Pursuing a Masters at any stage in one’s life and career requires a level of dedication and organisation that can be daunting, in addition to personal and professional commitments outside the classroom. With Singapore being one of the top destinations for higher education, the financial strain that comes with further academic pursuits would be sufficient to discourage students and professionals alike.
Helping remove some of this financial burden is SMU's extensive scholarship programme that enables students to focus on pursuing their academic goals without being overwhelmed by the financial stress involved.
Sharing her experience as a recipient of the Diana Koh Scholarship in 2022 at SMU’s Master of Science in Accounting - Data & Analytics (MSA) programme, is Singaporean scholar Chern Cheng.
“Being a recipient of the Diana Koh Scholarship at SMU has truly transformed my educational journey. The scholarship provided essential financial stability throughout my pursuit of the MSA, enriching my academic experience. Equipped with the skills acquired, this would open doors to numerous job opportunities and has enhanced my capabilities at work.
“The scholarship has also provided me access to a valuable network of like-minded scholars who strive to give their best in their academic pursuits. Networking with them always inspires me as I learn about their own fight in this learning journey,” Chern shared.
Chern Cheng with Associate Professor of Accounting Yuanto Kusnadi and her classmates
In deciding which scholarship to apply for, she revealed that what drew her to this scholarship was that its mission and values were also aligned with her personal educational and career objectives, such as having good academic requirements, possessing perseverance and leadership qualities, and serving the community.
“Diana Koh’s life story of hard work, dedication and generosity resonates with me. As a firm believer of ‘blessed to be a blessing’, I believe that I am able to contribute and give back to the community in similar ways. It has fuelled my desire to give back not only at SMU, but also at my workplace and the Church where I serve as an interpreter,” Chern continued.
The Assistant Manager of Revenue Accounting at Singapore Airlines added that the MSA programme has equipped her with programming skills such as Python, R, SQL, coupled with Machine Learning techniques.
“Studying MSA at SMU has proven to be an incredibly interactive and enjoyable experience, despite the demanding curriculum. Our coursework places a strong emphasis on real-world applications, which has added practical relevance to our learning journey. I particularly enjoyed the projects related to blockchain electives and constructing financial portfolios through data analysis in Python,” she quipped.
Chern Cheng attending networking session
An active participant of SMU activities, such as networking sessions with SMU alumni, blockchain workshops and fireside chats on sustainability, just to name a few, Chern remains committed to finding ways to contribute and make a positive impact no matter how small.
“Networking sessions with SMU alumni have given me practical insights into applying the skills I've learned from my MSA course. These experiences have inspired me to give back to SMU and support future MSA students after graduation.
“As I move forward in my academic and professional journey, I am motivated to pay forward the support I have received, striving to make a difference even through the smallest of gestures,” she said.
And in paying it forward, Chern shares this piece of advice to anyone looking to apply for scholarships: “Never despise the days of humble beginnings. It is in the small steps we take and the small wins we conquer in life that eventually lead us to our success. Never be afraid to try and apply for a scholarship if you found one that resonates with your values and career goals. Even though the scholarship application process can be competitive, with careful preparation, persistence and a tailored approach in your application, you can increase your chances. If you never try, you’ll never know,” she affirmed.
