The unexpected offer letter from UK.....

M!

These few months, I've been received letters in A4-size envelops, to be exact, I've been received 4! When I received those letters, I knew that there were another offers for me from UK universities (except Imperial College which had stated in the email that there'll be no hardcopy posted until their offer is accepted via online). The last offer letter I received was a couple of weeks ago, the one that I've been waiting for patiently. It was from Liverpool! So, I thought it would be the end of offer letter that I'd receive.

So, when I received another letter in A4 size envelop, it took me by surprise. U mana plak ni... but then I saw the logo. Heheeee... from UK as well, but this time it's UKM. Kelakar lah plak, asyik terima offer letter dr UK, tetiba terima plak offer letter from local U. Actually, I've applied the cource last year, but didn't received any news by then. I thought UKM had rejected my application. Tau2 terima offer plak utk sesi 2008/09. Btw, the offer letter had made me laugh. Saper lah UKM klu nak dibandingkan dgn Soton, Bristol, Newcastle, IC and Liverpool kan... rasa mcm nak tulis surat to reject the offer like this...

To whom it may concern,

Thank you for your offer. I am writing to inform you of my decision to decline admission to UKM. I was impressed with your program (got to be nice since I might further PhD here); however, I have received acceptances from 5 top universities in Electrical & Electronic Engineering in UK and had confirmed the acceptance to one of the universities (;-)). I wish you all the best of luck with your incoming class of graduate students (another attempt to be nice).

The letter is nice... kan... ohh... forgot. It's UKM, maybe I should write in BM... nicely.

Then, suddenly it hit me... is't a sign? A sign for me to go local? I asked JD seriously... is he really 'cool' about me goin to Liverpool? Me, staying in Msia would be very nice but he's cool about me going to UK. He even encouraged me to go to better university, although it means I have to go oversea. Since I have the opportunity, why not?

To confirm that universities in UK especially the 5 that I've applied and been offered to are better, I checked this website... QS World University Rankings 2007 - Top 400 Universities. Ohh... IC is no. 5! Let see Liverpool... no. 101. Southampton - 80, Bristol - 37 and Newcastle - 129. Errr... UKM... no. 309... not bad... at least still in top 400. Kalau check ARWU2007 - Top 500 World Universities plak, Msia langsung takde dlm senarai in top 500... ermm. Tp tak tau lah how accurate both rankings are. Tak kisah lah mana kan, asal recognize by JPA (I'm going to local U ok for PhD)... and the most important thing is, finish the study successfully and serve the country excellently... pergghhh... (for the latter part).

Ok lah, whatever it is, I'm going to Liverpool... insyaAllah...

The 1st phone call from Liverpool

I received a phone call... at the mobile phone screen "0302" was displayed. I answered the phone... and guess who was calling? It was from University of Liverpool! I was panicked because I thought it was going to be an interview, but turned out it was only a friendly call from Malaysia representative asking if I have any question... I was speechless, and since I really don't have any question at the moment so I didn't know what to say, but I managed to ask her to email me so that whenever I have a problem I could email her back. But seriously, how come I became speechless... I hope I won't act like that when I actually arrive at Liverpool.

Calm down, you're going anyway... so get yourself ready!

Universities Option - The Decision (Finale)

That's it and elaboration is unnecessary.

Universities Option - The Syllabus (Part 2)

Liverpool...

I got the offer to both programmes... my 1st choice - MSc(Eng) Microelectronic Systems and 2nd choice - MSc(Eng) Microelectronic Systems & Telecommunications. Boleh plak mcm tu kan... tapi the syllabus lebih kurang sama jer.

Compulsory modules:
Integrated Circuits – Concepts and Design
Digital System Design with VHDL
Signal Processing
Computer Networks
Programme Development
Research Skills
Digital Filtering
Microprocessor Systems
Project Outline Investigation

Optional modules:
Photonics
Information Theory and Coding
Image Processing and Pattern Recognition
Radio Propagation
Antennas
Electromagnetic Compatibility
Optical Information Systems
Computational Intelligence

Seems like no VLSI subject... but maybe hidden somewhere in the content of the syllabus. VHDL is a +++ points.


Bristol...

MSc Advanced Microelectronic Systems Engineering

Core units:
Overview of Computer Architecture
Design Verification
Digital Systems
VLSI Design
IC Electronics
Project Specification and Design
Device Interconnect - Principles and Practice
System Integration
Computational Complexity

Too microelectronic??? (I just noticed. That's why I need to write it down like this.)


Soton...

MSc Microelectronic Systems Design

Compulsory:
Digital System Design
Integrated Circuit Design
MSc Project
SPICE Circuit Models and Technology
Digital IC Design
VLSI Design Project
Research Methods

Optional:
Integrated RF Transceiver Design
Analogue Integrated Circuit Design
Digital Systems Synthesis
Instrumentation and Sensors
Silicon Technology and Devices
Microsystems Technology
From Lab on a Chip to Mobile Phone Applications

Not bad... but of course more to microelectronics (hello... it's MSc in microelectronics anw)... and VLSI subject is --- points.


To be continued...

Universities Option - The Accommodation (Part 1)

~1:00pm

I guess it's time for me to decide, seriously... which university should I go to further my study at UK. Masih tak ada kabar berita dari Liverpool. I've emailed them yesterday, but still no reply. Ok, let say I got the offer to Liverpool University, so I have 3 universities in my option list...

1. Liverpool
2. Bristol
3. Southampton (Soton)
Bye bye to Newcastle & Imperial College London.

There are a few criterias that I shoud consider before really make up my mind. I'll start with the accomodations offered by the U.

**********

~8:00pm

Hehee... at last I've got a reply from University of Liverpool. Yes, I got it! Depa ni mmg nak kene push, baru lah nak anta notification emel. Maybe the decision was just being made since they said the offer letter has been sent today and expected to be arrived within 3 weeks. I have always said that Liverpool is my 1st choice. However after surveying the accommodation, I start having doubt. If Liverpool allowance rate is Rate C, then I'd have a problem... I might don't have enough money or the budget might be very tight for the accommodation.

Here's the accommodation allowance rate for UK that I've got from JPA:
Rate A: GBP575.00
Rate B: GBP460.00
Rate C: GBP345.00

I've surveyed on Internet...
Rate A - London, Univ. Oxford & Cambridge
Rate B - Bath, Surrey, Reading, Edinburgh & Bristol
Rate C - other than A & B.
... I need to confirm this with JPA. I'm not sure whether Soton is rate B or C, but since Soton is nearer to London compare to Bristol, I'll assume that Soton is under rate B.


Liverpool...

Philharmonic Court

or

Cost per week: GBP73.85 to GBP103.60

Take the lowest rate (I doubt) which is GBP73.85 x 51 week contract / 12 months = GBP313.86 per month. Need to email the U for the cost confirmation... (I hate doing this emailing & surveying job).


Bristol...

Chantry Court's Small Ensuite: GBP84.50 x 50 week contract / 12 months = GBP352.08 per month.
No floor plan though. The study bedroom has its own toilet and shower/bathroom but shared kitchen. So, the floor plan might be like the 1st image.


Soton...

Self catered accommodation: GBP65.45 (for a very basic bedroom I believe, shared shower and shared kitchen) to GBP158.90 per week.
The actual cost might be similar to Bristol.


To be continued in Part 2 - The Syllabus...