Bridging the gap

by Gwendolyn Bellinger
School of Arts and Social Sciences

1. Tell us about this scholarship.

The scholarship is the Graduate Research Excellence Scholarship. It covers 100 per cent of my tuition and a stipend during my three-year PhD Candidature.

2. Why did you apply for this scholarship?

I applied for this scholarship because I could not afford to cover my tuition for a three-year program. Education is one of the best investments you can make in yourself, and I see my PhD work as essential for the next steps I want to take in my life. However, I knew the financial costs of paying tuition would bear a heavy financial burden on me. For the last few years, working in education has been incredibly rewarding, but it is not a career path that affords excessive wealth. Weighing the financial burden with the career rewards wasn't easy. This scholarship made my decision to return to academia incredibly easy.

3. How did you choose your planned program of study?

I have always loved literature but studied history and cultural studies during my years as an undergraduate and graduate student in the United States. However, literature was a major component of both these degree programs. After a few years of working in education and always being drawn to working in fields of literature and writing, I decided I wanted to pursue literature more formally. My research area ties together some topics and ideas introduced to me in undergraduate and graduate school but now I have the space to focus on those ideas and explore them further.

4. What do you hope to gain from the Monash experience?

Many people are curious about why I came to Malaysia for my PhD. I'm excited to bridge certain cultural gaps I might not have been able to bridge if I had stayed in the United States. I feel I can experience a different perspective and explore literature with a different mindset.

5. How has the scholarship assisted you?

The scholarship is the sole reason I can be here in Malaysia and at Monash pursuing a PhD. It has been essential to the next three years of my life and how these next three years will assist me in my future career path. I can focus on my studies freely instead of worrying about my financial future.

More information on our scholarships available here.