Malaysia’s Top 10 Foundation Programmes to Study after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels

2025 Malaysia’s Best Private Universities for Foundation Courses

• List of popular Foundation programmes to study at Malaysia’s private universities
• Top Foundation choices for students after high school

If you have just completed your SPM or IGCSE/O-Level exam and plan to study a bachelor’s degree at a private university in Malaysia, the Foundation programme is the next step for you. All students after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels must enter a Pre-University Programme before continuing with their degree at private universities in Malaysia . The Foundation programme is a Pre-University Programme designed by a particular private university intending to equip their students to familiarise and handle the degree programme offered. Students will seamlessly move on to the degree course upon completion. There are many types of Foundation Programmes offered by private universities in Malaysia. We will discuss about ten of the most popular Foundation programmes in this article.

Therefore, students who have just completed their secondary school education should choose the foundation programme in Malaysia that best fits their career goals and needs. Choosing the right Foundation programme  can be challenging. Many students are left with the difficult task of making that choice without being sufficiently equipped with the necessary details to make an informed choice. Additionally, students should ask a counselor who is knowledgeable and experienced to provide the right information to help them make the right choice.

Top 10 Most Popular Foundation Programmes in Malaysia

Foundation courses can be seen as preparatory courses that assist students to transition from SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels in Malaysia to specific bachelor’s degree programmes.

In addition, the Foundation Programme in Malaysia is a pre-university program designed to help students meet the entry requirements for first-year university and prepare them to handle the rigours of undergraduate studies. Students gain a solid grounding in academic and communication skills, with a focus on developing their Critical Thinking and English language skills.

Unlike the external pre-university programmes in Malaysia which focus on more general Science and Art-based subjects, the Foundation programmes for private universities provide specialisation in specific areas of study such as business, computer & IT, or engineering, and hence, cater to the specific needs of different students.

Top private universities in Malaysia, have designed and developed their own internal university foundation programmes to help students familiarise and gain the necessary fundamentals to be able to handle the degree programme offered.

The curriculum and examination of the Foundation programmes are set by the local private universities, following the quality criteria set by the Ministry of Higher Education and quality assurance agency, Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). Many students after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels have chosen to go for the Foundation programmes at top private universities in Malaysia before pursuing their undergraduate degree studies.

Comprehensive List of Popular Foundation Programmes in Malaysia

There are many types of Foundation programmes in Malaysia, some are general like the Foundation in Arts or Foundation in Science, while other are more specific to the intended course of study like the Foundation in Engineering or Foundation in Computing & Technology.

Students who know what they want to study can just go for the specific Foundation at the university offering the degree of interest. You can go for the Foundation in Design, Foundation in Communication, Foundation in Technology, etc.

However, there are also general Foundation programmes such as Foundation in Arts and Foundation in Science offered by the private universities. Foundation in Science programmes can lead to engineering, pharmacy, medicine, applied sciences, health sciences and other arts related degree programmes.

The Foundation in Arts programme can lead to accounting, business, computing, architecture, design, and other arts related courses. After completing the Foundation in Science students have the choice to choose sciences or arts related degree programmes.

For students who have yet to decide on what to study for their degree, or would like to keep their choices open, should go for the Foundation in Arts or Foundation in Science.

Through these foundation courses, students will be able to gain an understanding of the core skills in a main field of choice through exposure to a range of subjects, even if they are unclear about which degree programme they want to undertake in university.

Below is a list of the most popular Foundation Programmes in Malaysia:

1. 1. Foundation in Science
   2. Foundation in Arts
   3. Foundation in Business & Management
   4. Foundation in Computing & Technology
   5. Foundation in Information Technology
   6. Foundation in Engineering
   7. Foundation in Communication & Media Studies
   8. Foundation in Natural & Built Environment or Architecture
   9. Foundation in Design
   10. Foundation in Law

 

What are the Entry Requirements into Foundation Programmes in Malaysia?

General Entry Requirements are 5 SPM Credits with Passes in BM & Sejarah or IGCSE/O-Levels minimum 5Cs. Note that the entry requirements will vary from university to university. Furthermore, the entry requirements will vary from the type of degree course you plan on studying.

You will need to check with the university of interest to find out exactly what their entry requirements are. Or you may contact EduSpiral Consultant Services for advise on your entry to top private universities in Malaysia.

• Foundation in Arts entering into the following degree programmes:
  • Business Administration, Management, Logistics & Marketing – 5 Credits
  • Accounting, Finance, Banking, Investment & Actuarial Science – 5 Credits including Maths and a Pass in English
  • Arts, Design, Advertising, Hospitality, Hotel Management & Communication  – 5 Credits
  • Psychology – 5 Credits including Maths, one Science subject and a Pass in English
  • Architecture and Information Technology (IT) – 5 Credits including Maths
  • Computer Science – 5 Credits including Additional Maths
  • English Language, TESL & Mass Communication – 5 Credits including English
• Foundation in Science entering into:
  • Engineering – 5 Credits including Maths and 1 Science (Physics/ Chemistry/ Biology)
  • Architecture and IT – 5 Credits including Maths
  • Computer Science – 5 Credits including Add Maths
• Foundation in Science entering into the following degree programmes
  • Biotechnology, Culinology, Food Science, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, Biotechnology, Biomedical Science, Medical Imaging & Optometry – 5 credits including Mathematics and 2 science subjects
  • Pharmacy – 5Bs including Biology and Chemistry and Physic and Math (or Additional Math)
  • Medicine & Dentistry – 5Bs including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics/Additional Mathematics and 1 other subject
  • Architecture and IT – 5 Credits including Maths
• Foundation in Computing & Technology into the following degree programmes
  • Computing, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Game Development, Intelligent Systems, Cyber Security & Networking,  – 5 credits including Mathematics
• Foundation in Business into the following degree programmes
  • Business Administration, Management, Human Resource Management, International Business, Logistics & Marketing – 5 Credits
  • Accounting, Finance, Banking, Investment & Actuarial Science – 5 Credits including Maths and a Pass in English
• Foundation in Engineering entering into:
  • Mechanical, Civil, Electrical & Electronic, Telecommunication & Mechatronic – 5 Credits including Maths and 1 Science (Physics/ Chemistry/ Biology)
• Foundation in Architecture or Natural & Built Environment entering into:
  • Architecture – 5 Credits including Maths
  • Interior Architecture or Interior Design – 5 Credits
• Foundation in Design to enter into:
  • Graphic Design, Interior Design, Product Design, Multimedia, Animation – 5 Credits
  • Some universities may require a portfolio of your artwork or a credit in Art
• Foundation in Communication to enter into:
  • Mass Communication, Media Studies, Public Relations, Journalism, Branding & Advertising – 5 Credits

English Language Requirement For Foundation Programmes in Malaysia

In addition to the academic requirements, students are also required to meet the English Language requirements. An applicant who does not meet the Universities’ English Language Requirements may need to take an extra English course at the university or an external English examination such as the IELTS.

Summary of the Foundation Programme

Duration	12 months
Number of subjects	12-15. Varies depending on the programme and university (usually combination of compulsory, elective & MPU subjects)
Recognition & Accreditation	Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA)
Assessment	Assessment for Foundation programmes in Malaysia will vary from university to university. It will contain a mix of coursework, assignments, quizzes and exams. The coursework could cover different assessment tasks such as projects, assignments, laboratory work, presentations, tests, and others as assigned throughout each semester. The final examination is conducted at the end of each semester.
Price	RM8,000 – RM25,000
Advantages	Tailored specifically towards the degree course offered by the university Shorter duration compared to the STPM and A-Level programmes Generally, cheaper than most Pre-University (Pre-U) programmes Most students find it easier compared to other Pre-University programmes English-speaking environment which would help you to improve your language skills (depends on which university you choose) The course is taught and marked by Malaysians who would understand the language skills of Malaysian students. Therefore, students who are weak in the English language should choose the Foundation and take the opportunity to improve their language skills during the Foundation programme.
Disadvantages	Depending on which Foundation, it may be difficult to change courses if you decide to pursue a different field May not be accepted by other private universities for your undergraduate degree May not be accepted into universities overseas