From Perai to Brisbane to Oxford on both @CheveningFCDO & @WeidenfeldSchol , thread below to help those interested decide whether they want to apply for Chevening. Applications open now! Link: https://www.chevening.org/scholarship/malaysia/ . /thread

TL:DR ; fellow Chevener and my friend @evelayn 's summary of the Chevening application process here: http://www.evelynteh.com/musings/2019/7/29/cheveningscholarship

More : article (with application tips) on Chevening alum who then did a PhD in Nottingham, Dr @nikicheong - https://www.hotcoursesabroad.com/study-abroad-info/student-finances/scholarship-tips-from-former-british-chevening-scholarship-recipi/

related: twitter thread by my colleague @sharifahyasmiin on need to not be afraid to shine spotlight on your achievements during interviews https://twitter.com/sharifahyasmiin/status/1301876067897016320?s=19

1. Know your WHY. A Master's degree is short - are you looking to further to a PhD? Need a qualification to get promoted? Being on Chevening means you need go pack a lot into a year while taking a break from your career (you must have min 2 years work experience to qualify)

...it is not a decision to make lightly, hence your WHY is important. There is no age limit to the scholarship, so you can view this as your mid-career "gap year" to reflect on what next - this was what my Chevening year was for me. I also already had a PhD.

...so my WHY also included decision to change career, how to grow professionally, and increase my personal marketability. It came with the price of exhausting savings to cover life commitments (like mortgage) & risk of career not working out.

2. Set your AMBITION. You must include 3 choices of courses to go for. You can have the same course at 3 different universities or 3 different courses. Pro-tip: this must come across as thought out based on your application essays.

E.g. I wanted to grow professionally & improve my marketability = need a uni/course with a strong brand + strong academic tradition. I did tell myself that if I didn't get Oxford, I am okay with LSE but won't go if I don't get either.

Pro-tip: always have plans B, C, D. If you really want a Master's degree & applying for Chevening; you are competing with thousands others. You can apply for other too, but I am biased to saying Chevening and UK Education is GREAT.

3. Be PRACTICAL. You won't be able to plan/write 5 essays in one day the night before the deadline.This is the first weekend after applications open - go on the website,copy paste the essay questions into word doc, then set aside time on weekends to fill up application in stages.

Pro-tip: the website always crashes on days leading up to deadline. Filling in your application in stages allows you to check what you wrote and not have an anxiety attack nearer the deadline. Remember your password, though!

4. PLAN. University applications also opens around the same time so you also need to keep an eye out on those deadlines. Oxford application means MORE essays.

(Confession: starting line to my "why I am applying to Oxford" essay was so #Pottergeek I could sense the eyeroll of whoever had the bad luck of reading my application. )

...planning also includes finances. Getting the scholarship means you are supported for the year in UK, BUT, you still need to figure out your mortgage here + if you resigned from your job like me, how to afford +/- 6months before & after your year away.

There are scholars who managed a sabbatical year from their employers. However not everyone has the same journey. Having said that, be mindful that all the best laid plans can (will?) go astray. But Virgos are happier with having a plan

5. Make FULL use of your year away.Make new friends, have new experiences, seek opportunities. And have FUN.For this I am grateful to @WeidenfeldSchol Leadership Programme. I got an immediate group of newfound friends in Oxford, was put through workshops+moral philosophy seminars

and got to visit interesting places as a ready group as part of the programme. Pro-tip: you can also apply directly to @WeidenfeldSchol for a masters programme in @UniofOxford . I got the best of both worlds with Chevening + WHT (who is a Chevening partner).

Also as part of MPP @BlavatnikSchool - you get to do a Summer Placement (where I interned at the UK Cabinet Office). My fellow MPP-ers did their placements on various policy topics around the globe. So you get a UK+ / Masters+ experience in your Chevening year.

6. LIFE HAPPENS. Taking a Chevening year does not mean life stops. I lost my friend Evie and could only facetime her funeral, I have friends who got married, got divorced, got pregnant, ran for Brazil parliament - all while on their Chevening/master's year.

Covid-19 impacted this year's scholars immensely. I guess with everything in life, you roll with it and cross the bridge when you get to it. All part of character building. You do however get a lot of support - both mental health & academic wise being a student in UK.

7. It's YOUR journey. You decide and will know when and/or if Chevening is for you. I hope this thread has helped a few of you with your decision. Good luck, mask up and wash your hands! /end