If you’ve made it this far in MyPF’s series of educational articles – which previously covered secondary, primary and kindergarten costs – well done!
In this final instalment, here’s part one of what parents can expect when it comes to tertiary education: the most expensive and, arguably, important level of your children’s education that will have a significant impact on their career paths.
In Malaysia, tertiary education can be broadly divided into two stages. The pre-university stage consists of 1-2 years of education to provide a foundation for your child before they pursue their degree or diploma.
Then there’s the university education itself, which ranges from 2-5 years, depending on whether it’s a diploma (2-3 years) or degree (3-5 years). This will also be the stage where your children will choose a specialisation.
The tertiary level can broadly be divided into the following pathways: engineering and architecture; medicine and health sciences; accounting, business and finance; law; social sciences; and the humanities.
Government options
1. Pre-university
After completing Form 5, there are four options you can consider for your child:
- Form 6
Your child could opt to enter Form 6, which involves around two years of study. He or she would sit for Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), which can be used to apply for most public and private universities in Malaysia.
Tuition is generally free, but note that not all secondary schools offer Form 6.
- Matriculation
The matriculation programme is offered by the education ministry for those who wish to go into science, technology, or professional arts at public universities in Malaysia and abroad.
“Matrikulasi” is technically not free as it is heavily subsidised by the government, but it is considered very affordable, with tuition estimated at RM500 for the whole course.
- Asasi
Asasi are akin to “foundation” programmes offered by public universities in Malaysia. It offers a more direct pathway to the university (should your child have a specific university in mind), as they are conducted in the institutions themselves.
An Asasi programme could cost between RM1,100 and RM3,000.
- TVET
After Form 5, your child could attend a Technical, Vocational, Engineering and Technology (TVET) college. If he or she already has a vocation in mind, this is the most direct path to getting certification from the various industries in Malaysia.
2. Public universities
While the education ministry heavily subsidises most of the public universities in Malaysia, you would still need to pay quite a high tuition cost.
There are four categories of institutions: public universities, polytechnic colleges, community colleges, and TVET colleges. According to data from OCBC, studying in a Malaysian public university generally costs RM7,500-RM15,000, depending on the subject of study.
3. Private options
Private tertiary education in Malaysia is considered much more expensive. Similar to the above, let’s start off with pre-university options:
- A-Levels
Geared for entry into UK universities, an A-level course typically takes 1.5-2 years and is estimated to cost between RM20,000 and RM38,000.
- Ausmat / South Australian Matriculation
These are geared for entry into Australian universities. An Ausmat or SAM course could take up to one year and cost up to RM27,000.
- Canadian pre-university
A programme for entry into Canadian universities, this could cost between RM27,000 and RM31,000.
- US degree programme
Here, students can study for two years in Malaysia and another two years in the US. The two-year course in Malaysia could cost between RM59,000 and RM67,000.
Check back in for part two of this article tomorrow, which will provide more info on private universities, tax reliefs and government assistance, and estimated costs.
This article was written by Su-Wei Ho for MyPF. To simplify and grow your personal finances, follow MyPF on Facebook and Instagram.
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