Top Guide on How to Choose the Best Culinary Arts School to Study in Malaysia

A Detailed Guide to Help Students Choose the Best Private College in Malaysia to Study Culinary Arts or Baking

Written by EduSpiral Consultant Services. For more information contact 01111408838

Students who love to cook have many different universities and colleges in Malaysia for you to choose from and sometimes it can be confusing. The culinary schools would vary in size, facilities, awards won, experience and tuition fees.  Choosing the right university or college for the Culinary Arts, Baking or Patisserie Course after high school is one of the most important decisions you can make in your life.  Therefore, with our years of experience in counselling students, we have prepared a detailed guide to help you make this choice. Furthermore, our counsellors are on hand to give free advise, just WhatsApp us!

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Please fill up the Form below and I will WhatsApp you and provide you with sound advise on how to choose the best private university or college in Malaysia to study at. If you do not give your mobile number or full name as in IC, your query will not be answered. Our knowledgeable & experienced courselor will send you a message on WhatsApp & provide assistance from there.

Choosing the Best University to Study Culinary or Baking in Malaysia

Choosing the best university for your studies in Malaysia 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 & colleges in Malaysia 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.

We must be careful when choosing a private university in Malaysia as many students listen to advise from friends and relatives who are not knowledgeable offering information not supported by facts and evidence. Choosing a private university should be done carefully and objectively, not based on the number of glitzy advertisements you have heard or seen about that university.

Talking to counsellors from the private universities is a common practice to obtain the necessary information to help you to decide. You should evaluate the information provided to see if what they say is true and supported by facts and evidence. There are also many agents in Malaysia offering their services where most of the staff are young and inexperienced. They would not have the skills to guide you on this most important decision in your life.

Remember that no university is good at everything. Each university in Malaysia excels in particular courses, so you should check to make sure that culinary arts is a strong-point of the university you choose. Choosing a university that excels in culinary arts or baking provide you with access to more specialised opportunities, including custom-built facilities and employment or internships opportunities with top hotels and restaurants.

Part of finding the right college or university in Malaysia for you will 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. To help you to choose the best university that fits you, you can build a list of top universities in Malaysia that meets your criteria. Is the university of choice famous, recognised, accredited and reputable for the course of interest?

Here’s a top 10 list of common criteria in choosing a top private university or college in Malaysia to study the Culinary Arts or Baking Course:

1. Recognition & Reputation of the Culinary Arts or Baking Courses in Malaysia

All foundation, diploma and degree programmes must be accredited by MQA in Malaysia.  Taking a professional certificate course with a title “diploma” would not allow you to continue on into a degree programme accredited by MQA. Note that some culinary & baking academies offer “diploma” courses that are not recognised in Malaysia and by the Ministry of Higher Education. If you take these courses, you will not be able to continue to a degree programme at university level.

• Is the Culinary Arts or Baking course popular at that university or college?
• What is the reputation or ranking of the private university in Malaysia? Global ranking by QS World University Rankings or locally by MQA in the SETARA rating system
• Is the Culinary Arts or Baking course recognised and approved by the Ministry of Education Malaysia?
• Is the Culinary Arts or Baking course accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Audit (MQA)?
• Awards won by the university, staff or students for the particular course of interest. The number of awards won would be a guide on how good the university is for the course.
• Type of programme (local diploma or dual award diploma or diploma awarded by foreign university partner?)

2. Academic Quality of the Culinary Arts or Baking Course at the University in Malaysia

• Subjects offered in the Culinary Arts course (Are they relevant, up-to-date, and help you to achieve your career goals)
• Entry requirements for the Culinary Arts Degree Course at the university or college in Malaysia
• What is the Class size for the culinary arts course? (Small class size for personal attention)
• Faculty contact/classes taught by full-time qualified & experienced faculty
• Quality of lecturers. What are their qualifications? How many years of experience in teaching?
• Ask your friends who have studied there or currently studying there for their opinion on the teaching quality, environment and facilities.
• Do they have enough students to start a class?
•  How many students do they have studying that course at that college?
•  What is the duration of the course? When are the intake dates?

3. Facilities at the University for the Course of Interest in Malaysia

• When choosing a university or college in Malaysia, it is important for students to visit the campus and see the facilities and feel the culture of the students to see if it fits you.
• Size of the university.
• Campus resources (labs, library or resource centre, wifi, computer access, sports facilities, etc.)

4. Facilities for Culinary Arts and Baking at the University or College in Malaysia

It is important for the college or university to have the necessary culinary arts facilities so that you can gain the necessary skills in your culinary education. The university or college doesn’t necessarily need to have all the facilities needed but should have the basic ones. Special labs and kitchens will depend on the area of specialisation in the culinary arts at the college or university. You will need to look at the subjects offered to see which one fits your career goals and area of specialisation that you want to pursue.

Does the university or college have facilities such as:

• Fine dining restaurant – Built to mimic a true fine dining restaurant, students are given real practice
• Training restaurant – Training Restaurant – students run everything from scratch while serving real customers and countering real-time situations.
• Preparation kitchen
• Production kitchen
• Bakery, pastry or patisserie kitchens
• Butchery Kitchen – students learn and master the techniques and skills to create various deli products.
• Atelier – Hot Kitchen
• Garde manger kitchen
• Artistry kitchen – students are trained to master the most delicate of arts.
• Molecular Gastronomy Lab
• Sugar artistry laboratory
• Chocolate Room
• Culinary Lecture Theatre – Top notch facilities equipped in the theatre allows for in-class demonstrations.
• Ice Carving Lab – students are taught first hand on the art of ice carving.
• Wine Laboratory (oenology laboratory) – Students are given a holistic education complemented with our state-of-the-art facilities inclusive of a wine tasting lab.

5. Cost for your Culinary Arts or Baking Course Studies in Malaysia

If you make the assumption that you cannot afford a private university or college in Malaysia based on the tuition fees, you will miss out. It is difficult to talk about money, but if you investigate all the options and ask for help and advice, you will find affordable choices.

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 PTPN Loan, EPF withdrawal, etc

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.

• How much money do I have to pay for the course and cost of living? Ask your parents. Note that you will need to have enough to pay the tuition fees as well as your cost of living. (Costs for university studies in Malaysia would include tuition, hostel, food, transportation, entertainment, etc.)
• What are the Financial assistance available at the university? (Scholarships, PTPN Loan, EPF withdrawal, etc)
• Is the PTPTN loan available for the course at the university?
• How much are the tuition fees? Does it include the exam and other fees?
• How much is on-campus accommodation?
• How much is off-campus accommodation? (Off-campus apartments, houses, condominiums) Note that it might be cheaper to find off campus accommodation on your own with friends. Is the accommodations near eateries, banks, entertainment, public transportation, safe & secure, etc.?

6. Student Environment at the University & College

When developing your list of top universities, consider the schools’ values such as commitment to diversity, vibrant campus life, and dedication to academic excellence. Also consider the range of student organizations, student support services, sports and recreational activities.

In addition, the university’s relationship with the larger community, availability of on- and off- campus housing, quality of food and health care services, and campus security contribute to the quality of university life.

• What is the student culture at the university? (English-speaking environment, ambitious, serious about studies, lifestyle or party university, etc) The language spoken mostly at the college by the students may also matter if you don’t know Mandarin or BM or English. If most of the students speak Mandarin at that university then it will not help you to improve your English. Having a good command of the English language helps you to get good jobs and promotions.
• Size of the university or college in Malaysia. Some students prefer a large campus with sports facilities and other resources while other students like small colleges with family-like environment. A small college may offer individualised attention, as well as a more intimate and personalised experience. for your studies You might even want to think about how far you want to walk to get from one class to another in a large university campus. Even those little details may affect your decision.
• Make up of the student body (diversity, international students, gender, etc.) Universities with a good proportion of international students will help you to improve your English language skills since you would need to communicate with them in English. In addition, you will learn about their culture, behaviour and discover new ideas. These skills will be useful to you when you work overseas or in a multi-national company.

7. Internships for the Culinary Arts or Baking Course in Malaysia

• Does the university or college have a strong internship or Co-Op programme?
• What are the companies, restaurants, hotels, etc partnered with the university?
• How long is the internship programme? How is it carried out?

8. Safety of the Surrounding Area of the University or College

• Is the university or college campus a safe area? Safety within the campus and outside.
• Have there been many snatch thefts or robberies around the university or college?

9. Students Activities Available at the University

• What are the Extra-curricular activities available? (Student organisations, clubs, sports, etc.)
• Can the student environment, extra-curricular activities and student support services at the university help to shape and equip you with the necessary skills to handle the challenges of the working world?
• What are the Student Support Services available?

10. Location of the University and Transportation

• Location of the university or college. Is it in the city, suburbs or country side? You should also consider the ambience of your surroundings when choosing a university. If you can’t live without nightlife, think city! If you’re into the great outdoors, you might want to go rural. Some students prefer a city life while other students prefer a quieter university environment away from the city. On the other hand, if you’re used to shopping malls and cinemas and choose a university in a rural area, you might get bored.
• Transportation. Is the university accessible to you? What are the public transportation available?
• Does the university provide a free bus shuttle to link to other transportation hubs?
• Is the university near bus stops or LRT station or MRT station?
• If you drive, is there enough parking spots? How much is the parking rate for daily or monthly?

 

The Most Important Factor in Choosing a College or University in Malaysia is Fit.

Choosing a university or college in Malaysia because your friends are going there or because of where it ranks on a list does not take into account who you are and who you will become. University is a match to be made, not a prize to be won. Finding a good fit requires time, effort and thoughtfulness.

The best way to really get a feel for a university is by visiting the campus, taking a tour, meeting with students & lecturers, attending a class, reading the campus newspaper, eating in the cafeteria, etc. You have to feel “at home” at the place where you will spend the next four years of your life, so visiting is important.

EduSpiral Consultant Services provides a Free Campus Tour for our students to help them make the right choice for their university studies. Students who are not sure of what to study after SPM or O-Levels can contact EduSpiral Consultant Services to help guide you to choose the right course and university in Malaysia. At EduSpiral Consultant Services, we have counselled and helped thousands of students to choose the right course and private university to study in Malaysia.

EduSpiral Consultant Services- Your Personal Online Education Advisor

Established since 2009, EduSpiral Consultant Services helps provide information and counselling on courses and universities in Malaysia.

EduSpiral Consultant Services represents the best colleges and universities in Malaysia offering a

wide range of choices for students to choose from. These colleges and universities offer value for money in the quality of education and excellent facilities that you get.

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.