Introduction to National Science Fellowship (NSF)

Due to globalization and labour cost competition, the government shifted the focus from knowledge-based economy in the mid 1990s to innovation-led economy. Under Rancangan Malaysia ke-9, the government have invested a lot on Pembangunan modal insan (Human capital development).

Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI) plays an important role in HCD for science and technology. MOSTI's vision is knowledge creation, wealth creation and societal well being. One of the missions is to create pool of experts in various STI fields.

There are various types of HCD programs offered by MOSTI:

• LDP - Scholarship for government servants such as research officers (RO) and lecturers to obtain MSc or PhD. Age must be below 40. The receipient will be given paid leave and extra monthly allowance.
• EXPT - To invite experts abroad to give training.
• PGD - Scholarship for post-graduate students working under MOSTI grant. Students must apply before 3rd semester of study. Anyone who fail to obtain NSF can apply for this scheme. The stipend for MSc is Rm1,300 and RM1,500 for PhD students.
• ATTH - Attachment programs to RO or lecturers.
• NSF - see below.

National Science Fellowship (NSF) is a scholarship awarded to excellent students to pursue full-time postgraduate studies in STI areas at local universities or prestigious universites abroad. The various STI areas include biotechnology, IT, marine and aerospace, industry, agriculture, pharmaceutical and etc. This program has been offered since 1998. There are 714 recipients under Biotechnology category up until 2008. Since Sept 2008, the number of scholarships have doubled to 400 annually. In Mac 2009, the registration website is open all around the year and there are 4 rounds of selection.

Scholarship benefits include:

• Tuition fees
• Examination and Viva fees
• Monthly stipend of RM1,560 for MSc student & RM2,300 for PhD students. overseas stipend similar to JPA rate
  
• Scholars are allowed to do attachment up to 6 months or attend one international conference. However, MSc students are only allowed to do local attachment while PhD students can attach to overseas institutes preferably in semester 3 or 4.

Eligibility:

• Malaysian citizen
• Academic requirement - CGPA >3.0 for degree holder. A Msc or first class honours degree for PhD candidates.
  
• Age - not more than 30 for MSc and 35 for PhD students
  
• Not government servants or tutors from IPTA.
• Please note that students must apply before or during semester 1.
  

Selected candidates will be called for interview and required to do a 10-min presentation. The candidates will be evaluated mainly on their projects. Other criteria includes supervisor's experience, lab equipments, ability to communicate in BM and English, personality and potential as government servants. Successful candidates will be notified in one month time. Scholars will be called to attend seminars to present their research progress. They will be bonded to the government for at least 3 years and required to work in Malaysia for 5 years.

For more information, visit http://ehcd.mosti.gov.my/ehrd/nsf.php.