EDUN C31-01-084 Vol 11 21 November 2008 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION NOTIFICATION (GA/34/08) (General Information) POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YEAR

2010 Applications to be submitted by 16 Jan 2009 The Year 2010 MOE Postgraduate Scholarships are open for applications. We are inviting applications from graduates who wish to contribute to the development of education in Singapore. These scholarships are tenable overseas or locally, by coursework or research, in one of the following areas:(A) Content Subjects All teaching subjects

(B) Curriculum & Assessment (I) Curriculum Studies with specialisation in: Art Assessment Chinese Language & Literature Civics & Moral Education Economics English Language English Literature Geography History Home Economics Malay Language and Literature Mathematics Music Physical Education Science Social Studies Tamil Language & Literature Teaching & Learning with emphasis in - Knowledge & Inquiry or General Paper - Project Work (II) Curriculum Studies (General) (III) Curriculum and Instruction with emphasis in the following technology related areas: Instructional Design & Instructional Technology Research in Educational Technology Use of Technology (Teaching & Learning / Assessment / Developing 21st century skills)

(IV) Curriculum Studies with emphasis in the following special areas: Music with Specialisation in Band / Instrumental Ensemble / Talent Development Character Development Early Childhood Education Gifted Education Outdoor Education Sports & Exercise Psychology / Sports & Exercise Physiology / Talent Identification & Development / Sports Coaching / Sports Pedagogy / Sports Management Dance Education Music Education Musicology (C) Educational Psychology and Guidance Guidance & Counselling Educational Psychology Specialisation in Autism/Dyslexia (with & without a prior basic psychology degree) Experimental Psychology Programme Evaluation and Policy Analysis Reading Developmental Psychology (with a focus on Child and Adolescent developments)

(D) Educational Research & Measurement

Psychometrics Research and Evaluation Statistics and Data Analysis Educational Research and Statistics Statistics & Applied Statistics

(E) Education Policy and Administration Education Policy and Administration

(F) Special Areas 2 Special Education Aim

In alignment with the Ministrys areas of need, the aim of the Scholarships is to provide postgraduate training to outstanding graduates. These scholarships are open to all education officers in the 3 career tracks: Leadership, Senior Specialist and Teaching Tracks. 3 Duration and terms of Award 3.1 Overseas/Local Full-time Masters/PhD The award is generally for one year for a Masters degree and 3 years for a PhD, commencing in 2010. The terms of the award are as follows:2

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3.1.1 Salary and other allowances payable whilst on a training award (for serving education officers only) 3.1.2 Return economy air passage for scholar and his/her spouse, where applicable 3.1.3 Tuition and other approved fees 3.1.4 Maintenance allowance (not applicable for local scholarships) 3.1.5 Book allowance Note: The above terms are subject to change and to prevailing regulations governing candidates sent on training awards.

Eligibility To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must: 4.1 be a Singapore Citizen or a Permanent Resident 4.2 have a good degree 4.3 have at least 3 years of trained working experience in education or a relevant field 4.4 have demonstrated very good performance Note: Satisfying these conditions does not automatically qualify applicants for the scholarship.

Conditions of Award Successful candidates for the full-time overseas and local scholarships will be required to sign a bond to serve the Singapore Government for a period of three to five years upon completion of the course. If an awardee is already under government bond, he will be required to serve out the existing bond and then the new bond consecutively.

Scholarships by External Organisations The Ministry reserves the right to nominate successful candidates for the following scholarships:-

(A) British Chevening Scholarship;

(B) Commonwealth Scholarship (C) Fulbright Visiting Student Programme (D) Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship (E) Singapore-China Premier Scholarship Nominated awardees are required to apply for the relevant scholarships. If awarded, those scholarships will run concurrently with the MOE Postgraduate Scholarship award. Details of the above-mentioned scholarships can be found at Annex B.

Deployment of MOE Postgraduate Scholarships Awardees to MOE HQ The award of the MOE Postgraduate Scholarship entails a posting to MOE (HQ) for 6-8 months prior to the start of the course for officers in schools, with the exception of Principals, Vice-Principals, Senior Teachers and Master Teachers. If successful, officers will be posted to HQ with effect from 1 Jan 2010. On completion of their course, officers will apply their postgraduate training to the areas of need in the Ministry. This will include deployment in the specialist positions in the various divisions at the Ministry.

Briefing for Applicants Interested applicants may attend one of two briefings conducted at 2.30pm on 9th and 12th January 2009 at the Auditorium. The briefings will be at the: Teachers Network 51 Grange Road Singapore 249564

8.1 A copy of the application form for Education Officers and members of
public can be found at Annex A1 and Annex A2 respectively. Application forms will be distributed during this briefing session. Forms can also be downloaded from the MOE Intranet and Internet website (http://www.moe.gov.sg).

8.2 Education Officers should return the completed forms through their
respective Principals or Divisional Directors.

8.3 A copy of the transcripts of results and certificates for newly acquired
academic and professional qualifications (i.e. not captured in PM2S) should be attached (e.g. semester results and copies of degree scrolls).

8.4 In addition, applicants are requested to submit their personal statement

and the detailed course programmes of the universities they have chosen so as to enable the Ministry to assess these programmes. 8.5 Applicants are required to apply for university admission on their own. 9 Principals and Divisional Directors of applicants are requested to make their recommendations and comment on the suitability of the applicants and relevance of the course to their duties. Any other relevant information to support the application should also be included.

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All forms must be submitted by 16 January 2009 to: Talent Management Unit HR Development Branch Personnel Division (6th level) Ministry of Education 1 North Buona Vista Drive Singapore 138675

Note: Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. 11 All candidates will be notified of the outcome of their applications by June 2009. 12 A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the MOE Postgraduate Scholarships can be found at Annex C. Originator: Staff Training Branch, Training and Development Division Distribution: To all Schools, Centralised Institutes, Junior Colleges and MOE (HQ).

Name of Applicant: _____________________________________________ School/ Division: ___________________________________________________

Annex A1 APPLICATION FOR POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP (FOR SERVING EDUCATION OFFICERS) Name of University (1) (2)
Please add more rows if necessary. Note: Please attach a detailed description of the course that you propose to pursue.

Proposed Course of Study

Duration of Course __ yr ___mths __ yr ___mths

Full/Part-Time
(*delete accordingly)

Full-Time / Part-Time Full Time / Part-Time

Describe briefly your intended area of research/ proposed course of study:

Name of Applicant: _____________________________________________ School/ Division: ___________________________________________________

A) Personal Particulars Mr / Mrs / Mdm / Miss*: __________________________________________________________ NRIC No: _________________________ Date of Birth: ______________________ Nationality:__________________________ Marital Status:_______________________

Home Address: ______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________)_______Singapore ( Substantive Appointment : _____________ )

Job Title: ____________________________

School / Branch attached to: _____________________________________________________ Tel No: __________________________ (Home) __________________________ (Office)

__________________________ (Handphone) Email Address: ________________________________________________________________ E-mail of Immediate Supervisor: ___________________________________________________

* delete where applicable

Details of present teaching duties: (If HQ officer, please indicate duties presently performing) Subject Medium of Instruction Level used for teaching

No. of periods/hours/ per week

Details of CCA / Special Duties

B) Educational Qualifications Highest Academic Qualification (Please state year obtained, class or division and the subjects) Highest Professional Qualification (please state year obtained and name of Institution) Note: Please attach a copy of all the transcripts of results and certificates for newly acquired academic and professional qualifications.
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Name of Applicant: _____________________________________________ School/ Division: ___________________________________________________

C) Other Applications for Scholarship Award Are you applying for any other scholarship / training award? If so, please give details. No Yes, Details: _____________________________________________________ Have you ever applied for the MOE Postgraduate Scholarship? If yes, please state the year/date applied and any previous interviews (pertaining to postgraduate scholarship) that you have attended. No Yes, please provide details as outlined below Year Applied: _______________ Attended previous interviews? No Yes Are you currently pursuing a postgraduate degree? No Yes, please provide details _____________________

________________

MOE reserves the right to nominate successful awardees for one of the following external scholarships. Nominated awardees will then be required to apply for the relevant scholarship. The MOE Postgraduate Scholarship will run concurrently with the external scholarship. Please indicate your preference(s) of the external scholarships by ticking the relevant boxes: British Chevening Scholarship Commonwealth Scholarship Fulbright Visiting Student Programme Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Singapore-China Premier Scholarship Details of the external scholarship can be found at Annex B. I declare that the particulars stated in this application and attachments are true to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that I have not wilfully suppressed any material fact. ____________________ Signature of Applicant _________________________ Date

Name of Applicant: _____________________________________________ School/ Division: ___________________________________________________

D) PERSONAL STATEMENT Name of Applicant: ___________ NRIC No : _______ ______________________ _____

Please describe briefly your professional goals and aspirations. Explain specifically how this further training will enhance your contribution to the education service after the course. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

Signature: ___________________

Date: _______________
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Name of Applicant: _____________________________________________ School/ Division: ___________________________________________________

E) ENDORSEMENT BY PRINCIPAL / DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR* 1) I very strongly support / strongly support / support / do not support* the application of ___________________________________________________________________ _ (name of applicant) My reasons are: ___________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __ 2) My assessment of the applicants potential for leadership or specialist position is:

____________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ___ _________________________________________________________________ ___ 3) My assessment on the relevance of the training to the applicants duties and/or career development is: _________________________________________________________________ ___ _________________________________________________________________ ___ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________
* delete where applicable

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Name of Applicant: _____________________________________________ School/ Division: ___________________________________________________

For Officers in School: I understand the award of the MOE Postgraduate Scholarship entails a posting to MOE (HQ). If successful, I will release the applicant for a HQ posting with effect from 1 Jan 2010.

__________________________ Name & Signature of Principal / Divisional Director

____________________ Name of School / HQ Branch / Division

_________ Date

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Name of Applicant: ____________________________________________ NRIC No.: ___________________________________________________

Annex A2 APPLICATION FOR POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP (FOR MEMBERS OF PUBLIC) Name of University (1) (2)
Please add more rows if necessary. Note: Please attach a detailed description of the course that you propose to pursue.

Proposed Course of Study

Duration of Course __ yr ___mths __ yr ___mths

Full/Part-Time
(*delete accordingly)

Full-Time / Part-Time Full Time / Part-Time

Describe briefly your intended area of research/ proposed course of study:

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Name of Applicant: ____________________________________________ NRIC No.: ___________________________________________________

A) Personal Particulars Mr / Mrs / Mdm / Miss*: __________________________________________________________ NRIC No: ____________________________________________________________________ Nationality:_____________________ Date of Birth: ______________________ Singapore Permanent Resident*: Yes / No Marital Status:________________________

Home Address: ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________Singapore ( Tel No: __________________________ (Home) )

__________________________ (Office)

__________________________ (Handphone) Email Address: ________________________________________________________________ Last/ Current Employer: _________________________________________________________ Are you an ex-Education Officer?*: Yes / No
* delete where applicable

B) Educational Qualifications Highest Academic Qualification (Please state year obtained, class or division and the subjects) Highest Professional Qualification (please state year obtained and name of Institution) Note: Please attach a copy of all the transcripts of results and certificates for the highest and professional qualifications. Name of School/ Country Duration of Course Highest Qualifications College/ Polytechnic/ Attained From To University Attended (mm/yy) (mm/yy) (Secondary & Post Secondary

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Name of Applicant: ____________________________________________ NRIC No.: ___________________________________________________

C) Results of GCE O Level, A Level/ Polytechnic Diploma Exams or Equivalent and Bachelor Degree O Level/ O Level Equivalent* A Level/ A Level Equivalent/ Diploma (Final Year)/ Diploma Equivalent (Final Year)* Year: __________ Year: __________

Latest/ Final Year Bachelor Degree Results of Equivalent University Attended: _____________________________________________ Course of Study: ________________________________________________ Country: ______________________________________________________ Class of Hons: _________________________________________________ Full-time/ Part-time*
*delete where applicable

Merit*: Yes / No
Grade Subject

Year: _________________
Grade

Subject

GPA for latest/ Final year results (if available): _____________________________

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Name of Applicant: ____________________________________________ NRIC No.: ___________________________________________________

D) Previous & Present Employment (in Chronological Order) From (date) To (date) Designation Company Name and Nature of Job Address

E) Academic Scholarship and Award From (Year) To (Year) Name of Scholarships/ Awards (Including PSC Awards)

F) Professional Qualifications and Memberships/ Other Educational Certificates or Training Undertaken/ Other Awards, Medals & Prizes Year Description

G) Other Applications for Scholarship Award Are you applying for any other scholarship / training award? If so, please give details. No Yes, Details: _____________________________________________________ Have you ever applied for the MOE Postgraduate Scholarship? If yes, please state the year/date applied and any previous interviews (pertaining to postgraduate scholarship) that you have attended. No Yes, please provide details as outlined below Year Applied: _______________ Attended previous interviews? No Yes Are you currently pursuing a postgraduate degree? No Yes, please provide details _____________________

________________

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Name of Applicant: ____________________________________________ NRIC No.: ___________________________________________________

I declare that the particulars stated in this application and attachments are true to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that I have not wilfully suppressed any material fact. ____________________ Signature of Applicant _________________________ Date

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Name of Applicant: ____________________________________________ NRIC No.: ___________________________________________________

H) PERSONAL STATEMENT Name of Applicant: ___________ NRIC No : _______ ______________________ _____

Please describe briefly your professional goals and aspirations. Explain specifically how this further training will enhance your contribution to the education service after the course. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

Signature: ___________________

Date: _______________

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Annex B EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH MOE POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS 1. Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship The Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) Scholarship is funded by the LKY Scholarship Fund, which was set up in 1991 with generous contributions from the public in honour of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. The LKY Scholarship is open to outstanding Singaporeans who wish to pursue postgraduate studies either overseas or locally to develop their potential as leaders in their respective fields and in the community. 2. Fulbright Visiting Student Program The Fulbright Visiting Student Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government, and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The objective of the grant is to enable the recipient to pursue a particular field of study and to develop leaders who can contribute to promoting better understanding between the United States and Singapore. Upon returning to Singapore, Fulbrighters are expected to continue their role in building bridges of understanding, directly or indirectly, between the two countries through their professional and personal activities. 3. Commonwealth Scholarships The Commonwealth Scholarships are offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom for citizens of other Commonwealth countries. The awards are tenable at any approved UK university or higher education institution for a specific program of study or research and are not restricted to particular subject areas. The vast majority of award holders have returned to make a significant contribution to their home countries, in many cases at the highest level, making the award scheme one of the largest and most prestigious in the world. 4. British Chevening Scholarships The British Chevening Scholarships are funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and administered by the British Council. The awards are offered on a competitive basis to graduate professionals for postgraduate study in the UK. These awards are presented to outstanding graduates to implement their new skills to contribute to Singapores social and economic development. 5. Singapore-China Premier Scholarships The Singapore-China Premier Scholarships (SCPS) was set up in May 2004 with the support of both the Singapore and PRC Premiers. The strategic intent of the SCPS is to cultivate potential Chinese leaders. The Singapore-China Foundation (SCF) will award 2 to 4 SCPS awards annually for officers to pursue a 13-month fulltime postgraduate study in either the Master in Public Administration or the Master in International Relations programme, tenable at Peking University, China. Besides attending the programme, the scholar will also have opportunities to network with other PRC officials during his/her stay there. This scholarship is a good opportunity to expose officers earmarked for higher positions to gain a better understanding of China and develop personal friendships with promising PRC officials. This networking with high potential Chinese officials will play an important role in strengthening our relations with China over the long term.
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Annex C MOE POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Areas of Study 1. Must local full-time courses be done only at NIE, NTU and NUS? You can propose other universities if you know of any good institutions that offer relevant courses. 2. Can I indicate only 1 or more than 2 choices of universities in my application form? Yes, you can. 3. Should choices of universities and/or areas of study be indicated in order of preference on the application form? It would be preferable if you state the order of priority. 4. Can I apply for courses conducted by accredited virtual universities or correspondence courses? No.

5. Is there a preference for a Masters by Coursework route, since Masters

courses by Research generally take more than a year to complete? No, there is no preference. If the interview panel feels the applicant is suitable, he can still be awarded the scholarship for a course that takes more than 1 year to complete.

6. I am interested in a course in Arts Education. However, can I do my

Masters in Studio Practice rather than a general Arts Education programme? Yes.

7. Do we have to state whether we want to pursue a degree by Coursework

or Research? It would be preferable to state it. 8. Whats the distribution of the scholarships across the different areas? It depends on the needs of the different Divisions.
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9. For PhD scholarships, must I give a concrete proposal by the closing

date? You should research on the area of specialisation you wish to pursue and thus should give a concrete proposal by the closing date. 10. How many PhD scholarships does MOE award each year? Will I be able to start on my course in January? There is no quota for the number of PhD scholarships awarded each year. You can start the course in January if the intake allows for it. Eligibility Criteria

11. I have a Masters in Linguistics, but am interested in pursuing a PhD in

Education Policy & Administration. Am I eligible to apply? Yes. However, should you be shortlisted for the interview, you may be asked for the reason of wanting to do a PhD in a different area of study.

12. Can I apply to do a 2nd Masters?

Yes you can. However, you should have strong reasons for taking up another Masters. The Ministry generally gives priority to officers pursuing their first Masters. 13. Do applicants have to have a track record of at least a B grade for 3 consecutive years? The shortlisting process aims to try to assess a candidate as holistically as we can. Hence, we look at several factors during the shortlisting process, not just performance.

14. If I am posted to a new school, the Principal may not know me well
enough to endorse my application. Can I go back to my previous schools Principal? How important is the Principals recommendation? No, your application must be endorsed by the current Principal. The Principals recommendation is important. 15. For those with previous working experience outside MOE, will those experiences be taken into account? No. If youre already in MOE, the focus will be on your working experience and performance in MOE.

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16. If I only meet the 3 years of trained teaching experience by June 2009,
can I still apply now? Yes, officers may apply as long as they fulfil 3 years of trained teaching experience criterion by 31 December 2009. 17. Is there any age limit for the scholarship? No. Duration 18. Can I apply to do a Masters on a part time basis? Yes. 19. Many NIE Masters courses are actually part time. Will the status of courses change to full-time? No. NIE has its own system and curriculum, and these are independent of the scholarship.

20. Will MOE sponsor a full-time 2-year local course, since it is eventually
still cheaper than a 1-year overseas course? This would be based on the decision of the interview panel. We do have such a precedence.

21. What is the duration of the part-time scholarship?

Generally, it is 24 months. Allowances 22. What will the maintenance allowance cover for local courses? There is no maintenance allowance for local courses. 23. How is maintenance allowance calculated? PSC has a listing of estimated maintenance allowance rates for different countries and different states within each country (eg USA and UK). MOE adheres to these rates.

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Bond

24. What is the bond duration for a full-time masters course and a full time
PhD course? The bond duration for a full-time masters course is between 3-5 years and that of a full-time PhD course is 6 years. Bond period for local scholarship is the same as that of the overseas scholarship.

25. What is the bond duration for a part-time course?

The bond duration for a part-time course is half of a full-time course. GRE/GMAT Tests 26. Will applicants with GREs be considered differently from those without for this scholarship application? No, GRE scores are important for applications to universities, not for scholarships. 27. Is it advisable to take the GRE test before results of interviews are out? This will be at your own discretion. Posting 28. Where will we be posted to upon graduation? Usually, officers will be posted to a Division in MOE HQ related to their postgraduate studies, for at least 2-3 years upon graduation. There may also be cases whereby officers are posted to schools, depending on where the need for their expertise is.

29. Since we might be required to serve at MOE HQ upon graduation, does

that mean well be placed on the Specialist track? No, officers will not automatically be placed on the Specialist track upon graduation. They will only be placed on the Specialist track when they meet the criteria for the job. 30. Am I still eligible for the scholarship if I wish to stay on in the teaching track? Yes.

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31. If were posted back to schools, will we still retain our SH/LH/HOD positions? Not necessarily. This would depend on the need at that point in time. 32. Can we choose not to go to MOE HQ upon graduation? You can make your intention known, but your posting upon graduation is dependent on the needs of MOE HQ and schools. 33. For those posted to HQ, are they more likely to be placed on leadership and specialist tracks? Not necessarily. The award of the scholarship does not automatically emplace an officer on any track. Professional Development Leave (PDL) 34. I am going on NPL soon (to look after my child). Am I still eligible to apply for the scholarship? Yes, you are eligible to apply for the scholarship. However, since the reason for your NPL is to look after your child, the main concern would then be whether you will be able to cope with your studies while looking after your child.

35. I have taken 1 year, half pay PDL in the past. Does that mean I stand a
less than favourable chance of getting the scholarship? No. Application Forms

36. How much detail with regards to my course do I have to include in the
application form? You should include information like what the course is generally about and the modules that you are interested in taking up. 37. Do I have to include my performance grades in the application form? No, Personnel Division would already have the information. 38. What other documentations should I include along with my application? You should submit copies of your newly acquired (i.e. not captured in PM2S) education transcripts, as well as any degree scrolls and certificates awarded for professional courses taken.

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39. What are you looking for in the personal statement section in the application form? You should include information on why you want to take up this course; your goals and plans; in what way you feel this course will be able to help you attain your goals and how the course would meet the Ministrys needs. 40. What does professional qualification refer to? Examples of Professional qualifications include ACCA, HRM certifications etc. Scholarship SOP

41. How early will the selection exercise start for year 2010 intake?
Selection of scholars usually starts the year before. So, if an officer is interested in pursuing a Masters course in 2010, he should apply during the selection exercise in 2009. 42. Should we apply for university admission first or wait for the scholarship results to be known? That really depends on whether you are dependent on the scholarship to do your Masters. If you are not dependent, you may go ahead and apply to the university. In the event that you are not awarded the scholarship, you may still apply for PDL depending on your eligibility. However, officers must note that getting a university placing first does not mean you will automatically be awarded the scholarship or the University of your choice.

43. If I wish to start my course in January 2010, must I wait for the
scholarship results to be known before I apply to the university? You can apply, but you might not get the university that you applied for. Please note that the application fees will be borne by you. 44. If I am awarded the scholarship but am not given any university placing, what options do I have? Usually you will be able to find a placing with one of the universities the panel recommends. However, in the event that you really cant, your scholarship can be deferred for up to 1 year. 45. Are there obligations for those on scholarship to come back during the holidays to serve?
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No.

46. What is the quota for scholarships annually? And is the quota divided into full-time and part-time courses? There are 50 scholarship places each year. There is no quota for part-time and full time-courses. There is also no quota for number of Masters Degree and PhD to be awarded. 47. How many of these scholarships are given out to members of the public? In the last five years, 4 have been given to members of the public. 48. Does the scholarship have to start next year? Can we defer? Scholarships awarded may only be deferred for up to 1 year under special circumstances, e.g. if the officer is unable to get a university placing in all the choices the interview panel awarded. Postgraduate scholarships are usually applicable for the immediate following year. If an officer is unable to commit to taking the course next year, it would be advisable to apply for the scholarship later. Other Personnel Matters 49. Should I be awarded the scholarship and proceed with my studies, will my school be given a replacement? Personnel Division (Staff Placement Unit) will have the list of officers who will be leaving for postgraduate studies, and will try its best to send a replacement to the schools. However, this is still dependent on the overall staffing situation in all the schools. If schools experience a severe shortage once scholars leave for their studies, school leaders can raise this and make a request with Personnel Division (Staff Placement Unit) for a replacement. 50. Will I continue drawing my full salary while on a PhD scholarship? Yes, for the first 3 years. 51. Will I still be entitled to increments and bonuses? Will the CONNECT plan still apply? Connect Plan Officers who are on full-pay scholarship will still receive the CONNECT Plan deposits without any pro-ration. However, if you are due for the award but are away on the payment date, you will be given the award in Dec of the year you resume duties.
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EOY Bonus For officers on MOE PGS, the EOY bonus will not be pro-rated for the period that they are away, i.e. you should still receive EOY bonus, unless you have taken no-pay or half-pay leave in the year. Performance Bonus (PB) PB is paid to officers for the period that they have worked during the assessment year. An exception has been made for officers who are sent on courses by the organisation e.g. scholarships/DDM/LEP. For these officers they will be given benchmark C grade for the period they are away. Hence, for the period that you have worked before leaving for your studies, your PB will be pro-rated based on the performance grade you are assigned. For the period you are away on studies, the PB quantum will be pro-rated based on the benchmark C. 52. Am I still considered to be in service for the year(s) that I am away for studies? Yes. 53. I am doing a part-time Masters degree now. If I am awarded the scholarship for next year, is there a backpay system? No. 54. Under the EPMS, am I expected to do more to maintain the same grade or appointment when I return from my studies? Generally, given that you have been awarded the MOE Postgraduate Scholarship, you would be looked upon as a scholar and hence may be expected to do more compared to another officer who is of the same grade or appointment as you.

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