(i) Travel Costs
• One round-trip plane ticket (travel date will be the closest date to the term of placement) will be funded. The maximum flight ticket allocation shall be
determined based on the destination location and is subject to the approval of the School of Graduate Studies.
• Travel arrangements, including the purchase of airline tickets, must originate from Senai Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) or Singapore Airport.

(ii) Daily Expenses
• Meal allowance: Covers daily food costs.
• Lodging allowance: Covers accommodation costs. If accommodation is arranged by the host institution, 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.

1. Are international students eligible for the UTM Ascend-X Attachment Programme funding?
   Answer: No, the UTM Ascend-X Attachment Programme is specifically designed for Malaysian citizens. Unfortunately, international students are not eligible to apply for this funding.
2. Who is eligible for the UTM Ascend-X Attachment Programme 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.
3. What kind of attachment qualify for the funding?
   Answer: The attachment must be at institutions from top 100 universities or prominent researchers (ST: h-index>50, SS: h-index>30) with expertise for specific research areas can be given consideration.
4. What expenses are covered by the UTM Ascend-X Attachment Programme?
   Answer: The program covers one round-trip plane ticket for international attachment. 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.
5. What is the duration of the attachment?
   Answer: The attachment 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.
6. 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/ attachment, you are still eligible to apply for this funding.
7. 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.
8. What is required after the attachment?
   Answer: Students are expected to produce at least one (1) joint publication within 12 months after the attachment ends, with host institutions that have been accepted or published in journals indexed in WOS ranked Quartile 1 (Q1) or Quartile 2 (Q2) according to the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). The eligible journals must be listed under Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), or Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI) only.
9. How can I apply for the UTM Ascend-X Attachment Programme funding?
   Answer: To apply, students must complete the Research Attachment Funding Application Form and submit it with their attachment/ internship offer letter, academic transcripts, CV, and research attachment proposal to graduate@utm.my.
10. What is the deadline for application submissions?
    Answer: The application deadline is 31 May 2026. The funding is limited to 20 students, and attachment must take place between July 2026 and September 2026.
11. Are there any restrictions on the travel for the attachment?
    Answer: Yes, for international travel, students must depart from Senai Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), or Singapore Airport.
12. Can I take up a paid attachment and still receive funding?
    Answer: Yes, both paid and unpaid attachment are eligible, however only certain expenses are covered by this funding as long as they meet the program’s criteria.
13. 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.