Malaysian students can count on better Melbourne access

A new access scholarship is helping Malaysian students overcome financial disadvantage and giving them the opportunity of a world-class education.
Dato’ Douglas Cheng Heng Lee – a Faculty of Business and Economics alumnus – recognised the struggles Malaysian students face in moving to Melbourne, which was recently named the world’s sixth most expensive city by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
Dato’ Cheng paid homage to his parents with the scholarships, naming them the David and Mae Cheng Malaysian Access Scholarships. Two scholarships will be awarded each year to Malaysian students who either suffer economic disadvantage or come from a remote part of the country.
The scholarships cover study costs for the three-year Bachelor of Commerce and are believed to be the first access scholarships provided exclusively to international students.
Dato’ Cheng understood the need to support bright young students, noting the opportunity that a University of Melbourne education provides.
“I really enjoyed my time at the University,” he says.
“There is an equality and fairness in Australia that was partly the reason for us introducing the scholarship.”
The first Cheng Scholarship recipient is Samantha Kok from Kuala Lumpur, who began her first semester at Melbourne in March. Ms Kok originally had to defer her studies for a year, as her family could not afford her tuition fees. An email from the University encouraged her to apply for the scholarship, giving her newfound hope. She says the Cheng Scholarship meant she would not have to enrol at Melbourne via a private university path.
“I planned to pursue my studies through HELP University in Kuala Lumpur if a Melbourne scholarship opportunity had not arisen,” she says.
“That would have meant relying on the credit transfer program to get into Melbourne, which was uncertain.”
Ms Kok’s successful application relied largely on her clearly defined accountancy ambitions, which would have been remote without a Melbourne education.
“I was very keen to further my studies at the University of Melbourne because it is ranked number one in Australia for its Accounting and Finance program,” she says.
“There is no doubt that studying here will help me develop the technical, analytical and management skills I need to be work-ready as an accountant.”
As with many students, the experience of studying overseas was a particular attraction.
“An overseas education means I can meet new people and experience Australian culture,” Ms Kok says.
“I know I will find studying abroad a challenge, but I believe it will be an eye-opening lifetime experience.”
Ms Kok was also motivated to study at Melbourne by the opportunities it would provide to help her family.
“I hope that my Melbourne degree will help me secure a job in Australia,” she says.
“Hopefully that will allow me to provide for my parents, letting them settle down and enjoy the golden years of their lives.”
Malaysian students demonstrated strong interest in the initial Cheng Scholarship, which required applicants to demonstrate academic merit and financial need. A panel that included University representatives and Dato’ Cheng’s mother, Puan Sri Mae Cheng, then interviewed five final candidates.
Professor Paul Kofman, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, says the Cheng Scholarships amply demonstrate Believe – the Campaign for the University of Melbourne’s wider commitment to creating more scholarships for the best and brightest students.
“I was delighted that Dato’ Cheng’s wish to assist Malaysian scholars fit so well with the Faculty’s commitment to supporting deserving international students,” he says.
“It continues the wider campaign of ensuring the most talented students come to Melbourne, regardless of their financial or geographic circumstances.”
Creating scholarships for the best and brightest students is a key priority for Believe – the Campaign for the University of Melbourne, which aims to raise $500 million for the University by the end of 2017.
www.campaign.unimelb.edu.au
fbe.unimelb.edu.au