SMU launches new scholarship for local students

SMU Provost Professor Lily Kong announced the launch of the Global Impact Scholarship Award on Tuesday (Oct 4). PHOTO: SMU

SINGAPORE - A new scholarship launched by the Singapore Management University (SMU) will sponsor students for both their bachelor's as well as master's, even if they choose to work first before completing their master's programme.

The scholarship, which was announced by SMU on Tuesday (Oct 4), allows students to choose a bachelor's or an integrated bachelor's and master's programme.

Under the latter programme, students can either complete both their bachelor's and master's courses in four years - five years for Law - or work first and then complete their master's within five years after getting their bachelor's.

They will have their course fees paid for, on top of other allowances and grants. There is no bond attached.

Called the Global Impact Scholarship Award, it aims to attract students who desire a "balance between local rootedness and global exposure".

"It's our way of recognising that there are some excellent students in the Singapore system who deserve to have an education in a local institution, while getting that global exposure," said SMU Provost, Professor Lily Kong, at a media briefing on Tuesday (Oct 4).

Students who take up the scholarship can look forward to going on overseas trips for programmes such as study missions or community service projects.

The scholarship will be awarded to 40 Singaporean students across all six disciplines in SMU.

Incoming local freshmen for the next academic year of 2017, have from Oct 25 this year to March 19 next year to apply for the new scholarship, which will also provide opportunities to develop their leadership skills.

Fully funded by the university, the scholarship is worth up to $121,000 for non-Law and $126,000 for Law students.

Scholars will also take three specially designed courses under the SMU-X programme launched in 2015, in which they collaborate with industry partners in both public and private sectors, such as banks, accountancy and law firms, and government agencies, to understand and find solutions for real world challenges.

Candidates will be shortlisted based on academic qualifications and co-curricular records, before undergoing an on-campus selection process in a team-based challenge responding to a real-world problem. The final stage would be an interview with a Scholarship Selection Committee.

SMU currently offers the Lee Kong Chian Scholars Programme and SMU Scholars Programme.

Unlike the new scholarship, these two programmes also accept Singapore PRs and international students, and are only for undergraduate programmes.

The two also lack the tailored SMU-X courses and the Scholars' Study Mission.

Professor Kong said they are looking into enhancing the Global Impact Scholarship Award, such as having a residential component.

She said: "We didn't want to wait until every single component was in place before we rolled it out. We think it is a very good programme after six months of work. We will continue to enhance the features of this particular scholarship award."

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