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Did you miss out on the chance to get your degree? Maybe you couldn’t meet the minimum entry requirements, or had trouble finding the funds at the time.
Great news! You now have a second chance to get academic qualifications.
In an effort to further strengthen and upskill human capital in the country, the Malaysia Qualifications Agency (MQA) has introduced APEL, an alternative pathway to pursue tertiary education.
1. What is APEL?
APEL, short for Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning, systematically identifies, documents and evaluates all your prior learning experiences.
It’s an evaluation of your learning, inside and outside the classroom, to provide an entryway into your next academic step.
APEL considers all of the following in their assessment:
- Formal learning (academic certifications)
- Informal learning (work experience, volunteering work, hobbies, etc)
- Non-formal learning (assessed alongside formal learning, without providing certification. Examples include workshops, seminars, short courses, etc)
Who Is APEL For?
If you fall into one of these categories and would like your prior learning turned into academic qualification, APEL might just be for you.
- Adult learners with loads of non-formal / informal learning experience and wish to get a qualification from it.
- Returning students who stopped formal learning but want to reenter academic life without losing any previous progress.
- Working professionals who are looking to upskill but cannot commit to full-time classes.
2. Types of APEL
There are a few types of APEL. Which one you select depends on your objective. The pathways for each APEL track differ from each other.
But before applying, you have to go through a self-assessment process to
- Write a self-reflection statement; and
- A self-reported understanding of the programme outcomes
Thereafter, you can proceed to submit these personal statements before you are allowed to begin the application process.
There are four APEL pathways that enable a higher education qualification to be obtained; APEL (Access), APEL (Credit), APEL (Qualification), and APEL (Micro-credential).
3. APEL (Access) – APEL.A
APEL.A is the qualification to give access to courses where the individual does not have the necessary academic credentials for admission.
Think of it as the passport into a university programme.
For example, if someone does not have an SPM Certificate and wishes to enrol in a diploma programme, getting an APEL.A will give them the needed pre-requisite to enrol for the diploma.
APEL.A Requirements
Anyone who meets the pre-requisites for each academic level may apply for courses once they’ve passed their APEL.A assessment. Candidates are required to meet the age requirements before applying.
Postgraduate courses also require a minimum academic qualification. The table below outlines the requirements for each academic level:
| Academic Level | Minimum Age Requirement | Qualification | Assessment Fee (RM)* |
| Certificate | 19 years old | – | 240 |
| Diploma / Advanced Diploma | 20 years old | – | 240 |
| Bachelor’s Degree / Graduate Diploma / Graduate Certificate | 21 years old | – | 370 |
| Master’s Degree / Postgraduate Diploma / Postgraduate Certificate | 30 years old | Minimum STPM/Diploma or equivalent | 560 |
| Doctorate | 35 years old | Minimum Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent | 750 |
*Fees for Malaysian students.
APEL.A Methods Of Assessment
There are a few components of assessment that candidates are required to submit for their prior experiential learning to be evaluated.
The required assessment and weightage differ according to the academic level the candidate intends to apply to. A typical APEL.A assessment consists of:
- Aptitude Test – Each candidate would need to undergo an aptitude test which covers Bahasa Melayu*, English Language, Numerical Literacy and General Knowledge/Critical Thinking/Digital Literacy questions.
*Non-Malaysian applicants are exempt from Bahasa Melayu questions
- Portfolio – Full documentation of prior experiential learning relevant to the course applied for. Learning experiences must have sufficient evidence for them to be assessed.
- Interview (for Postgraduate courses only) – An oral interview assessing candidate’s skills and competencies to undergo tertiary studies.
- Research Intent and Presentation (Postgraduate research-based courses only) – Candidates are required to create and present a research proposal on the related field. Research skills and other skills required for the field will be assessed. For example, should research require laboratory work, laboratory skills will be tested.
Here are the components of assessment and how much they contribute to the overall assessment score for each level:
- Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma
| Component | Weightage |
| Aptitude Test | 100% |
| Portfolio | Submission only |
- Bachelor’s, Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate
| Component | Weightage |
| Aptitude Test | 30% |
| Portfolio | 70% |
- Master, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate (Coursework/Mixed Mode)
| Component | Weightage |
| Aptitude Test | 40% |
| Portfolio | 40% |
| Interview | 20% |
- Master, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate (Fully Research-Based)
| Component | Weightage |
| Aptitude Test | Not required |
| Portfolio | 50% |
| Research Intent & Presentation | 30% |
| Interview | 20% |
- Doctorate (Coursework/Mixed Mode)
| Component | Weightage |
| Aptitude Test | Not required |
| Portfolio | 50% |
| Research Intent & Presentation | 30% |
| Interview | 20% |
- Doctorate (Fully Research-Based)
| Component | Weightage |
| Aptitude Test | Not required |
| Portfolio | 50% |
| Research Intent & Presentation | 30% |
| Interview | 20% |
To pass the assessment and receive their APEL.A certificate, candidates are required to obtain at least 50% in each assessment component.
Steps To Apply APEL.A
Once you’re sure that APEL.A is the pathway for you, these are the steps you need to take to register:
- Head to the APEL.A Portal to register. You’ll also need to register to the Assessment Centre you’d like to take the test at.
- Take the aptitude test and submit your portfolio at the assessment centres.
- For postgraduate courses, the aptitude test is not required. Instead, you’ll need to attend and interview and do a research presentation segment after your portfolio submission.
- Wait for the results and await your certificate upon successful completion.
How Long Is The Application Process?
The entire APEL.A process usually takes about 2 to 4 months.
Universities That Accept APEL.A
APEL.A is accepted by most universities in Malaysia as part of their admission criteria to general courses.
However, certain courses governed by professional bodies or doctorate courses may have additional entry requirements.
4. APEL (Credit) – APEL.C
As the name suggests, APEL.C takes prior learning experiences and counts those toward your course completion based on the fulfilment of the module’s key learning outcomes.
It shortens the study duration by granting credits to subjects candidates are already knowledgeable about.
Note: You can only obtain a maximum of 30% of your course credits through APEL.C.
For example, if your degree requires 120 credits in order to graduate, you can get a maximum of 36 credits through APEL.C. You’ll still have to attend and complete the other modules for your remaining 84 credits.
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APEL.C Requirements
APEL.C applicants need to be active students registered to a course at a higher education institution that accepts APEL.C credits. It is applicable across all levels of qualifications except research-based postgraduate courses.
There are no other requirements other than passing the APEL.C assessments.
APEL.C Methods Of Assessment
APEL.C has two methods of assessment. Candidates are only required to undergo one of them to obtain the credits.
- Challenge Test
A combination of written, oral or practical tests that assess whether a candidate’s knowledge and skills meet the learning outcomes of the course.
OR
- Portfolio
Documentation of the candidate’s past learning experiences, complete with authentic evidence of learning. The items must showcase the candidate’s prior learning that aligns with the course’s learning outcomes.
The candidate must receive an evaluation of at least 50% of the course learning outcomes in order to pass this assessment and receive credits for the course.
The fees for APEL.C assessment is determined by the university of the candidate’s enrolled course.
Steps To Apply For APEL.C
Instead of applying through an MQA Portal, the application should be done through your university.
- First, make sure you’re enrolled first at a university that offers APEL.C credits.
- Visit your university’s APEL centre. An advisor will be assigned to guide you through the self-assessment process and determine if you should proceed.
- Once you have the greenlight from your advisor, you can submit your application documents to your university’s APEL centre and begin your assessment.
- If you pass successfully, wait for your endorsement from the university’s academic board. Course credits will be awarded following the endorsement.
How Long Is The Application Process?
Duration for application processing depends on the higher education institution. However, it typically takes 2 to 4 months to complete the entire process.
Universities That Accept APEL.C
Not all universities are MQA approved to evaluate the APEL.C qualification. Check out the list of universities that offer this on the MQA APEL.C website.
5. APEL (Qualification) – APEL.Q
APEL.Q awards academic qualification based on its assessment of a candidate’s prior learning. For adults with vast work experiences, this means forgoing traditional academic pathways and earning that degree award through this alternative pathway.
APEL.Q Requirements
The candidate has to be an active student registered to a course at a higher education institution that accepts APEL.Q accreditation. The applicant will also need to meet the minimum work experience requirements in a relevant field.
| Academic Level | Work Experience (years) |
| Certificate | 5 |
| Diploma | 10 |
| Advanced Diploma | 12 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 15 |
| Master’s Degree | 20 |
| Doctorate | 25 |
APEL.Q Method of Assessment
APEL.Q essentially offers credits for the whole course without the candidate needing to participate in the usual course pathway.
The assessment stage is much more rigorous than APEL.A or APEL.C. The candidates for APEL.Q are required to prepare and submit all of the following items in order:
- Portfolio submission (20%)
A documentation of the candidate’s past learning experiences, complete with authentic evidence of learning. The items must showcase the candidate’s prior learning that aligns with the course’s learning outcomes.
- Field and Validation Visit (20%)
A field visit will be conducted at the candidate’s workplace to assess the candidate’s application of competencies and knowledge.
- Challenge Test (30%)
A standardised test is administered to assess the achievement of the candidate based on the programme’s core competencies. The test is devised and adjusted according to the field of study being evaluated.
- Capstone Course (30%)
Upon successful completion of the previous three assessment items, candidates will participate in the capstone course. This is equivalent to a course’s “final year project”, which tests the extent of the candidate’s comprehension of the field of study to establish that the candidate possesses knowledge of the field that meets the standard of the academic qualification.
The candidate must receive an evaluation of at least 50% of the course learning outcomes in order to pass this assessment and obtain the qualification.
The fees for APEL.Q assessment is determined by the university of the candidate’s enrolled programme.
Steps To Apply For APEL.Q
- Start your APEL.Q application by registering on the MQA APEL.Q Portal. You will also indicate your chosen course at the listed higher education institutions in this application.
- Once eligibility has been assessed by a representative from the higher education institution, you are able to start the assessment process.
- Qualification will be awarded after successfully passing all assessments.
How Long Is The Application Process?
The application timeline is not distinct from the overall APEL.Q process as assessment begins upon registration. The entire process for APEL.Q ranges across a timeline of 1 to 2 years, depending on the schedule of various assessment components.
Universities That Offer APEL.Q
Higher education providers need to be accredited by MQA in order to offer APEL.Q qualifications. Check out the list of approved universities and courses on the MQA official APEL.Q page.
6. APEL (Micro-Credential) – APEL.M
APEL.M is a pathway of obtaining qualification through micro-credentials. Candidates can obtain their qualification through presenting all their certification from single micro-courses or a series of micro-courses.
Should someone have enough of these short courses stacked up in their portfolio, they would be eligible to apply for a qualification through the APEL.M track.
The credit transfer is not limited to the 30% of total graduating credits unlike APEL.C. In fact, APEL.M requires at least 50% of the course’s credits to be obtained through prior micro-courses.
The candidate may choose to continue the completion of the remaining credits formally (at selected higher education institutions only).
APEL.M Requirements
| Academic Level | Min Age Requirement | Assessment Fee (RM) * |
| Certificate | 19 years old | 240 |
| Diploma / Advanced Diploma | 20 years old | 240 |
| Bachelor’s Degree / Graduate Diploma / Graduate Certificate | 21 years old | 350 |
| Master’s Degree / Postgraduate Diploma / Postgraduate Certificate | 30 years old | 450 |
| Doctorate | 35 years old | 550 |
*Fees for Malaysian students.
APEL.M Methods Of Assessment
Candidates are only required to submit their portfolio containing digital certificates of completion from all their relevant micro-courses.
To be eligible for obtaining the qualification, the micro-course learning must amount to 50% of the programme’s learning outcomes.
No other submissions or assessments are required.
Steps To Apply APEL.M
- Apply for APEL.M on the MQA APEL.M Portal.
- Once eligibility is confirmed, candidates are to register themselves at an APEL.M Assessment Centre.
- Proceed with the portfolio submission with the assessment centre and await your results.
How Long Is The Application Process
The entire APEL.M process usually takes about 2 to 4 months.
Universities That Accept APEL.M
Unlike APEL.A, APEL.M cannot be freely used as an access card to university courses. Only the higher education institution that the APEL.M certificate was awarded at can consider that for admission.
Currently in Malaysia only Wawasan Open University is authorised to accept APEL.M candidates.
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