Best Pre-University or Foundation Course to Enter into Top Ranked Monash University Malaysia

Best Pre-University or Foundation Course to Study after SPM or O-Levels to Enter into Monash University Malaysia

Written by EduSpiral Consultant Services For more information contact 01111408838

Students after SPM or O-Levels in Malaysia wanting to study at Monash University Malaysia should choose a top Pre-University Programme that will prepare you well to handle the rigours of studying at a world top ranked Australian University. Many students assume that the Monash University Foundation Year is a guaranteed entry into Monash University Malaysia, it is not, you still have to meet the minimum entry requirements.

Students planning to study Pharmacy or Medicine at Monash University Malaysia should go for the A-Level programme at a top Malaysian college. Pre-University Programmes such as the South Australian Matriculation (SAM), Foundation or A-Levels are also accepted for entry into Monash University Malaysia other than the Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY). Foundation programmes from private universities are accepted on a case-to-case basis.

For more information contact 01111408838

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 counsellor will send you a message on WhatsApp & provide assistance from there.

Choosing the Best Pre-University Programme to Enter into Monash University Malaysia for Degree Studies

Choosing the right Pre-University course after SPM or O-Levels can be confusing. Choosing the right Pre-University course that fits you would mean that you have to ask yourself which methods of assessment best suit you? Exams, coursework, practicals, group projects and presentations could all be in the mix in differing quantities.

Every Pre-University course in Malaysia will include a percentage of the breakdown of assessment for the subjects. You need to understand yourself and capabilities in order to decide which Pre-University course would best suit you.

Students after SPM or O-Levels can consider taking the Foundation Programmes at top private colleges & universities in Malaysia. The Foundation Programmes are 1 year and is cheaper compared to the external Pre-University Programmes. Foundation programmes are generally easier than external Pre-University courses. 

“Pre-University” means the course that you take before entering into a university in Malaysia. Therefore, a Foundation Programme is also classified as a Pre-University Programmes. Most students will enter into the Pre-University programme after completing SPM. There are many different Pre-University programmes available in Malaysia such as the STPM, A-Levels, SAM, CPU, AUSMAT, and more. If you don’t plan to go overseas immediately after your Pre-University Programme, then you should go for the Foundation programme in Malaysia.

South Australia Matriculation (SAM) in Malaysia

SAM is an internationally-recognised Australian pre-university matriculation programme which is set and administered by the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia (SSABSA). SAM has been offered to students outside of Australia since 1984 and is accepted by many renowned universities in Australia, the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, India, and private universities in Malaysia as an admission criterion into their undergraduate programmes.

The South Australian Matriculation (SAM) is awarded by South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). Duration for the South Australian Matriculation (SAM) is 10 months for the January intake and 7 months for the March intake. Students entering the July intake will study for 18 months. SAM offers

• Proven learning techniques tailored to university study
• A balanced choice of subjects leading to a variety of university degree courses
• A mixture of school assessments and external examinations that assess students fairly
• The flexibility for students to complete the program over an extended period
• An opportunity for students to increase their tertiary entrance rank by repeating subjects without penalty

SAM is a 10-month matriculation programme with a unique assessment pattern – 50% of the final mark is derived from the final public examination (usually in the month of October/November) while the remaining 50% is awarded internally through continuous assessment of coursework and tests. It offers students the flexibility to complete the programme over an extended period although the normal duration of study is one year.

Students taking the SAM programme must complete five subjects, including one subject from List 1 and at least one subject from List 2. In addition, students must achieve a satisfactory score (10/20 or better) in either English as Second Language Studies, or English Studies. Students can also repeat subjects without a penalty.

The South Australian Matriculation (SAM) is a balance of continuous internal assessment and a final external examination. Students are provided with a university aggregate score (out of 90 marks) and a tertiary entrance rank (TER), a percentile ranking that is recognised without modification by all tertiary selection agencies in Australia. Students must complete 5 subjects, including 1 subject from List 1 and at least 1 subject from List 2. In addition, students must achieve a satisfactory score (10/20 or better) in either English as Second Language Studies, or English Studies.

South Australian Matriculation (SAM) students will study 6 Subjects in total and may choose from the following:

• List 1 – Economics, English as Second Language Studies, English Studies, Legal Studies
• List 2 – Accounting Studies, Biology, Chemistry, IT Studies, Mathematical Studies, Specialist Mathematics, Physics, Psychology

The usual intake for the 10-month SAM programme is in January and the minimum qualification for

admission is the SPM/O-level certificate or equivalent, with at least five credits totalling not more than 30 points, including credits in English and Mathematics / Science.

The SAM programme gives students an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR, which is a percentile ranking that is utilised as a selection criterion of students for bachelor’s degree courses by universities in Australia and different parts of the world. Students will be awarded the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

The best private colleges in Malaysia for South Australian Matriculation (SAM)/SACE International Pre-University programme are Taylors College  and Disted College Penang.

Foundation Programmes Accepted for Entry into Monash University Undergraduate Degree Courses (Conditions Apply)

Each undergraduate course at Monash University Malaysia has specific academic entry-score requirements, which you should check carefully.

Students after SPM or O-Levels should choose the foundation programme in Malaysia that best fits their

career goals and needs. Top private universities in Malaysia, have developed their own internal university foundation programmes.  The curriculum and examination of the Foundation programmes are set by the local private colleges & universities, following the quality criteria set by the Ministry of Higher Education and quality assurance agency, Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

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

These Foundation courses are accredited by the Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA) and recognised by the university’s respective foreign partner universities and also accepted by many other overseas universities as an equivalent to pre-university qualification in their respective home countries.

External Pre-University Programmes such as the A-Levels, AUSMAT or CIMP offer general subjects in Science or Arts. Students will take about 10-12 subjects in 3 semesters (1 year) for the Foundation programme at private universities in Malaysia. You will get the chance to study a variety of subject areas in the Foundation Programme. This will not only give you an idea of what subject you may like to progress on to, but also to develop the valuable learning skills necessary for pursue a degree. A Foundation Programme in Malaysia can be 2 semesters with 6 months each semester or 3 semesters with 4 months each semester.

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.

Choosing the right Foundation programme  after SPM or O-Levels can be challenging. Many students after SPM or O-Levels are left with the difficult task of making that choice without being sufficiently equipped with the necessary details to make an informed choice. Students should ask a counselor who is knowledgeable and experienced to provide the right information to help them make the right choice.

Asia Pacific University (APU) Foundation Programmes

• Foundation in Business & Finance
• Foundation in Computing & Technology
• Foundation in Engineering
• Foundation in Design

Taylor’s University Foundation Programmes

• Foundation in Arts
• Foundation in Science
• Taylor’s Business Foundation
• Foundation in Communication
• Foundation in Computing
• Foundation in Design
• Foundation in Engineering
• Foundation in Natural & Built Environments

Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) in Malaysia

Regarded as “Year Zero” in the Monash Tertiary Education, the Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) is one of the Pre-University programmes for students to progress successfully into undergraduate studies at Monash University. There is no guaranteed entry into Monash University degree programmes through MUFY. As long as the student meets the entry requirements, they can enter the degree programmes at Monash University. This applies to all Pre-University programmes like South Australian Matriculation (SAM), A-Levels, Foundation, etc.

Equivalent to the Australian Year 12, this course is conducted on a modular teaching and learning concept and is usually completed over two semesters, between nine and eleven months. Students have the option to extend the duration of study to three semesters, if necessary, to retake selected units and to improve overall score.

The Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) is an academic bridge for students to transition successfully into undergraduate studies at Monash University and other universities.  As the only provider of the MUFY programme in Malaysia, Sunway College MUFY is positioned strategically for students wishing to prepare themselves for an undergraduate degree at Monash University.

The MUFY programme fosters personal and social growth as well as an appreciation for lifelong learning.  It is designed to provide students with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills delivered in a student-centred learning environment, enabling them to successfully pursue undergraduate studies at Monash University or any tertiary institution.

MUFY is a non-discipline specific foundation programme allowing students the option of a broader pathway to any university course of their choice.  The semesterised study mode of the MUFY programme allows students to complete half of a subject (Unit 1) in a semester before undertaking the second half (Unit 2) in the next semester. This method reduces the pressure of preparing for a single final examination at the end of the programme.

The MUFY learning outcomes aim to deliver:

• Disciplinary knowledge of academic studies pursued
• Ability to apply practical skills learnt in progressing to tertiary education
• Ability to relate to social responsibilities, personal identity and cultural awareness in a global context
• Demonstration of moral/ethical values and professional attitudes
• Critical thinking abilities and flexibility in different ways of thinking
• Ability to communicate articulately through the use of the English Language and work independently and/or interdependently in team
• Ability to apply ICT skills and take responsibilities for one’s own learning
• Enterprise skills that support sustainable goals

STRUCTURE & MODE OF LEARNING of the Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY)

MUFY is a two-semester programme which is available across multiple intakes and offered in two formats:

The Standard programme, commencing in January, March and July.
Students study 4 units in semester 1 and another 4 in semester 2.
The Intensive programme, commencing in August. Students study 3 units in semester 1, and 5 units in semester 2.
MUFY is delivered in a blended learning format which combines face-to-face instruction with self-directed learning delivered on an e-learning platform. To cope with this learning approach, students are advised to bring their own electronic device i.e. laptop or tablet.

ASSESSMENT AND EXAMINATIONS for the Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY)

Students are assessed through a mix of coursework (e.g. assignments, class tests, research projects, presentations) and final examinations. Coursework constitutes 70% of the total score while the remaining 30% is based on final examinations.

The MUFY programme scoring scale is determined as follows:

GRADE SCORE (%)
HD (High Distinction): 80 – 100
D (Distinction): 70 – 79
C (Credit): 60 – 69
P (Pass): 50 – 59
N (Fail): 0 – 49

CALCULATION OF THE Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) SCORE

To arrive at the MUFY score, the passing marks obtained from all eight units are added up and then divided by eight. Bonus marks are awarded to students who complete nine or ten units in two semesters.

Monash University Malaysia Campus at Sunway

The Malaysia campus of Monash University is an exemplar of transnational education. Because we are a campus of Monash University, all our staff and students are part of a global academy with an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Recognised by the Malaysian Ministry of Education and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, and quality assured by Monash University Australia and the Australian Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

Monash University Malaysia offers an internationally recognised Australian education, enriching the student experience and employability through educational innovation, high impact research, student mobility, social entrepreneurship and industry engagement.

Studying or working at Monash University Malaysia is a dynamic, international experience. Our community of scholars is supported collegial processes and comprehensive first-class infrastructure. While we are firmly engaged in Malaysia and the region, our focus is also relentlessly global, so our graduates emerge ready to transform the world around them.
Monash is ranked:

• in the top one per cent of world universities – 80th in the world – according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2017–2018)
• in the top 100 world universities, with an estimated rank of 79th according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2016.
• 21st in the World’s Most International Universities in 2017 as released by Times Higher Education.

Leaders from the world’s most successful companies consistently rate Monash as a preferred university from which to hire graduates. Global Employability Rankings, 2011–2015, New York Times
Ranked 56th in the world from which to hire graduates (Global Employability University Rankings, 2015)

The Good Universities Guide 2016 awarded Monash five stars for:

• staff qualifications
• student retention
• research grants.

Top one per cent of business employability education providers. Monash is the only Group of Eight university with triple crown international business accreditation within the Faculty of Business and Economics:

• AACSB
• EQUIS
• AMBA

Discipline rankings

Monash is ranked:

• the best university in Australia for engineering and technology (Times Higher Education, 2016-2017)
• the best university in Australia for chemistry (Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2015)
• 41st in the world for clinical, pre-clinical medicine and health (Times Higher Education, 2016-2017)
• 63rd in the world for business and economics (Times Higher Education, 2016-2017)

Monash is a member of the Group of Eight, an alliance of leading Australian universities recognised for their excellence in teaching and research. Group of Eight universities produce graduates who find full-time employment sooner, begin on higher salaries, and are more likely to move onto postgraduate  studies  than  graduates from other Australian universities.

Pre-University Admission Entry Requirements into the Undergraduate Degree Programmes at Monash University Malaysia