Have you always had a curiosity and interest in the current economic state your country is in?
Or perhaps, a general wonder on how banking and accounting know how much interest rate should they charge from us?
If these are questions you’ve had, then studying Finance just might be the right course for you.
In this course, you will be given the chance to explore and understand the basic fundamentals of money and how to manage it.
To learn more about studying Finance in Malaysia, do read on!
What is Finance?
Finance deals with money management, from investing and budgeting, to saving, and borrowing.
There are three main types of finance: personal, corporate, and public or government.
In order for any of these three to operate, they need money.
For example, for you to live your life desirably, you need money to purchase the goods and services you need and want.
Likewise, for a business to continue working, they need to make good financial decisions as to how they can profit off their customers.
It goes the same way for the public/government.
In order for the government to ensure that public property such as roads, traffic lights, transportation, and even public healthcare systems are well maintained, they need to be receiving from a good financial source.
With a degree in Finance, you will be given the chance to learn deeper of how money works in businesses and the value it creates.
If you have a passion for mathematics, investments, economics, and such, then perhaps choosing Finance as your major is the right pathway for you!
Why Should You Study Finance?
Finance careers are in-demand
In today’s economy, a lot of individuals and organisations are in much need of proper financial strategies to budget their earnings.
From small business owners to multinational corporations, finance experts have been sought after.
A lot of things have changed and evolved over the years, especially during the pandemic.
Yet, the one remaining constant for any economy is still money.
In today’s market, financial advisors are critically needed to guide businesses through the current economic state to either help them survive or thrive by maximising profit.
Financial education is a necessity
Regardless of the career pathway you choose to be in, it is undeniable that financial knowledge is essential.
As a finance student, you will be covering topics on understanding the difference between assets and liabilities, how to budget your income, as well as where and how to invest.
Aside from learning the theoretical view of money, you will also be given the opportunity to test it out.
This means you will learn how to deal with the risks and be willing to admit to your mistakes; all of which will give you a deeper comprehension of the way money works, thus giving you the advantage of making money-wise decisions.
You will strengthen your problem-solving skills
Specifically for those who enjoy mathematics, you will find a lot of pleasure as you solve challenging problems.
In finance, you will have to deal with a variety of theories as you seek to solve a finance-related issue.
This will require you to use critical thinking to consider the money, time, and risks at hand.
To be able to solve an intricate financial problem, will provide you with an incredible feeling of satisfaction of having completed such a tenuous task.
If you already enjoy the feeling you receive from maths, a degree in finance will undoubtedly do this for you.
What are the Subjects in Finance?
In the study of Finance, you will be learning through a plethora of subjects to cover all the basic fundamentals and in-depth knowledge you need.
Below are a few of the subjects you may expect from this programme:
- Introduction to Finance
- Corporate Finance
- Business Law
- Financial Markets
- Financial Reporting
- Corporate Reporting
- Quantitative Methods for Business
- Personal Financial Planning
- Auditing
- Introduction to Accounting
- Strategic Management
What are the Popular Finance Pathways?
After completing your SPM or O-Level, you may choose to apply to a pre-university programme such as a Foundation in Arts, A-Level, AUSMAT, SACE, STPM, or equivalent.
These programmes typically take 1 – 2 years to complete.
You may also choose to head straight into finance by taking a Diploma in Finance, which will take you 2 years to complete.
So what does your pathway look like?
Diploma in Finance
To qualify for a diploma course, you only need to have 3 credits in SPM/O-Level, including a pass in Mathematics and English.
Diploma courses usually take between 2 to 2.5 years to complete and cost from RM 22,000.
You can enter the workforce immediately after graduation.
Bachelor’s Degree in Finance
For degree courses, you will need to have 5 credits in SPM/O-Level qualification, including a pass in Mathematics and English, and the following pre-university course:
- STPM: min. 2Cs
- A-Level: min. 2Ds
- AUSMAT/SACE: min. ATAR 65
- CIMP: min. average of 65%
- Relevant Foundation: min. CGPA of 2.50
- Relevant Diploma: min. CGPA of 2.50
A pre-university course can take up to 2 years to complete and cost from RM 10,000.
Once you’ve completed your pre-university course, you can then move on to the degree course.
Degree courses take 3 years to complete and cost from RM 52,000.
Diploma students who want to continue their studies can do so with a degree course and they begin in Year 2.
What are the Skills Required to Study Finance?
In order to thrive in the study of finance, you will need the following skills to prepare for your future career:
Accounting skills: You must have the ability to keep track, record, and manage financial transactions.
Problem-solving: Not all finance-related issues are the same and you will need to know what is the best solution for your company.
Critical and Analytical Thinking: Critical and analytical thinking complement your problem-solving skills because you will need to clearly identify the issue and make decisions based on the information available.
Detail oriented: Part of your work requires you to go through a large amount of data so being detail oriented will ensure that your work is always meticulous.
Top Finance Universities in Malaysia
Taylor’s University
Taylor’s Business School is well equipped to help students create a deeper understanding of economic behaviour and its relationship with the financial sector.
Finance students have the opportunity to work with industry partners on real-world projects, and receive immediate feedback and review from the market in the process.
Finance courses offered:
- Foundation in Business (Accounting)
- Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Banking and Finance
- Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Finance and Economics
- Bachelor of Accounting & Finance (Honours)
INTI International University & College
At INTI, their business school consists of practical workshops and theoretical lectures.
INTI Business Leadership Series (ILS) give students the opportunity to network with global CEOs and top industry leaders.
Finance courses offered:
- Foundation in Business
- Diploma in Finance
- BA (Hons) Finance
- Bachelor of Accounting & Finance (Honours)
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Accounting and Finance
- Bachelor of Banking and Finance (Honours)
- Bachelor of Business (Hons) Finance
Multimedia University (MMU)
MMU is one of the few private universities in Malaysia that students can use PTPTN loan to pay for the Foundation studies.
It is also one of the few universities in Malaysia with a full-fledged Bloomberg lab for financial analysis.
Finance courses offered:
- Foundation in Business
- Foundation in Management
- Diploma in Finance
- Bachelor of Financial Engineering (Hons)
- Bachelor of Finance (Hons)
Things You Need to Know About a Finance Career
One of the most popular areas for you to begin your employment in the finance sector is in either investment banking or risk management.
Do be aware that the competition within the banking sector is high.
This is due to a combination of limited job openings and high salary.
In order to secure your first job, you will need to have the right mix of skills, personality, and character.
Popular Finance Jobs
Once you have graduated from your university, you may begin applying for positions in your preferred choice of company.
According to JobStreet, here are some of the job vacancies available for Finance students:
- Junior Finance Executive
- Finance Executives (Junior)
As you enter into the financial sector, do take note that you would need to build your portfolio as a finance professional and gain as much experience as you can in order to climb the corporate ladder.
According to Payscale, the average base salary you can expect to earn as a finance professional can start from RM 48,013.
We hope you found this article helpful!
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