Four Sikh scholars show the opportunities beyond SPM

By Manjit Singh  | Malaysia |

Four Malaysian Sikh students have secured fully funded scholarships for overseas studies in 2026, showing how strong academic results, co-curricular involvement and persistence can open doors to leading universities abroad.

Dilpreet Kaur, Gurmansimran Kaur, Priety Kaur and Satishver Singh all began their scholarship journeys after completing the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), the national public examination taken by all Form 5 secondary school students in Malaysia at the end of their 11th year of formal education.

Their scholarships supported their progression through pre-university studies and on to undergraduate programmes overseas.

SEE ALSO: Malaysian Sikh Education Aid Fund (MSEAF)

Dilpreet will pursue a BSc in Chemistry at Imperial College London, while Gurmansimran will study Accounting and Finance at the University of Manchester. Priety will pursue an MEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, also at Manchester, while Satishver is pursuing Data Science at the University of California, Berkeley.

Beyond their academic achievements, the four say scholarship applicants should start preparing early and recognise that selectors often look beyond examination grades.

Leadership roles, competitions, volunteering, research, internships, community activities and other experiences can help students develop the skills and interests that strengthen an application.

Their other key advice: apply widely.

Scholarship applications can involve setbacks and rejection, they say, but students should continue looking for opportunities instead of allowing one unsuccessful application to end the journey.

They also encourage students to seek internships or research experience connected with their intended university courses. Such exposure can help applicants better understand their chosen fields while demonstrating genuine interest beyond the classroom.

Maintaining balance is equally important.

The scholars say academic ambition need not come at the expense of friendships, community involvement or personal wellbeing. Co-curricular activities can build confidence, social skills and networks while helping students discover interests they may eventually pursue professionally.

WHAT DO THEY SAY

Dilpreet’s message to other students is simple: “You are more capable than you think. Believe in yourself.”

Gurmansimran stresses the lasting value of education, while Priety encourages students moving away from home to remain independent but grounded and positive.

Satishver advises youngsters not to allow setbacks to define their journey: “It is never too late to turn the page, rewrite the plot or begin a new chapter.”

Collectively, the four encourage students to look seriously at scholarship opportunities after SPM.

Major scholarship programmes available to Malaysian students include those offered by JPA, PETRONAS, Bank Negara Malaysia, Yayasan Khazanah, Yayasan Tenaga Nasional, Yayasan Telekom Malaysia, Yayasan Sime Darby, Shell Malaysia, Yayasan UEM, CIMB ASEAN and Yayasan Gamuda.

Application periods, eligibility requirements and funding terms vary, so students should regularly check the respective organisations’ official scholarship pages.

Their common message to younger students is to aim high, ask questions, seek opportunities and apply — even when a scholarship appears highly competitive.

“We hope to see more Sikh students pursuing their ambitions on a global stage,” they said.

AMONG THE SCHOLARSHIPS TO LOOKUT FOR

JPA Scholarship
PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme (PESP)
Bank Negara Malaysia Kijang Scholarship Programme
Khazanah Global / Watan
Yayasan Tenaga Nasional
Yayasan Telekom Malaysia
Yayasan Sime Darby
Shell Malaysia
Yayasan UEM
CIMB ASEAN Scholarship
Yayasan Gamuda Scholarship

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