Briefing on University of Otago, NZ (27 August 2008)

24 students from U6 and L6 who are interested in pursuing Health Sciences attended the briefing by Dr Warwick Brunton at Dewan Legar, Bangunan Baru, Ministry of Education at Berakas Old Airport.

Dr Brunton, an Associate Dean (International) from the University of Otago, Dunedin first gave an insight on New Zealand by showing interesting slides of New Zealand landscapes, flora and fauna as well as All Blacks Rugby team. He then mentioned that there are currently 57 Bruneian students studying at the university.

Every year the Ministry of Education has worked closely with the University of Otago in recruiting eligible Bruneian students to pursue degrees in Health Sciences (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, etc).

All Bruneian scholarship students at Otago have to undergo one year common course of Health Science First Year, before going into their specialised Health Sciences courses from the second year.

Details can be found in Division of Health Sciences at University of Otago.

Pre Departure Information for our students leaving for the UK

Something to bring to the UK:

• A small electric rice cooker - for rice, soups
  
• A small fan for unexpected warmer weather. Rooms in the UK are fitted with heaters, but no fans
  
• A box of IndoMie or Maggi Mee for late nights or meals in a hurry.
• A handful of passport photos, for student cards, rail card etc.
  
• An ISIC card for discounts around the world (UK, Brunei etc). It costs £9 from STA Travel in the UK, but it costs only B$15 from Anthony Tours in Brunei.

The ISIC card will valid from September 2009 to December 2010. It is good if you travel outside of the UK during the validilty of the card. Discounts available for admission tickets to museums, concerts etc. However, if you are staying in the UK only, the student cards issued by your UK universities/colleges are good enough to obtain similar discounts in the UK only.

• Pack stuff in luggage with wheels, rather than in boxes. Upon arrival in the UK, you have to carry your luggage to your accommodation, by rail, tube, coach, bus or even walk.
• RBA Royal Skies card to claim mileage every time you fly RBA
• A laptop
• Your current handphone with Brunei sim card. Though it is cheaper to subscribe a new line in the UK, bringing your Brunei phone means you will be able to contact your family when you arrive.

The above information may vary depending on personal preferences.

Check out Argos and Amazon to compare UK prices with those of Brunei.

Some of the things to pack in your hand luggage:

• A valid passport for the whole duration of the course. UK visa cannot be transferred to a new passport


• an X ray report and medical report from doctor


• Letter of acceptance from place of study and scholarship letter in English


• some British currency


• some warm clothing. Weather can be unexpectedly cold in summer.


• an address, telephone number and travel instructions to your final destination.

Updated: 15 July 2009

SMSOnians featured in Brunei Times 23 August 2008

Pictured above (from Right) : Lee LeeVoi, Aminuddin Norhani, Nuramaliah Hj Jamaluddin, Amal Liyana Hj Zabandi, Ching Viviyanti Ching Hasan

Extract from: Briefing for students going to the UK (Brunei Times 23 August 2008)

... Lee Lee Voi, who will be studying mechotronics and robotic systems at University of Liverpool told The Brunei Times that he was looking forward to start his course. He has already arranged for accommodation and been in touch with the university to sort out certain matters, he said.

Another student, Aminuddin Norhani, who will be studying radiography at University of Cardiff, said he had mixed feelings about leaving Brunei. The former student of Sayyidina Othman Secondary School said that he would hold dear the advice given by his parents to always take good care of himself, especially regarding his food intake, and to always perform his obligations such as daily prayers and fasting.

Aminuddin will be leaving for the UK on September 18. ...

Education UK Exhibition (21 August 2008)

As a usual event every August, Upper 6th students made their way to the Education UK Exhibition @ Rizqun Hotel, The Mall Gadong. This will be the last information gathering event before they sit for their A Levels in October/November.

Representative from University of Reading giving a presentation on "How to write an eye-catching Personal Statement".

Students "again" are listening attentively.

Filling in the Visitor surveys for freebies.

Study in France (12 August 2008)

Ms Delphine Renaut from Alliance Français de Brunei, gave an interesting presentation on "Study in France" as another option to pursue higher education for Bruneian students.

Career Talk by Special Education Unit (9 August 2008)

We were delighted to welcome Education Officers from Special Education Unit, MoE to present a talk on the different career options in the field of Special Education.

"Working with students with High Support Needs" was briefed to 6th Formers

Cg Hjh Norbayah Hj Shahminan, Coordinator for the Hearing Impaired Program kept students interested with her topic on "Working with hearing Impairment"

Cg Siti Rafizah Hj Badar, Speech and Language Therapist on "Speech and Language Therapy as a career"
Cg Masdiana presented a souvenir to Cg Noralizulrainee bin Ali Yusuf, Education Officer (Visual Impairment program)

'Bridging to The Future' Sharing Sessions (12 July 2008)

We invited our former students who are now studying at various local and overseas instititions, to come to school, to share their learning and working experiences with our current 6th Formers.

Our SMSO Scholarship students (2006/07 Batch)

Aditia Salalu - Mathematics at University of Kent, UK

Afif Rahmani Hj Abu Bakar - Pilot Training at Cabair College of Air Training, Cranfield, UK

Ak Abdul Azim Pg Hj Abas - Fine Art at Newcastle University, UK

Amal Liyana Hj Zabandi - Geophysical Sciences at University of Leeds, UK

Aminuddin Norhani - Radiography Diagonistic & Imaging at Cardiff University, UK

Antika Lim - Environmental Management at Bangor University, UK

Azrin Alus - Geology atUniversity of Leeds, UK

Azree Ainul Hafiz Hj Yunos - Geology at Univerity of Liverpool, UK

Ching Viviyanti Ching Hasan - European History at University of Bradford, UK

Chong Chin Yee - Economics at Monash University, Australia

Lee Leevoi - Mechatronics & Robotics Systems at University of Liverpool, UK

Lim Lee Sher - Dentistry at University of Otago, NZ

Mohamed Nawawi Bolhassan - Social Psychology at University of Kent, UK

Mohammad Nazmi Hj Ismail - Environmental Planning & Management at Bangor University, UK

Nuramaliah Hj Jamaluddin - Biomedical Engineering at University of Sheffield, UK

Nur Thaqifah Salihah Hj Mohd Salleh - Chemistry with Analytical & Forensic Science at University of East Anglia, UK

Tan Chee Liang - Dentistry at University of Otago, NZ

Yeo Lee Ting - Nutrition and Dietetics at Newcastle University, Australia

Academic Award Ceremony for Public Examinations 2007 (15 March 2008)

The award recipents for Academic Awards of GCE 'A' Levels 2007 (above)

The BSP and NZ scholars (from left): Azree Ainul Hafiz Hj Yunos, Lim Lee Sher, Tan Chee Liang, Azrin Alus

Azree and Azrin under BSP scholarships will be pursuing Geology at University of Liverpool and University of Leeds respectively. Lee Sher and Chee Liang are currently doing Dentistry at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.