Scholarships & Study Loans For Higher Education

by StudyMalaysia.com on March 9, 2015 | Higher Education in Malaysia

Introduction

Higher education in Malaysia is not free and as the cost of education rises, it is important to plan ahead and consider the various options that are available to help finance your education. The most common forms of financial aid are scholarships (need not have to repay), study loans (need to repay and usually with interest) and waiver of tuition fee by the educational institutions.

This chapter provides some sources that you can approach for the funding of your higher education which include the Scholarship from the Public Service Department (JPA); Scholarship Division of the Ministry of Higher Education, The STAR Education Fund, MAPCU Scholarship Programme, Sin Chew Education Fund, PTPTN study loans, EPF Education Withdrawal Scheme, SOCSO Loan for Dependent Children, Kuok Foundation, and many others.

For more information on financial aid, visit our Scholarship Section.

The Public Service Department (JPA) Local & Overseas Sponsorship Programmes

Upon successful completion of 11 years of free education (6 years of primary and 5 years of secondary education), further study opportunities available in Malaysia to SPM-level school-leavers like you are abundant. Every year, the Government offers thousands of scholarships to excellent General Information on Malaysian Higher Educations through the PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT (JPA), to pursue their studies at either local or foreign higher educational institutions at Diploma and Bachelor’s degree levels. The various JPA sponsorship programmes are:

JPA’s Local Sponsorship for Diploma & Bachelor’s Degree Programmes

Under the local programme, JPA offers scholarships to students who have successfully obtained admission to the following higher educational institutions for Diploma and Bachelor’s degree programmes:

Type	Name of Institutions
Public Universities	Universiti Malaya Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Universiti Sains Malaysia Universiti Putra Malaysia Universiti Utara Malaysia Universiti Malaysia Sabah Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Universiti Teknologi MARA Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Universiti Malaysia Pahang Universiti Malaysia Perlis
Private Higher Educational Institutions	Universiti Teknologi Petronas Universiti Tenaga Nasional Universiti Multimedia
Polytechnics	All Diploma Programmes from 22 Polytechnics, Ministry of Higher Education

(i) Sponsorship for Diploma & Bachelor’s Degree Courses at Universities

The areas of discipline offered by universities and identified for JPA sponsorship are:

Discipline	Example of Courses
Critical Courses	Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy.
Pure Sciences	Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Life Sciences.
Applied Sciences	Veterinary Science, Agriculture, Forestry, Biotechnology/Food Science, Fishery/Marine Science, Environmental Science, Applied and Physical Science and Computer Science.
Professional Arts	Economics / Agribusiness , Business Management/Public Administration, Accounting/ Finance, Law, Quantitative Studies, Management, Library Science & Information.
Arts	Arts and Social Science, Development Science, Psychology, Counselling, Communication, Humanities/Society.
Technology	Engineering, Built Environment/ Architecture, Land Surveying/ Quantity Surveying, Housing, Building and Planning.
Islamic Studies	Syariah and Usulluddin.

Guide to Applicant’s Eligibility
The award of scholarship is based on the applicants’ academic achievement and other criteria. Below are some criteria that would be considered in the application:

• Participation in co-curricular activities
• Performance during the interview
• Socio-economic status and family’s background

Below are the scholarship application guidelines for those who have gained admission to pursue a Diploma or Bachelor’s degree at a university:

• Must be a Malaysian citizen
• Opened to year 1 students who have been accepted by the abovementioned universities.
• Not older than 19 years old for Diploma programmes
• Not older than 24 years old for Bachelor’s degree programmes
• SPM results - Grade 2A for at least 7 subjects
• STPM results - at least Principal B in 4 subjects
• Diploma - minimum 3.30 CGPA score
• STAM results - at least 4 Mumtaz and 5 Jayyid Jiddah
• Passed the matriculation examination by the Ministry of Education/University’s Foundation Studies and score at least 3.30 CGPA

(ii) Sponsorship for Diploma Courses at Polytechnics

Sponsorships are given for Diploma programmes offered by Polytechnics, Ministry of Higher Education, subject to the following conditions:

• Must be a Malaysian citizen;
• Open to all students possessing Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) only;
• Not older than 19 years old;
• Already registered for year 1 of the programme at the polytechnic;
• Possess at least Grade 6C in Bahasa Malaysia and at least 4B in 6 subjects

Application Procedure (Online only)
All applications must be done online through the websites http://www.jpa.gov.my or http://esilav2.jpa.gov.my after an announcement is made in the newspaper stating that the respective polytechnics are open for applications (usually in the month of July each year). The application form is free. All enquiries or applications should be addressed to:

JPA’s Overseas Sponsorship for Bachelor’s Degree Programmes

The Public Services Department (JPA) also offers overseas Bachelor’s degree sponsorship programmes for students with outstanding SPM results to pursue critical courses at renowned foreign universities. The selected recipients who must be below 18 years old will undergo locally-conducted preparatory courses for about one to two years. JPA sponsored students who pass the preparatory course with distinctions and have been offered a place in any of the top universities in US, Britain or Australia listed by JPA will be given a full scholarship.

Application Form
The application form can be downloaded from JPA’s websites at http://www.jpa.gov.my or http://esilav2.jpa.gov.my/ from the day of the official announcement of SPM results. For more information, please contact:

JPA’s Loan Schemes for Tuition Fees at Foreign Universities (Skim Pinjaman Yuran Pengajian Di Luar Negara)

JPA provides study loans under the concept of ‘cost sharing’ where it can provide up to a maximum of RM200,000 per student for tuition fees abroad. For further enquiries, please contact:

Ministry of Higher Education - Scholarship Division

The Scholarship Division of the Ministry of Higher Education provides financial assistance at all levels of higher education. It ensures that all students and officers have access to financial aid, in the form of study loans and scholarships for various stages of higher education. Other than PTPTN Study Loans and the Yayasan TAR Scholarship, the financial aid provided by MOHE are:

Matriculation Studies Scholarship (Bantuan Kewangan Untuk Program Bertaraf Matrikulasi)

• This scholarship is awarded to students enrolled in matriculation programmes of public universities as below:
  • Program Asasi Universiti Islam Anatarabangsa Malaysia
  • Asasi Undang-undang UiTM
  • Asasi Pengajian Islam UM (Nilam Puri)
  • Tahmidi Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
  • Asasi Sains UM
  • Asasi Sains Pertanian UPM
• Award amount includes tuition fees, accommodation allowances, pocket money and airfare (for students living in Sabah/Sarawak)

Study Loan Fund (Tabung Pinjaman Pelajaran)

• This is offered to students taking the Certificate course (for a duration of four semesters or two years) at Polytechnics and Community Colleges that are managed by the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education
• Amount of loan is RM1,500 per semester for four semesters excluding administration / service charge. Total loan shall be RM6,000 for two years
• Candidates must have SPM qualifications or equivalent and must be enrolled at Semester 1 or 2 only
• The income of an applicant’s family is not taken into account
• Candidates must sign an agreement which will require a guarantor
• Repayment of the loan is six months after the candidate’s successful completion of the programme

Federal Training Award Scheme (Skim Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan)

• Offered to Academic staff of Polytechnics and Community Colleges
• Awarded for long term programmes at Master’s and Ph.D levels
• The field of study will be based on the requirements of the Division of Training and Careers of the Department of Polytechnics and Community College Education For application details and further enquires, please contact:

National Higher Education Fund (Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional - PTPTN Fund, Ministry of Higher Education)

The National Higher Education Fund (Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional, PTPTN) was established under the National Higher Education Act 1997 (Act 566) and started its full operations on 1 November 1999. Its prime objectives are to provide study loans to eligible students at higher learning institutions (both public and private) provide saving schemes, as well as to manage funds for higher education.

Courses of Study Eligible for a PTPTN Loan

The PTPTN study loan is offered to students at:

• Diploma level at public universities, private higher educational institutions and polytechnics;
• ublic universities and private higher educational institutions pursuing Bachelor’s degree programmes;
• ublic universities pursuing Master’s, PhD and professional qualifications; and,
• Part-time courses and distance-learning courses at public universities.

Applicant’s Eligibility

• Must be a Malaysian citizen
• With effect from 1 July 2005, applicants must not be over 45 years old as at date of application
• Obtain at least three credits in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination
• For public university (IPTA) students, they must enrol for courses approved by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education
• For Polytechnic students, they must be enrolled in courses approved by the Department of Polytechnics and Community College Education, Ministry of Higher Education
• For students from private higher educational institutions (IPTS), they must enrol for courses approved by the Private Higher Education Management Sector, Ministry of Higher Education and the course enrolled must be accredited by the National Accreditation Board (MQA/LAN)
• Must not be receiving any other form of financial aid from other bodies / agencies / foundations
• The remaining study duration should not be less than one year
• Need to have two guarantors and they must be the parents of the borrower

Loan Amount per Year (Depends on the course taken and at which institution)

• Master’s degree, PhD and professional courses at public universities (IPTA):
  • Master’s degree students – maximum RM10,000 per yea
  • PhD students – maximum RM26,000 per year
  • Professional course – maximum RM6,000 per year
• First Degree:
  • For IPTA students – from RM1,100 to RM6,500 per year (an additional RM500 will be given to Science students)
  • For IPTS students (except UNITAR) – from RM10,000 to RM16,000 per year (an additional RM500 will be given to Science students)
  • For UNITAR students – from RM8,000 to RM10,000 per year
  • For Open University Malaysia students – RM4,200 per year
  • For Medical students (MBBS/MD) – maximum RM30,000 per year
  • For Allied Science students – maximum RM20,000 per year
• Diploma level:
  • For IPTA students – from RM1,000 to RM5,000 per year
  • For IPTS students – maximum RM8,000 per year
  • For Open University Malaysia – maximum RM3,700 per year

(Note: Payment of loan will be made directly into the student’s bank account)

Administrative Charges

The administrative charge imposed by PTPTN on amount borrowed is 3% per annum on reducing balance.

Insurance

Students are required to obtain insurance on amount borrowed and all the premium deductions will be made on their behalf by PTPTN.

Loan Repayment Period

The repayment period is based on the quantum of loan borrowed, as stated below:

No.	Total Loan Amount (Principle)	Loan Repayment Period
1.	RM10,000 and below	5 years
2.	RM10,001 – RM22,000	10 years
3.	RM22,001 – RM50,000	15 years
4.	RM50,001 and above	20 years

(Note: Repayment of loan begins six months after the end of the loan period)

Online Application

With effect from 15 June 2007, all applications for PTPTN loan must be done online through the website http://www.ptptn.gov.my/. For enquiries or further information, please contact:

Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman Scholarship

Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (YTAR) or Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation was set up as a commemoration service to Almarhum Y.T.M. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister who is also fondly remembered as the “Father of Malaysia”. YTAR is a legal alliance set up under the Akta Parlimen Bilangan 43, 1966 on 28 July 1966. It is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Higher Education.

Applicant’s Eligibility

• Basic requirements
  • Candidates must be Malaysian citizens and not more than 25 years old
  • Have already completed the first year of a Bachelor’s degree programme at any local higher educational institutions and do not have any loan or scholarship

• Academic and Co-curricular Requirements

  • Possess excellent academic result in SPM/STPM/Matriculation/Foundation programme
  • Pass SPM with credits in Bahasa Malaysia and English
  • Obtain a CGPA of 3.5 and above during the first year of their Bachelor’s degree examination
  • Possess strong leadership qualities and actively participates in co-curricular activities

• Additional Requirements

  • Upon graduation, the scholars must remain in Malaysia to work for the public or private sector for a minimum of five years.
  • Application has to be supported by the Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic)

• Value of Award

  • Full tuition fee
  • Monthly living allowance of RM1,000
  • Book allowance of RM300 per semester
  • Yearly allowance for activities related to study
  • Annual return air fare to travel back to Sabah or Sarawak for those studying in Peninsular Malaysia or vice versa

Application Form

Qualified candidates can obtain the application form from:

The application form can also be downloaded from www.yayasantar.org.my.

Khazanah Scholarship Awards

The Khazanah Scholarship Awards is a premier scholarship programme sponsored by Yayasan Khazanah. It offers scholarships to applicants who are planning to pursue, or are currently pursuing their undergraduate or postgraduate studies at premier universities abroad. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding intellectual ability, scholastic achievements and proven records of leadership skills in extra-curricular, social or voluntary activities.

Applicant’s Eligibility

• Undergraduate Studies
   
  • Foundation Studies
    Open to eligible candidates to pursue foundation studies and upon successful completion, continue at the undergraduate level at premier universities in the UK or US.
    Application criteria:
    • Malaysian citizen
    • Excellent academic results and obtain at least 8 A1’s in SPM examination
    • Strong leadership skills and active participation in extracurricular / voluntary activities
    • Not more than 19 years old at the time of application
       
  • Undergraduate Programmes
    Open to eligible candidates who have gained admission to pursue an undergraduate programme at premier universities in the UK or US.
    Application criteria:
    • Malaysian citizen
    • Applicants must have consistent and outstanding academic records in one of the following:
      i) A-levels: obtained a minimum of 3As and 1B
      ii) Foundation studies: minimum 3.75 CGPA
      iii) Bachelor’s degree: minimum 3.5 CGPA
    • Strong leadership skills and active participation in extracurricular activities
    • Passed SPM with credits in Bahasa Malaysia and English
       
• Postgraduate Studies
  • Master’s Degree
    Open to eligible candidates who have gained admission to pursue graduate studies at a premier university in the UK or US.
    Application criteria:
    • Malaysian citizen
    • Not more than 35 years old at the time of application
    • Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of second class upper with honours or its equivalent from Malaysian or foreign universities
    • Strong leadership skills and active participation in extracurricular, social or voluntary activities
    • Passed SPM with credits in Bahasa Malaysia and English
       
  • PhD Programmes
    Open to eligible candidates who have gained admission to pursue doctoral studies at premier universities in the UK or US.Students who are currently pursuing doctoral studies in their first or second year at premier universities in the UK or US are also invited to apply. Application criteria:
    • Malaysian citizen
    • Not more than 40 years old at the time of application
    • Obtained a distinction or ‘A’ grade average or equivalent (if there is a point system) at the Master’s level
    • Strong leadership skills and active participation in extracurricular, social or voluntary activities
    • Passed SPM with credits in Bahasa Malaysia and English

Field of Study
Sponsorship will be offered to scholars to undertake studies at the world’s best universities to pursue any of the discipline clusters below:

• Business: Economics, Finance, Investment, Law and Actuarial Science
• Bio-medical Sciences: Bio-chemistry, Food Technology, Biotechnology, Bio-engineering, Molecular Biology, Genomics and Bio-informatics
• Engineering: Electronics, Micro-electronics, Nano-technology and Material Science
  (Note: other related courses may also be considered)

Application Procedure

• Application forms can be downloaded from https://www.yayasankhazanah.com.my (usually the application is opened at the beginning of the year)
• Alternatively, forms can be obtained from UEM Education Development & Support:
  UEM Education Development & Support
  Khazanah Nasional Berhad
  18th Floor, Menara 1, Faber Towers
  Jalan Desa Bahagia, Taman Desa
  58100 Kuala Lumpur
  For enquiries, call 03-7627 2024

Kuok Foundation

Conditions for Loan Application (all types)

Only Malaysian citizens are eligible to apply for this loan. The study awards are meant for needy students, and they should possess good academic qualifications and be actively involved in extra-curricular activities in school.

Kuok Foundation Undergraduate Awards

For Those Studying at Malaysian Public Universities

• Applicant’s Eligibility
  Under the category of Malaysian public universities, the undergraduate award is open only to students who are currently pursuing their first bachelor’s degree programme on a full-time and on-campus basis at any of the Malaysian public universities. Students who are currently pursuing off-campus/ twinning, franchised or distance-learning courses are therefore not eligible to apply.
• Type of Award
  Interest-free study loan, or half-loan or half-grant. There is no service bond.
• Value of Award
  The value of the award is between RM8,000 to RM9,000 per annum, depending on the type of course pursued. However, the value granted is subject to revision from time to time.
• Field of Study
  Applicants are entitled to pursue any discipline of study but priority will be given to students studying Science-based courses.
• Repayment of Study Loan
  Students who are granted the loan can repay it in monthly installment which will commence one month after convocation.
• When to Apply
  The study award is announced in local news media soon after the release of the STPM results.
• Loan Application Procedure
  Interested and eligible applicants can download the application form from www.kuokfoundation.com; or write to the Kuok Foundation; or in response to the announcement, go to its office to obtain the relevant forms. Requests for the said formsmust be  accompanied by a copy of the latest examination result slip (SPM / STPM / University results or other equivalent qualifications), and a stamped self-addressed envelope of size 16.5cm X 25cm.
  
  All applications must reach Kuok Foundation before the closing date as stipulated in the announcement. Late applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified for an interview.

For Those Studying at Malaysian Private Universities / Colleges

• Applicant’s Eligibility
  For this category, applicants who are eligible are those who are applying for, or who are currently enrolled in MQA/LAN accredited degree programmes offered by *selected private universities /colleges on a full-time and on-campus basis. This list, however, is subject to changes from time to time. (*For an updated list of selected universities, kindly refer to its website.)
• Type of Award
  The type of award granted is based on half-loan and half-grant. The loan portion, meanwhile, is interest free and no service bond is imposed.
  Value of Award
  The value of award under this category is up to a maximum of RM25,000 per annum for Medicine; up to a maximum of RM20,000 per annum for Pharmacy / Nursing and up to amaximum of RM16,000 per annum for other courses. This however, is subject to revision from time to time.
• Field of Study
  Preference will be given to students who are pursuing Science-based courses.
• Repayment of Study Loan
  Students who are granted the loan can repay it in monthly installment which will commence one month after convocation.
• When to Apply
  The study award will be announced in respective institutions or local news media around August/September each year.
• Loan Application Procedure
  Forms can be obtained from the respective educational institutions or downloaded from www.kuokfoundation.com. Alternatively, applicants can write or go to the Kuok Foundation office. The request for forms must be accompanied by a copy of the latest examination result slip (SPM / STPM / College results or other equivalent qualification).
  
  All applications must reach Kuok Foundation before the closing date stipulated in the announcement. Late applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified to attend an interview.

Kuok Foundation Polytechnic Awards

• Applicant’s Eligibility
  Eligible applicants are those who have gained admission or are currently pursuing diploma/certificate courses at any of thepolytechnics in Malaysia.
• Type of Award
  The type of award given is a study grant and students will not be tied to any service bond.
• Value of Award
  Applicants studying at polytechnics will be granted RM5,000 per annum. This however, will be subject to revision from time to time.
• Repayment of Study Loan
  Repayment of loan is by monthly installments commencing one month after the completion of the course.
• When to Apply
  The study award will be announced in the respective polytechnics around January/February and July/August each year.
• Loan Application Procedure
  Forms can be obtained from the polytechnics. The request for the forms must come with a copy of the latest examination result slip (SPM / Polytechnic results or equivalent). All applications must reach Kuok Foundation before the closing date stipulated in the announcement. Late applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified to attend an interview.

Kuok Foundation Postgraduate Study Awards
In order to help ease the critical shortage of scientists and researchers in Malaysia, Kuok Foundation Berhad is offering the above study awardto academically outstanding young Malaysians intending to pursue MSc or PhD by full-time research in Engineering, Science and Technology at Malaysian Public Universities and Multimedia University.

• Applicant’s Eligibility
  MSc students must not be more than 30 years old and must possess a Bachelor’s degree with at least a second class upper honours or CGPA of 3.5 and above in a science, engineering or technology related field.
  PhD students must not be more than 35 years old and must possess a relevant Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree withfirst class honours or CGPA of 3.7 and above in a science, engineering or technology related field.
  Must not be bonded to or be a recipient of any other financial aid or award from other organisations / institutions at the time of application.
• Bond
  Upon completion of studies, the scholars must remain in Malaysia to work for the public or private sector for a minimum of five years.
• Type of Award
  The type of award granted is based on half-loan and half-grant. The loan portion is interest free.
• Value of Award
  For a Master’s degree, the value of the award is up to RM28,000 per annum for up to two years.
  For a Doctorate, the value is up to RM38,000 per annum for up to three years. This however, is subject to revision from time to time.
• Field of Study
  Full-time research in science and technology that is relevant to the country’s needs, e.g., biotechnology, composite materials, advanced materials, environmental technology, marine & aquaculture technology, poultry & poultry-based products and resource-based products.
• Repayment of Study Loan
  Students who are granted the loan can repay their loans by monthly installments commencing one month after completion of research.
• When to Apply
  The study award will be announced in the local news media around June / July each year.
• Loan Application Procedure
  Interested and eligible applicants can write to the Kuok Foundation (Postgraduate Scholarships) or go to its office to obtain the relevant forms in response to the announcement. Requests for the said forms must be accompanied by a copy of the latest examination result slip (first degree / Master’s degree transcript) and a stamped self-addressed envelope (16.5cm X 25cm).
  
  All applications must be submitted before the closing date stipulated in the announcement. Late applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified for an interview.

Enquiries and letters should be sent to:

Tun Hussein Onn Memorial Postgraduate Scholarship In Law Tenable at University of Malaya

Applicant’s Eligibility

This scholarship is open to applicants aged 35 years and below who have obtained at least a second upper class honours in Law or its equivalent from any recognised university and must have qualified for admission into University of Malaya for the LLM programme. Only applicants who are pursuing full-time studies will be considered.

Value of Scholarship

This scholarship will cover the course tuition fees as well as a stipend of RM18,000 per annum for living expenses. An additional allowance of RM1,800 will be provided for a dissertation project, if applicable.

Duration of Scholarship

The duration of the scholarship will be as follows:

• For LLM by course work, one year only
• For LLM by coursework & dissertation, up to two years only
• For LLM by dissertation, up to three years only.

Renewal of the scholarship after the first year is subject to satisfactory progress. The recipient of the scholarship is not allowed to engage in full time employment apart from chambering while on the scholarship.

When to Apply

The scholarship will be announced at University of Malaya between April to June each year.

Loan Application Procedure

Application forms can be downloaded from www.kuokfoundation.com or obtained from:

All applications must reach the Deputy Dean before the closing date as stipulated in the announcement. Late applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified for an interview.

The Star Education Fund

The Star Education Fund was launched by the Minister of Education in 1994 in conjunction with The Star Education Fair. Each year, at the official opening of the Star Education Fair, the Minister of Educationor his  representative would receive the scholarship awards from the contributors on behalf of the Fund. There are many scholarships available and students have wide options to pursue suitable courses ranging from postgraduate, degree, professional and diploma programmes.

The Fund acts as an umbrella for individuals, corporations and educational institutions interested in contributing towards the education of exceptional and needy students. The objectives of the Fund are to provide educational and training opportunities to deserving and needy Malaysian students, as well as to play a role in assisting the nation in meeting its manpower needs and to make Vision 2020 a success. Contributions are mainly from local private higher educational institutions (IPTS) and overseas educational institutions of higher learning for students to pursue selected courses at the contributing institution.

Applicant’s Eligibility

• Malaysian citizen and must be below 25 years old
• Applicants must be active in sports and/or co-curricular activities
• Applicants must not be bonded to or be a recipient of any financial aid or rewards from other educational institutions or organisations
• Possess good academic results. For Certificate / Foundation / Diploma programmes, applicants must possess reasonably good results in the UEC / SPM or equivalent. As for Higher and Advanced Diploma / Degree programmes, applicants must possess reasonably good results in STPM / A Levels / UEC or equivalent.

How to Apply
Advertisements inviting applications for the scholarships will appear in The Star between February and April. Short-listed applicants will be notified for an interview between the months of May and July. To obtain an application form, visit the website at http://thestar.com.my/edufund OR submit a stamped (40sen) self-addressed envelope (25cm x 30 cm) to:

The Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (MACPU) Scholarship

The NST-MAPCU Scholarship Programme is an annual joint project between the New Straits Times (NST) and the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (MAPCU) for students studying at private colleges and universities in Malaysia.

It is offered to financially deserving students with satisfactory academic record, providing them with the opportunity to obtain quality private education. Besides seeking to contribute to the success of the nation through skills development, it also aims to produce graduates from local institutions of higher learning who have the potential to become leaders in the country, community and industry.

In line with the government’s policy of establishing a caring society amongst Malaysians, MAPCU, through its participating member institutions, has made available more than RM2.9 million for the NST-MAPCU Scholarship 2007.

Scholarship Features

• Open to financially deserving students with good academic results
• Based on SPM and STPM results
• Full tuition fee waiver for the entire duration of the course, which must be undertaken and completed in Malaysia
• All scholarships are for studies in Malaysia at leading participating institutions, in which the duration of the course pursued should range between one to four years
• The scholarships are for different types of courses in terms of their disciplines and levels of study. The scholarships are applicable for courses at the Diploma, Higher Diploma, Degree and Postgraduate levels
• Terms and conditions set by respective institutions and NST-MAPCU shall apply

Applicant’s Eligibility
To be eligible for the scholarship programme, applicants must meet the following general requirements:

• Applicants must be Malaysian citizens
• Applicants must possess good academic results in SPM / O Level, UEC and/or STPM / A Level examinations or its equivalent
• Applicants must qualify to gain admission into the participating institution for the relevant course
• Applicants must be active in sports and/or co-curricular activities
• Applicants must possess leadership qualities and be self-motivated
• Applicants must genuinely require financial assistance
• Applicants must not already be recipients of any scholarship, financial aid or award from other educational institutions or organisations
• Applicants must abide by the terms and conditions of the NST-MAPCU Scholarship Programme
• Applicants must abide by all other terms and conditions of the awarding institution, including any bond required.
  
  The list of participating colleges and their contact address can be found at MAPCU’s official website at www.studymalaysia.com/mapcu/scholarship.htm. For more information, students are advised to call the relevant institution for details of the scholarships offered as well as details of courses to which the scholarships apply.

Details
For more details, kindly visit the following websites: www.studymalaysia.com/mapcu / www.mapcu.com.my

Enquiries

• For enquiries on a specific institution’s scholarships, please contact the respective institution directly
• General enquiries can be emailed to: [email protected]

How to Apply
Application forms can be downloaded from the aforementioned MAPCU’s website or obtained directly from the participating institutions. Alternatively, you can send a stamped (40 sen) self-addressed envelope (25cm X 30cm) to:

Sin Chew Daily Education Fund

The Sin Chew Daily Education Fund was launched in December 2003 and was made available to eligible students from 2004 onwards.

The Fund acts as an umbrella for higher educational institutions who are interested in providing free education, in terms of fee waiver, towards educating exceptional and needy students. The objective of the Fund is to provide free education to eligible students leading to the award of Diploma or Bachelor’s degree qualifications, at local or foreign institutions of higher learning.

Applicant’s Eligibility

• Malaysian citizen and must be 26 years and below
• Scholarships are not open to applicants for postgraduate study
• Staff of Sin Chew Daily, participating colleges and universities and their immediate families are not eligible to apply
• The participating colleges and universities reserve the right to make any changes to the scholarships offered without prior notice
• Sin Chew Daily reserves the right to add or change the terms and conditions without prior notice. Any further inquiries on this matter will not be entertained
• For courses marked with a (*), only applicants with STPM / A Level / UEC / or its equivalent are eligible to apply (please refer to list from Sin Chew)

Value of Scholarship
Scholarships cover tuition fees and other relevant fees. However, scholarships are not exchangeable for cash.

How to Apply
Advertisements inviting applicants for the scholarship will appear in Sin Chew Daily between December and March in the following year. Only short-listed applicants will be notified for an interview in the month of April.
For further information on the scholarships, kindly contact:

Kojadi Education Loan

KOJADI (Koperasi Jayadiri Malaysia Berhad) was established on 12 March, 1981. Its primary objective is to provide an effective educational loan facility for needy students to pursue higher education. Secondly, it aims to nurture the country’s human resource into well-trained manpower for the nation. It has several loan schemes in operation.

Applicant’s Eligibility

• The applicant must be a member of KOJADI with RM100 initial shares
• The applicant can nominate a nominee (student) under the Higher Education Loan Scheme (HELS) or Special Education Loan Scheme (SELS)
• The applicant must subscribe additional shares of RM500 or RM2,000 depending on the loan amount applied for the nominee and the course/level of study pursued by the nominee
• At the time of application for a loan, the nominee must have secured admission to an approved institution of higher learning locally or abroad and shall apply to become a member of KOJADI with RM100 initial shares

Loan Amount

• The loan amount is subject to the discretion of the Board
• For postgraduate studies or undergraduate medical courses or lab-based undergraduate courses, the maximum loan amount is RM50,000
• For undergraduate courses, the maximum loan amount is RM30,000
• For certificate, diploma or MLVK courses, the maximum loan amount is RM20,000

Interest Rates

• Interest will be charged to the applicant’s loan account immediately after the disbursement of the loan.
• The interest rate for the loan is as follows:

For existing members of KOJADI with minimum five years membership:
1st year Upon first release of loan)	2nd year	3rd year onwards until full settlement
6% (on a monthly rest and reducing balance basis)	7% (on a monthly rest and reducing balance basis)	8% (on a monthly rest and reducing balance basis)
For new members:
1st year Upon first release of loan)	2nd year	3rd year onwards until full settlement
6% (on a monthly rest and reducing balance basis)	7% (on a monthly rest and reducing balance basis)	8% (on a monthly rest and reducing balance basis)

Loan Application Procedure

• Complete the loan application form
• Submit the application form together with a fee of RM80.00 and relevant documents such as photostated I/C of the applicant, nominee and guarantors; guarantors’ latest Income Tax Form ”J” or latest EA form, letter of offer for admission from the university/ college; and such other documents as may be required from time to time.
• Pay for an insurance premium varying between RM50 to RM800 according to the loan amount applied for and the student’s age

The application form should be sent to:

Employees Provident Fund (EPF Account II) Withdrawal Scheme For Education Financing

The withdrawal scheme allows EPF members to withdraw from their account II of the EPF Fund to pay tuition fees for their children or for themselves to pursue further studies at any local or overseas higher educational institution.

Withdrawals for a member’s children’s education were introduced on 1 April 2000 and for member’s education on 2 January 2001.

Applicant’s Eligibility

• Members are allowed to apply for withdrawal if they or their children are not receiving any full or partial scholarship/financial aid for education from any organisations.
• In the case where a member or their children obtains a study loan, withdrawal can be made to settle the outstanding balance of study loan only on further condition that the Study Loan Agreement is executed on or after the effective date of this Education Withdrawal.

Purpose of Withdrawal
Withdrawal can only be done for the following purposes:

• To make payment for tertiary study fees (which includes tuition, practical training, computer laboratory and library fees, thesis examination fees, and final examination fees), and
• Flight tickets for the purpose of travelling To the place of study

Conditions for Withdrawal of Fund

• Type of Courses
  Applicants / or their children must have registered for any academic / professional / vocational courses at one of the institutions of higher learning mentioned below.
   
• Levels of Education
  This withdrawal can be used to pursue one of the following programmes:
  Members : Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, PhD or any of the its equivalent
  Member’s children : Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, PhD or any of its equivalent
   
• Courses that are allowed under the EPF Withdrawal Scheme
  • Local Higher Educational Institutions
    1. Academic Courses pursued either full time, part time or through distance learning. Courses of study that are offered by:
       1. Public universities;
       2. Government institutions of higher learning such as polytechnics and community colleges or any other higher education institutions under the jurisdiction of Central or State Government agencies;
       3. Private higher educational institutions approved by the Private Higher Education Management Sector, Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) or the National Accreditation Board (LAN/MQA);
       4. Branch campuses of foreign universities established in Malaysia
           
    2. Professional Courses
       Courses of study that are approved by the Training Division, Public Services Department (PSD) or any other education accreditation board which are recognised by the Government to be at par with a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree.
        
    3. Skilled / Vocational Courses
       1. Courses recognised by ‘Majlis Latihan Vokasional Kebangsaan (MLVK)’ to be at par with a Diploma (Level 4) and Bachelor’s Degree (Level 5)
       2. Commercial Pilot Licence with Instrument Rating Course (CPL/IR) with Frozen ATPL offered by the Flying Academy which is approved by Jabatan Penerbangan Awam Malaysia
       3. Master and Chief Mate on Ship Of 3000 GT or more offered by Akademi Laut Malaysia (ALAM)
       4. Combined Chief And Second Engineer 3000 KW or more offered by ALAM
  • Overseas Higher Educational Institutions
    Withdrawal is allowed for full-time study courses pursued abroad offered by overseas higher educational institutions, subject to the approved level of education.
     
  • Distance Learning and On-line Programmes with Higher Educational Institutions Abroad
    Withdrawal is allowed for distance learning / online programmes that are conducted by overseas institutions in collaboration with local private institutions which are approved by the Ministry of Higher Education. Courses pursued directly with overseas institutions or through a local agent will not be considered.
     
  • Professional Courses
    Professional courses approved by the Public Services Department (PSD) such as ACCA & CIMA and other approved courses which involve lecturer-student face to face learning interaction can also be considered under the withdrawal scheme.
     
  • Franchised Programmes
    • Public universities’ franchised study programmes conducted by private higher educational institutions
    • Overseas institutions’ franchised study courses conducted by local private higher educational institutions which have the approval of the Ministry of Higher Education

Types of Withdrawals
Members are allowed to apply for withdrawals to pay for:

• Tuition* fees which have not been paid to the institution of higher learning; or
• To reimburse the tuition fees which you have paid to the institution of higher learning based on the payment receipt issued by the institution, with the condition that the date of the application does not exceed one year from the date of the payment receipt; and you must still be pursuing the course concerned; or
• To pay for the outstanding tuition fees to the educational institution, subject to the effective date of this Education Withdrawal; or
• Outstanding education loans which was made with any organisation that are licensed under the Bank and Financial Institutions Act 1989 (BAFIA), Bank Rakyat, Jabatan Pendidikan Awam (JPA) or also known as Public Services Department (PSD), MARA, PTPTN, State Foundation, State Education Foundation or any licensed operative society registered with ‘Bahagian Pembangunan Koperasi’ provided the loan is made under your name or your child’s name or both. (*all fees charged by the institution including hostel fees as well as one-way air fare)

Amount Entitled for Withdrawal
Members may withdraw the maximum amount of the total fees or the entire amount in account II, whichever is lower.

Frequency of Withdrawal

• Members can apply for this withdrawal:
  • every semester; or
  • every academic year (one withdrawal per academic year); or
  • the overall module fees
• You can apply for this withdrawal once every semester / academic year / entire module fees for every child.
• You can also apply for this withdrawal jointly with your spouse to finance your children’s education.

Mode of Payment
Basically, there are three modes of payment made by the EPF under this scheme.

• Payment is made to the local institution of higher learning through a banker’s cheque to the university concerned.
• Payment for reimbursement of tuition fees is directly credited into the member’s bank account. (For more information regarding direct payment to your bank account and the list of banks appointed by EPF, please refer to ‘Direct Crediting into Member’s Bank Account System’)
• Payment to settle the study loan is made through a banker’s cheque payable to the financial institution concerned.

Loan Application Procedure

• Withdrawal Form
  Members are required to submit a duly completed Form KWSP 9H (AHL) which can be obtained from the nearest EPF counter.
   
• Supporting Documents
  This form must be submitted with the following original and photocopied documents:
  • Letter of Offer from the institution of higher learning (for first time applications only)
  • Confirmation Letter (of enrolment) from the institution of higher learning for you or your child (for the first and subsequent applications in the same learning programme as stated in the Offer Letter)
  • A copy of the EPF member’s identification card / military identification card or the following identification cards affixed with your right and left thumbprints:
    • MyKad
    • Police identification card and a letter from your employer confirming that the number and identification card number belongs to the same person
  • Academic qualification certificates such as SPM, STPM, degree and other related qualifications
  • Approval letter to conduct the course issued by the Private Education Department, Ministry of Higher Education (PEDMOHE) to the private institution of higher education, if applicable
  • Student card and examination result slip from the previous semester / academic year
  • Other related documents as requested by the EPF from time to time

  In the case of Children’s Education Withdrawal Scheme, additional documents are needed. These include:

  • A copy of your marriage certificate (if an application is made together with your spouse)
  • A copy of your child’s identification card and birth certificate
     
• Reimbursement of Tuition Fees to Institutions
  • For reimbursement of tuition fee, an application must be submitted within a year from the date the payment receipt of the tuition fees which is issued by the institution concerned
  • For education loan repayments, a statement on the outstanding amount must be provided for such applications

Enquiries and Contact Details
For enquiries or further information on the withdrawal applications:

The Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) Education Fund

SOCSO is a government agency that provides socio-economic security to all working Malaysian citizens (who are SOCSO contributors) including their dependents.

One of the benefits provided by SOCSO is for education which comes in the form of loans disbursed to dependent children who are recipients of either the:

• Dependents’ Benefit; or
• Survivor’s Pension

Or children of employees who are recipients of:

• Permanent Disablement Compensation; or
• Invalidity Pension

Although this benefit is in the form of a loan, it can, however, be converted into a scholarship if the child obtains excellent results.

Eligibility Criteria for the Education Benefit
Those who are eligible for the loan include:

• Dependent children of an employee receiving Invalidity Pension or periodic permanent disablement who are below 21 years old and unmarried at the time of the application OR
• Dependent children of an insured person who has died as a result of an employment injury or while receiving invalidity pension or before reaching the age of 55 and who fulfills the contribution qualifying conditions. The child should be below 21 years old and unmarried.
• Children who have exceeded the age of 21 and are receiving a monthly benefit, are eligible to receive education benefit as long as they are still continuing their education in an institution of higher learning and are unmarried at the time of application
• Children who have been offered places and have registered in any university or college or local institution of higher learning including institutions with twinning programmes on condition that the degree is completed locally. They must also be registered with the Ministry of Higher Education, to acquire a degree, diploma or a certificate which is awarded by the National Vocational Training Council, Ministry of Human Resources;
• Children who have not been given any other scholarship or loan by any other authority;
• Children whose family’s finances are insufficient to support the cost of education.

Loan Amount
The loan amount depends on the course undertaken, and includes the cost of living and other expenditure as determined by SOCSO. The amount of the loan includes the following:

• Registration fees
• Course fees, which include laboratory and lecture fees
• Examination fees
• Subscription for student associations – which is made compulsory by the university, college or institution of higher learning
• Other expenses which will be determined from time to time and these include:
  - Subsistence
  - Flight cost
  - Books
  - Instruments
  - Expenditure for preparation of a thesis
  - Practical/training costs

Lan Application Procedure
The application for the loan can be made by completing the Borang “PERMOHONAN PINJAMAN PENDIDIKAN PERKESO” which is available at any SOCSO Office.

Loan Repayment
The borrower must repay the loan by monthly installments to SOCSO when he/she has completed the course. The sum of monthly installment depends on SOCSO.

The repayment starts seven months after the student has completed his/her education. A table of repayment will be given to the borrower upon signing the agreement.

SOCSO has the right to change the method or the duration of repayment or to request immediate repayment of the loan or the remaining debt at any time.

Duration of Repayment
The duration of repayment is between five to ten years and based on the consideration of the Education Loan Committee.

Loan Termination
The loan can be terminated if the borrower has passed away or suffers a disability that prevents the borrower from continuing his/her education.

Conversion of Loan to Scholarship
The loan can be converted into a scholarship if the borrower achieves excellent results.

For more information, kindly get in touch with:

Conclusion

Besides government ministries and agencies, banking sectors, private organisations and education providers, there are many other sources of financial aid in Malaysia. In response to the growing need of the country for a highly-educated nation, and consequently a more developed country, many established organisations have been offering aid to realise this aim. Examples are the MTC Scholarship Foundation, sponsorships by selected Chinese cultural clan associations, Shell Malaysia Scholarship, Petronas Scholarship, HSBC Scholarship, NST Scholarship, Tenaga Nasional Scholarship, TM Scholarship (Telekom Malaysia), Petronas Scholarship, INTEL’s Scholarship, MARA Scholarship & Study Loan, UMNO Youth IPTS Scholarship Fund, State Education Foundations and many other financial aid providers.

Interested students (or parents) can explore these options to assist them in easing their financial burden of higher education. Also, log on to our Scholarship Section for more information on financial aid offered by local and overseas organisations.

References:
1. Education Guide Malaysia (10th edition)
2. Respective Government Agencies or providers’ websites
3. Information supplied by various financial aids providers
4. www.studymalaysia.com

You May Also Be Interested In...

---

• Malaysia

  The government of Malaysia is committed in providing the best and the ...

• MQA (Malaysian Qualifications Agency) and Higher Education Study Pathways

  Learn about the role of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), the...

• Bachelor Degrees

  BA, Bsc, BEng, LLB – Hons or without – major, minor and specialisa...

• The Malaysian Higher Education System - An Overview

  A Snapshot of Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia The higher ed...

• Private Education Route for Bachelor's Degree Programmes and Professional Qualifications

  From the early 1980s, Malaysian private colleges pioneered in the prov...

• Deciding Where And What To Study

  “Your best years in education are those spent in college or universi...