What is the Best Course to Study after A-Levels in Malaysia?

Which is the Best Degree Course in Malaysia after A-Levels?

After A-Levels or Pre-University, there are many different degree programmes at top private universities and colleges in Malaysia for you to choose from and sometimes it can be confusing. Students in Malaysia who are not sure of what to study after A-Levels or Pre-University can contact EduSpiral Consultant Services to help guide you to choose the right course and university in Malaysia.

Many students in Malaysia tend to choose their course based on what their parents or relatives recommend, rather than on what they are good at or really like to study. The end result is that a lot of Malaysian students discover that they have started on courses that may be unsuitable to them after studying a few semesters. Worse is when they start work, they find that it is not what they like.

When choosing a course students need to choose based on your personal strengths and your career goals. Let the experienced counselors at EduSpiral Consultant Services take you step-by-step through the choices. Most importantly, the right course will help you to develop skills for the long term, for your career and personal development. The skills for a successful future include, communication, English-language proficiency, problem-solving, strategic and analytical skills, creative thinking, innovation, team-work, leadership and assimilating new ideas.

There are so many courses out there and it can be confusing to choose the right course to study after A-Levels. Choosing the right course is a big decision and it is important to get it right as it can impact your future success. Choosing a course to study after A-Levels or Pre-University is not a science, it is a process in finding out who you are and what you are good at. An experienced Education Advisor would be invaluable in assisting you to choose the right course. Students need to talk to the right education counselors so that you get the right information to help you in making this life-changing decision.

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Do you have any questions for us on this article? Or need advise on choosing the right course and private university? If so, then please fill up the Enquiry Form below. Our team of experts will help you solve your queries at the earliest via WhatsApp.

Ask Experienced and Well-Informed Education Advisors to Guide You in Choosing the Right Course or Best Private University in Malaysia to Study

Ask the right Education Counselors. Would you ask a Doctor on how to repair your car? Or would you ask a mechanic for medical advise? Although this sounds ridiculous, but many students do listen to advise from young and inexperienced counselors from universities, colleges or agents’ offices.  Talking to an experienced education advisor would help you to navigate through this confusing time of choosing the best course that fits you.

Experienced education counselors are able to analyse your interests, personality and exam results to help you make a list of possible courses for consideration. EduSpiral Consultant Services staff have more than 15 years experience in counseling students. Having worked in the private education industry, we have in-depth knowledge of each private university and college in what they are good at.

EduSpiral Consultant Services has worked with our partner universities and colleges for many years while the counselors at the private universities or agents’ offices change every few years therefore they would not have the in-depth knowledge of the courses and the university that they are working at.

At EduSpiral Consultant Services, I have worked in the private higher education industry in Malaysia for more than 15 years advising students with facts and evidence on how to choose the right course after SPM. You should carefully think about what are the options available to you. To choose the best course that fits you, students may fill up our EduSpiral Career Assessment form for evaluation.

The EduSpiral Career Assessment form is a simple form designed by us that gathers information from students after SPM, O-Levels, UEC, STPM or A-Levels in order to assess their aptitude helping us to determine the most suitable course and career progression.

Help! I don’t know what course to choose to study at university- what do I do?

It is important to choose the right course to study – you don’t want to waste your time and money on a

course you don’t want to do (or end up dropping out of). To help you decide which course is right for you, make a list of courses that are of interest to you.

Is it a subject you have already studied? For example, maybe you loved the English subject and you read novels for pleasure in your own time. You can consider Teaching English as a Second Language, journalism or Mass Communication. In addition, you don’t have to do a journalism degree to become a journalist – many degrees are considered!

Maybe you’ve always been interested in computers and the internet at home, and enjoyed maths at school, so are considering a degree in computer science, a course subject you probably won’t have studied before. Experienced education counselors in Malaysia are able to analyse your interests, personality and exam results to help you make a list of possible courses for consideration.

Looking at your results in A-Levels or Pre-University as well as the SPM or O-Levels could help you to decide which course you would be good at. If you are good in Maths & Physics then you can consider Engineering courses. Having good results in Chemistry, Biology & Maths, you can think of a career in Food Science, Pharmacy or Medicine. Talking to an experienced education advisor in Malaysia would help you to navigate through this confusing time of choosing the best course that fits you.

Many students in Malaysia after A-Levels or Pre-University make the mistake of just listening to advise without verifying whether the information given is true or not. In addition, just because you have heard or seen a lot of advertisements by a particular university, doesn’t mean that it is the best in that course.

Many of the course counselors at the universities are paid by the universities to get you to register there, so their main motivation is to get you to register, not to help you make the right choice.

You should also ask yourself if you would still be interested in that subject for a further three or four years – enough to motivate yourself to work and research independently? Remember, you are going to work in this career for the next 50 years after graduation, therefore, you should have a high interest in the course.

The course that you choose should also have a job demand for you after you graduate. Choosing a course that you are passionate about without job demand and you may end up being jobless. Look for statistics and research to support whether there is a job demand for your future career in Malaysia or Singapore. Here at EduSpiral Consultant Services, we do our research on the job demand for the careers in Malaysia, Salary Reports, and universities so that we can advise our students based on facts and evidence.

Now why would you want to talk to EduSpiral Consultant Services when you can contact the private universities directly? Well, EduSpiral Consultant Services staff have more than 15 years experience in counseling students. Having worked in the private education industry, we have in-depth knowledge of each private university and college in what they are good at. We have worked with our partner universities and colleges for many years while the counselors at the private universities or agents’ offices change every few years therefore they would not have the in-depth knowledge of the courses and the university that they are working at.

What am I good at? What am I not good at?

An undergraduate degree course in Malaysia lasts three to five years – that’s a long time to spend studying something which you don’t enjoy, especially at a more intense level! First of all ask yourself what you have enjoyed studying at secondary school in Malaysia.

Your A-Levels or Pre-University and the SPM or O-Level results will show what you are actually good at. Having good results in Maths, you can consider Actuarial Science, Accounting, Computing or Finance courses. Having narrowed down to these courses, you can go for the degree.

Alternatively you can also think about subjects you definitely don’t want to study at university level and which you can’t wait to say goodbye to. Crossing these off will make your list of options smaller and less overwhelming.

Your parents and friends would also be able to give you an idea of what you are good at. Looking at your hobbies and interests would help to narrow down the list. Your hobby in drawing could open the possibility of choosing design courses.

What qualifications do I have already?

You may already have an idea of the area you want to study and find a career in, which will have dictated what subjects you’re already studying at school. However it’s good to look at the qualifications and grades you have (or are predicted to have) to see what you are already eligible to study. Some students want to study medicine but in their SPM results, they only managed to get 5Cs. To study in medicine, one needs to have at least 5Bs including the science subjects. Students need to be realistic in choosing their course of study by looking at their actual results.

Your results in A-Levels or Pre-University would also determine which course that you can study. If your actual results do not meet the entry requirements for your particular course of interest, then you may need to consider other options or to resit the A-Levels or Pre-University exam to get the necessary results.

What are my interests?

If you can’t think of an academic subject which you’re especially strong at or one which you would want to pursue at university-level, think about your non-academic interests outside of school. It’s likely that you’re much more passionate about these but you’ve never even thought you could study a course related to these (or pursue a career in this area).

Your hobbies, interests and which clubs & societies that you have joined in secondary school would give you some idea of what you are good at. These, together with your actual results would contribute to your decision-making process in choosing the right course of study.

New courses are being created all the time to prepare and develop talent for growing industries, such as animation or computer game design. Projects, events and knowledge related to these interests can all contribute to show that you’re passionate about this area and eligible to study on a course which can prepare you for a related career.

In other cases there may be several routes to your dream career, some of which may allow you to study something different before transferring or. Talk to those who are already working in this area to see how they got to where they are now, including what they studied (or even what they wish they had studied).

What do I want to do for my career?

You may have a clear idea of what you want to do for a career which makes choosing a course to study easier, particularly if you want to become a doctor or lawyer. You can search our articles section to see if we’ve already written about your dream graduate career and how you can achieve this.

When making a decision about your career, it is important to take into consideration the average salary. Starting salaries in Malaysia is about RM2800 to RM3000 for most careers while starting salaries in Singapore is about SGD2714. Although starting salaries is generally the same level for everyone, what you do in the following years of your job will determine how much higher you would get.

Therefore, it is also important to choose the right university that would equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to move up in your career. Many students make the mistake of choosing the cheapest university for their studies and then later realise that they cannot get the promotion or salary increment because they did not get the skills needed. English is one of these skills that most students do not take seriously about its importance for promotion and salary increments in future jobs.

Think about it, if you are unable to write a report or email in proper English or do a presentation smoothly, how would you be able to become a manager or CEO eventually?

Best Education Pathway After A-Levels or Pre-University in Malaysia

Students after A-Levels or Pre-University who did not achieve the necessary results for entry into the degree programmes can consider going into the Diploma course in Malaysia or Singapore. You would use your SPM results to enter the Diploma course.

The Diploma pathway in Malaysia for students after SPM is 2 or 2.5 years and then enter into Year 2 of the Degree programme.

Completing a degree at top private colleges in Singapore is the fastest pathway after SPM. Students will take 7 to 12 months to complete a Diploma and then enter into the Degree programme for another 2 years. Students who choose to study at top private colleges in Singapore can complete the degree in less than 3 years after their SPM. Therefore, for those who failed their A-Levels or Foundation in Malaysia, studying the diploma in Singapore is the best way to obtaining a degree in less than 3 years thus saving them the time that they had lost.

There are many types of diploma and Pre-University courses in Malaysia & Singapore as well as hundreds of undergraduate majors to choose from. But knowing the right one for you is the most difficult decision. If you read this guide from start to finish, you’ll know the best courses in Malaysia that would suit you.

If you are not sure what to study, do ask a trained counselor and always make decisions based on evidence and facts. The decisions that you make now, can change your life forever.

You can contact us for a free career test to help you understand yourself better so that you are able to make the right decision.

How to Choose the Right Course to Study after A-Levels or Pre-University in Malaysia?

It can be confusing to choose the right course afterA-Levels or Pre-University . You should carefully think about what are the options available to you. To choose the best course that fits you, you need to consider the following:

• Look at your results – what are your best & worst subjects, and which subjects are your favourite?
• What are your interests & hobbies?
• What is your passion?
• Job demand for the career of choice. There is no point in choosing a course out of passion and then graduate to find out that you cannot get a job in that field.
• Salary of the career of choice
• Discuss the budget for your studies with your parents. There is no point in choosing a course like Pharmacy or Medicine, if you cannot afford it.

Choosing the Best Course to Study after A-Levels or Pre-University in Malaysia

Choosing the right course to study in Malaysia or Singapore after your A-Levels or Pre-University is one of the most important decisions you can make in your life. This can be a confusing and difficult time if you are unprepared.

With the wide variety of courses available to a student, the time after A-Levels or Pre-University can be a confusing one if not guided properly by an experienced and knowledgeable education counselor.

It can be confusing for students to choose the right major for their undergraduate degree studies in Malaysia or Singapore.

Preparations should have been made even before this time but fear not it is still not too late if you have not decided on a career path. It is important for you to research carefully the career that you intend to pursue.

After your A-Levels or Pre-University in Malaysia, you do not have time to really decide on which course to study for your degree. What you studied in your A-Levels or Pre-University would also determine what you can study for your degree. If you had taken Arts subjects for your A-Levels or Pre-University, you cannot choose to study science-related degree programmes.

Choosing the Best Course to Study after A-Levels or Pre-University in Malaysia

After completing your A-Levels or Pre-University programme you will need to choose what to study in your degree in Malaysia or Singapore. You do not have the time to choose which degree course. The time that you took during your A-Levels or Pre-University should have been used to decide what to study at degree level.

Your results inA-Levels or Pre-University as well as the SPM or O-Levels would give you an idea of what you are actually good at. Furthermore, you would need to look at the entry requirements into the degree programmes as well. If you do not meet the entry requirements, then there is no point to consider taking that particular course.

Decision-Making Process on How to Choose the Best Course to Study in Malaysia

At EduSpiral Consultant Services, we have counseled and helped thousands of students to choose the right course and private university to study in Malaysia. Based on our experience we have come up with three simple steps that I will call the GEM method which will help you in your decision-making.

1. Gather Information.
2. Evaluate the Information.
3. Make a Decision.

1.   Gather Information – Gather information relevant and related to your course & career of interest

A.    Gather all relevant information on the courses that interest you. Make a list of your interests, likes,

strengths, hobbies and talents. Also ask your family members and friends to tell you what you are good at.

Make a simple list of your interests, your hobbies and what you are actually good at. Don’t put down things that you are interested to do but write down things that you know that you are good at. For example, you are good in debates, sports, mathematics, fixing cars, and others.

Your interests should be realistic and related to your strengths and what you are good at. For example, if you are interested in becoming an engineer but your results in Mathematics and Physics are consistently low, you may want to reconsider your choice or if you want to be a musician but cannot play any instrument, it would be an unwise move to choose music as your career pathway.

B.    Show your family members and friends the list and ask them whether you are actually good at the things you have listed.

Have your friends go through the list and give comments on how good you are at your interests, hobbies and talents. Your parents and trusted friends may give you a different perspective on what you are good at. This is valuable insight that will help you in your decision-making.

C.    Talk to your parents, uncles, aunts, cousins and older siblings who are knowledgeable or working in that field

Your parents and older siblings may have good insights into your abilities and offer good suggestions. Ask them what talents they think you have and maybe what career options would be good for you.

Know yourself. Your SPM results is a guide of what you are good at. If you do well in Sejarah, BM and English, you can consider Marketing, Mass Comm, or Business. If you are good in Modern Maths, you can consider Business Admin, Finance or Accounting. For Add Maths & Physics, engineering, software engineering, IT, or programming.

So, choose according to what you are good at, not what you think you are good at. If you are still not sure, talk to your parents,

friends, school counselor or professionals in your field of interest to find out more.

Remember some relatives just simply share information that is not supported by facts or evidence. When asking for opinions, ask from people who are knowledgeable and experienced. Would you ask a doctor how to repair your car? If not, then do not simply listen to hearsay and gossip.

D.    Talk to an experienced career guidance counsellor in Malaysia

Look for an experienced Career Guidance Counselor or Education Advisor in Malaysia to help you. They should have years of experience in helping students in making the right choices. Some of these education advisors have no experience or are just fresh graduates working at the Agents’ Offices. You must ask yourself how much experience would a 24-year old in counseling students? Is he or she knowledgeable about the course content, the requirements for professional accreditation, job demand, job salary, and other important information.

E.    Talk to professionals in the field of interest in Malaysia

Talk to professionals in the fields that you are interested in to find out what they do. Ask them what they do in their jobs, what they like about it, what are its future prospects, what type of talents are required for the work, and other relevant questions.

Visit their place of work if possible to gain a ‘feel’ for their type of work. Talking to the professionals will help you gain a wider perspective and insight into the type of work. They will be able share with you inside information on the work.

F.     Attend education fairs in Malaysia

Go for education fairs and talk to the lecturers and counselors but do not register to quickly. Listen to their advise and take the information and then talk to your parents. Remember that the colleges and universities want your money for their “business” so they will want you to register quickly.

Take time to think carefully and do not be taken in by the sales gimmicks of getting a car or iPad or discount if you register on the spot.

Talk to the various counsellors at the booths to find out more information about the individual careers. Ask about tuition costs,

short description of the career, job prospects, facilities offered in the college, and others.

Check with them to see if the course is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), if you can apply for the PTPTN loan and how much you can apply for, how long is the course, etc.

Students should also visit the university’s campus to get a feel of what the student environment is like, look at the facilities and talk to the lecturers. EduSpiral Consultant Services provides a free campus visit to our partner universities.

G.    Use the Internet 

Google the Internet to find out in detail about your course of interest. Use these resources available to you to find out more information about the careers that you are interested in.

H. Course Content of the Degree Programmes at top private universities and college in Malaysia or Singapore

Even though the title of the degree programme is the same at various universities, the course content or subjects offered are different. You should look at the subjects from the universities and compare. Make sure that they are solid enough to prepare you for a successful career in Malaysia or Singapore.

2.     Evaluate the information.

After you have gathered all the necessary information then you need to weigh your options.

Go through all the information and choose the careers that you would like to take up and take out those that you don’t like.

Make a pros and cons list for each career that you like. From the information evaluate the points carefully on its workability, your financial viability, future prospects, your interests and results.

You can make a ranking of the top choices down to the least favourable choices.

The entry requirements for the courses and the budget for your studies will also assist in making your decision.

Should you be interested in medicine but is not from the Science stream or have at least 5Bs in the SPM, then it is not possible to study medicine.

Or if you want to study medicine but do not have at least RM400,000 for the fees, then it is no point to choose this course unless you score very high and is able to get a scholarship to study in private or you take the STPM to enter into Public University.

3.     Make the decision

After evaluating all the information that you have, now you are ready to make a decision. Decide on maybe four career choices. For example, you may want to put your first career choice as Medicine, second in Pharmacy, third in Food Science and fourth in Nutrition. When one does not work out because of grades, finances or interest then you have a back up choice.

Remember two things: It is okay to change career options during your time of study, however, you need to make informed and educated choices. Secondly, the career that you choose should meet your needs and fit your beliefs and character. You must be happy with the choice and one where it would fit your desired financial status.

• List your strengths, what you are good at, your favourite subjects, the subjects that you do well in, etc.
• List your weaknesses, what you are not good at, what you don’t like, the subjects that you suck at, etc.
• List down your hobbies, interests, likes and dislikes, your personality, etc.
• Discuss the list with your parents, teachers, counselors, or friends
• Search the Internet for descriptions of careers and courses
• Does the course you have chose interest you, how much is the starting salary? What does the work involve?