KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — So you’ve reached that fork in your school life where you are thinking about furthering your studies.
For reasons financial, social, or personal, local universities are your best bet. But how should you proceed?
Here are three pre-university routes to consider:
STPM (Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia)
STPM, or the Malaysian Higher School Certificate, is a rigorous pre-university examination taken by students who have completed their secondary education (Form 5 or SPM).
It is equivalent to the British A-levels and is also recognised internationally for university admissions.
To ensure the programme’s high standards and quality, a representative from Cambridge Assessment in the UK monitors and endorses the results.
Of the three pathways to entering universities, it is open to all races in the country; but it is also the longest at 1.5 years of study.
STPM is overseen by the Malaysian Examinations Council, which introduced a new modular format in 2012.
Its curriculum is divided into three parts, with each part being taught in a separate term, totalling three terms in which the examinations are conducted at the end of each term, and results are released accordingly.
Assessment is often based on school-based assessments, which account for 20-40 per cent of the final score, and centralised examinations, which make up 60-80 pe cent of the final score. - The exact weightage varies depending on the subject.
For the school-based assessment, the students will engage in various activities like project work, field studies, and practical work.
The centralised examination will test you through multiple-choice, structured, and essay questions.
Each grade corresponds to a Subject Grade Point (SGP), with 4.00 (Grade A) being the highest score. To determine overall SGP, the four highest SGPs from subjects will be combined.
The STPM curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking, in-depth understanding, and analytical skills to prepare students for university-level education and is considered challenging.
The modular system allows for continuous learning and assessment, providing flexibility for students to retake individual terms to improve their grades.
Matriculation
Matriculation in Malaysia is a one-year pre-university programme managed by the Education Ministry.
Entry into this programme used to be 90 per cent for Bumiputera students with 10 per cent reserved for non-Bumiputera; until this year, when the government announced that it was doing away with the quota system.
Matriculation is highly sought after among Malaysians as a cost-effective pathway to tertiary education where the students just pay a small registration fee, and the government covers the rest of the costs. On top of that, Matriculation students also get a semester allowance.
Like STPM, Matriculation is also recognised by universities abroad like Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
Matriculation offers two distinct programmes with different durations: the One Year Programme (PST) and the Two Year Programme (PDT) in which the PST allows a two-semester system (SDS) for the students complete their pre-university studies within one year, divided into two semesters of academic work and assessments.
The PDT operates on a four-semester structure (SES) and undergoes a longer period of pre-university education, spanning two years with four semesters of coursework and examinations.
Under Matriculation, there are four specialised streams:
- Science stream (available in both one-year SDS and two-year SES formats)
- Accounting stream (available only in the one-year SDS format)
- Professional Accounting stream (available only in the one-year SDS format and exclusively for Bumiputera)
- Engineering stream (available only in the one-year SDS format)
Assessment consists of continuous assessment (quizzes, assignments, laboratory reports, and mid-semester tests) and final examinations, which are centrally coordinated and standardised across all matriculation colleges.
Upon successful completion, students will receive the Matriculation Certificate, widely recognised for admission into local public universities and some private and international institutions.
Foundation (Asasi)
The Foundation programme in Malaysia is a pre-university course designed to prepare students for entry into undergraduate programs at universities.
Similar to the old Matriculation system, intake is mainly for Bumiputera students with quotas for non-Bumiputera. Unlike Matriculation, the quota system has not been lifted.
The programme is structured into two semesters over the course of one year in various streams, namely Science, Arts, Engineering, Business, and IT.
Each stream has a tailored curriculum focusing on the fundamental subjects relevant to the chosen field of study.
Grades for Foundation programmes are based on continuous assessments such as quizzes, assignments, laboratory reports (for science and engineering streams), presentations, and mid-semester tests, and final examinations.
Many public and private universities in Malaysia offer Foundation programmes though most are reserved for Bumiputera students.
Some local public universities open their Foundation programmes to all regardless of race. Among them: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s ASASIpintar, Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Asasi Sains Pertanian, and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s Asasi STEM.
Several private local universities, such as Taylor’s University, Sunway University, and HELP University, offer customised Foundation programs aligned with their respective undergraduate courses.
Opting for a Foundation programme offers several advantages tailored to academic and career aspirations which enables individuals to focus directly on subjects pertinent to their future degree, facilitating the acquisition of essential knowledge and skills.
Compared to longer pre-university options such as A-levels or the International Baccalaureate diploma, Foundation programmes are shorter, allowing for earlier entry into university and potential cost savings.
However, there are potential challenges for Foundation students who switch fields of study, particularly from a specialised foundation course like Information Technology, Music, Business, or Architecture, due to the programme's specific focus.
Additionally, while the Foundation programme is recognised by the institution where it is completed, recognition at other colleges or universities may vary.
