I wrote an article to be included in the graduate section of Outreach 2014 booklet of Cambridge University Malaysian Society as the committee prepare themselves to reach out to the students who might want to apply to Cambridge for the next academic year.
For the academic year of 2013/2014, 37 Malaysians out of
the 158 who applied to Cambridge received confirmed admission to graduate
courses ranking 11th among the other countries with success rate of 23%. There
are two categories of qualifications for graduate studies: courses with taught
elements, and research programmes. Either category, the best way to research on
the available programmes and the criteria of admission is via the Graduate
Admissions website of the University of Cambridge.
A little about applying to graduate studies at Cambridge:
It is crucial if you are planning to apply for research
programmes to communicate with your potential supervisor to find out more about
the research group and the interests of the group. It doesn't bring any harm to
have a clearer idea of what the expectations of your supervisor are before you
apply. Also, it also helps you in your decision-making process. Apply for
admission only when you are certain that your potential supervisor is keen to
having you. Online application makes it so convenient! As my basic degree was
awarded by Malaysian university, which was not conducted fully in English, I was
required to submit proof of English competency. The accepted English Language
Tests include IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic,
CAE (Certificate of Advanced English) with grade A (with other conditions to
fulfill) or CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) with grade A or B.
TOEFL is NO LONGER accepted according to the Home Office requirement. Minimum
required score is according to the course applied. In the application for
research programme, a research proposal would be required, and this can be discussed
between you and your potential supervisor.
Other than that, it is important to take notes of the
deadline of applications to funding and scholarship. If your potential
supervisor has a research grant to sponsor you, then it is wonderful. If not,
you might want to research on other available scholarships, as well as to apply
to the Cambridge Trust fund and Gates Cambridge scholarship when you apply for
admission. Usually the deadline for the latter two is around December.
In my opinion, the important elements to successful
application include: 1) Excellent English competency, 2) acceptance of your research
proposal by the department which you are applying to, 3) acceptance by one of
the colleges, 4) financial conditions. Be meticulous and prompt with the list
of conditions to fulfil the admission process!
Once all the conditions are fulfilled, the Graduate Board
of Studies will award you with the offer letter and CAS for you to apply for
Tier 4 student visa. The CUMaS community will be at Cambridge waiting for your
arrival.
A little on the life of a Cambridge
graduate student:
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| During the High Table in the college... |
I completed my BSc. (Biotechnology) in University
Malaysia Sabah and hold the Erasmus Mundus Masters in Forensic Science awarded
by the consortium of host universities (University of Cordoba, Spain, Egas
Moniz University, Portugal, University of Lincoln, UK). The university systems
which I had experienced previously were different from my current experience
here, as University of Cambridge is a collegiate university, and all students
are members of a college. I am a member of Fitzwilliam College. Usually
graduate students would be offered a room in the college, either in the main
college site or the college houses. From what I know, all colleges provide
housekeeping services to college accommodations. Each college has its own
traditions and system, which you could read more on its website. At term time,
Fitz organises formals twice a week and members of the college who wish to
attend the formal could make reservation via our college account. Once a year,
the graduate students are invited to dine with the Master and fellows at the
high table. I am assigned a graduate tutor in the college whom I try to meet at
least once a term for a chat. Also, graduate students belong to the Middle
Combination Room (MCR) community of the college, where the MCR committee would
organise events for the graduates in the college. The MCR room of Fitz is
housed in the Grove, which used to be the abode of Emma Darwin, the wife of
Charles Darwin. I find my college a very friendly yet conducive environment for
my stay as a graduate student.
Besides my supervisor, I have been asked to nominate a
secondary adviser according to the statute of the university. All research work
is being supervised by the department. Being in my first year, I am still a PhD
(probationary) student. Only upon submitting a first year report and passing it
would I be a proper PhD student. I look forward for the day to come end of this
year! Though it takes a lot of hard work to be a graduate student of Cambridge,
it will be worthwhile to work in an environment so conducive and supportive of
on-going research.
For more information about graduate admissions, please
visit this website:
