A guide to top scholarships in Malaysia

With the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results just around the corner, it is time get those scholarship applications ready. With a long list of institutions ready to give student assistance, there are of course the most-coveted grants for deserving Malaysian students, giving opportunities to study locally and abroad. Here are things you need to know about the top scholarship grants to keep an eye on.

JPA Overseas Scholarship for Engineering Programme in Germany, France, Japan, and South Korea

The Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) Overseas Scholarship for Engineering Programme is awarded by the Public Service Department of Malaysia. Qualified students can already apply for this scholarship once the SPM results have been announced in March 2016. Applicants will have a chance to study under the Special Engineering programmes in any of the following countries: Germany, France, Japan, or South Korea.

Are You Qualified?
Applicants must be a Malaysian citizen, not more than 19 years of age (or 20 for Remove Class students). They must also obtain at least eight (8) A- grades from the following subjects: Malay language, History, Islamic Studies or Al-Quran and As-Sunnah Education or Syariah Islamiah Education or Moral Education, English language, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, and  at least A- grade in any one (1) subject in addition to mentioned subjects. Students must also have basic language knowledge of preferred destination (Germany, France, Japan, or South Korea), if they wish to apply for this scholarship.

Scope of Scholarships
Engineering courses from above mentioned countries.

Deadline of Application
A week after applications are announced in March 2016.

* Learn more about this scholarship by visiting esilav2.jpa.gov.my, by calling 0603 8885-3393/3564/3489/3670 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected] 

The Star Education Fund Scholarship Awards

Following The Star's commitment to building a highly knowledgeable society in Malaysia, this education fund has been providing educational opportunities to deserving young Malaysians since 1994. Every year, The Star collaborates with the best schools locally and abroad to provide bond-free scholarships from a wide range of fields and disciplines, which includes entry-level courses, postgraduate education, to professional studies and vocational training.

Are You Qualified?
A student must be not more than 25 years old (with exception of postgraduate courses), who excels in extra-curricular activities and sports. The applicant must also have reasonably good results in SPM/UEC (Unified Examination Certificate) or equivalent (for Foundation/Diploma courses) or STPM (Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia or Malaysian Higher School Certificate)/UEC or equivalent (for Degree courses). 

Scope of Scholarships
As listed by The Star in sites.thestar.com.my/edufund/tier2

Deadline of Application
March 2016

* Interested to apply? Download the application from their website, sites.thestar.com.my/edufund. For further information, contact +603 7967 1388 ext. 1642/1643 or e-mail [email protected].

Maybank Scholarships

The Maybank Scholarships Awards, established in 1972, has sponsored more than 1,000 scholars and has provided them with employment opportunities. Today, they continue to assist those who want to excel in their tertiary studies and eventually pursue a career in Maybank.

Are You Qualified?
It all boils down to whether you would go for the Bond or No-Bond category. Bond category or scholarship which would require 3-5 years bond with Maybank, depending on the scheme and No-Bond category or sponsorship both require a minimum of 6As in SPM or equivalent, as well as leadership experience in co-curricular activities. However, applicants must have an annual income of RM120,000 for the former, while RM24,000 for the latter. 

Scope of Scholarships
Successful applicants will have full education financial assistance (in local or international institutions for Bond, and local schools for No-Bond), and career preparatory suite, which includes internships, business assignments, among others. Bond category  prefers applications for Accounting, Finance, Management, marketing, IT, Economics, Banking, Actuarial, mathematics, Human Resource, Psychology, Business, Law, Statistics, Investment, Risk Management, and Engineering. No-bond covers all courses in any field.

Deadline of Application
March 2016

* For assistance and more details, visit maybank.com/en/careers/students/scholarship.page or call the their Scholarship Helpdesk at +603 2074-8966.

Bank Negara Scholarship

In a speech addressed in 2014, Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz,Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said that “Talent development strategies and implementation is one of the key priorities of the nation. We need to invest in our talent pipeline.” That is why BNM priorititses and provides scholarships to deserving students for pre-university and undergraduate studies. Today, their programmes Kijang Scholarship, Undergraduate Scholarship, and most especially the Kijang Emas Scholarship, are among of the most-coveted grants in the country.

Are You Qualified?
The top SPM students of the year, who have obtained straight A+ in  their SPM examination, have the opportunity to receive the prestigious Kijang Emas scholarship. As of 2014, there are already 42 students awarded with this scholarship. Meanwhile, Kijang Scholarship is given to eligible applicants with a minimum of 8As (A and A+ only). Both scholarships require the student to be not more than 19 years old, and have exhibited exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, as well as leadership and teamwork capabilities, aside from excelling in extra-curricular activities and sports.

Deadline of Application
Undergraduate Scholarship is given to a qualified candidate who has fulfilled a minimum grade as required by BNM, must not be over 25 years old, has obtained an offer to pursue or currently pursuing studies in any of BNM's approved universities, and has shown strong leadership and team qualities, as well as excelled in extra-curricular and sports.

Scope of Scholarships
While Kijang Emas Scholarship allows the students to pursue studies in their field and school of choice (whether local or international), Kijang Scholarship is awarded to those want to pursue pre-university and eventually, undergraduate studies in Economics, Accounting, Finance, Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Law, and Computer Science in select local and international universities. As for Undergraduate scholarship, candidate must be currently pursuing undergrad studies in Economics, Accounting, Finance, Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Law, and Computer Science at a local or overseas university.

Deadline of Application
A week after applications are announced in March 2016.

* Check their website bnm.gov.my for any updates, additional requirements, and deadline of application.

Shell Malaysia Scholarship - Local

Those who want to pursue full-time first degree course in any Public Universities and JPA approved international universities in the country can apply for this scholarship. In addition, students with disabilities can apply for this scholarship program with no restrictions in their  choice of degree in any discipline.

Are You Qualified?
If you have a consistently strong academic achievement as required, strong leadership skills, and participates actively in extra-curricular activities. A disabled identification card certified by Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat should also be submitted if applicable.

Scope of Scholarships
While candidates who are pursuing Geosciences, Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering,  Mechanical Engineering and Civil/Structural Engineering are preferred, students from other branches of engineering or sciences or non-technical (e.g. Finance or Human Resources) disciplines can also apply.

Deadline of Application
A week after applications are announced in March 2016.

* To apply for this scholarship and to find out more, visit their website shell.com.my or e-mail [email protected].

Khazanah Global Scholarship Programme

Given by Yayasan Khazanah – the foundation established by Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah Nasional), the investment holding arm of the Malaysian government, this scholarship is awarded to bright and high-achieving students who plan to pursue or currently pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate studies in leading universities around the world. Aside from the scholarship, recipients will be provided with leadership trainings, exposures, and job attachment at leading organisations in Malaysia, enabling them to gain professional experience to become future leaders in business and industry.

Are You Qualified?
This scholarship is available for pre-university, foundations, and undergraduate staudies. Not only should the applicant be consistent and outstanding academically, the student should also posses strong leadership skills and actively participates in extra-curricular, social, and voluntary activities. Students who wish to apply should not be over 18 years old for foundation studies and 21 years old for  undergraduate studies.

Scope of Scholarships
This will cover full course of study as per the letter of admission, but subject to Khazanah's terms and conditions.

Deadline of Application
March 2016

* To apply and to know more about this scholarship, visit their website, yayasankhazanah.com.my or contact +603-2034-0000