Postgraduate Study: Is it for me?

Postgraduate Study: Is it for me?

By Prof Chu Wan Loy

Pursuing a postgraduate degree is one option to consider in your

career pathway after obtaining a first degree..

Questions… Why do postgraduate study? What are the opportunities for postgraduate studies? What are the career prospects for postgraduates

• Further your knowledge of a given area you enjoy.

• Opportunity to specialise in a chosen field.

• Acquire work-related transferable skills – managing projects, working in teams and giving presentation, critical thinking, analytical mind.

• Enhance your employment opportunity – postgraduate qualification may be prerequisite for certain careers – academic and research fields.

Why do Postgraduate Study?

• Result in a higher starting salary; ensure a faster career progression in subsequent years.

• Change career direction – through the postgraduate course, you may be able to enter into a different area.

• Networking opportunity – meeting with other specialists / scientists in the fields.

• Study flexibly - part-time postgraduate degrees, to cater for working students.

Why do Postgraduate Study?

Types of Postgraduate Courses

Structure A

• Research only (No given credit value)

• Independent research (2 – 3 years)

• Assessed based on dissertation (thesis)

Structure B

• Coursework and Research (maximum of 24 credits for coursework)

• Lectures and seminars, and short research project (6 months)

Structure C

• Coursework only (inclusive of a project paper)

• Lectures and seminars, and project paper

• Assessed based on examinations and coursework

MQA Guidelines Nov 2012

What are expected from Postgraduate Students?

• Have a natural aptitude for the field of study

– e.g. laboratory research – inquisitive mind; critical thinking; meticulous; planning and organising skills.

• Have the interest in the field of study.

• Good communication skills – written and oral presentation skills.

• Resourceful

• Capable of working independently.

MOE: MyBrain 15 Programme

• A programme for financing postgraduate studies under the Ministry of Higher Education.

• Objective : to increase the number of highly knowledgeable human capitals for the purpose of enhancing research, development and innovation.

• Target : To achieve 60,000 PhD holders among Malaysians by the year 2023.

PhD students in Malaysia – increased from ~4,000 in 2002 to 40,000 in 2012 (University World News, 1 June 2013).

• Programmes offered : MyMaster, MyPhD and industrial PhD.

https://payloan.mohe.gov.my/MyBrain15/index2.php



MOE: MyPhD Programme

Who are eligible to apply?

• Malaysian citizens only.

• Unemployed graduates without fixed incomes / Private higher educational institution lecturers / employees of the private sector.

• Have obtained a Master’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree with the minimum cGPA.

• Have received an unconditional offer letter from the university.

MOE: MyPhD Programme

Incentives given

• Tuition fees not > RM24,000 for the period of 6 – 48 months.

• An additional living allowances of RM2,300 per month for eligible candidates.

MOE: MyMaster Programme

Who are eligible to apply?

• Malaysian citizens.

• Unemployed graduates without fixed incomes / Private higher educational institution lecturers / employees of the private sector.

• Have obtained a Bachelor Degree with the minimum cGPA.

• Have received an unconditional offer letter from the university.

Incentives given

• Tuition fees not > RM10,000 for the period of 6 – 48 months.

MOE: MyMaster Programme

IMU Private & Confidential

Postgraduate Programmes (Taught Courses)

Programme Duration Type of Research

Master of Science (Public Health) [By coursework + research]

Full-time: 1.5 years Part-time : 3 years

Qualitative/Non-lab based Clinical Laboratory-based

Master of Science (Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry) [By coursework + research]

Full-time: 1.5 years Part-time: 6 years

Laboratory-based

Master of Science (Molecular Medicine) [By coursework + research]

Full-time: 1.5 years Part-time : 4 years

Laboratory-based Clinical


MSc in Public Health

Master of Science in Public Health • Full time course 1 ½ year or 3 Semesters. • Part time a maximum of 3 years. • The programme is a modular format. Each module has a GPA and a

CPGA will be given at the end of the whole course. • Total of 10 modules, 2 electives and a Dissertation. • Total 44 credits • Fully taught in English by experts in their respective field. • Teaching in collaboration with Ministry of Health, City Council, Non

Governmental Organisations (NGOs). • The course includes plenaries, seminars, presentations, reports and

field visits.


MSc in Public Health

Admission • A medical degree from a recognized degree or • A bachelors degree in Science or relevant field from a recognized

University.

Assessment • In course assessment is done with in all modules which carry 40%

and the final evaluation 60%.


What is Public Health?

• Public Health is the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health.

• Public Health is only concerned with the maintenance of health by reducing or eliminating disease risks and environmental health hazards, improving social conditions, and encouraging healthy behaviours and lifestyles.

• It also encompasses the distribution and optimal management of healthcare services.

Career Prospects after MSc in Public Health

Some of the areas where the graduates can get employed:

• Research in pharmaceutical industry

• Ministry of Health

• Private hospitals and clinics

• Clinical research centres

• Health Division in City Council

• Teaching in universities

MSc in Analytical & Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Inter-disciplinary science that focuses on • Drug design and synthesis • Drug testing and formulation • Drug discovery, development and delivery

Analytical Chemistry Branch of chemistry that focuses on • Separation • Identification • Quantification of the chemical components of natural and synthetic materials

Synergy of Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Analytical capability enhances the advancement and development of pharmaceutical chemistry as well as other chemistry related branches of studies


Master of Science in Analytical & Pharmaceutical Chemistry • Full time course 1 ½ year or 3 Semesters • Part time to a maximum of 6 years • Course delivered over weekend (mostly Saturday) • Modular format; allows students to complete any single module

and receive a Certificate of Attendance • Total of 8 modules, 1 Selective and a Dissertation • Total 40 credits (min.) • Fully taught in English by specialists in their respective field. • The course includes plenaries, seminars, presentations, laboratory

or CAL sessions, reports and study visits

Admission • A bachelors degree in Science or relevant field from a recognized

university with a min. CGPA of 2.5 and above Or CGPA between 2.0 to 2.5 with 3 years working experience.

Assessment

• In-course assessment makes up 100% of the assessment for all modules. No written examinations.


• Study both the medical and biological aspects in an integrated system.

MSc in Molecular Medicine

Medical students • Who wish to conduct medical

research with a molecular orientation.

• Can be involved in the initiation,

coordination and supervision of translational clinical research projects and clinical trial related works.

Science students • Who have interest in Biomedicine. • provides advanced insights in

molecular and cellular mechanisms, exposure into different aspects in molecular pharmacology, design experiments and translating bench research into marketable product.

Equip students with knowledge and skills for a mid-level/ higher career position in the biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.


Master of Science in Molecular Medicine • Full time course 1 ½ year or 3 Semesters. • Part time to a maximum of 4 years. • Course delivered over weekend (mostly Saturday). • Modular format; allows students to complete any single module. • Total of 6 core modules (35 credits) including Research project

(dissertation); 7 Selectives (minimum 5 credits). • Total 40 credits (minimum). • Fully taught in English by specialists in their respective field. • The course includes plenaries, case studies, workshops, seminars,

presentation, assignments and tutorials.


Admission • A bachelor’s degree in Science or relevant field from a recognised university

with a min. CGPA of 2.75 and above. Assessment

• In-course assessment makes up 100% of the assessment for all modules (presentation/ assignments and reports).

• No End of Semester examinations (EoS).


Programme Duration Type of Research

Master of Science (MSc) [By research]

Full-time: Min-1 year; Max – 4 years Part-time: Min-2 years; Max- 6 years

Laboratory based Non-laboratory based Clinical

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) [By research]

Full-time: Min –2 years; Max- 6 years Part-time: Min-4 years; Max-8 years

Laboratory based Non-laboratory-based Clinical

Postgraduate Programmes (by Research)

Entry Requirements • MSc – BSc or equivalent with Second Class Upper Honors. - MBBS or equivalent. • PhD – MSc or a Master’s degree in a field related to the medical sciences from a

recognised university.


Conversion from MSc to PhD

• Applicants must have 1st class undergraduate degree.

• Apply to convert into PhD after one year of good progress and with recommendation by the supervisors.

• The candidate must indicate the intention to convert to PhD programme at the time of candidature.

• A special viva will be called – the Special Thesis Examination Committee will consist of one Internal and one External Examiner.

• The conversion process should be completed within the first 18 months of the MSc.

IMU Research Facilities

• IMU Research Laboratory (IMU-RL) • Research Laboratory floor space of 26,000 sq ft. • Equipment support at RM 1.5 million per year.

• Animal Facility with expanded space (about 770 sq ft) and state of the

art caging and maintenance of experimental animals.

IMU Laboratory Space

26,000 square feet of research space

IMU Research Facilities

• 8 Research Laboratories and 8 tissue culture laboratories

• Studies on genes, gene products, biomarkers.

• Recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies.

• Natural products and other biomolecules.

• Drug delivery, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, pharmacodynamics.

• Cancers and related stem cell research.

• Environmental health laboratory

Launching of the Institute for the Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI) – 18 September 2012

Mission of IRDI

To be a recognised private Asian research institute that

creates value through integrating education,

healthcare and research

Objective of IRDI

• To serve as a platform to support all research activities at IMU.

• To realign our research direction to enhance our competitiveness in securing external grants.

• To utilise our resources and expertise more efficiently.

• To coordinate the commercialisation of potential research products and services.

Establishment of IRDI…. to realign our research directions & to support all research activities at IMU


Centre for Bioactive Molecules and Drug Discovery

- Facilitate and support R & D activities from discovery and characterisation of bioactive molecules to clinical trials.

Research Centres under IRDI


Publications on Bioactive Molecules and Drug Discovery


Centre for Cancer and Stem Cell Research

• Understand the causes and mechanisms of cancer.

• Accelerate progress in cancer prevention.

• Improve early detection and diagnosis of cancer.

• Develop effective and efficient treatments for cancer.

Strategic Objectives:



Publications on Cancer Research


Centre for Environmental and Population Health

• Research areas include water and air pollution, building-related illnesses, toxicology, infectious and non-infectious diseases, and nutrition.



Publications on Environmental and Population Health


Centre for Health Professional Education Research

Ottawa Conference 2012


- Research areas include various aspects on education in Medicine and Health Sciences e.g. Problem based learning, peer teaching, interprofessional learning and skills assessment.


IMU Research Projects (YoY 2000 -2012)

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IMU Research Funding

• IMU internal funds (RM 1.5 million per year)

• BMedSc – max RM 20,000 per project

• MSc – max RM40,000 per project

• PhD – max RM60,000 per project

• Faculty research – max RM20,000 per project

• eScience Fund and eTechnoFund (MOSTI)

• MOHE funds (FRGS & ERGS)

• Multinational pharmaceutical and food companies (e.g. FrieslandCampina, Netherlands)

• Other private companies (Bioven Sdn Bhd & SRAS)

• Malaysian Toray Science Foundation

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Presentations Publications

IMU Research Output 2001-2012

2008: 37/123 (30.1%) in ISI Journals; Total IF = 77.97; mean IF/paper = 2.108 2009: 47/113 (41.6%) in ISI Journals; Total IF = 120.239; mean IF/paper = 2.558 2010: 81/146 (55.5%) in ISI Journals; Total IF = 206.006; mean IF/paper = 2.543 2011: 116/212 (54.7%) in ISI Journals; Total IF = 274.029; mean IF/paper = 2.362 2012: 82/133 (67.8%) in ISI Journals; Total IF = 148.298; mean IF/paper = 1.809

Researchers/ Postgraduate Students at Work

Current Postgraduate Students (as of June 2013) • MSc – 31 students • PhD – 28 students

Thank you!

Documents

Postgraduate Study: Is it for me?