Reading pre-departure note

I've lost count on the number of pre-departure note that I should appropriately assigned, so I would just leave it as it is. Perhaps the archive could trace it's number.

I am called to put a note on the whole process leading to this attachment, and even tough I have two more months or so to leave for Reading, this note should summarize the process that have taken place in the last four/five months or so.

Start-up

I am an avid student of UTM I might say. I earned my Msc. here and when its about time to decide for doctorate place, my gut had always say it's probably UTM again. Don't ask me why but UTM had always earn my respects in so many ways, perhaps because I met my wife there <>

It was all started when my sv mentioned about this attachment thing and I was so naive not knowing how to start the whole process. Fortunately, a professor from Reading visited UTM so I was given detail explanation on what should I expected.

The process of getting the invitation letter from the professor took quite a number of months but I am so fortunate that my sv did all the communication. After all I did not know how to speak properly with a pure Englishman because our style of English with so many 'la' in the end has kept him staring at me trying to understand how that 'la' had got to do in the sentences.

The letter and funding

Little I know that for MOHE scholar who'd received all education locally has this attachment facility with overseas institution. I did an enquiry with the personnel in charge and was encouraged to apply for it. Of course, the invitation letter from the overseas institution is the only prerequisite along with support letter from my sv. The rest of the process was more on soft skill, communication etc with the dean and officers in home university and as long these all fulfilled, in sya allah, nothing would meddle in between.

The process at MOHE was one straight forward process. Submit online application, made a few calls to inform them about the application and within less than a month, I finally got the approval. Just to note here that approval was given through the system and again I was so fortunate because the officer in charge did notify me through email on the approval. The email stated that my application was approved for the duration requested with detail funds that will be given for that particular duration. There will be slight adjustment with the amount of the scholarship and with the commitment I've made with the accommodation personnel at Reading, I guess that should be enough to cover the daily expenses. Accommodation cost would consume more than half of the amount given by MOHE. Although I should be able to get much cheaper accommodation, I would rather stick with this as it comes with en suite bathroom and close to the university.

My flight ticket

Got from Emirates for less than 5k. Quite on the high side but that was all I managed to get. This ticket is reimbursable, meaning MOHE will pay for it later.

I am now waiting for the fund to be credited. Hopefully, as it now less than a month before my departure date. I will try to update more on this and wish I could write more when I am physically in the UK.

Till then.