Originally, the plan was to apply to the UK, Singapore and USM. I have decided not to apply for UK for the time being because of funding issues. However, only applying to NUS and USM seems to be a thin spread for me. I was actually doing research on other possible locations to do my Masters in English Language and Literature. Countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA and even the Philippines were considered, but scrapped.
Then, the QS Rankings were released, which opened up a new opportunity that I have never considered before (but why, I never know). I have discovered Hong Kong University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong as possible locations for me to further my studies :)
I am not a big fan of ranking systems, such as the QS rankings, because it is sometimes hard to be totally objective in the measurement criterion of something with so large a range as the universities in the world (just as I believe that exchange numbers should not be the sole criteria to determine the strength and sustainability of a local AIESEC chapter, but that is a different story altogether). I was not moved much by the fact that HKU is the top ranking university in Asia (for the second time, if not mistaken) but I was interested by the research quality and some of the output of the graduate students there.
Another point to note: all the universities that I plan to apply to are situated on islands. Penang, Singapore and Hong Kong. All of these locations also have a strong British colonial past, which has greatly affected to architecture and administration of the islands. My final dream is to read my PhD in London, which is located on an island, and the heart of British culture. You can really say that I am an Anglophile :P
So, if all goes well, I will be doing my Masters in August/September 2011, after I graduate from USM with a B.A. (hons) English Language and Literature Studies. That will be what I am working towards from today.
