Top 10 Criteria in Choosing the Best Private University in Malaysia to Study

Top Ten Points on Choosing the Best Private University in Malaysia

There are many advantages for studying at a top private university in Malaysia, starting from getting a good and stable career to working in the best of the environments. Students will also get to learn from the best lecturers.Because of the higher education standards at top private universities, your course mates will be just as brilliant as you are having the same like mindedness to achieve success in your academics as well as future career. Group work will be easier as they will all be working hard to achieve the same goals.

The top notch education that you receive will ensure you have the knowledge and skills to obtain a high paying job and achieve financial stability quickly. In addition, your exposure and experience will give you insight to venture into creating new businesses or career pathways. Therefore, don’t make the mistake of choosing the cheapest university for your education, choose the best university.

Part of finding the right college or university in Malaysia for you will, of course, be picking out the criteria that matters to most to you, and then seeing if any of the top private colleges or universities in Malaysia that you’re looking at fit those criteria.

Choosing a top private university in Malaysia to study after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels takes time, it is a process in finding out which one best fits you. You need to talk to the right counselors who are knowledgeable and experienced.

A knowledgeable counselor would be able to provide detailed information about the university and its courses, facts & evidence to support the job prospects for the course and in-depth information about  which university would be suit you. While an experienced counselor would be able to analyse your results, understand your personality & skills to figure out which course and career suits you.

I have come up with a list of top 10 criteria that will help students in Malaysia to choose the best university that fits you.

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Top 10 Best Points in Choosing a Top Private University to Study at in Malaysia

Make sure you’re doing what’s best for you

If you’re applying for university, make sure it’s because you want to go. When deciding on which course to study, make sure it’s because you enjoy it. When working out where you’ll go to university, make sure it’s a place you want to (and can afford to) live in for the duration of your degree.

I would absolutely recommend taking advice from teachers, parents, friends, current students – and sometimes these provide the best insights into university – but be careful to ensure that the final decision is your own, and one that you’re happy with.

Starting your university search with the basics will help you identify the universities that will best suit you academically and personally. Each of us has unique needs and values, and what is important to you may not matter to someone else.

Being a sports enthusiast, you may want a university that has the facilities to support your lifestyle. The same goes for school size, cost, and other basic college criteria. By identifying your needs, you can narrow down which universities and focus on the things that will make your university a perfect fit.

1. Which course do you want to Study in Malaysia?

   

   • Knowing which course you want to study will help in determining which university. Just like signature dishes for restaurants, certain private universities are famous for particular courses. Choosing the best university for that course would ensure that you benefit from their experience.
   • Students should research on the different types of Pre-University programmes in Malaysia and also what type of degree programmes that they are interested in such as a local degree, 3+0 UK or Australian degree, degree transfer programme, etc)
   • A 3+0 UK degree would follow the syllabus of the UK partner university. A UK education style is different from an Australian or American education. Therefore, you will need to determine which style best suits you.
   • I talked to a group of students who were advised by an Agent to take an external Pre-University programme. They did not achieve the necessary results to enter into university therefore wasted their money and time. When I asked them why they did not go for the Foundation programme at the private university since they knew that they wanted to study IT and also locally in Malaysia, they just said that they followed the advise of the agent whom they thought they could trust.
   • Not all degree programmes bearing the same title are the same at all universities. A business administration degree at university A is not the same as at university B. Students must look at the subjects offered in the diploma or degree to see if they relevant, up-to-date, and help you to achieve your career goals.
2. Which Country do you want to study your Degree programme at?

   

   • Deciding which country that you would like to study your degree programme at would help you to determine which Pre-University course to study. Knowing which Pre-University course would then help you identify the best university in Malaysia for that course.
   • To study in the USA, you can go for the American Degree Transfer Program (ADTP) where you would study 2 years in Malaysia and then transfer to a university in the USA. However, note that if you take the ADTP and later decide not to go to the USA, you cannot enter into any degree programme in Malaysia. And if you take an external Pre-University course like SACEi, AUSMAT, CPU or A-Levels, you would not get the maximum amount of credits to transfer to a university in the USA.
   • If you want to study in Australia for your degree, then you can go for the AUSMAT or SACEi. A-Levels is accepted worldwide but if you do not plan to go overseas,  you should just go for the Foundation programme at the private university. The Foundation programme is easier and cheaper than an external Pre-University course.
3. Budget for your Studies
   • The cost of studying at university is one thing that most parents think about during the college search process. Not all colleges and universities in Malaysia or Singapore have the same price tag and there are a variety of ways to cut your costs. Most universities offer scholarships, and students are able to apply for the PTPTN Loan, EPF withdrawal, MARA Loan, etc
   • When buying a mobile phone, you would have a budget in mind and with that budget you can filter out which phones you can or cannot afford. It is the same with choosing a private university. You need to have a budget in mind so that you can filter out which universities that you can afford to study at.
   • Many students have chosen the cheapest private university to study, not taking into consideration the important skills that they could have gained from a better university. Higher education is an investment for a better future that takes sacrifice.
4. Accreditation by MQA and other relevant professional bodies in Malaysia

   

   • All foundation, diploma and degree programmes must be accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
   • Some students make the mistake in taking the UK or USA professional certificate course with a title “diploma” but that would not allow you to continue on into a degree programme accredited by MQA.
   • Students should check with the relevant professional bodies to see if the courses the university of interest are accredited. For example, Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), Nursing Board, Pharmacy Board, Malaysian Bar, MIA, Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia, etc.
5. Qualified & experienced faculty at the University in Malaysia
   • Students should look at the qualifications of the lecturers at the university. How many are PhD and Master degree holders. Are the lecturers mostly part time or full time? Experienced lecturers would be able to guide students to achieve academic success.
6. Quality/reputation/ranking of the private university in Malaysia
   • There is no official ranking system in Malaysia for private universities. The MQA and Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia has a rating system for universities in Malaysia. It is the SETARA rating system.
   • Looking at the number of awards that the university and its students have won in competitions related to the course can be a guide in helping you to make the right choice. Many students make the mistake of just listening to advertisements or friends without checking the information.
7. Entry requirements to study at Private Universities in Malaysia
   • Sometimes you may want to study a course but you may not have the results to enter the course. You will need to look at your results to see if you meet the entry requirements for the particular course of interest at the university. Arts stream students would not be able to enter into science related degree courses except for engineering. Branch campuses in Malaysia have higher entry requirements as well.
8. Location of the Private University 
   • Some students have told me that they just want to study at a university nearest to their home. That may not be the best reason in choosing a university although it may be convenient for you. A private university in a city setting like Kuala Lumpur or Petaling Jaya would expose you to independent living and modern-minded students who would help shape your character.
9. Student Culture & Make up of the Student Body at the Private University

   

   • The overall culture of your college may play as big a role in your future success as your degree. Figuring out what’s important to you will help you narrow the field when choosing a private college or university in Malaysia, and you may discover some options that hadn’t even been on your radar!
   • Many students have chosen the cheapest private university to study, not taking into consideration the important skills that they could have gained from a better university. Higher education is an investment for a better future that takes sacrifice.
   • It is important to choose a private university in Malaysia that has an English-speaking environment, students who are ambitious and serious about studies, and a globalised student body. Mixing around with international students will help to improve your English language skills and understanding of different cultures.
   • Some private universities in Malaysia are known for their focus on lifestyle or known as party universities. There is nothing wrong with choosing them if you are able to control yourself. If not, you have to consider that this could affect your future.
   • A private university that has a diverse student body with many international students would help students to improve their English-language and cross-cultural communication skills. With globalisation, many top companies in the world are looking for professionals who are dynamic with strong management skills to lead a globalised work force. 
10. Campus resources & Support Services at the University

    

    • Students should visit the universities campuses to look at the labs, libraries, sports facilities, etc. While visiting, you can also get a feel of the student culture to see if it fits you.
    • Does the private university that you are interested in provide support services for students in times of need? Some private universities provide qualified and trained psychologists to help students with their problems and counsel them.
    • An active Student Affairs Department would have a lot of extra-curricular activities providing for a vibrant university life. Strong student clubs and societies would help build important skills such as leadership, communication, teamwork, problem-solving and creativity.
    • The Accommodation Department would assist students with options for on-campus and off-campus accommodation.

Talk to a Knowledgeable & Experienced Education Consultant to Help you to Choose the Best Private University or College in Malaysia

Choosing a the right university to study after SPM or O-Levels in Malaysia takes time, it is a process in finding out which university in best for you. You need to talk to the right counselors who are knowledgeable and experienced.

A knowledgeable counselor would be able to provide detailed information about the course, facts & evidence to support the job prospects for the course and in-depth information about which university would be suit you. While an experienced counselor would be able to analyse your results, understand your personality & skills to figure out which course and career suits you.

A knowledgeable education consultant means that he or she would know the entry requirements, course details, in-depth knowledge of the hundreds of courses out there, career prospects, job demand, professional recognition requirements, accreditation, best universities for the course, and other information that would help a confused student to make the right choice.

While an experienced education consultant would have had counseled hundreds of students analysing their personalities and skilfully guiding them to the right course and university.

At EduSpiral Consultant Services, I have worked in the private higher education industry in Malaysia for more than 20 years advising students with facts and evidence on how to choose the right course and university. 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 in order to assess their aptitude helping us to determine the most suitable course and career progression. After knowing which course, we can then determine which private university in best for that course.