Higher Education Pathways, Opportunities and Scholarships
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(1) The document discusses the education pathway and career journey of Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft. It notes that he obtained a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology followed by a master's degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He later received an MBA from the University of Chicago. (2) The document then provides an overview of higher education pathways in countries like Australia. It outlines the structure of bachelor's, master's and PhD programs and the prerequisites required for each. It also discusses factors to consider when selecting a university like accreditation, costs, scholarships and standardized tests. (3) The document emphasizes that lifelong learning through
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Higher Education Pathways, Opportunities and Scholarships
- 1. Presented by: Rashmika Nawaratne PhD Scholar and Technical Lead, Centre for Data Analytics & Cognition, La Trobe University, Australia
- 2. Origin of Satya Nadella CEO of Microsoft (1) Education, no matter what state you are in – ultimately paves the path for a better career.
- 3. (2) Your A/L stream and results decides your future! Higher Edu. SL2College • Biology -> Software Engineer/ Data Scientist (Australia) • Biology -> Project Manager at Google • Mathematics -> Lawyer • Mathematics -> Entrepreneur, Writer, Senior Executive, Director EDEX • None -> Software Engineer/ Technical Lead (UK) Achini Tharindu Shafraz Navaka Malinda
- 5. Profiling Electricity ConsumersEDUCATION PATHWAY(S) Doctoral Degree (PhD) Master’s Degree Bachelor’s Degree A/LO/L Private Universities, One year foundation program prior to Bachelor’s Obtain 1st class honors results in your bachelor’s degree program Employment or Entrepreneurship Academia Higher Edu. SL2College
- 6. Profiling Electricity ConsumersEDUCATION PATHWAY(S) Doctoral Degree (PhD) Master’s Degree Bachelor’s Degree A/LO/L Private Universities, One year foundation program prior to Bachelor’s Obtain 1st class honors results in your bachelor’s degree program Employment or Entrepreneurship Academia Focus of the day Higher Edu. SL2College
- 7. Profiling Electricity ConsumersOVERVIEW Higher Edu. SL2College Why walk through the higher education pathway Program structure Lifelong Learning Selecting University Pre-requisites Scholarship Opportunities Applying for Ph.D.
- 8. OPPORTUNITY COST: WHY WALK THROUGH THE HIGHER EDUCATION PATHWAY • Range of career opportunities • Ability change career more easily • Generally, higher earning potential • Job stability • Open up career opportunities in academia • Societal recognition • Access to professional network (e.g., IEEE, IET) • Less dependency on government assistance • Maturity and independence • Personal satisfaction • Advanced intellectual skills • Advanced communication and interpersonal skills • Greater economic stability and security SocialCareerPersonal If not for higher education, what will you do? In that case, where would you want to end up in 5 years? Higher Edu. SL2College
- 9. Profiling Electricity Consumers Source: https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2017#education Example survey on professional software developers on their education background. Higher Edu. SL2College
- 10. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE: BACHELOR’S DEGREE • Stepping stone for higher education • Generally either 3 years or 4 years • General degree (3 years) • Honors degree (4 years): Required for direct PhD application • Consists of around 40 subjects throughout (~120 credits) • Some degree programs allow majors and minors (e.g., Bachelor of Business: Major in Accounting or Major in Sports Management) • In Honors degree, 4th year is usually composed of an independent research component • Except for the independent research, rest of the modules are course-work that includes lectures, assignments, practicals, group work and/or written exams • Options include: State Universities, Private Universities (local) and Private Universities (Foreign) Bachelor’s Degree Full/Partial Scholarships available Higher Edu. SL2College
- 11. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE: MASTER’S DEGREE • An opportunity to further your knowledge of a particular specialization • Mainly two types of masters degree programs • Masters by Coursework (2 years) (Full time/ Part time) • Masters by Research (1-2 years) (Full time) • Master’s by coursework consists of around 20-30 taught subjects that include lectures, assignments, practicals, group work and/or written exams • Master’s by research involves learning through research • Select a thesis topic at the beginning of the course, and work through that • Options include: State Universities, Private Universities (local) and Private Universities (Foreign) Master’s Degree Full/Partial Scholarships available Higher Edu. SL2College
- 12. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY • The highest academic level a student can obtain • The award of a doctorate implies recognition of the candidate as an equal by the university faculty under which he or she has studied • Minimum amount of coursework (1 or 2 subjects only) • Conduct research under the supervision of a senior academic (mentor, supervisor) • Mostly full time, but can do part time with the consent of the supervisor and institute • The amount of time varies depend on the institute and supervisor (e.g., Australia 3-4 years, US 4-5 years, Singapore 4 years, UK 3-4 years) • Select a thesis topic at the beginning of the study, and work through that • Required to publish in international conferences and peer-reviewed journals • Options include: State Universities, Private Universities (local) and Private Universities (Foreign) PhD Degree Full Scholarships available Higher Edu. SL2College
- 13. LIFELONG LEARNING: ONLINE • Distance learning education : MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) • You will earn more knowledge without bureaucratic obligations • Assist formal education and distance learning • Follow your passion … • Options: • Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/ • EdX: https://www.edx.org/ • Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/ • Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/ • LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/ • Paid and free. (Audit courses for free, pay for certification) Higher Edu. SL2College
- 14. CHOICES: HOW TO SELECT A UNIVERSITY/INSTITUTE Bachelor’s Degree Master’s Degree Higher Edu. SL2College
- 15. Looking at: Making good choices!Higher Edu. SL2College Slides adopted from @SL2College SLInspire Seminars
- 16. Think!Higher Edu. SL2College Slides adopted from @SL2College SLInspire Seminars
- 17. course What you like to learn? What field you would like to work (profession/career)? What kind of qualification does the career require? What is your course? Higher Edu. SL2College Slides adopted from @SL2College SLInspire Seminars
- 18. Accreditation & recognition Higher Edu. SL2College Slides adopted from @SL2College SLInspire Seminars Sri Lanka: https://www.ugc.ac.lk/en/universities-and-institutes/other-recognized-degrees.html Worldwide: https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2020
- 19. Criteria Minimum qualification required What do you need to get in? Remember it varies depending on the discipline and institute!Higher Edu. SL2College Slides adopted from @SL2College SLInspire Seminars
- 20. Academics & Extracurricular Lecture panel, research opportunities Facilities and equipment Sports, societies Higher Edu. SL2College Slides adopted from @SL2College SLInspire Seminars
- 21. What is the TOTAL COST? How will you fund it? Make sure it’s worth the investment! Finance Higher Edu. SL2College Slides adopted from @SL2College SLInspire Seminars
- 22. Living costs Accommodation Transportation Relationships Food & Health Higher Edu. SL2College Slides adopted from @SL2College SLInspire Seminars
- 23. University selection matrix Higher Edu. SL2College Slides adopted from @SL2College SLInspire Seminars
- 24. University selection matrix Higher Edu. SL2College Slides adopted from @SL2College SLInspire Seminars
- 25. University selection matrix Higher Edu. SL2College Slides adopted from @SL2College SLInspire Seminars
- 26. STANDARDIZED TESTS • Most graduate programs require one or more standardized test scores • There are two main types of tests: (1) Language Ability Tests, and (2) Admissions Tests • If English is not your native language, universities will ask you to take an English language proficiency test before admission • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) • Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing • The TOEFL is valid for 2 years, the most universities prefer recent scores • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) • Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking • Valid for 2 years • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) • Standardized test of verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing • Many graduate universities accept GRE scores (USA and Singapore) • Valid for 5 years • Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) • Standardized test for MBA applicants that measures basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills • Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) • Mathematics, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, Optional Essay section • Primarily for college admission (For bachelors) Language Ability Tests Admissions Tests Higher Edu. SL2College
- 27. PREREQUISITES: BACHELOR’S DEGREE • For state universities in Sri Lanka, minimum 3 passes within 3 attempts are required to enter a bachelor’s degree program (intake depends on demand) • For local private university bachelor’s degree programs, the pre-requisites depend on the university and area of study (generally, 3 passes or above) • If you are applying for foreign universities, TOEFL or IELTS are required • If considering to apply for US university (college), SAT exam might be necessary • Where to contact for scholarships: Fulbright Sri Lanka (www.fulbrightsrilanka.com) Bachelor’s Degree Higher Edu. SL2College
- 28. PREREQUISITES: MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL DEGREES • Bachelor’s degree (Transcript and GPA), required class and GPA may depend on institute/university and/or area of study. • Letters of recommendation • Statement of Purpose • GRE Test Score For USA and Singapore • TOEFL or IELTS for English proficiency • (For PhD) Published peer-reviewed research articles • Where to contact for scholarships: Fulbright Sri Lanka (www.fulbrightsrilanka.com) and University websites Master’s Degree PhD Degree Higher Edu. SL2College
- 29. SCHOLARSHIPS • Australia • Australia Awards: From Department of Education and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT). • Australia APEC Women in Research Fellowship: These fellowships were started with the aim to empower women and are open to high-achieving female researchers from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to pursue their research in Australian education and research institutions. • Australian Government Research and Training Program (RTP): This pool of funding is dedicated to support a student’s (local and international) Research Doctorate and Research Master’s degree. Higher Edu. SL2College
- 30. SCHOLARSHIPS • United Kingdom (UK) and Europe • Chevening: For talented professionals who have shown prior leadership skills and exceptional performance in their respective fields. Can apply for a scholarship or fellowship, the selection of which is done by the high commission and British embassies. • Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC): The CSC in the UK offers fellowships and scholarships to students from Commonwealth countries. Sri Lankan students applying for a master’s degree or a PhD in the UK can take advantage of this scholarship to fund their education. • Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees: Study must take place in at least two of the Programme countries. For master’s programs. • Further undergrad opportunities - https://www.scholars4dev.com/category/level-of- study/undergraduate-scholarships/ Higher Edu. SL2College
- 31. SCHOLARSHIPS • United States of America (USA) • Foreign Fulbright Student Program – Applicable for international students who are applying to master’s or PhD programs; this scholarship covers tuition fee, health insurance, textbooks, airfare, and living costs. • Humphrey Fellowship Program – This fellowship is granted to experienced professionals with a potential for leadership and dedication towards public service. Granted for a year, this program covers all expenses. You don’t get to choose a university for yourself; instead, you are assigned the most appropriate host institution as per your skills and interests. • Further undergrad/postgrad scholarships - https://www.scholars4dev.com/6499/scholarships- in-usa-for-international-students/ Higher Edu. SL2College
- 32. SCHOLARSHIPS • Canada • Undergrad/postgrad scholarships - https://www.idp.com/srilanka/study-in- canada/scholarships/ • https://www.scholars4dev.com/6179/scholarships-canada-international-students/ • https://www.scholars4dev.com/category/country/canada-scholarships/ • Other • https://www.wemakescholars.com/scholarship Higher Edu. SL2College
- 33. APPLYING FOR YOUR DOCTORAL STUDIES (AUSTRALIA) PhD Degree Higher Edu. SL2College
- 34. FORMAT OF AN AUSTRALIAN PH.D. PROGRAMME? • Students who have completed a 4-year Bachelor’s degree with Honours (4th year usually a research project with a dissertation), and if they have done well (1st class or 2nd class upper), can go straight into an Australian Ph.D. programme. • No coursework component. • Students are expected to start their research project immediately when commencing the PhD (finish within 3 – 4 years) • Students apply to work with a particular supervisor, usually on a specific (though often initially vaguely defined) topic. • Mostly fully funded scholarships for PhD, and not expected to work on anything else. (in contrast to research assistant/ teaching assistant positions in the US). This includes a tuition fee scholarship, and a living allowance. PhD Degree Higher Edu. SL2College
- 35. APPLICATION PROCESS FOR A PH.D. PROGRAMMEPhD Degree University • Select one or more universities Supervisor • Shortlist supervisors • Contact them Scholarship • Apply for scholarship VISA • Apply for visa Higher Edu. SL2College
- 36. FINDING AND INITIATING CONTACT WITH POTENTIAL SUPERVISOR(S) • Finding supervisor(s) • surf through selected universities web pages - research sections in your interested field and staffs’ research interests • through personal connections of your undergraduate academia or past- students, • advertised Ph.D. programs on university or external webpages, groups (e.g., SL2College: Students Applying to Grad Programs, Postgraduate study opportunities for Sri Lankans - Computer Science) PhD Degree Higher Edu. SL2College
- 37. FINDING AND INITIATING CONTACT WITH POTENTIAL SUPERVISOR(S) • Facebook pages PhD Degree Higher Edu. SL2College
- 38. FINDING AND INITIATING CONTACT WITH POTENTIAL SUPERVISOR(S) • Finding supervisor(s) • surf through selected universities web pages - research sections in your interested field and staffs’ research interests • through personal connections of your undergraduate academia or past-students, • advertised Ph.D. programs on university or external webpages, groups (e.g., SL2College: Students Applying to Grad Programs, Postgraduate study opportunities for Sri Lankans - Computer Science) • Initiating Contact with them • Research about them (publications, recent research projects, talks, etc.) • Verify if their research interests align with your focus/interested area of study • Contact via an email that can have an outstanding impression about you PhD Degree Higher Edu. SL2College
- 39. CONSENT FROM SUPERVISOR(S) – RESEARCH PROPOSAL/ INTERVIEWPhD Degree Higher Edu. SL2College
- 40. AVAILABLE FUNDING OPTIONS • University Scholarships • Australian universities will often have their own studentships and funded Ph.D. opportunities. These will usually be merit-based, with support available for sufficiently promising students. You may be considered for this kind of funding automatically or you may have to make a separate application. This information can be found from University website. • Industry Ph.D. opportunities • Frequently, there are Ph.D. scholarship opportunities available which are done collaboratively by the university and an industry partner. The application process is similar, however, there might be additional interviews/verifications from the industry partner as well. This information can be found by the university websites, and from your contacted supervisor(s). • E.g., Mental Wellbeing in Elite Sport, Using Advanced Artificial Intelligence for Competitive Advantage • Endeavour Scholarships • The Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships are a long-running program offering funding for international students in Australia. They are offered through partnerships between the Australian government and a range of other countries. You can find out more about these awards on the Australian Department of Education and Training website. PhD Degree Higher Edu. SL2College
- 41. “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer” – Albert Einstein "Questions are more important than answers" Further details on PhD Application Process: http://blog.nawaratne.com/ Higher Edu. SL2College
Editor's Notes
- Good Afternoon! Let me start with 2 important messages.
- Story of Satya Nadilla The great grandfather of Satya Nadilla, was a marginal farmer, who’s death left his great grand mother – a young widow with two sons. To provide for the sons, and their future she had to move to a town nearby – and had to make difficult choices. She became a domestic servant, who could only afford to send one son for formal school education. Both the sons were in almost same age – one was responsible and other was a trouble maker. The great grand mother opted to send the more responsible, and diligent son into the workforce at young age – who became a day labour at a construction site. He was continued in the same field, who did not get the opportunity to gain new skills or education. The other son was sent to the local school. Despite being the less responsible, he continued to gain knowledge through the school and ultimately became a police officer. His starting salary, even joined the workforce after a decade from his brother, was exponentially higher. And this is Satya’s grand father. This education made Satya’s father find a well earning job and allowed his son – Satya to follow his own passions. My take on this story – no matter what type you are and how difficult you face, the formal education is important for a regret less future.
- Your AL stream and results decide your future. How many of you believe this? Clear the mind. Bio -> IT Commerce -> Electronic Engineer Math -> Lawyer IT -> Architect Arts -> Software Engineer
- Before – give you any insights about higher education pathways – I need to clear off one myth – AL stream decides Clear the mind. Bio -> IT : My wife Commerce -> Electronic Engineer Math -> Lawyer IT -> Architect Arts -> Software Engineer
- The format education pathway. To provide you an overview of what lies ahead, exist pathways, short cuts.
- Higher education is more than a stepping stone to a formal career. Few advantages… Societal recognition – MPs, IRAJ
- https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2017#education
- Higher education is more than a stepping stone to a formal career.
- Higher education is more than a stepping stone to a formal career.
- Courses Recognition Selection criteria Academica and extrac curricular Finances – tuition fees Living costs
- Where do you want to see your self in next 5 years.
- Higher education is more than a stepping stone to a formal career.
- Higher education is more than a stepping stone to a formal career.
- Most scholarships to study in Australia cover tuition fees although some may also cover living or travelling expenses. Research programs at times offer up to 100% scholarship to students including tuition fee and living expenses.
- Most scholarships to study in Australia cover tuition fees although some may also cover living or travelling expenses. Research programs at times offer up to 100% scholarship to students including tuition fee and living expenses.
- Most scholarships to study in Australia cover tuition fees although some may also cover living or travelling expenses. Research programs at times offer up to 100% scholarship to students including tuition fee and living expenses.
- It is rare for a Ph.D. student not to receive a scholarship and be funded (at a survival rate) for the 3 to 3.5 years of their PhD, and are not expected to work on anything else. If they are not successful in applying for one of these highly competitive scholarships, they are unlikely to be admitted to a Ph.D. course at all (in contrast to research assistant/ teaching assistant positions in the US). For the assessment of the Ph.D. at the end, the written thesis is posted to three (or two at a few universities) independent, external examiners, who send back (nominally anonymous) written reports. Corrections are made as necessary. If and when the external examiners and the university are satisfied, the thesis is accepted and the student can graduate.
- Personally, I would recommend to identify around 4-5 prospective supervisors at once, to increase chance of response higher. The first contact email is vital as it’s the first impression. Also keep a note that supervisors receive a large amount of such emails from prospective candidates and, thus, your email should stand out and should align to his/her interests as much. Otherwise, you would have to face unresponsiveness or direct rejection from them to supervise you. How you stand out from the rest and prove you are high-caliber student (ex. Your academic/ professional achievements) How your previous professional and/or academic research align and support your Ph.D. research aligning to his/her interests. (ex. How the experience and content of your final year research project/ or industry project(s) helped you to pursue research in the area of focus) Attach your CV and Transcript. Attach a research proposal suggesting a project aligning to his research interests, which you would prefer to study on. (Make sure you show that you've put some thought into your ideas rather just duplicating content from his/her publications) This does not need to be a comprehensive proposal but a draft 1-2 page is enough. If the supervisor agrees, you could further work to refine it. Once you have made initial contact with supervisor(s), you may wait for their response, generally, some supervisors respond immediately while some take quite a time. I would like to stress that fact that not all supervisors do respond, and you should not be discouraged as their unresponsiveness, could be due to many facts (ex. sabbatical leave, not accepting new students due to funding/resource limitations, out of the country, etc.) If you are not able to get any response, you can loop again by selecting another set of potential supervisors and initiating contact with them.
- Personally, I would recommend to identify around 4-5 prospective supervisors at once, to increase chance of response higher. The first contact email is vital as it’s the first impression. Also keep a note that supervisors receive a large amount of such emails from prospective candidates and, thus, your email should stand out and should align to his/her interests as much. Otherwise, you would have to face unresponsiveness or direct rejection from them to supervise you. How you stand out from the rest and prove you are high-caliber student (ex. Your academic/ professional achievements) How your previous professional and/or academic research align and support your Ph.D. research aligning to his/her interests. (ex. How the experience and content of your final year research project/ or industry project(s) helped you to pursue research in the area of focus) Attach your CV and Transcript. Attach a research proposal suggesting a project aligning to his research interests, which you would prefer to study on. (Make sure you show that you've put some thought into your ideas rather just duplicating content from his/her publications) This does not need to be a comprehensive proposal but a draft 1-2 page is enough. If the supervisor agrees, you could further work to refine it. Once you have made initial contact with supervisor(s), you may wait for their response, generally, some supervisors respond immediately while some take quite a time. I would like to stress that fact that not all supervisors do respond, and you should not be discouraged as their unresponsiveness, could be due to many facts (ex. sabbatical leave, not accepting new students due to funding/resource limitations, out of the country, etc.) If you are not able to get any response, you can loop again by selecting another set of potential supervisors and initiating contact with them.
- Personally, I would recommend to identify around 4-5 prospective supervisors at once, to increase chance of response higher. The first contact email is vital as it’s the first impression. Also keep a note that supervisors receive a large amount of such emails from prospective candidates and, thus, your email should stand out and should align to his/her interests as much. Otherwise, you would have to face unresponsiveness or direct rejection from them to supervise you. How you stand out from the rest and prove you are high-caliber student (ex. Your academic/ professional achievements) How your previous professional and/or academic research align and support your Ph.D. research aligning to his/her interests. (ex. How the experience and content of your final year research project/ or industry project(s) helped you to pursue research in the area of focus) Attach your CV and Transcript. Attach a research proposal suggesting a project aligning to his research interests, which you would prefer to study on. (Make sure you show that you've put some thought into your ideas rather just duplicating content from his/her publications) This does not need to be a comprehensive proposal but a draft 1-2 page is enough. If the supervisor agrees, you could further work to refine it. Once you have made initial contact with supervisor(s), you may wait for their response, generally, some supervisors respond immediately while some take quite a time. I would like to stress that fact that not all supervisors do respond, and you should not be discouraged as their unresponsiveness, could be due to many facts (ex. sabbatical leave, not accepting new students due to funding/resource limitations, out of the country, etc.) If you are not able to get any response, you can loop again by selecting another set of potential supervisors and initiating contact with them.
- Once you receive a positive response from either one or more of the potential supervisors, the next phase of getting the consent from the supervisor to supervise you begins. Generally, supervisor(s) will direct you to few resources and ask you to refine the research proposal with your ideas (based on research directions he/she wants to pursue). Since, now you are in contact with them, you could clarify your questions and refine the proposal. One thing to keep in mind is that this will not be your final research direction, but it will evolve as much you move forward with the Ph.D. study. The supervisor(s) use this phase to evaluate the candidate, whether the candidate is able to research through a given set of materials and come up with original ideas to support the supervisor to conduct top-class research. Therefore, I’d say it would be fine to make assumptions as you may and do a good job with the research proposal. Make sure you do not trouble the supervisor much with large amount of emails with silly questions – Ph.D. is more of own research than spoon feeding. Take responsibility of the research proposal, go through the given resources as well further related publications and develop the proposal. Additionally, it’s possible that the potential supervisor may wish to interview you. This is usually a good sign - it means your research proposal is strong and your prospective supervisor thinks you have potential. If you have been contacted by multiple supervisors, continue the connection and develop research proposals for them as well. Mainly because, even though the supervisor is happy with your research proposal, it will not guarantee that you will get the scholarship for the university. If there were other candidates with more qualifications, chance of you getting the scholarship would reduce. Therefore, it is safe to keep contact with as many supervisor(s) and apply for multiple universities. However, make sure you only keep connected to one supervisor per university. Because, as per my knowledge, for a particular intake you can apply once to a university and in your application, you need to attach the research proposal and the supervisor’s name.
- Getting education isn’t easy, and most students experience challenges during their degrees. The important thing is to believe in yourself and not give up. Further details on PhD Application Process: http://blog.nawaratne.com/2017/12/international-student-guide-to-phd-in.html