By Sumanaruban Rajadurai
Sumanaruban Rajadurai is a first year PhD student at the School of Computing, National University of Singapore (NUS). Sumanaruban is in the SMART (Singapore - MIT Alliance for Research and Technology) Program, a joint venture between NUS, Singapore, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. He is the first student from Sri Lanka to be accepted to this unique program.
Sumanaruban advises students who find it intimidating to apply directly to MIT in the USA, to consider applying through the SMART program. They can apply through the two participating universities in Singapore - NUS and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). This could be a reasonable and worthwhile alternative for students, since the program includes a 6-month research visit to MIT, opportunities for collaborative research between MIT and NUS/NTU researchers and a fully-funded program that includes a monthly stipend. Further information about the SMART program can be found here: http://smart.mit.edu/.
In this article, Sumanaruban discusses the graduate application process, the graduate experience at NUS so far and life in Singapore.
The Graduate Application Process
What made you apply to the SMART program?
I was particularly interested in the SMART Program's research topics that were offered the year I applied. My current program explores Future Urban Mobility. This is currently a highly active area of research, and this combination of universities (NUS-MIT) meant that this program is one of the best in the world.
What did the graduate application process involve?
The application process required a first class in undergraduate studies. This was something I had achieved previously at the University of Moratuwa. I also had to write a strong Statement of Purpose (SOP), which needs to be based on the candidate's research interest. I had to highlight my past experience, strengths and motivation for doing research in this field. The length of the write-up was approximately two pages. In addition to the SOP, two letters of reference are also needed. These letters should be furnished through the online application and a link will be sent to the referees you nominate in the application. They have to upload their referral letters online - no hard copies are required.
Did you have to do any tests?
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and IELTS exams were required.
How long did it take to put things together?
It took me nearly four months to put together my application. The most difficult part for me was preparing for and taking the GRE examination. I was unaware of the GRE examination while I was in the university as an undergraduate, and I would encourage those who are interested in higher studies abroad to complete the GRE while they are still doing undergraduate studies, perhaps during university vacations. This will allow them to apply for higher studies as soon as they complete their undergraduate degrees. Since I was employed at the time, it was difficult to find the time to prepare for the GRE. The verbal component of the examination requires the memorization of a very large vocabulary, and this takes quite some time.
When was the due date?
There were two intakes during the year, January and August, and so the due date for applications varied. All the information on current and future deadlines for applications can be found on the SMART Program website.
How important is contacting the professor at your current graduate school during the application process?
I had not contacted a professor or an advisor during my application process. But they got in touch with me over Skype after I applied, and conducted an interview. Even though it was an interview, it was more like a casual chat! They asked about my area of research interest, work experience and my final year project. All the questions were based on my CV and the SOP I submitted with my application. The main concern on their side was my suitability for a particular research project.
Other than marks from your undergraduate degree was there anything else that helped you to get accepted into the graduate program?
I think my final year project ("An IEEE1451 Compliant Smart Sensor Network") helped to demonstrate my interest in the field of computer science, although it was not directly related to the area I am researching now. Other factors could have been my published papers and the fact that I got very high results in my A/L exams. I had mentioned my extracurricular activities and leadership roles in my CV, although they were not explicitly requested or discussed.
The Graduate Experience at NUS
What does your graduate degree involve and how long will the program take?
The 1st year involves graduate courses and passing a qualifying exam (QE). At the beginning of the 2nd year, we have to submit a Graduate Research Proposal, and then the student will visit MIT for 6 months for further research. Following that, the student will return to Singapore for the rest of the period, continue research, and complete the degree.
How big is the incoming class? Are there many international students?
There were 48 fellow PhD students who joined me in August 2011 at the School of Computing. Almost all of them are international students like me, from China, India, Pakistan, Iran, etc.
What is your thesis about?
I am yet to decide on my thesis topic - after all, I am still in my first year! I will have to discuss this further with my supervisors before we decide on a topic. Usually, students make this decision after the first year and after they have qualified for their PhD.
How has the first year been so far?
The qualifying exam in the first year is one of the toughest hurdles here. It requires a deep and extensive knowledge of the whole field of computer science and engineering. I also need to complete 4 postgraduate modules.
What are the highs and lows of the graduate program?
The Singapore government funds the program, which means that I get a generous monthly stipend in addition to having the program fully funded. This is a joint program between NUS and MIT, and so there is the opportunity for collaborative research between the two universities. Also, there is an opportunity to carry out a 6 month research visit to MIT, which I look forward to. I am yet to come across a "low" of the program in the four months that I have been here! I think this is an excellent program. One important thing to remember is that the School of Computing at NUS is one of the world's top institutions for computer science and engineering. So we have to be sure that we can live up to that standard. I know that I still need to put in a little more effort!
How is your thesis funded?
The entire program for SMART students is funded by the Ministry of Education of Singapore.
Can you get a Teaching Assistantship?
Since the program is funded, there is no particular need to get a Teaching Assistantship (TA) or an internship in a company during the program. However, if you become a TA you get paid at the rate of S$40 per hour.
In your field, what are the areas of research that have plenty of funding and that can potentially be very useful in finding jobs after graduating?
I see the field of mobile computing as a booming field. Mobile phones and other smart devices are already becoming strong replacement candidates for conventional personal computers. People in developed countries are already heavily using these smart devices in their day-to-day activities. Together with these devices, I feel that the Android platform will also grow swiftly. Since these fields are growing so fast, I think it will be relatively easy to find jobs after graduation.
What are your plans after completion of MS/PhD?
There are two possibilities that I see for myself. Either I could enter the academic sector or I could follow the path of becoming a research scientist. I see many job openings for Computer Science PhD holders in leading IT companies as well as in the public sector.
Life in Singapore
Coming from Sri Lanka, what is your experience of the new city?
One of the main advantages of studying in Singapore is its proximity to Sri Lanka which makes traveling home easy. At the same time, you can get a world-class education. I would suggest that students planning their studies abroad consider Singapore as one of their higher-priority choices.
How is the cost of living?
At current prices, a student can manage comfortably with around S$900 - S$1000 per month. S$1 is around SL Rs.85 (as of December 2011), so that works out to about SL Rs.75,000 – 85,000 per month.
What accommodations are available for graduate students? Do you have experience living off or on campus?
There are accommodations for students on campus and I am currently living in the university hostel. It is very convenient and fully equipped. Here, the hostels are like 4-room apartments where each student has a private bedroom. All four students share the common living area, kitchen and washroom. Singapore itself is a great, well established city and living here has been a fantastic experience!
Date of publication in the Sunday Observer: December 25, 2011 and January 01, 2012 (in 2 parts).
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely that of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of SL2College.
SL2College would like to thank Sumanaruban Rajadurai for sharing his experience and wishes him the very best in his future endeavours. Nanda Abeysekera from the SL2College editorial team is also thanked for working with the author in developing this article. This and other related articles are available on www.sl2college.org, under the resources section. Please post your queries on the forum or email info@sl2college.org.
