Talks on loans and scholarships for tertiary study at Curtin Sarawak

Monday, 19 January 2009 – Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia is conducting a series of talks on study loans and scholarships for tertiary study at Curtin Sarawak in Miri, Bintulu, Sibu and Kuching from 24 January to 8 February 2009.

Both local and international students looking to pursue an affordable higher education at a reputable international university in Malaysia need not look further than Curtin Sarawak, and they have a wide choice of loans and scholarships should they require financial assistance for study at the university, according to Curtin Sarawak’s Loans & Scholarships Officer, Marianne binte Masli.

Curtin Sarawak, Sarawak’s first foreign university campus established in 1999, is popular both locally and globally for various reasons, she says. Amongst them is its international outlook, being an offshore campus of Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia and the international makeup of its students from Malaysia and 40 other countries. Other attractions are its innovative courses, world-class teaching facilities, flexible study options, applied and practical subjects, use of advanced technology, partnerships with industry and government, ideal campus location, experienced academics and staff, and active community engagement.

As the cost of attending university is an increasingly important consideration for many, the relatively lower cost of studying and living in Miri compared to the costs of tertiary studies in Perth is another incentive. Every aspect of the academic programmes at Curtin Sarawak, including course materials and examinations, are identical to the programmes offered at Curtin University of Technology in Perth.

Marianne points out that local students have the added incentive of study loans and scholarships offered by Curtin and other organizations, such as Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN), Yayasan Sarawak and leading corporations.

“There is a general misconception that students applying to private universities such as Curtin Sarawak are not eligible for certain loans and scholarships. One purpose of our upcoming talks is to dispel these misconceptions, and give potential students and their parents informed guidance about the available loans and scholarships and help them make the best choices in financial assistance,” says Marianne.

Marianne will brief potential students and their parents on the loans and scholarships available at Pustaka Miri from 1 pm to 3 pm on 24 January and 1 February 2009, from 7 pm to 9 pm at Tanahmas Hotel in Sibu on 6 February 2009, from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Yayasan Sarawak Building in Kuching on 7 February 2009, and from 2 pm to 4 pm at ParkCity Everly Hotel in Bintulu on 8 February 2009.

Scholarships available include Curtin’s Pro Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship for international students, and Dean’s Scholarship and CSM Scholarship for local students; the Shell-Curtin Scholarship, Western Australian Government Scholarship, Pat Addison Award, Tunku Abdul Rahman Scholarship, Bakun Charitable Trust Scholarship, JPA Sabah Scholarship, Shell Malaysia Exploration and Shell Malaysia Downstream scholarships, Petronas Scholarship, Great Eastern Supremacy Scholarship Award and Daiken Scholarship.

Students can also opt for study loans from PTPTN, Yayasan Sarawak, Sarawak Higher Education Fund Charitable Trust and Yayasan Sabah, or make use of EPF Withdrawal Scheme for Education or the SOCSO Education Fund.

Curtin Sarawak offers a wide variety of high-quality courses, including foundation studies in Commerce and Arts, as well as Engineering and Science; diploma courses in Process Plant Technology and Business; undergraduate degree courses in Arts, Commerce, Science and Technology, and postgraduate studies in Project Management, Business, Engineering and Science. It also offers pre-university and intensive English language courses.

Its state-of-the-art campus is equipped with the latest computers, software, laboratory equipment, and reference materials in addition to free Internet access and e-mail facilities for students. Students also have access to learning resources at the Curtin campus in Perth and other resources via the Internet.

For more details on available scholarships and loans and the upcoming talks, call Marianne at 085-443939 or Curtin Sarawak’s Marketing Department at 085-443893, or e-mail to loans.scholarships@curtin.edu.my. Alternatively, one can visit Curtin Sarawak’s website at www.curtin.edu.my for relevant information.

Potential students to Curtin Sarawak have a wide range of study loans and scholarships available to them.