Education Pathway after Secondary School

What should I study after completing High School?

• Tips on choosing the right course to study after completing high school in Malaysia
• Advise from an experienced and knowledgeable counselor with more than 20 years in helping students to choose a course that best fits them
• A guide on the tertiary education pathway for students who have finished their secondary school

Most great things begin with a plan. Your future career and studies should be no different. A plan will give you something to work towards. It’ll also help you make the most of the opportunities that come your way.  It can be confusing to choose the right course after SPM or IGCSE O-Levels. You should carefully think about what are the options available to you, look at your results, interests and budget. 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.

After having counseled thousands of students for more than 20 years, I have come up with 9 tips that will help students after SPM or IGCSE O-Levels to help you choose the right course to study in Malaysia that would best fit you.

I have students telling me that they have taken personality tests but were not accurate. We must remember that these tests are not 100% accurate and needs to be used together with a counselor. Furthermore, the tests are designed by westerners who choose their courses based on interests while as Malaysians, we not only have to choose based on interests but have to take into account which course can give us a career that is stable and can make money.

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.

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Best Tips on Choosing the Right Course to Study at Top Private Universities in Malaysia

1  What’s the results in your Secondary School?

• What you got for your actual SPM or UEC can be used as a guide. This is a good measure of whether you are actually capable of doing well in the course or not.
• Be realistic. I have had student who did not do well in Maths but want to study accounting or IT, or passed Add Maths and Physics but would like to study engineering. Your results are a measurement on whether you can succeed in the course or not.
• If you did not meet the entry requirements for a particular course means you should consider other courses that would fit you better.
• If your results show that you are strong in Modern Maths, you can consider Accounting, Finance, Banking or IT.
• Scoring high for Add Maths and Physics would make engineering courses like Mechanical, Mechatronic, Civil, Electrical, Electronic, or Telecommunications good choices to consider
• Strong in Chemistry and Add Maths would make Food Science and Nutrition, Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Engineering your top picks.
• Being a numbers person would mean that you can consider IT, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Actuarial Science, Accounting and Finance.
• An outgoing personality with good results in Sejarah, Moral and English would make Mass Communication, Public Relations, Advertising, Teaching, English & Communication, TESOL, Early Childhood Education and Marketing as your choices.
• We have to look at the subjects and compare with your personality, interests and hobbies as well to see whether it fits you.

2. What are the Courses that you are Interested in? Make a List

• List the fields of study that interest you, and come up with a list of courses you would consider studying based on these interests.
• Add the topics that you were most interested in during school as well as jobs.
• Make a list of your hobbies.
• List down your favorite subjects at school
• A list of your extra-curricular activities can provide ideas of what type of person you are.

3. Do a thorough Research on the Course that you are Interested in

• The internet, newspapers, television and people around you are the best sources of information.
• Check online about the courses you are interested in and find out about the career prospects and the other info.
• Find facts and evidence to support the career and job prospects.
• Starting salaries and how much you can earn eventually.
• Go to education fairs and Open Days to see the campuses and collect the brochures.

4. Ask the right people about what to study at top universities in Malaysia

• Speak to professionals in your field of interest and find out what it is like working in that job.
• People who have completed university courses can give you an insight from a student’s perspective – they can tell you the pros and cons.
• Listen to people who are experienced in the industry or know what they are talking about. Not just simply listen to Aunties or Friends who don’t know what they are talking about.
• Talk to your school counselor or an experienced career guidance counselor. This is important as you would not ask a Doctor on how to repair your car so you must ask the right person to help you.
• Ask your parents and friends what type of personality you are and what could fit you however note that some parents may not be objective and want you to choose the course they want for you.

5. Cost of studying a diploma or degree in Malaysia

• Talk to your parents and find out what is their budget. There is no point going around asking about studies overseas and then find out that you can only afford to study in Malaysia.
• You need to know the budget for your studies in order to choose the right university that fits you. There is no point to choose a university and then find out that you cannot afford the fees
• Affordability is another aspect you need to consider while deciding on your course, as well as the additional costs that occur, such as text books, field trips etc.
• Financial aid available are basically scholarships and the PTPTN Loan.

6. Career opportunities in Malaysia for the Course that You are Interested in

• Look at the career prospects of the course before selecting one. Consider various factors such as income, job security, stress, responsibility and other benefits while researching a profession.
• Look at statistics, evidence and facts. Not just listen to your auntie say that she thinks a particular career is excellent or a university counselor say that the course is good based on their experience.

7. Look at the subjects offered in the Course at the University that you are Interested in

• Read through the course outline of the course(s) you want to apply for. See if the subjects interests you.
• Have a look at the subjects you must undertake and the types of learning, assignments and examination tasks involved.

8. Quality of the Private University in Malaysia

• Compare course outlines and academic facilities between universities to make sure you make the right choice for your educational needs and preferences.
• If possible, visit the university and their Open Days to get a feeling of what the campus is like.
• If you choose a university with extremely low fees, then don’t be surprised at the low quality of education there. If you pay for a Kancil, you will get Kancil power. However, it doesn’t mean that you should pay so much until you are just paying for the lake only. Pay what is value for money.
• Choose a university that promotes the use of the English language.Research by Star newspaper has shown that professionals with good command of the English language has a 25% higher salary and chances of promotion. Some graduates wonder why they can’t find a job because they cannot communicate in simple English when they chose a university that has lower fees but with aMandarin-speaking environment.
• An overseas education is not better but it will help expose you to a different culture and expand your thinking abilities.Although rankings are a guide but in Malaysia, some universities are ranked high but are low in terms of quality.
• The SETARA Ranking system by MQA can be used as a guide in choosing the best universities in Malaysia to study at

9. Choose the Best Course to Study in Malaysia that fits you

• Choosing a course or career is not a science, it is a process in finding out who you are and what you are good at. Some people find out faster while others take more time.
• A personality or career test is not magic or science that will show you what your future is. They are just a guide.
• There are many reasons to choose a course and you must ask yourself, what’s your own reasons? Some of the reasons are choosing a course based on your interest and passion, or a course that has future high job demand & salary, or even as simple as a course that you can afford.
• You can always work in other fields after you graduate as long as it is not a technical field. Engineers and Doctors have switched to Finance or Marketing careers.

10. Take Time and Effort to Choose the Right Private University in Malaysia to Study at

Choosing a university is important as it will help to shape your mind, character and help you to develop the necessary skills for a successful career. Therefore, not all private universities are the same. You should not choose a university because it is the cheapest, easiest and nearest. It should be based on which university that best fits your needs.

Many students in Malaysia also make the common mistake in choosing a university because their friends are going there. I even had one student tell me that his choice of university depends on where his girlfriend is going! This is one of the most important decisions that may change your life forever hence it should not be taken lightly.