Navigating the Journey of Excellence

13 February 2024

by Adi Azri Daman Huri
School of Information Technology

1. Tell us about this scholarship.

I received a combined scholarship—The Graduate Research Tuition Fee Waiver from Monash University Malaysia and a monthly stipend from the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) Malaysia. The latter (FRGS) was obtained as a joint effort with my principal supervisor, Dr Ian Lim, using the output from my Honours' research on the same topic.

2. In what ways do you believe this scholarship aligns with your academic and career aspirations?

It has provided me the privilege to further my studies into PhD level (coming from Bachelor Honours), which in itself is a big leap in terms of progression. Ultimately, I do hope that with this given opportunity, I will be able to obtain the invaluable pieces of knowledge and experiences of what is to be a quality researcher.

3. What motivated you to pursue this particular scholarship opportunity?

Opportunities like these do not come often. Especially when multiple parties (the School and government) are in collaboration to aid potential students with both the fees and stipend so that I can focus on my PhD.

4. In what ways has the scholarship played a role in shaping your overall university experience?

It has provided me an entry to partake in the PhD program. Without it, I believe many middle-class Malaysians would not even consider such a prestigious program.

5. Are there specific challenges or milestones that stand out as crucial to your growth?

The knowledge (technical) debt aspects of doing the program. Monash University Malaysia has done its best to provide its students with access to world-class knowledge but for a PhD research, there is a need to go beyond what is available. That is, with today's rapid climate of progression, I personally find it challenging to keep up. Nevertheless, it is not an excuse to back down.

6. Drawing from your experience, what advice would you give to students considering applying for scholarships?

To show that you have some value to offer to the school or relevant institutions, consider writing a research output (a proposal or a short paper). It does not have to be perfect, but it is a start. In my case, having done meaningful research during my Honours research helped as it is granted the FRGS grant.

More information on our scholarships and fee waivers available here.