MARA GrEP 2021: What should you do after receiving the Financial Affidavit (FA)

 "The great experience begins with one small step"

 

Alhamdulillah, on 21^st July 2021, I received a Financial Affidavit (FA) from MARA stating that they had agreed to sponsor my study. In return, I must submit a "COA/CAS" (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) to MARA. The GREP team will then present my application in the committee meeting for the issuance of the Letter of Offer, Financial Statement, and Agreement Document. If you still do not have the CAS at this point, you must request it from your university so that MARA can proceed accordingly. In my case, however, I'm not concerned about CAS because I received it a week after receiving the university's unconditional offer.

 

Some applicants might not have submitted their IELTS or Unconditional offer to MARA during the application stage. So, you need to forward these documents as well so that MARA can proceed the necessary.

 

Meanwhile, I'll get my tuberculosis (TB) test with my husband and son. I called Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur to schedule an appointment, which will take place on August 5, 2021. Also, while waiting for the MARA agreement, I'm considering getting a medical check-up to save time when completing the agreement. What do you need to do the TB test? Please refer to the below picture and don't forget to bring the MARA-issued medical examination form.

What you should consider while waiting for the FS and agreement from MARA?

1. Received a Financial Affidavit (FA) from MARA
2. Submit COA/CAS to MARA
3. Completing medical check-up and tuberculosis (TB) test
4. Apply My Travel Pass (Applications for entry/exit Malaysia)
5. Register at E-vetting (Copy of this submission need to be included with Mara's agreement)
6. Apply for your visa.

Next, I'll write about completing the agreement. 

MARA: GrEP 2021 Cara untuk membuat permohonan

"The great experience begins with one small step"

Kali ini I cuba kongsi langkah demi langkah apa yang uolls perlu buat untuk memohon pinjaman pelajaran MARA bagi peringkat sarjana/PhD di institusi pengajian tinggi terkemuka dalam dan luar negara.

1. Pastikan uolls lawati laman web yang telah ditetapkan oleh bahagian penganjuran pelajaran MARA. Permohonan perlu dibuat secara atas talian (online) dengan melayari laman web rasmi MARA mulai 21/06/2021 sehingga 05/07/2021. Pilih program yang tepat kerana selain GrEP, MARA juga menawarkan program tajaan lain seperti YTP, TESP, IESP, WTU, dan PRO-P. Uolls boleh layari https://www.mara.gov.my/program-graduan-cemerlang-grep-2021/

2. Memuat naik garis panduan permohonan Graduate Excellence Programme (GrEP) 2021. Ini penting supaya uolls memahami terma dan syarat-syarat khusus permohonan. Ia termasuk syarat umum, syarat akademik, syarat program, senarai universiti, dan lain-lain. 

https://www.mara.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2.-GARIS-PANDUAN-PERMOHONAN-GREP-INTAKE-2-2021.pdf

https://www.mara.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/1.-FAQ-GREP-2021.pdf

3. Daftar masuk. Pastikan uolls mendaftar menggunakan nombor kad pengenalan yang betul. Jangan guna nombor kad pengenalan orang lain pula ya! Jika uolls tidak pernah memohon (had applied in March 2021), uolls kena la daftar dahulu. Jika pernah memohon, uolls hanya perlu log in semula menggunakan ID terdahulu.

https://myeduloan.mara.gov.my/v3/#/Login

Tips: If you are unable to create an account or log in to the application form, you must contact MARA to have your ID reset.

4. Lengkapkan semua maklumat. Pastikan uolls masukkan maklumat yang betul & tepat. Jangan lupa save the work ya! Setiap maklumat yang lengkap, system akan paparkan green tick.

Tips: Always save your work after you finish each tab. The screen will display as "this section is complete".

5. Memuat naik dokumen sokongan yang diminta. Pastikan semua dokumen yang dimuat naik di dalam system adalah dalam bentuk pdf dan dalam satu zip file (tidak melebihi 10MB).

You can still apply even if you are unable to provide any of the required documents, for example;

1. IELTS: You can submit the IELTS to MARA, once the sponsorship is confirmed.
2. University offer letter: You still can apply, but you must include any proof or email confirmation from the university that you are applying to them.

Tips: If you are unable to upload the file, simply refresh, log out, and re-enter the form.

6. Hantar permohonan. Sebelum hantar, uolls periksa semula maklumat-maklumat yang uolls dah key-in. Ini kerana, once uolls dah submit, uolls dah tidak boleh mengubah maklumat di dalam borang permohonan.

7. Cetak slip pengesahan. Sebagai bukti uolls dah selamat memohon GrEP, please cetak slip pengesahan sebagai rujukan uolls di hari muka ya!

Alhamdulillah dah selamat hantar permohonan. Selepas ni, kite tunggu pula keputusan nya. Menurut pihak MARA, adalah dinasihatkan untuk sentiasa membuat semakan di Portal MARA dari semasa ke semasa bagi mengetahui sebarang maklumat terkini mengenai semakan keputusan.

This application is actually for the second round. The first was in March 2021, and because I did not receive an offer from the university, I am required to apply in this round. May Allah make this path easier for me.

Good luck to everyone who is applying for this sponsorship.

 

My Ph.D. Journey: Finding a PhD Supervisor & The Interview

 

"The great experience begins with one small step"

 

Finding a PhD Supervisor!

Your PhD supervisor will play an important part in your PhD journey. He/She is responsible for providing you with the mentoring, feedback, and encouragement you need to succeed.

(Anonymous, 2021)

 

Rentetan nak mencari supervisor ni punya la penuh liku. Lebih-lebih lagi dalam keadaan pandemic sekarang ni di mana kebanyakkan staff university masih bekerja dari rumah. Ada di antara mereka yang berpindah university, on maternity leave, quota dah penuh, not interested with my research proposal and so on. Cerita pencarian supervisor ni bermula since September 2020. Punya la lama kan. Itu yang macam-macam cerita tu. Sabar je la. Belum masa nak berputus asa and off we go!

 

Walaubagaimanapun, sebelum nak mencari supervisor tu, Uolls kena decide samada nak memohon projek yang diiklankan oleh pihak universiti atau mengemukakan cadangan penyelidikan uolls sendiri.

 

So, if happen you're applying for an advertised project, the process of finding the right supervisor is relatively straightforward. They are often the academics who proposed the project and the person to whom you'll be submitting your application. If, on the other hand, you decide to submit your own proposal (as I did), you should be prepared to do some research and put in a lot of effort to find an academic or university department that matches your interests and goals.

 

To make a long story short, those emails that I sent to the potential supervisor all had no response. Fortunately, a supervisor from Birmingham University contacted me one fine day, expressing his interest in my research proposal. Alhamdulillah. Hati dah mula berbunga-bunga. Hehe.

The Interview Day!

My prospective supervisor wishes to speak with me further about my proposed research. So, we decided to meet via Zoom on May 2, 2021. I was extremely nervous and anxious, but alhamdulillah, everything went smoothly. The interview session is unlike any other job interview I've ever had. It’s more relaxed and casual. So, my “kalutness” a bit under control. Hahaha!

 

Banyak juga soalan yang ditanya oleh supervisor. Dan yang paling kelakar, I boleh pulak terlepas cakap “Wow that’s such a lot of questions Dr!” How silly I’m. Ini antara soalan-soalan yang ditanya semasa sesi soal jawab bersama my potential supervisor;

• Kenapa I memilih untuk study di Birmingham?
• Kenapa I nak buat PhD?
• Apa my plan selepas PhD?
• Jika I diterima buat PhD di Birmingham, bagaimana dengan funding? Am I applying any sponsorship?
• I ok ke tidak jika some parts of my research plan berubah mengikut kehendak University.
• Jika I diterima buat PhD di Birmingham, boleh ke jika I kena mengajar?
• Jika I diterima buat PhD di Birmingham, is it possible for me to write an article?
• Kenapa I consider doing that research?

 

Even, soalan-soalan nya tidak la sesusah mana pun, tetapi disebabkan my “Manglish” issue, berpeluh jugak la nak menjawab. Lidah melayu ni tidak boleh buat apa. My interview tidak la lame mana, dalam setengah jam je. Lepas jawab all the questions, my supervisor let me ask him anything. Sempat la I tanya beberapa soalan dan antaranya;

• Boleh ke tidak jika I nak buat any professional certificate during my PhD?
• Will there be any training I could join during my PhD journey?
• Did he currently supervise any other PhD students?

 

Selalunya bab-bab nak menghadap interview ni, memang selalu sangat kite akan rasa kalut dan nervous. Kadang tu bukan tidak tahu nak jawab apa. Cuma disebabkan rasa kalut sangat, sampai hilang segala perkataan. So, untuk mengurangkan rasa kalut tu, cuba persiapkan diri dengan cuba menjawab soalan-soalan interview. Biasa kan diri tapi jangan hafal pulak the script ya!

 

Dah habis bab mencari University dan supervisor. Selepas ni, nak kena kejar sponsorship pulak. O Allah! Please ease my journey.

Sheffield, February 2021

My Ph.D. Journey: Selecting a University

"The great experience begins with one small step"

Learning from my previous mistakes when I wanted to continue my studies to the Master's level in the UK, I need to ensure that this time I apply to a university based on the QS World University Ranking (best position according to the top 20 subjects/programs in the UK).

Because the sponsor's condition is to receive an offer from one of the top 20 universities in the country for the subject of choice, the university search is based on the list of those universities. Hopefully, there will be no serious drama this time.

I began submitting my research proposal to the University and potential supervisors, but all of them were rejected. The reason for this is due to the supervisor's availability, and my proposed research proposal was not convincing enough to be carried out during the pandemic. Despite this, I was able to speak with one of the supervisors, who encouraged me to revise the proposal and consider changing my research topic.

PhD is such a long journey, he said. I still have plenty of time and am not in a hurry. Read a lot of other people's papers to gain a better understanding of what the industry is really looking for right now.

For a while, I take a break. Grab a deep breath. Take a really deep one. Talk to some friends and gather every courage before I start writing a new proposal for research. Then, I wrote a proposal on a new research topic and sent it to a few universities and potential supervisors.

I am still considering the United Kingdom as a destination for my Ph.D. studies. Among the universities that have been selected are:

1. University of Sheffield           (Awaiting decision but University is not on the sponsor’s list)
2. University of Edinburgh         (Rejected due to supervisor availability)
3. University of Birmingham      (Received unconditional offer)
4. University of Glasgow            (Awaiting decision)
5. University of Bristol               (Rejected due to supervisor availability)
6. King College London             (Awaiting decision but University is not on the sponsor’s list)

Actually, I'm running out of time to obtain an unconditional offer from the university. So, whoever can respond quickly is the one I'd consider accepting.

MARA: GrEP (Graduate Excellence Program) 2021

"The great experience begins with one small step"

Rakan-rakan yang punya niat untuk melanjutkan pelajaran ke peringkat Sarjana / Doktor Falsafah (dalam dan luar negara), permohonan GREP 2021 secara dalam talian telah dibuka.

MARA menawarkan pinjaman pelajaran dalam bentuk pinjaman boleh ubah ke peringkat Pasca Siswazah (Sarjana dan Doktor Falsafah) di Institusi Pengajian Tinggi terkemuka dalam dan luar negara kepada graduan cemerlang dalam bidang yang memberi impak besar kepada keperluan guna tenaga negara. Permohonan secara dalam talian akan mula dibuka pada 01 Mac 2021 sehingga 19 Mac 2021. 

Syarat-syarat permohonan dan maklumat lanjut boleh didapati dengan melayari laman web MARA https://www.mara.gov.my/grep-2021_bm_mac/

Menurut sumber, GREP 2021 akan dibuka sebanyak beberapa kali pada tahun ini. Permohonan untuk 1/3/2021 - 19/3/2021 adalah bagi pemohon yang akan melanjutkan pelajaran sebelum atau pada 31/7/2021. Bagi rakan-rakan yang akan melanjutkan pelajaran selepas tarikh 31/7/2021 dinasihatkan untuk memohon pada intake yang ke 2 (kemungkinan June 2021). 

 

Rujukan: Laman web MARA (Iklan Tajaan Pinjaman Pelajaran Mara 2021)

Good Luck everyone!

 

 

8 Bulan di Bumi Sheffield

"The great experience begins with one small step"

 

Pejam celik pejam celik, tak sangka dah 8 bulan di bumi England. My Master's journey finally comes to an end. Another 3 months to go to be exact. Full with mixed feelings and drama I guess (lecturer on strikes, pandemic, exams, coursework, etc). Semoga Allah permudahkan perjalananku dalam menuntut ilmu. 

MARA: GrEP 2019 Approved!!!

"The great experience begins with one small step"

Alhamdulillah after all the drama, MARA bersetuju untuk meluluskan permohonan GrEP 2019. Fuhh!!! Now I have to wait for the official offer letter. Hopefully sempat untuk kejar siapkan visa. Sementara menanti tawaran dari MARA, semalam I settlekan renew passport dan harini settlekan TB test @ Gleneagles KL. Pejam mata je tgk duit keluar demi secebis ilmu yang menanti. 

 

To do list before fly to UK banyak lagi tak settle. Rumah pun tak dapat lagi ni!