As SPM results week dreadfully moves past us, many of you may already be on the search for the next big chapter — universities!

For those who are looking for financial aid, specifically from JPA (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam or Public Service Department), you’re in luck as they've recently announced scholarship offers for SPM 2019 top scorers.

We know how confusing and stressful this process can be and to help ease some of your burden, we’ve compiled a brief list of what JPA has to offer this year — just for you.

#1. Program Khas Lepasan SPM 2020

The Program Khas Lepasan SPM by JPA is a scholarship for 460 students who scored at least 9A+ for SPM 2019, regardless of the number of subjects taken.

This scholarship programme covers your local preparatory studies AND can be extended to a local degree of your choice — be it in a government, government-linked or private institution based on the guidelines and conditions prepared by JPA.

What You Need To Know

• Applicable pre-university courses include A-Level, AUSMAT, STPM, Matrikulasi, Asasi and Foundation at local institutions (both public and selected private institutions).
• As this is a packaged scholarship programme, you are not allowed to self-fund your pre-u studies; if you do, you will not be offered a degree scholarship.
• Those who do not manage to complete their preparatory course OR did not score grades higher than the minimum set by JPA will be terminated from this sponsorship programme.
• This sponsorship is in the form of a convertible loan.

Application Process

• Your applications can be made online through JPA official website from the 9th (Monday) until 18th March 2020 (Wednesday). That is a duration of 10 days for you to book your spot!
• Recipients have to make sure that their submission is perfected by printing out the Program Khas Lepasan SPM 2020 confirmation slip as proof that submission has been made.
• Closing date of submission is on the 18th March 2020 (Wednesday) at 5pm. Any applications made after the closing date will not be entertained.
• Selected candidates will be required to attend Student Assessment Centre (SAC) and interview.

Results of recipients sponsorship offer will be announced on the JPA website on 5th May 2020 (Tuesday).

#2. Program Khas Jepun, Korea, Perancis dan Jerman (JKPJ) 2020

For those who are ready to push their studies abroad, this might just be for you! Program Khas Jepun, Korea, Perancis dan Jerman (JKPJ) is an initiative done by JPA for SPM students to pursue fields related to engineering, science and technology or social science in Japan, Korea, France, Germany and China.

Successful candidates will attend preparatory studies in a local university before pursuing their tertiary education in these respective countries.

What You Need To Know

For Engineering and Science & Technology courses, the grades you need are:

• A+/A in Bahasa Melayu, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry; and
• A- in English and History

For Social Science courses, the grades you need are:

• A+/A in Bahasa Melayu, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics and any other 2 subjects; and
• A- in English and History

Application Process

Application is available online and eligible students can directly apply through JPA’s website. Deadline of the submission will be at 5pm, 18th March 2020 (Wednesday). For more inquiries, candidates can look up FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) on JPA’s web portal.

As proof of submission, be reminded to print out the Program Khas JKPJ 2020 confirmation slip! Successful recipients will tentatively be announced on JPA’s website on 5th May 2020 (Tuesday).

#3. Program Penajaan Nasional (PPN) 2020

When it comes to selecting the best students out of the bunch - you can say, the corps d'elite of SPM students — JPA will sponsor 50 qualified candidates for the Program Penajaan Nasional. Recipients will be funded to pursue a preparatory course in a selected local institution, and then continue their degrees in the UK and US top 10 prestigious universities based on the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

What You Need To Know

• Preparatory studies will be done in Kolej Yayasan UEM (KYUEM) for the duration of 2 years.
• Courses that are applicable to pursue are based on selected fields in selected institutions only. Fields that are sponsored by PPN can be found here.
• Students who graduated from pre-university but did not get a spot in the top 10 universities listed will be placed in selected local institutions, funded by a non-PPN scholarship programme.
• Selected applicants will be required to attend Student Assessment Centre (SAC) and interview.

Application Process

Applications are already available online and students who are eligible can apply directly through the JPA website. Candidates are allowed to register and update the form before submission due at 5pm, 18 March 2020 (Wednesday). Successful recipients will tentatively be announced on JPA’s website on 5th May 2020 (Tuesday).

What is Student Assessment Centre (SAC)

Students who are shortlisted for these scholarship programmes are required to attend the Student Assessment Centre (SAC). The purpose of SAC is basically to ensure JPA appoints scholars with high potential for these programmes.

The SAC programme has been tentatively scheduled on the 6th until 10th April 2020. The location will be set in various designated centres throughout the country where you’ll be assigned to a centre most convenient for you!

All JPA Scholarships in 2020 are “Convertible Loans”

What does it mean by convertible loans (pinjaman boleh ubah)? As much as your scholarships are handed to you, they are not technically free. It is essentially a loan given by JPA that is convertible into a full or partial scholarship depending on situations.

Here’s a rundown of how it works:

• Full scholarship: If you serve as a public servant in the civil service upon graduation
• 25% loan repayment: If you work in a Government-Linked Company (GLC) upon graduation
• 50% loan repayment: If you work in a local company in the private sector upon graduation
• Full loan repayment: All other situations

The concept of convertible loan is designed to invest in talented graduates and have them contribute in civil service, as well as to instil a sense of responsibility towards the country.

We hope the brief dissection on JPA scholarships has helped you in clarifying the whats and hows of obtaining one this year! Do keep an eye out on more scholarship updates by JPA in the coming weeks.