With the SPM results out tomorrow, all 407,097 students who sat for the 2021 examinations and who wish to further their education will soon have a difficult decision to make: choosing the right pre-university course.

This can be a daunting task due to the wide range of pre-university programmes available in Malaysia. While applying to public universities is an option, it’s not a straightforward process, and students often find it challenging to enrol in public universities for their chosen courses.

According to official figures, there were 259,000 Unit Pengambilan Universiti (UPU) applications last year alone. From this, 129,835 or 50.1% were successful in their application, with 100,049 students getting into polytechnics, kolej komuniti, and Institut Latihan Kemahiran Awam. The remaining 29,786 successfully got into diploma and Asasi courses.

Meanwhile, around 129,165 or 49.9% of students failed to enrol in public universities due to the high demand for popular courses. According to UPU, students need a 92% merit mark – including academic and extracurricular – to enrol for a UM Asasi programme.

And due to high competition and limited seats offered by the public universities, there is no guarantee your application would be successful even if you achieved this 92%.

Still, it’s not all doom and gloom, as you can still pursue your preferred courses in the many private institutions in Malaysia. But first, it’s crucial for you to know about each private pre-U programme before choosing one that fits your degree aspiration.

Here’s what you need to know. Check back in tomorrow for part two of this article.

1. Foundation

A foundation programme is an introductory course to the degree of your choice. It is ideal if you have a clear idea of your intended career path and hope to get a head start on degree-related subjects.

Considered the “fast-track” option out of all the other pre-U options, you only need a year to complete this programme before moving to your bachelor’s degree.

With a combination of coursework and a final exam, the foundation programme mainly caters to students who want to continue their undergraduate degree at the same university. Note that one institution’s foundation programme might not be recognised by another because they have different structures.

To enrol in a foundation programme, it’s best to visit the university’s website to check on intake. Institutions such as Multimedia University, Unitar, and Taylor’s College offer various foundation programmes that equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge before they undertake a bachelor’s degree.

2. Diploma

If you’re looking to get into the workforce immediately, a diploma is the pre-university programme you should consider, as it would allow you to land a job without a degree.

A diploma programme takes two and a half years to complete, and it is graded through a combination of assignments and examinations.

Most universities also require you to complete a semester of internship where you gain practical experience in your chosen course, enabling you to qualify for jobs upon graduation. Alternatively, you could pursue your degree in the same field and complete it in a much shorter time, thanks to the credit-transfer option.

For example, if you have completed a diploma in business administration, you could enter into the second year of the degree in the same field, depending on the conditions of enrolment. But if you pursued a different degree than that of your diploma, you might not be eligible for exemptions.

The intake for diploma programmes varies according to the institution that offers them.

3. A-Levels

If you’re unsure which career path to pursue after SPM, keep your options open for your degree by taking the A-Levels, the internationally recognised programme that allows you to pursue higher education in your chosen field at universities locally and abroad.

Depending on the intake and institution, it usually takes 15-24 months to complete the A-Level programme, which has two parts:

• AS Level (foundation)
• A2 Level (a more detailed study of your chosen subjects)

Since it is a 100% exam-based programme, you would be reliving your SPM days. Unlike SPM, however, you need only take a minimum of three subjects; four at a maximum. This ensures you become an expert in your chosen subjects.

Previously only universities and colleges offered pre-university programmes, but now, many international schools have started offering A-Levels – among them the International School of Kuala Lumpur, and Sri KDU Subang Jaya.

Afterschool.my provides information on higher education including courses, institutions, scholarships, careers as well as other higher education related topics in Malaysia.