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