Accepting a scholarship is a life-changing milestone, and the ability to make an informed decision is essential. Here, we provide a holistic overview of all you should know, condensed into 26 bite-sized nuggets of information...

By Charlene Tan

Application process
The contents of your application should be honest and accurate. Check your application multiple times to avoid having grammatical or typographical errors. If necessary, ask someone to help with the proofreading. The scholarship application process is straightforward. You can apply directly through the organisation’s website, BrightSparks, or any other channel specified by the organisation.

Bond
Regardless of its duration, the bond is a significant factor to consider. Be sure that you can commit to the organisation for as long as the bond requires, as breaking it will cost far more than funding your education independently.

Crème de la crème
Although most organisations look beyond academic grades, being one of the top students among your cohort is a basic prerequisite for getting shortlisted for the first round of interviews. Ultimately, scholarships are awarded to outstanding individuals who also possess superb communication skills and leadership qualities, amongst other things.

You might be brimming with excitement at the prospect of higher education, and rightly so. A whole new world awaits as you enter the next phase of life as a university undergraduate!

By Charlene Tan

Apart from piling you with readings, assignments and tests, university is also the place where many life-long friendships will be forged. With the receipt of your ‘A’ level results, life as a junior college student is officially over. And whether your grades were up to par or not, it is time to move on and realise your potential in the next vibrant phase of your life. Here’s what’s in store for you...

Freedom
You will enjoy way more freedom as a university undergraduate. You get to pick modules that interest you (apart from compulsory core modules), and if you plan your timetable well enough, you may even get to enjoy a four-day week!

If you decide to study overseas or live on-campus, you will also experience independence away from home. Your campus becomes your home away from home, and your peers will be akin to family. And you can finally express yourself through your dressing as you bid goodbye to school ties and dull uniforms.

Sport a healthy lifestyle and join SSC in shaping the culture of sports in Singapore.

By Charlene Tan

“The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) scholarship is testament of a new era for sport in Singapore. It is a mark that says sports is turning professional and Singapore wants to groom talent into sporting specialists. To be the first to start the ball rolling for something great which is going to happen is very exciting,” says 23-year-old Ruth Ng.

Ruth is Singapore’s top female fencer and the first recipient of the SSC scholarship. In July 2009, she will officially join SSC as part of the High Performance Group within the Sports Science Department.

“I will focus on promoting sporting development towards excellent results, and help to improve infrastructure and the (sporting) system. Sports science is based heavily on research and concepts. It is the core of where you get sporting success,” she explains.

Raising sports champions
Formed in 1973, SSC is Singapore’s lead agency tasked with developing sports in Singapore. The statutory board has come a long way in transforming the way Singaporeans view and participate in sports.

Student life at SMU is about building bonds and embracing a different university experience.

By Charlene Tan

As a junior college student, Alicia Yang was certain she wanted to be acquainted with complex financial theories and bookkeeping skills. Under her family’s guidance, she was exposed to basic accounting from a young age, which sparked her interest in the accounting profession. Nevertheless, she did face one dilemma after receiving her ‘A’ level results – which university to go to.

However, one phone call from the Singapore Management University (SMU) took care of that.

A phone call away
While Alicia was holidaying during the university selection process, she suddenly received a call from the university. “SMU called me down for a scholarship interview which I hadn’t even applied for!” she remarks.

The gracious offer of a scholarship was too good a deal to turn down, and Alicia was delighted at the opportunity. “SMU still offered to make arrangements to accommodate me, even though it meant more work for them,” she recalls, touched by the school’s gesture to wait for her to return from overseas.

A career with NEA and PUB will open your eyes to the hard work that goes on behind the scenes towards sustaining this Garden City’s environment and resources.

By Charlene Tan

“One thing I’ve learnt is that Singaporeans take things for granted and have become victims of our own success. We neglect the effort which has been put in by our forerunners,” says Desmond Tan, on what he has discovered through his nine years in the National Environment Agency (NEA).

“Nearly Everything Agency”
Established in 2002, NEA is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR), and looks into improving and sustaining the environment in Singapore. The environmental issues faced are wide-ranging, encompassing pollution control, waste management, radiation protection, public hygiene, meteorological services, and even management of the nation’s hawker centres and columbaria. Not surprisingly, some staff have affectionately dubbed NEA as the “Nearly Everything Agency”.

A well-respected teacher and MOE scholar tells us how and why he shapes the lives of young minds.

By Charlene Tan

It was a drowsy morning, and Gary Neo, a Biology teacher, was observing his class as they attended a lecture delivered by one of his colleagues.

From his seat at the back of the lecture theatre, Gary noticed that the students seemed particularly fidgety that day. A group of girls were whispering excitedly among themselves while some boys exchanged subdued glances. He noticed there were several empty seats, and wondered where these students had gone.

Suddenly, the door burst open as the “missing” students brought in a cake topped with glowing candles and the entire class jovially burst into a birthday chorus to their overwhelmed teacher.

“I was extremely delighted. I did not expect them to do it because I am usually rather strict with them,” he muses, as he relates the story above.

Inspired to inspire
“I wanted to be a teacher ever since I was in primary school, as I have had very good teachers who inspired me,” says the Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) alumnus and Local Merit Scholar. He cites the example of his Mandarin teacher, Ms Goh Mui Lien, to whom he is especially grateful for having patiently coached him in the language through engaging song lyrics and popular Chinese movies.

Taking on the National Infocomm Scholarship is not just about pursuing your interests – it’s about excelling in them.

By Charlene Tan

“I was always interested in Discovery Channel and other ‘geeky’ channels. I remember once I saw them, I was hooked!” National Infocomm Scholar Toh Chuan Kai says unabashedly about his inquisitive thirst for knowledge.

“My interest is to find out how everything works, like how the Internet works, what are the stuff behind it, and how people can communicate ‘through a box’,” explains the 23-year-old who, like other tech-savvy youth, often ponders about the intricate systems behind infocomm technologies which enable us to communicate effectively and efficiently across the globe today.

Although he studied Electrical Engineering at Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), Chuan Kai’s passion is in software programming and Computer Science.

One young man shares how the National Infocomm Scholarship has brought him on an exploration into the world of infocomm technology.

By Charlene Tan

Bevan Tan has always been intrigued by computers and gadgets. As a child, he had his fair share of gaming (albeit from a floppy disk), nursing his first Digimon, and playing games on his trusty Nintendo Game Boy and Sega console gaming set.

As he entered his teenage years, Bevan’s interest in infocomm started to grow. At a time when the infocomm industry was booming, he was thrilled to find a course at Temasek Polytechnic (TP) that catered to his inclinations. In fact, the three years he spent pursuing a diploma in Business and IT reinforced his enthusiasm for a career in the infocomm industry.

After completing National Service, his next venture saw him embarking on a degree in Information Systems Management at Singapore Management University (SMU). His smooth transition to higher education came with a bonus – he is a National Infocomm Scholar.

A one-of-a-kind scholarship
Jointly awarded by the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and leading partners in the industry, the National Infocomm Scholarship (NIS) is unique because it offers greater flexibility, allowing scholars to carve out a career with private infocomm organisations. It offers full and partial scholarships for studying at reputable local and overseas universities, and also the much-coveted Flagship Infocomm Master’s Scholarship.

Wishing upon a star won’t always give you what you desire. But at A*STAR, a love for science will ensure that your dreams can take flight!

By Charlene Tan

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is reputed for sending its scholars to top local and overseas universities to train with the brightest. Meet two individuals who had this opportunity – Dr Adrian Matthew Mak and Sim Jingwei. Though they are one decade apart, their hearts are set on the same goal – to contribute to the R&D sector in Singapore.

Brilliant minds
With 22 research institutes, consortia, and centres in the biomedical, science, and engineering sectors, A*STAR spearheads R&D and scientific inquiry in Singapore, driving the nation forward in a knowledge-based economy. Within its walls is a generation of scientists who dare to challenge the boundaries of modern science in areas such as biomedical sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and infocomm technologies.

“Research is about learning what’s unknown to mankind, to go through the physically and mentally tough challenge to develop something, and yet emerge surviving. I just love the challenge anytime!” Adrian quips.

How does a young graduate make the best decision when faced with a range of career options? It all depends on what your head says and where your heart lies.

By Charlene Tan and Cheryl Lim

When Ng Wen Xu was on the verge of graduating, she found herself at one of life’s major crossroads.

“It’s not that easy to figure out what exactly it is that you want to pursue,” she says with a laugh. “For a while, I was toying with the idea of becoming a doctor, or going into the creative line. But I realised that government jobs were more exciting because your job is more than just growing the business of one company,” recounts the Biological Sciences graduate from Nanyang Technological University.

One role, many challenges
The Economic Development Board (EDB) partners both MNCs and SMEs in important projects towards the economic success of Singapore. Wen Xu has never had a dull day at work since joining the agency in August 2006.