For those who think that a first class degree and good master result will secure u for a phd sponsorship from IPTA, u have to re-think about it because the selection for scholarship in malaysia is NOT merit-based.

I was graduated with Msc (coursework) from a local U, and Bsc from the same U but different school from where i studied for my Msc. I applied for phd sponsorship under the school of my Msc study and i failed to get it. The reason they gave to me was they found out that i am more qualified to get the sponsorship from my previous school, where i completed my Bachelor degree. Another reason was that they preserved the scholarship for the candidate with Bsc from their own school. ok, fine, but why still called me for the interview as they already knew that my Bsc is from another school?

I really felt that it was unfair because it meant that my Msc completed in the school appeared to be worthless to them, and in fact the Bsc course from my previous school is actually 80% similiar to the Bsc course offered at the school that i applied for the scholarship.

The really insulting part is the candidate from their school that they gave the scholarship had once came to my room at 11pm and ask me for the answer for a simple assignment question, where the next day is the due date for the assignment. I really sad that they cant see this through a 10 minutes interview..

For another case of my friend's cousin who got the scholarship from the same U, even the officer told her :" u r very lucky to get it because very fews of non-malay are able to get the scholarship."

I am writing this without any intention and it's just from my own point of view, maybe it is the other way round, well, i dont know..

The phd scholarship that i mentioned is just like those u all mentioned, which the scholar will be the future lecturer in the particular IPTA. I just wan to remind everyone that the selection of the scholar is not totally merit based in malaysia, and it is still tends to be quota-based.. kononnya satu malaysia..