The Grant

The Grant

About The Grant

Young Minds Global Perspective: Building Knowledge Through the Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment

Unveiled in tandem with the distinguished 2012 Merdeka Award Presentation ceremony, The Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment is an esteemed initiative devoted to nurturing the intellectual and professional growth of exemplary Malaysians aged between 22 and 35. This exclusive program facilitates short-term collaborative projects and programmes, spanning up to three months, at internationally acclaimed host institutions of repute.

The primary objective of this attachment is to empower the Grantee in elevating their proficiency across chosen disciplines, including but not limited to education, arts, sports, community and social work, environment, health, science, and technology. In doing so, it aspires to not only augment the individual's expertise but also to significantly contribute to the advancement of their distinguished body of work and illustrious accomplishments.

Here are a few aspects to consider when applying for a Merdeka Award Grant:

Read through the application requirements carefully, and complete the form as required. Please make every effort to substantiate your application with information that showcases your expertise and experience in your chosen area of study.
Kindly be informed that the application process for the Merdeka Award Grant is exclusively available online. Regrettably, the Merdeka Award Secretariat is unable to accommodate hard copies or physical submissions. Your understanding and compliance with this online-only application procedure are greatly appreciated.

the Criteria

Application Requirements

The grant is awarded to qualified citizens of Malaysia, aged 22 – 35, residing in Malaysia or overseas, in the following fields: Education and Community/Social Work, Environment, Health, Science and Technology, Sports, Arts.

Please take note of the following requirements:

For academics, applicants must hold at least a bachelor's degree in the relevant field at the time of application. Postgraduate students (master's or doctoral candidates) are also eligible to apply.
For professionals and those outside academia, recognised professional standing and substantial professional accomplishments in the field in which you are applying.

Selection Process

Upon submission, the Merdeka Award Grant committee will review the applications and shortlist candidates for interviews.

You are required to meet all reasonable requests for dates and times for interviews, and are responsible for your own travel arrangements to the interview venue. Successful candidates will be notified via email and/or phone call.

The application for the grant closed on 1 May 2025.

The next grant application will open in 2027.

Terms of Engagement

Under the Terms of Engagement, the Merdeka Award Grant recipient will be required to execute the following, under the supervision of the Merdeka Award Trust Secretariat:

Make a minimum of 3x weekly postings on his / her experiences on the Merdeka Award Facebook & Twitter accounts, over the course of the preparation for the attachment, the attachment itself and for a period of 3 months upon his / her return to Malaysia.
While on attachment, reach out to and engage with Malaysians and non-Malaysians students in similar or related areas of study, to build the Grantee’s network of contacts and colleagues around the world.
Conduct a minimum of 6x speaking engagements upon his / her return to Malaysia, over the course of one year
Recipient should be made available to the Merdeka Award Trust Secretariat for interviews and other publicity initiatives for a period of one year after his / her return.

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