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The Graduate Student Interview - Kuala Lumpur
This month we travel to Kuala Lumpur to meet 25-year-old Melorina Kamaruddin, a graduate of the International Islamic University in Malaysia, to hear about her impressions of graduate study.
Can you tell our readers about your background?
I am currently working as a financial auditor in Kuala Lumpur for one of the Big Four accounting firms. I graduated with honours in 2005 from the International Islamic University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. My academic background has been a good preparation for my current job.
What and where do you want to study?
My experience is a little different from many other students. I am particularly interested in studying international relations, a subject quite different from my undergraduate degree and my current career. I have no fixed idea on where I want to study, but it has to be international having stayed at home for my bachelor’s. I have considered Japan and a number of European countries for my graduate degree.
Why do you think studying abroad is important?
I have no regrets studying locally for my undergraduate degree as I have received a good education for a fraction of the cost I would have incurred had I gone to study abroad. Nevertheless I also believe that an education abroad is beneficial to an individual if he or she can afford it. The experience alone is worth it as I would be able to experience a different culture and working environment at the same time as building up my confidence for facing the unknown. Furthermore, there is always the opportunity to do some networking which is equally important besides the education that you are getting – it might open doors for some new opportunities.
How do you choose a university to study at?
I will choose my university by considering several factors. My main priorities are the academic syllabus and the career support that will be given by the university: it is extremely important to know that it has a well-organized career services unit. Although I want to study in English I also want to be in a country where English is not the first language, as I think this will add another value to my university experience. I will also consider the financial factors related to my graduate study; for example, whether there are scholarships available for international students, and the cost of living. Although not as much of a factor, the facilities and location of a university also have to be taken into account – but these are a bit less of a priority.
How will you fund a postgraduate degree at an international university?
I was lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship from the Malaysian Government for my first degree and I intend to fund my graduate program in the same way. When I attended the QS World Grad School Tour I received a lot of help concerning scholarships from the universities there.
You attended the QS World Grad School Tour event in Kuala Lumpur last year. Did this help you in finding out about universities abroad for your graduate program?
It was a very useful experience to attend the QS fair, even though, like me, you might have several universities in mind before attending it. It allowed me better comparison between universities (programs that are on offer/financial assistance/tuition fees etc) and also gave me the opportunity to get to know a bit more about the human element of the universities – something that their websites and email correspondences can’t provide.
What advice would you offer students who plan to attend their local QS World Grad School Tour fair?
One piece of advice I would like to offer is that students read up on the institution of your interest before attending the event, in order to utilize their time with the university representatives to the fullest.
Thank you Melorina – good luck with your Masters degree!
