Which is the Best Engineering Degree Course to Study in Malaysia?

What are the different types of engineering degree courses you can study in Malaysia?

There are many fields of engineering that students can choose to study after SPM,  IGCSE O-O-Levels, UEC or A-Levels. Therefore, it can be confusing to choose the right engineering course that fits you. In order to choose the right engineering field, you must do the research to understand each engineering field, the job prospects and your interests in that field. The  traditional types, or disciplines, of engineering that students can choose to study are chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical.

Engineering may not be the easiest course to study, but it continues to be in demand in Malaysia and globally. You’re also more likely to find employment quickly and work your way up the career ladder with an engineering degree from a top private university in Malaysia. The key benefits of studying engineering are both financial and prospect based. Financially, the starting salaries are among the best across all industry sectors. The demand for well-qualified, skilled graduates outstrips supply, and companies are struggling to find recruits for vacancies locally and globally. Therefore, graduates have the opportunity to work overseas.

You may also be interested to read:

• Top Engineering Degree Courses to Study in Malaysia
• Top 8 Engineering Courses to Study in Malaysia
• Top 10 Private Universities in Malaysia for Engineering Degree, Foundation & Diploma
• Top 10 Private Universities in Malaysia for Engineering
• Why Study the Foundation in Engineering at a Top Private University in Malaysia?
• Why is the Accreditation by Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) important in my Engineering Degree Studies at Private Universities in Malaysia?
• Education Pathway to Professional Engineer in Malaysia after Studying a BEM Accredited Engineering Degree

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The major types of Engineering that students can choose to study in Malaysia

In addition to the traditional engineering disciplines, a wide range of more specialised areas of study have evolved. Aerospace, nuclear, ocean, safety, materials engineering and environmental engineering are just a few of the many disciplines you may choose to study in Malaysia.

• Aerospace Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronic Engineering
• Telecommunication Engineering

What is Engineering?

Engineering is applying scientific and mathematical knowledge to develop solutions for designing and implementing materials, structures, machines, devices, systems and processes to achieve the desired objective. They use science to create more efficient and less expensive commercial applications that meet the needs of society and consumers.

Engineering is both a science and an art. Engineers use the scientific knowledge of behavior and properties of matter and creatively design buildings, dams, chips, plants, robots, and more.

Many engineers develop new products. During this process, they consider several factors.

For example, in developing an industrial robot, engineers precisely specify the functional requirements; design and test the robot’s components; integrate the components to produce the final design; and evaluate the design’s overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety.

This process applies to the development of many different products, such as chemicals, computers, power plants, helicopters, and toys.

In addition to design and development, many engineers work in testing, production, or maintenance. These engineers supervise production in factories, determine the causes of component failure, and test manufactured products to maintain quality. They also estimate the time and cost to complete projects.

Engineers use computers extensively to produce and analyze designs; to simulate and test how a machine, structure, or system operates; to generate specifications for parts; and to monitor product quality and control process efficiency.

What do we study in the Engineering Degree Programme in Malaysia?

Engineering is the art of applying the principles of science, experience, judgement and common sense to create things that benefit our society. An undergraduate degree in engineering introduces you to the concepts that you will need to analyze, design and develop technology.

The five largest traditional types, or disciplines, of engineering are chemical, civil, electrical, industrial and mechanical.

In addition to these five disciplines, a wide range of more specialised areas of study have evolved. Aerospace, nuclear, ocean, safety and environmental engineering are just a few of the many disciplines you may choose to study.

A bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution usually takes 3 to 4 years of full-time study.

The first few years of study are typically dedicated to building a strong theoretical foundation, with the final years providing specialisation and practical applications of theory.

Each of the major branches of engineering has numerous subdivisions. Civil engineering, for example, includes structural and transportation engineering, and materials engineering includes ceramic, metallurgical, and polymer engineering.

Engineers also may specialize in one industry, such as motor vehicles, or in one type of technology, such as turbines or semiconductor materials.

There are many nontechnical attributes that you will gain during the course of your study in engineering. Interpersonal skills, written and oral communication skills, ethical conduct and the ability to work in teams are all essential qualities of a successful engineer.

It is important to choose the best university in Malaysia to study engineering so that you can gain the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in your career.

Choosing a university with an English-speaking student environment is important as well so that the environment can force you to improve your language skills.

What are the basic subjects taken in an engineering course in Malaysia?

Engineering students study calculus, physics, chemistry, computer science, English, electric circuits, engineering statics, thermal sciences, logic, engineering design, and introduction, then go to more discipline specific courses.

What type of students should study engineering?

Students intending to pursue this field of study should have an aptitude for mathematics and science subjects especially Physics. Students after SPM or IGCSE O-Levels who are interested in Chemistry, Physics and Maths should consider studying Chemical Engineering or Petroleum Engineering.

They should be analytical and creative as well. Because engineers spend much of their time solving problems, a strong engineering candidate should enjoy problem solving.

Is engineering a difficult course?

There is no doubt that engineering course will challenge you and require a high amount of dedication. Consistency is the key to success in any study.

Design and other practical skills should be included, in addition to technical writing and oral presentation. On top of this, engineers will have to communicate their ideas to a non-technical audience.

There is no easy way to becoming a real engineer. Students should avoid looking or the easy option. Engineering degrees should teach them to think for themselves. They will need to develop practical skills while building a firm base of fundamental knowledge.

What types of jobs do Malaysian engineers perform?

Engineers work in consulting, design, project management, construction management, research, testing product development,

sales, marketing, production, and others. Engineers work in different environments: manufacturing plants, offices, laboratories, construction sites, and others. Normally, engineers work in teams so the prospective engineer has to be a team player.

What type of jobs Malaysian Engineers work in?

Engineers find jobs in consulting, design, project management, construction management, research testing, product development, sales & marketing, production management and more.

What are the Types of Engineering Fields that Students Can Study in Malaysia?

What is Aerospace Engineering?

Aerospace engineers study the flight of all types of vehicles in all environments. Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, helicopters, hydrofoils, ships, and submerging ocean vehicles and supervise the manufacture of these products.

They develop new technologies for use in aviation, defense systems, and space exploration, often specialising in areas such as structural design, guidance, navigation and control, instrumentation and communication, or production methods.

Areas of specialisation include aerodynamics, propulsion, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, acoustics, orbital mechanics, stability and control, structures, design and testing. Those who work with aircraft are called aeronautical engineers.

The demand for Aerospace Engineers may not be high in Malaysia and in general it is recommended to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering and then specialize later.

Sample of Aerospace Engineering subjects at degree level at top universities in Malaysia

Computational Aerodynamics, Composite Design and Manufacture, Helicopter Aerodynamics and Dynamics, Space Systems, Vibrations and Heat Transfer.

Study Chemical Engineering in Malaysia

Chemical Engineering deals with all aspects of processing raw materials into useful products. This involves the flow and transfer of large quantities of materials and their conversion from one form to another.

They apply the principles of chemistry to solve problems involving the production or use of chemical especially in the manufacturing industry.

Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals and biochemicals.

They design equipment and processes for large-scale chemical manufacturing, plan and test methods of manufacturing products and treating byproducts, and supervise production.

Chemical engineers also work in a variety of manufacturing industries other than chemical manufacturing, such as those producing energy, electronics, food, clothing, and paper. They also work in health care, biotechnology, and business services.

Chemical engineers apply principles of physics, mathematics, and mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as chemistry. Some may specialise in a particular chemical process, such as oxidation or polymerization.

Others specialise in a particular field, such as nanomaterials, or in the development of specific products. They must be aware of all aspects of chemicals manufacturing and how the manufacturing process affects the environment and the safety of workers and consumers.

They find work in a variety of industries  such as oil and gas, mineral processing, food processing, bioprocessing, water treatment, pollution control, manufacture of chemicals, petrochemicals, plastics, paper, cement, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, ceramics and glass.

Sample of Chemical Engineering subjects at degree level at top universities in Malaysia

Applied Chemistry and Physics Process Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, Engineering Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer, Modern Process Chemistry, Engineering Materials, Separation Processes, Computer Systems, Probabilistic and Numerical Techniques, Chemical and Phase Equilibria, Particle Mechanics, Plant Design, Engineering Management & Accounting, Interfacial Chemistry, Environmental Protection, Reactor Design, Process Dynamics and Control, Chemical Product Design, Process Synthesis and Design, Advanced Process Control, Advanced Transport Processes, etc.

Study Civil Engineering in Malaysia

Civil engineering is the oldest branch of the engineering profession. They are involved with infrastructure and environmental projects. It involves the planning, design, supervising, construction and maintaining of facilities for both the public and private sectors.

It involves the design and construction of buildings, transportation facilities and engineering structures like bridges, dams, roads, airports, tunnels, bridges,  water supply and sewage systems, waste treatment, harbours, railways, highways and other public utilities.

Civil engineers may specialise in particular areas of major works such as structural engineering, water resources, construction, environmental, transportation, and geotechnical engineering.

They must consider many factors in the design process, from the construction costs and expected lifetime of a project to government regulations and potential environmental hazards such as earthquakes and hurricanes.

Creativity and innovation are needed to solve problems such as the SMART Tunnel which solves transportation and flood problems. The job prospects are good for Civil Engineers in Malaysia as the country is still growing and major companies also have projects in developing countries.

Sample of Civil Engineering subjects at degree level at top universities in Malaysia

Calculus & Analytical Geometry, Engineering Graphics & Design, Geomatics, Construction Technology, Fluid Mechanics, Mechanics of Materials, Materials in Civil Engineering, Theory of Structure, Numerical Analysis, Environmental Engineering Analysis & Design, Soil Mechanics, Technical Communication, Engineering Hydrology, Highway Engineering, Geotechnical Materials & Analysis, Water and Waste-Water  Engineering, Structural Steel and Timber Design, Hydraulics,  Reinforced Concrete Design, Geotechnical Design, Groundwater Hydrology, Highway Design, Transportation Engineering or Project Construction & Management

Students interested in Civil Engineering should choose top universities that are accredited by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) so that they can become professional engineers eventually.

Study Electrical & Electronic Engineering in Malaysia

Electrical engineers deal with everything related to electrical devices and systems, and the use of electricity.

Electrical engineers design, develop, test and supervise the manufacture or installation of electrical equipment, such as power generating and transmission equipment, used for domestic, industry and business purposes.

Some of this equipment includes electric motors; machinery controls, lighting, and wiring in buildings; automobiles; aircraft; radar and navigation systems; and power generation, control, and transmission devices used by electric utilities.

Their work includes the design and manufacture of electronics and electrical devices for a wide range of applications.

They are also involved in consulting, the planning and operating of power systems and telecommunication networks, satellite communications, and biomedical engineering.

Electrical engineers may specialise in computer engineering, electronic engineering, lasers, power generation & transmission, biomedical engineering, integrated circuits and microwave & optic fibre communications.

Although the terms electrical and electronics engineering often are used interchangeably in academia and industry, electrical engineers have traditionally focused on the generation and supply of power, whereas electronics engineers have worked on applications of electricity to control systems or signal processing.

Electrical engineers specialise in areas such as power systems engineering,  electrical equipment manufacturing communications, signal processing, and control systems or have a specialty within one of these areas—control systems or aviation electronics.

Many electronics engineers also work in areas closely related to computers. However, engineers whose work is related exclusively to computer hardware are considered computer hardware engineers.

Sample of Electrical Engineering subjects at degree level at top universities in Malaysia

Circuit Theory, Digital Electronics, Analogue Electronics, Mathematical Methods for Engineers, Electromagnetic Theory, Circuit Theory & Transmission Lines, Electronic Manufacturing Industry, Engineering Software & Applications, Electrical Power,  Data Communication & Networks,  Microprocessor Systems, Instrumentation & Measurement,, Electrical Machines, Electronic Circuit Design , Power Electronics, Control Systems, Power Systems, VLSI Design, Digital Signal Processing, Digital System & HDLs  or  Embedded System Design, Mathematical Techniques for Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Signal Processing and Control Engineering, Power Supply Electronics, Software Engineering Design, Telecommunications, Fields Waves and Antennas, etc.

Study Mechanical Engineering in Malaysia

Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, manufacture, and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines.

Mechanical engineers use the principles of mechanics and energy to design machines and processes. They are concerned with the design, manufacture, and operation of a wide range of mechanical components, devices and systems.

They utilise energy in many ways for our benefit, such as in refrigeration systems, heating systems, ventilation systems, and in heat exchangers.

They are also involved in solar, geothermal, and wind energy sources, along with research to increase the efficiency of producing electricity from fossil fuel, hydroelectric and nuclear sources.

Mechanical Engineering cover the design and development of engines and turbines, transport vehicles, ships, aircraft, building services, refrigeration systems, manufacturing and industrial plants. Also cover combustion, acoustics, energy technology, vibration control, robotics, biomedical engineering, fluid mechanics or aeronautics, manufacturing, automatic control and computer-aided engineering.

Many mechanical engineers work in energy and environmental specialties such as the building systems, engine design, oil refining, mining and air quality control, and pollution control processes.

Others find jobs in automotive, manufacturing, materials science and biomechanics industries. They work on power-producing machines such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines.

They also work on power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, machine tools, material handling systems, elevators and escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in manufacturing.

Mechanical engineers also design tools that other engineers need for their work.

In addition, mechanical engineers work in manufacturing or agriculture production, maintenance, or technical sales; many become administrators or managers.

Sample of Mechanical Engineering subjects at degree level at top universities in Malaysia

Stress Analysis & Design, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Computing for Engineers , Materials Science, Mechanics of Machines, Mechanical Drawing & Assembly Techniques, Numerical Analysis, Elements of Heat Transfer, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Economics, Mechanical Engineering Design, Control Systems, Electrical Power and Machines, Introduction to Production & Manufacturing, Noise Control, Vibrations & Acoustics, Heating Ventilating & Air Conditioning, Power Plants, Internal Combustion Engines, Solid Mechanics, Structural Vibration, Drive Technology & Control, Computational and Numerical Techniques,etc.

Study Mechatronics Engineering in Malaysia

Mechatronics is the combination of Mechanical, Electronic and Electrical Engineering for the design, manufacture and maintenance of systems that use microprocessors and actuators to control mechanical processes.

The key element is the integration of these different areas into the design process from start to finish. Mechatronics engineers understand how to do this and enable the intelligent operation of mechanical systems.

It also involves installing, operating and modifying mechanical and electronic equipment and in areas like manufacturing, aviation, robotics and defense.

Mechatronics engineers also have roles in project engineering where their cross disciplinary knowledge gives them an edge on mechanical or electrical engineers. Mechatronics engineers can work with electrical and mechanical systems together and solve problems that cross discipline boundaries.

Their strength in IT, computer hardware and networking as well as software also helps them to be very versatile problem solvers.

Example of Mechatronics Engineering subjects at degree level at top universities in Malaysia

Electrical Circuits, Computer Programming, Control Systems, Thermodynamics, Kinematics and Dynamics of  Machines, Microcomputer Systems and Interfacing, Actuators and Sensors, Digital Control Systems, Robotics and Automation, Mechanical Systems, Microprocessor Systems, Stress Analysis & Design,  Instrumentation & Measurements, Electrical Power & Machines, Fluid Power & Drives, etc

Study Petroleum Engineering in Malaysia

Petroleum engineers search the world for reservoirs containing oil or natural gas.

Once these resources are discovered, petroleum engineers work with geologists and other specialists to understand the geologic formation and properties of the rock containing the reservoir, determine the drilling methods to be used, and monitor drilling and production operations.

They design equipment and processes to achieve the maximum profitable recovery of oil and gas.

Because only a small proportion of oil and gas in a reservoir flows out under natural forces, petroleum engineers develop and use various enhanced recovery methods.

These include injecting water, chemicals, gases, or steam into an oil reservoir to force out more of the oil and doing computer-controlled drilling or fracturing to connect a larger area of a reservoir to a single well.

Because even the best techniques in use today recover only a portion of the oil and gas in a reservoir, petroleum engineers research and develop technology and methods to increase recovery and lower the cost of drilling and production operations.

Sample of Petroleum Engineering subjects at degree level at top universities in Malaysia

Calculus & Analytical Geometry, Technical Communication,

Mechanics & Strength of Materials, Mathematical Methods for Engineers, Physics for Scientists & Engineers, Environmental Science and Technology, Igneous, Metamorphic and sedimentary Petrology, Thermodynamics of Hydrocarbon Reservoir Fluids, Industrial Chemistry, Numerical & Computing Methods, Transport Phenomena, Corrosion Principles and Control in Petroleum Industry, Principles of Well Drilling, Basic mathematics for reservoir engineering, Hydrogen Sulphide and oil industry

Elements of Reservoir Rock and Fluid Properties, Geosystem Exploration, Oil and Gas Production Operations, Petroleum Engineering Computer Laboratory, Drilling Engineering Laboratory, Petroleum Refining Engineering, Rock and Fluid Properties Laboratory, Offshore Drilling & Petroleum Production,  Enhanced / Induces Oil Recovery – EOR/IOR/MEOR, Basics of Natural Gas Engineering, Fundamentals of Well Logging Interpretation , Reservoir simulation, etc.