Scholarships : JPA / MARA / PETRONAS

Read this if u r SPM 2010 candidates and u r looking for scholarship. My company did Education Sponsorship Open Day today. Below are some of the questions that I managed to ask the scholarship personnel on behalf of my sister.

For JPA/MARA


- If we have applied for JPA, do we still need to apply for MARA ?
No, u can only apply either one.

- Currently, what are among the critical subjects and why are they considered critical ?
Medic, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary

- So, what's the career opportunities for those taking Economics studies ? And actually, in what area does the government mostly need new recruitment ?
For JPA, u need to register with esila immediately after u grad.  H/ever, if government fail to offer u any job within 12months, u r free to go to other places. Mostly, JPA will absorb u under Pegawai Tadbir Daerah (PTD). 

- Upon graduation, we are bonded with JPA/MARA for how many years and what if there aren't any job vacancies ?
for MARA, u r not bonded, cos MARA = convertible loan.  U have to pay once u finish ur studies, but u r free to work anywhere u want.

JPA = scholarship.  Thus, u r bonded.  Once graduated, u have to immediately register with government.  For medic, u'll b bonded for 10 years, other science stream 7 years; econs account finance = 5 years.

Additional :

• No. of scholarships (JPA) and convertible loan (MARA) offered  = 12,000 (1,800 oversea + balance, local uni)
  
• JPA & MARA will only offer 1,800 scholarships each for oversea programs.  This number is including students graduating from Matric.
  
• JPA offers limited number of oversea scholarships to countries like US, UK, Ireland since most of their scholars breach the contract / not coming back to Msia / work oversea.  But, they still send Law students to UK.
  
• JPA&MARA only sponsor for degree, meaning if u want to pursue ur professional certs (ACCA&CIMA) u have to do at ur own cost.  For JPA, u have to work with government, at least 3 years, then only u can further ur studies.
  
• JPA scholars are for all Malay, Chinese, Indian + Bumiputera
  
• MARA convertible loan is only for Malay + Bumiputera
  
• The interviews will b conducted circa 14 April.  Format : group interview, current news, some knowledge on course that u plan to pursue
  

For PETRONAS

- Can we apply for both local and oversea programme ?
yes, can.  For local program, u have to fill in UTP form at UTP web

- Where can we get the list of oversea universities that PETRONAS usually sends its scholar to ?
no, this'll not be reveal. H/ever students obtaining scholarship will have to undergone preparation program at local college (Taylor's, KYUEM, etc)

- In your opinion, among Accounting, Financing and Economics which has the highest posiblity to be granted a scholarship ? In other word, in 5 years time, what does PETRONAS needs most ?
Chances are all the same.  Accounting with professional certs will be more marketable.

- If PETRONAS can't provide their scholars with any job opportunities, for how long do we need to wait until we'll be notified that there aren't any job vacancies for us ? And are we allowed to find job at any other places while waiting ?
6 months. Once the 6 months over, u r no more bonded, but u still have to pay 20% from the scholarship/depend on ur degree class.  Yes, u can apply to other companies as well, but Petronas will be ur priority. (this is the new requirement, mind u)

- Let's say there aren't any job for us, will PETRONAS release their scholars and do they need to pay back. PETRONAS will release, but u still have to pay based on ur degree class. 20% will be the highest amount u need to pay.

- For those in Financing area, what do they usually do ? (and same goes to those in Economics area) : refer to brochure, next email

- Let's say we want to take professional qualification like ACCA or CIMA, will PETRONAS sponsor us or PETRONAS will advise us to work with them for 2,3 years first ?
You have to work with Petronas first and subject to management approval to further study.

- I'm the child of PETRONAS employee, what's the percentage of me getting the scholarship (and actually how does PETRONAS select their future scholars e.g: base on salary or academic qualification or co-curricular achievement ?) : same, ther'll be no priority. U only have to meet criteria listed by PETRONAS and have outstanding co-curricular activities.

 Additional:

• 1 week from closing date/14 april, I cant remember, PETRONAS will inform either u succeed / not in the application.
  
• If u r successful, u have to attend induction/IQ test at UTP 17/4-18/4 or 21/4-24/4