Thiyagarajan Raviraj
Ph.D. program in Graduate Institute of Natural Products,
School of Pharmacy, KMU
Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced,
Bachelor of Pharmacy
Why I chose KMU: My first Impressions
At the time, I had a desire to pursue my higher education, so I searched for several universities. I applied to some selected universities in Tamil Nadu (my hometown), Europe, and Taiwan. However, during the late 2019 breakout of COVID-19, many countries were affected, and admissions were temporarily closed. I received admission offers from two universities in Taiwan. After carefully considering my circumstances, I decided to join Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU).
In 2020, I was admitted as a master’s student at the prestigious KMU, Taiwan. My first impression was of Taiwan’s exceptional management of COVID-19, as it was one of the few countries to handle the pandemic effectively. KMU is well known for its academic reputation, research excellence, and international environment. As an international student, I received support from my advisor, friends, and KMU administrative staff, who helped me to navigate both personal and academic challenges. I am deeply grateful to all of them.
Discovering the Direct Admission to Doctoral Program
In search of a career pathway, I realized that pursuing a doctorate opens up a vast range of opportunities. I aspired to work in a company or as a professor, a doctorate seemed like the ideal educational qualification for my aspirations. This motivated me to pursue a doctoral degree. I chose KMU because of its friendly and supportive environment, as well as the guidance offered by my supervisors. Additionally, I wanted to optimize my time during the Ph.D. journey. After discussing my plans with my advisor. After discussing my plans with my advisor and considering my academic performance during my master’s studies, my advisor encouraged me to apply for direct admission to the doctoral program. I also gained valuable insights from a senior who had successfully pursued the direct admission pathway.
For admission into the doctoral program, I had to prepare several documents. Among them, the most challenging tasks were preparing my research proposal and attending the interview. With the firm support of my friends and advisors, I successfully overcame these challenges and obtained admission.
A PhD in Progress: My Experience So Far
Being a student at KMU has significantly expanded my professional knowledge and experience. I have had opportunities to participate in and present my research at international conferences. Throughout my studies, I have made friends from countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Europe and the United States of America. It has been exciting to engage in discussions, learn about their research, and hear about the proud experiences shared by people from their respective countries.
The Road Ahead Is Exciting – My Advice for future students
My humble suggestion for future students considering pursuing direct doctoral admission, is to remember that, like any career, a Ph.D. comes with its own set of challenges. Plan your goals ahead, stay open-minded, be ready to learn and discover new opportunities.
“Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.” by Albert Szent-Györgyi.
![[Video] Erna (Indonesian) Studying at Kaohsiung Medical University](https://enroll.kmu.edu.tw/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/m-300x158.jpg)