The concept of a MARA scholarship is not unfamiliar to Malaysian Bumiputera students. Majlis Amanah Rakyat was set up in 1966 under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development of Malaysia. In order to promote social and economic development in rural areas, MARA offers assistance to Bumiputeras, especially in rural areas) to create a stronger community by participating in commercial and entrepreneurial activities.
For 2020, MARA is offering education financing in 3 different levels: Preparatory Level, Diploma & Degree Level, and Postgraduate & Professional Levels. An additional Student Advance Loan is also available for students offered studies in Diploma and First degree in MARA Institute of Education (IPMa) only. A short explanation of each section is presented below:
Preparatory level
For students who have obtained excellent results for the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM), they can apply for the Young Talent Development Program (YTP) under MARA to receive a sponsorship. This allows them to enrol in First Degree Preparatory Programs, including International Baccalaureate, A-Levels, Foundation, Pre-University and University Preparatory Programs for non-native English speaking countries. Upon completion, recipients of the sponsorship are expected to be on the road to Top 10 universities by country or top 30 universities in the world by subjects. Click here to view requirements, guides and frequently asked questions.
Priority will be given to the B40 group, and applicants will be considered based on their performance in SPM, co-curricular activities and the MARA Student Assessment Program (MSAP). Students enrolling for courses under Computing, Health Science, Medicine, Engineering, Arts and Design, and Social Science will be given priority. Visit this link for more information.
Diploma & Degree Levels
Students who are furthering their education at Diploma or First Degree levels in the field and institution set by MARA can opt for a Tertiary Education Loan Program (TESP). Students can apply for the loan so long as they have a minimum of 1 year of study remaining. There are two categories under this loan, a full loan, which includes study fee and living allowance, and a partial loan, which is only applicable to study fees. This loan is a convertible loan, meaning students who apply can get a discount after graduation, providing that they do well in their studies. More information can be found here.
Excellent students from IPMa who are furthering their diploma and first degree studies locally or abroad can apply for the Excellent Student Program by MARA. They must have excellent academic achievement, a CGPA above 3.90 and are actively involved in the curriculum during their certificate and diploma level in IPMa. Students who are from the B40 group and pursuing their studies in top 10 universities by country and top 30 world universities by subject will be given priority.
Post Graduate & Professional Levels
MARA is offering convertible education loans for Postgraduate levels at local or international institutions of higher education under the Graduate Excellence Programme (GrEP). These loans are applicable to outstanding graduates in fields and universities set by MARA. The fields selected are decided based on the impact on national employment needs, and there are up to 74 courses listed in by MARA in this document. There is however, an age limit requirement for those who are applying, so do take note of the terms and conditions listed here.
The Professional Development Programme (Pro-P) is another education loan for professional or expertise levels in local or international institutions. Students need to receive study offers from institutions recognized by JPA and the Professional Recognition bodies. Like the GrEP, there is an age limit for applicants.
Applications to financial assistance offered by MARA have very specific requirements and are also time-sensitive. Scholarships2u’s advice is for interested parties to learn more about the scholarships before applying via official resources to prevent confusion. Contact us via the form if you need any assistance with your education planning.