Making dreams a reality
MOHAMMAD Asif has always dreamt of saving lives, he has wanted to be a doctor since he was 10 years old. A bright, hardworking student with a natural flair for the sciences, he was on track from an early age.
While his top grades would get him into medical school, his family was not able to fund his studies.
He applied to Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), an organisation that helps gifted students study at world-class higher education institutions in Science, Technology, Professional, Expertise and Business Management.
Mohammad Asif was offered a full scholarship to study medicine at Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed), one of the country’s leading medical schools.
He shares his journey towards becoming one of the doctors for the future.
What was life at the medical school like?
I have been studying at NUMed for three years and it’s great.
The Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) is an intensive degree programme that requires commitment and hard work but it’s a very interesting course that is delivered in state-of-the-art laboratories and lecture theatres.
What do you like most about studying at NUMed?
NUMed is actually a branch campus of Newcastle University UK and we enjoy identical training, standards and curriculum, which has simply been contextualised to Malaysian circumstances and cultural differences.
I like its all-rounded learning experience and holistic approach towards medicine.
We are exposed to the clinical setting very early in the course and are taught the practical, social and psychological elements of patient care to help us reach the top of the medical profession.
What do you do when you are not studying?
There are lots of student societies to take part in. The university has a wide range of sports clubs and associations, cultural societies and medically related associations so there is something for everyone.
One of the other advantages of being at NUMed is that we are based in the multi-varsity EduCity campus.
This means it houses several universities and all the students socialise together. The shared facilities such as the indoor sports stadium are also well-equipped.
What do you have planned as the next step?
I hope that I will have the chance to spend a period of study in the United Kingdom this year.
Every student at NUMed is offered the opportunity to study for a short period of time at Newcastle University UK and because we follow the same curriculum and use the same learning resources in Malaysia, it is easy to move between the campuses.
What will you do once you graduate?
When I graduate, I will spend two years as a house officer in a local hospital, and then two years as a medical officer.
After this, I plan to specialise because eventually I would like to become a general sur- geon. I’ve been given a special opportunity to follow my dreams and the sky is the limit.
About NUMed
Newcastle University UK has established an international branch campus in Johor to provide its undergraduate degrees in Medicine (MB BS) and the Biomedical Sciences (BSc) as well as opportunities for postgraduate study.
The programmes of study are equivalent to those of Newcastle’s UK-based provision and lead to the award of the same degrees.
By choosing to study at NUMed Malaysia, students will obtain a reputable UK qualification from an internationally recognised university at a significantly lower cost than studying in the United Kingdom.
The undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degrees were launched in 2009 with BSc degrees in the Biomedical Sciences earlier this year with the first intake being September last year.
Both programmes offer opportunities for periods of study in the United Kingdom.
For more information, look out for the Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia advertisement in this StarSpecial.