Nexus Attachment Program: Research Internship Funding
Turning Theory into Practice
The School of Graduate Studies and the Department of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) are offering a funded research internship for qualified candidates. This internship provides an opportunity to apply academic knowledge in real-world settings, build professional networks in the industry, and enhance skills for future career opportunities. Funding is limited to 20 students, subject to University approval. The internship will take place between December 2024 and March 2025.
What is a Research Internship Program?
A research internship involves a graduate researcher engaging in research and development (R&D) activities related to their degree, in collaboration with an industry partner, typically at the partner’s premises.
What is Covered by the Funding?
(i) Travel Costs
• The program covers one round-trip plane ticket for international placements or local travel within Malaysia.
– For international travel, departures must originate from Senai Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), or Singapore Airport.
– For local travel within Malaysia, bus, train, or flight tickets from the student’s nearest major transport hub will be funded.
(ii) Daily Expenses
• Meal allowance: Covers daily food costs.
• Lodging allowance: Covers accommodation costs. If accommodation is arranged by the host institution or industry, only the meal allowance will be provided. Allowance rates are adjusted based on the cost of living in the host country. For more details, please refer to this link for allowance rates and country categories.
Duration of Internship
- The internship should last one (1) month, with a minimum engagement period of 20 working days (full-time equivalent).
- Internships can extend up to three (3) months full-time during the PhD or MPhil candidature or may vary based on the host institution/industry.
Eligibility & Requirements
- Must be a current student with active status at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
- Must have secured an internship (paid or unpaid) with an MNC/GLC or a Top 200 University (Read More).
- Internships at institutions or industries with unique research facilities or supervisors with specific expertise will also be considered.
- Open only to Doctoral and full-research Master’s students.
- Must have completed two semesters of study at UTM and must not be in the final semester.
- Must have passed the first assessment (proposal defense).
- Must have completed the Research Methodology Course and University General Course.
- Must demonstrate satisfactory research progress and good command of English.
- Must be in good health and physically present at UTM at the time of application.
- Must agree to enroll at the host institution and abide by its rules and regulations.
- Any intellectual property (IP) generated during the internship will be owned based on a mutual agreement between the host institution and UTM.
Expected Output
- At least one (1) joint publication with the host institution/industry must be accepted or published in WOS-indexed journals within 12 months after the internship.
How to Apply
- Complete the Internship Funding Application Form with all required details.
- Prepare and scan the following documents in PDF format:
a. Internship offer letter
b. Academic transcripts
c. Curriculum Vitae (CV) - Submit the Research Internship Proposal (template available here).
- The application deadline is 30 October 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be notified. If you do not hear from the university within one month of the deadline, please consider your application unsuccessful.
- All application must be made by using this form
- Submit all the required documents to graduate@utm.my
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
a. Are international students eligible for the Nexus Attachment Program funding?
Answer: No, the Nexus Attachment Program is specifically designed for Malaysian citizens. Unfortunately, international students are not eligible to apply for this funding.
b. Who is eligible for the Nexus Attachment Program funding?
Answer: The program is open to full-time Doctoral and Master’s research students at UTM. Applicants must have completed two semesters of study at UTM, passed the first assessment (proposal defense), completed the Research Methodology Course and University General Course, and be making satisfactory research progress. The program is only available for Malaysian citizens, and applicants must not be in their final semester or have submitted their thesis for examination.
c. What kind of internships qualify for the funding?
Answer: The internships must be with top multinational companies (MNCs), government-linked companies (GLCs) in Malaysia, or universities ranked in the Top 200 of the QS World Rankings. Additionally, internships with host institutions or industries with unique research facilities or supervisors with specific expertise can also be considered.
d. What expenses are covered by the Nexus Attachment Program?
Answer: The program covers one round-trip plane ticket for international internships or local travel within Malaysia. It also provides a meal and lodging allowance, adjusted based on the cost of living in the host country. If the host institution provides accommodation, only the meal allowance is provided.
e. What is the duration of the internship?
Answer: The internship should last a minimum of 20 full-time working days (one month equivalent) and can go up to three months during the candidature for PhD and MPhil students, depending on the host institution or industry.
f. Can I apply for this funding if I already receive other scholarships or sponsorships?
Answer: Yes, if your existing scholarship or sponsorship only covers tuition fees and does not provide funding for internships, you are still eligible to apply for this funding.
g. What are the academic requirements to apply?
Answer: Students must have passed their first assessment (proposal defense), completed the Research Methodology Course and University General Course, and demonstrate satisfactory research progress. They must not be subject to any disciplinary measures and should be in good health.
h. What is required after the internship?
Answer: Students are expected to produce at least one joint publication with the host institution/industry, published in a journal indexed in Web of Science (WOS) within 12 months of completing the internship.
i. How can I apply for the Nexus Attachment Program funding?
Answer: To apply, students must complete the Internship Funding Application Form and submit it with their internship offer letter, academic transcripts, CV, and research internship proposal to graduate@utm.my.
j. What is the deadline for application submissions?
Answer: The application deadline is 30 October 2024. The funding is limited to 20 students, and internships must take place between December 2024 and March 2025.
k. Are there any restrictions on the travel for the internship?
Answer: Yes, for international travel, students must depart from Senai Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), or Singapore Airport. For local travel, bus, train, or flight tickets from the student’s nearest major transport hub will be covered.
l. Can I take up a paid internship and still receive funding?
Answer: Yes, both paid and unpaid internships are eligible, however only certain expenses are covered by this funding as long as they meet the program’s criteria.
m. Who owns the intellectual property generated during the internship?
Answer: Any intellectual property (IP) generated during the internship will be owned based on a mutual agreement between the host institution and UTM, with percentage sharing.
Our Details
If you have any questions regarding the funding or the application process, please contact:
School of Graduate Studies , F54 (Level 2), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
07 -5537595