CEL 2106

COMMUNICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

SEMESTER 2, 2020/21

MATERIAL 6 (WEEK 13- 14):

APPLICATION
PROCESS

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Introduction

Scholarships are offered mainly by government agencies, private higher education institutions,
and various organisations. It has its own process and requirement.

Discussion

A. What are the types of scholarship available?

B. Which type of scholarship do you think is popular? Why?
C. What is the process of applying scholarship?

Scholarship Application Process

Activity 1

Below are steps in applying for a scholarship. Rearrange the steps according to the correct
sequence.

Sequence Steps
Secure yourself a place. Ensure that you have an offer letter.
Prepare a customised motivational letter. After that, proofread the letter.
Complete the application form.
Apply for a postgraduate programme.
Search on some scholarship programmes that are suitable for your field,
your credentials and the place (and/or country) you are going to further
your studies in. Choose the best one.
Prepare for the interview session while waiting for a reply.
Attach the motivational letter to the completed application form.

Discussion

Where can you find scholarship advertisements?

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Activity 2

Below are two samples of scholarship advertisements. Compare the features of both
advertisements by completing the table given.

Scholarship Advertisement 1

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

31st January 2021

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Scholarship Advertisement 2

2020/2021

DEADLINE : 25th February 2021

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 Features Scholarship Advertisement 1 Scholarship Advertisement 2

Type of
scholarship

Scholarship
provider

Scholarship
application
deadline

Disbursement of
scholarship

Scholarship
qualification
criteria

Eligibility to apply

Discussion

Which of the two scholarships above is more suitable to your needs? Justify your
answer.

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Writing a Scholarship Motivational Letter

Discussion

A. What is a scholarship motivational letter?

B. What are the similarities and differences in job application and
motivational letter?
C. Is there any specific format in writing a motivational letter?

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Activity 3

Read the sample scholarship advertisement and motivational letter below. After that,
answer the question that follows.
Sample Scholarship Advertisement

2021

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 Sample Scholarship Motivational Letter
Ahmad Ayden Amsyar
55, Jalan 8/9,
Persiaran Rimba Permai Cyber 8,
63000 Cyberjaya,
Selangor.

30 Disember 2020

Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology,

University Teknologi Malaysia,
Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, Kampung Datuk Keramat,
54100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.

Dear Sir,

Application for MJIT Postgraduate Scholarship

With reference to the scholarship advertisement posted on your website, I am

interested to apply for the scholarship offered. I am therefore writing this letter to
express my strong motivation and submit my credentials in the hope of securing the
scholarship.

I am confident that my educational and practical background constitute a good

foundation for Masters in Mechanical Engineering. My bachelor studies include a wide
range of fundamental subjects such as Thermodynamics, Manufacturing Technology,
Fluid Mechanics and many more. Furthermore, I have gained valuable practical skills
and obtained hands-on research experience while participating in the internship
programme during my undergraduate studies. From this valuable experience, I have
obtained significant skills such as collecting and analysing data in order to conduct
research. Throughout my studying years, I have always been hardworking and
determined in which I have given full commitment to the tasks assigned. I also believe
that the scholarship offered is a great match to my interest and qualification as it will
provide me with an opportunity to strengthen my theoretical knowledge base.

I would like to thank you for the time and effort invested in considering my scholarship
application. I hope to be given an opportunity to be called for an interview to present
myself. You can contact me via my phone number 0123952702 or email
[email protected] Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,
Ayden
Ahmad Ayden Amsyar

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What information should be included in the body paragraphs of a scholarship
motivational letter?

a) Paragraph 1

b) Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3
c)

Preparation for Portfolio 2

Activity 4

With reference to the task in your Portfolio 2, draft a scholarship motivational letter
based on the scholarship advertisement that you have found. Incorporate the usage
of persuasive language and appropriate tenses in your letter.

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Scholarship Motivational Letter Draft

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 With a partner, exchange the draft of your scholarship motivational letter. Use the
checklist below to proofread the letter.

Tick
No. Criteria Descriptor
()
Introduction Purpose of the letter is clearly written

Reason for applying for the scholarship is stated clearly

Body
Details, information and elaboration that support the application
1 Content are given with proper evidence
Closing remark
Closing
Request for an interview

Use of formal language – clear, concise and relevant

Correct grammar, punctuation and spelling according to British
English
2 Language Use of persuasive language

Consistent tenses throughout (present, past and future tense)

Projection of a positive impression

Name, address and contact number

Proper name and salutation of the recipient

Date

Header
3 Formatting
Hand written signature in addition to typed name

Consistent formatting throughout

Does not exceed one page

No repetition of information

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Scholarship Interview

If you are applying for a prestigious scholarship, you may need to complete an interview
as part of the application process.

“Tell Me about Yourself” Question

Once you have been selected as a candidate of scholarship interview, you need to be
fully prepared to answer various kinds of questions. “Tell me about yourself” is the most
common question asked at the beginning of an interview to get the conversation started.
In a scholarship interview, you should focus mostly on your academic achievements and
qualifications.

Activity 5
Fill in the table below using your profile information.

Name
Field of study

Academic achievement:
Bachelor/Diploma/Foundation
Proposed research (if any)

Strengths/skills

Using the information above, write about yourself.

Tell me about yourself

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The purpose of attending scholarship interview is to show the people in the committee
that you are serious about your studies, and that you really need scholarship to pursue
them. Therefore, you will need to put in a lot of preparation and know the kind of questions
the interviewers will ask.

Activity 6

With a partner, discuss some common scholarship interview questions.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Activity 7

Write your answers to the given scholarship questions. Choose any questions above for
the remaining two empty boxes.

No. Questions Answers

How will you use the
1. scholarship money?

Why should you be the one

2. to receive this scholarship?

Where do you see yourself

3. in ten years?

4.

5.

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Activity 8

Form a group of 3. Select one person to be the interviewer representing the

scholarship organisation. The remaining members will be the scholarship candidates.
Within 10 minutes, conduct a mock interview using the questions from the table above.

Activity 9

Reflection: Based on the mock interview you have conducted, reflect on the aspects
given below.

Aspects Questions Strengths/Weaknesses

Non-verbal
Do you think that
Communication
you managed to
(e.g.: eye
display
contact, body
confidence
language, facial
through your body
expressions,
language?
hand gestures)

Was your
Fluency response clearly
pronounced and
articulated?

Did you elaborate

Content with specific
details?

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 Did you use
conversational but
professional
language?

Did you use

Language persuasive
words/phrases?

Do you think you

made any serious
grammatical
error(s)?
In your opinion,
do you think you
OVERALL
will get the
scholarship?

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