an affordable
rate, the educational experience
offered allows students to
develop the confidence and
character needed to pursue
further education both locally
and abroad.
n For more information on ATC,
call 1800 889 292.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018
THE University of Reading
Malaysia (UoRM) is offering
students the chance to have quality
British qualification delivered by
expert academics on Malaysian
soil.
Tuition is set in local currency,
meaning you potentially save more
than you would if you were to
study in the United Kingdom.
Students are also given the
opportunity to complete any part
of their degree at the UK campus in
Reading. This means getting a
British degree with UK study
experience is now more flexible,
accessible and affordable than ever
before.
“The reality is that going to the
UK is beyond the reach of many
families. At UoRM, you get the best
of UK education, but you get it here
at Malaysian prices,” says UoRM
provost Prof Tony Downes.
According to Chang Jung Hoon,
an international student from
South Korea who completed the
Foundation in Science programme
before pursuing UoRM’s 2+2
MPharm (Hons) degree, “It is
indeed a great opportunity for me
and anyone else to experience a
British education in Malaysia, with
cheaper tuition.
“The facilities are also good and I
always feel glad that I am able to
study in this kind of environment.”
He adds that the facilities and
high calibre of teaching staff make
it an environment optimal for
learning.
“I did some research on several
degrees from different universities,
compared them and finally
concluded that the University of
Reading’s pharmacy course was
one of the best choices for my
future,” says Chang, a first-year
pharmacy student.
The programmes taught at UoRM
are the same as those delivered at
the UK campus, which means
UoRM students who wish to study
part of their degree in the UK can
do so with ease.
Students who complete their
studies at UoRM will be rewarded
qualifications by the University of
Reading, UK, giving them a globally
recognised degree and the
opportunity to work in Malaysia or
abroad.
According to second-year student
Debra Susan Gallon, who
completed the Foundation in
The best of both worlds
The top-notch facilities at UoRM make it an optimal environment to study in.
Business before progressing to the
BSc Real Estate programme,
studying at UoRM has been an eye-
opening experience.
“It has broadened my views on
education, especially since I
transitioned from a public
secondary school.
“UoRM has also trained me to
think critically. I’ve learnt how to
formulate and structure my ideas
in a more analytical and articulate
way; bonus skills which will help
me a lot in the workplace.
“The university delivers on its
statement. Everything is on par
with the UK campus and I can
study there at any point in my
degree. The flexibility given is
amazing,” says Gallon.
Head start on higher
education
With anticipation brewing over
the imminent announcement of
SPM results, many parents and
students across the country will
undoubtedly be considering what
their next step will be.
UoRM’s courses are structured to help students learn efficiently and
effectively.
If you are in that category and
weighing your options on which
tertiary institute to choose, it may
be that cost and quality play an
important part in your decision.
A foundation programme from
the University of Reading is a
trusted mark of academic
achievement and the starting point
of a satisfying and rewarding
career.
UoRM, the first overseas campus
of the University of Reading in the
UK, is located in EduCity at the
heart of the fast-developing
Iskandar Puteri in Johor.
With a rich heritage dating back
more than 150 years, the
University of Reading is ranked
among the top 200 universities
globally according to the QS World
University Rankings 2018.
Fast track to a top
British degree
The university’s long-established
reputation for academic excellence
and student support means that
well-motivated and hard-working
students will get a head start to
their degree when they complete a
foundation programme in either
business or science.
Both programmes offer a one-
year intensive course tailored to
prepare students academically
and socially to pursue an
undergraduate degree.
They are the ideal choice for
those who have not completed
A-Levels.
Upon successful completion of a
foundation programme, students
can progress to one of the
university’s internationally
renowned undergraduate degree
programmes at either the Malaysia
Course Focus 11
The reality is that
going to the UK is
beyond the reach of
many families. At
UoRM, you get the
best of UK education,
but you get it here at
Malaysian prices.
Prof Tony Downes
or UK campus.
Chang shares that the
Foundation in Science programme
helped him progress to
undergraduate level.
“Most of the topics covered at
foundation level were helpful in
preparing me for my degree as I
learnt new things relevant to the
topic such as organs and their
mechanisms in performing
necessary actions.”
Gallon believes studying the
university’s Foundation in Business
programme has given her a strong
underpinning for her degree.
“Knowing the basics of
economics, business and
management helped me
understand the business sector. For
example, I learnt how the economy
works and how management
theories still apply to the current
day.
“As a real estate student, I am
being exposed once again to these
theories and being able to recall
what I learnt in the past has been
really useful.
“The Academic Skills module has
been a big help in terms of
educating me on how to find
relevant journal articles and how
to structure and cite my essays
accordingly,” says Gallon.
UoRM is now receiving
applications for its Foundation in
Business and Foundation in
Science programmes, which will
begin on April 9.
All modules in the university’s
foundation programmes are
designed and taught by its lecturers
and are therefore tailored with
your future degree in mind. Apply
now and enjoy a generous early
bird discount.
Visit the campus on
Open Day
Parents and students who are
interested in finding out more
about studying at UoRM may visit
its Open Day, which is being held
this Saturday and next Saturday
from 10am to 4pm.
Prospective students can register
online for admittance to either
Open Day on www.reading.edu.my/
open-day.
Open Day presents the perfect
opportunity for prospective
students and their families to tour
the modern purpose-built campus,
meet students and teachers and get
a taste of what it would be like to
study at UoRM during the various
programme taster sessions.
Prospective students can also
apply for a foundation programme
during Open Day. Please bring your
identity card and SPM results
transcript or the equivalent.
n For more information, e-mail
my.enquiry@reading.edu.my or
visit www.reading.edu.my
12 THE STAR, TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2018