Table of Contents
Congratulations on completing your SPM and waving goodbye to your incredible secondary school journey!
Where to go after SPM? What is a fresh grad to do next?
Worry not! We have created this comprehensive guide to help you understand your study and financing options.
1. Pathway Choices After SPM
If you’re looking to start your pathway to a university in Malaysia after SPM, here are the most common pathways taken by your fellow peers:
- Foundation
- International Pre-University
- Diploma
- Malaysian Matriculation
- STPM
- TVET
Foundation
A Foundation course aims to equip students with the basic skills and knowledge needed before taking on a bachelor’s degree. The subjects of a Foundation are typically tailored to fit the future degree curricula offered by the same institution.
Therefore, most students who opt for Foundation as their next destination after SPM, usually have decided on the university they want to enrol into.
Among the popular types of foundations offered by Malaysian institutions are
- Foundation in Science
- Foundation in Arts
Certain universities offer specialised foundation tracks such as
- Foundation in Medicine
- Foundation in Engineering
- Foundation in Computing
In Malaysia, students after SPM may choose to enter private or public tertiary. ”Asasi” is fondly referred to when it comes to the Foundation level of public universities.
Foundation/Asasi generally takes one year to complete.
International Pre-University
International pre-university courses are preparatory programmes similar to Foundations but they are internationally recognised and serve as an alternative to students who may not want to settle on any particular university or country yet.
The syllabus comes from an independent education qualification provider/organisation but is typically taught and administered by a college or university.
Here are 4 popular international pre-university courses among Malaysian students: A-Level, AUSMAT/SACE, CIMP and ADTP.
A-Level Programme
Get to know A-Level better with 10 things you should know before taking A-Level in Malaysia.
- A-Level, otherwise known as Advanced Level Qualifications, is a UK-based programme.
- Known to be a challenging qualification that is globally recognised. Accepted by any university.
- A-Level focuses fully on examinations. Students choose 3 to 4 subjects that is relevant to the area of study they are planning for degree.
- This pathway in Malaysia generally takes 1.5 to 2 years to complete.
Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT / SACE)
We also made a full comparison in this AUSMAT and SACE One Stop Guide article.
- Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) and the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) are Australian-based pre-university programmes.
- Generally recognised worldwide and especially if you plan to study in Australia.
- You complete 5 preferred subjects. Assessment of examination vs coursework is a 50%:50% split for AUSMAT and 30%:70% for SACE.
- Awarded an ATAR rank once you have reached the finish line which is used as the benchmark to enter a degree.
- Both take 1 year to complete.
Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP)
Deep dive into 7 Important Facts Before You Join CIMP.
- CIMP is a year 12 secondary school curriculum. It has requirements set by the Ontario Ministry of Education in Canada.
- Generally accepted globally but students who take CIMP also have plans to further their degree studies in Canada.
- Another reason students like CIMP is because of its exam to coursework split of 30%:70% only.
- Duration is about 1 year to compelte.
American Degree Transfer Programme (ADTP)
Check out our comprehensive ADTP Everything You Need To Know guide.
- ADTP is technically a degree programme rather than a foundational study. Nevertheless, you can enter ADTP directly with a SPM qualification.
- You typically spend 2 years in Malaysia and the final 2 years in the US. ADTP provides pathways into hundreds of established universities in the US.
- Popular universities among Malaysians include Arizona State University, San Jose State University, Iowa State University, and California State University.
- You also have a chance to apply to Ivy League institutions like Princeton University, Harvard University, and Yale University.
- Assessment split of 70% coursework and 30% examination.
Diploma
A diploma course is equivalent to the first year of a degree, with a hands-on learning experience at its core. Colleges and universities combine coursework, final examination and final year internship to equip students with industry-specific skills.
Diplomas take about 2 to 2.5 years to complete. However, certain healthcare diploma courses such as Nursing or Physiotherapy take up to 3 years.
Upon completing a diploma, you can either enter the workforce or directly enter the second year of a related degree course.
For example, completing a Diploma in IT will allow you to qualify for a Bachelor in Computer Science.
Here are recommendations of the 10 Best Diploma Courses To Study In Malaysia!
Malaysian Matriculation
The Malaysian Matriculation programme or fondly referred to as Matrikulasi is another pathway besides Asasi to enter into the public university system.
It has the same concept as an International Pre-University course, where it is not attached to any public university. Upon completion, students can opt to apply to any public university in Malaysia such as Universiti Malaya, UKM or UiTM.
In Matrikulasi, you can choose from 4 general streams:
- Science,
- Accounting,
- Professional Accounting, and
- Engineering.
Each stream offers you a wide variety of subjects to venture into. Grades of this course consist of
- 10%-20% classroom assignments,
- 10% mid-semester exams and
- 70%–80% final examinations.
This course will take students 1 to 2 years to complete and fees are very affordable.
Before you start applying, know these 3 facts about Matrikulasi:
STPM
If you are looking for a competitive course after SPM, STPM might just be the one.
Equivalent to GCE A-Levels, STPM stands for Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM). STPM has several benefits, including being widely accepted by most reputable universities worldwide.
You can find this pathway in selected local secondary schools. Students will choose 4 subjects in STPM, similar to A-Level.
At school, you will receive credits from 2 types of assessments:
- 20%–40% school-based assessment and
- 60%–80% final examination.
Moreover, STPM is a 2-year pathway in Malaysia that is free for students to pursue right after SPM. After completing it, you can use your STPM results to apply for a degree programme at a university locally or abroad.
TVET
Are you tired of studying? More interested in vocations that are hands-on and require physical plus technical skills?
Like a diploma programme, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) equips students with the technical skills needed to become functional workers in a skilled trade.
With multiple courses at hand, a TVET college can prepare students for a wide range of industries, such as
- Construction
- Electronics
- Fashion
- Automotive
- Culinary Arts
- Programming
TVET courses can range from 6 months to 2 years with tuition fees subsidised by the government.
2. How To Fund Your Studies
A tertiary qualification is still an essential asset to have in order to secure a job, especially in fields like engineering, healthcare and law.
However, your family may need some assistance to bridge that financial gap to pay for your higher education.
Common forms of financial aids available to students in Malaysia are:
- PTPTN loans
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Student loans
PTPTN
PTPTN stands for Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional and is a government institution that offers study loans, specifically for tertiary education.
On the road to the top universities in Malaysia, many students apply for PTPTN after SPM. It has a low interest rate of just 1% per annum. As a bonus, students who achieve first-class honours upon graduation can convert this education loan into full scholarship!
However, PTPTN loan applications have certain requirements for you to meet, such as
- minimum qualification,
- household income, and
- the type of institution.
Upon graduation, you will have 12 months to secure a job before repayment commences.
Here are other facts you need to know about PTPTN and its repayment:
Scholarships & Bursaries
Another way to fund your university course is through scholarships.
Scholarships are financial aid awarded either by education foundations, corporations or the universities themselves.
They are awarded based on academic or non-academic achievements, and students do not have to make repayments.
Common types of scholarships include:
- Government scholarships: Competitive and require you to work for the government for a number of years upon graduation. Example, Bank Negara Scholarship, Khazanah Scholarship.
- Non-profit foundation scholarships: Special legal entities set up to manage funds that are given out as scholarships. Example, Robert Kuok Scholarship, Jeffrey Cheah Scholarship.
- Corporate scholarships: Aimed at grooming future employees of corporations, students are expected to study a course related to the corporation and are bonded to the corporation upon graduation. Examples of corporate scholarships include:
- Sarawak Energy Scholarship
- Petronas Scholarship
- CIMB Scholarship
- Gamuda Scholarship
- KLK Scholarship
- and many more
- University scholarships: They are specifically for students enrolled at the institution and are based on various conditions such as academic merits, household income, sports achievement, talent achievement or other circumstantial requirements. Can be partial or full scholarships from 10% to 100%.
Got Scholarship?
Use our Pathway Match tool to accurately get matched with your preferred courses, fees and scholarships you qualify for in 5 minutes.
Student Loans
If you do not qualify for a PTPTN loan or scholarship, don’t fret. Your road to the top universities in Malaysia does not end there.
There are student education loans for you to consider, including
- The Maybank Education Loan Malaysia,
- The AFFIN Bank Education Financing-i and
- The KOJADI Loan Scheme.
Although these loans provide financial assistance to qualified students, there is still a mountain of requirements to be fulfilled for a successful application.
These loans generally have a higher interest rate, from 3.6% to 7%.
We recommend that you only utilise loans to cover a small portion of the course fees, if absolutely needed.
3. Choosing Your Course After SPM
To further aid you in your journey to navigate the unknown and choosing smartly, here is our ultimate step-by-step guide to higher education.
Or alternatively, you can jump straight into familiarising yourself with the popular types of courses out there by going through our ultimate list of popular course guides below!
4. Choosing Your University After SPM
After you’ve explored courses that may interest you, you can check out our review of top private universities in Malaysia and also a comprehensive list of fees and courses offered by your dream university!
5. Thinking Of Studying Abroad?
Dreaming of graduating in Australia or the United Kingdom? We’ve got you covered!
Most students take off abroad at 3 different stages:
- Right after SPM, in which case you can enrol into a preparatory programme for international students.
- After completing your International Pre-University in Malaysia first. Most students do so to save money for the first year.
- Transferring university after the first year of your degree. Many top universities have official and unofficial transfer pathways to prestigious universities overseas. Check with Uni Enrol to find out!
We recommend you talk to our study abroad consultants first and check out our Ultimate Guide To Study Abroad article.
6. Visit Uni Enrol Or Book A Free Consultation
Drop by Uni Enrol Education Consultation Office and let’s kickstart your study journey together! 🎓
Find us at B-02-03, Level 2, Sunway Geo Avenue, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor. Our friendly counsellors are ready to help you discover scholarships, compare universities, plan your perfect pathway and submit your application.
We specialise in:
You can also book a free online consultation by clicking the button below!
About the Author:
Ken Hoong is the co-founder of Uni Enrol and a contributing writer. Drawing on his close work with Uni Enrol’s counsellors, he brings keen insight into Malaysia’s evolving private higher education landscape and the shifting preferences of students in learning and career choices.
You must be logged in to post a comment.