Choosing the Right Degree Course to Study After UEC in Malaysia

"I was confused and had some questions. EduSpiral met up with me and my mum to explain more about the course and helped me choose the right course."

Ask the Best Education Advisor About What to Study in Malaysia after UEC

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Choosing a course to study after UEC in Malaysia takes time and effort to out who you are and what you are good at. Talking to an experienced Education Advisor would be invaluable in assisting you to choose the right course that fits you. Many graduates after completing their university have found out the hard way that they have chosen a course that they didn’t like or a course that has no job demand in Malaysia.

Students in Malaysia need to talk to the right education counselors so that you get the right information to help you in making this life-changing decision. Students from Chinese Independent High Schools tend to be very hardworking and intelligent in their studies however they are generally weak in the English language and being able to communicate effectively. These two attributes are very important to having a successful career in Malaysia or anywhere in the world.

For a personalised advise on how to choose the right course 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.

How to Choose the Best Course to Study in Malaysia after UEC?

I was not sure of what to study. EduSpiral helped me to choose the right course. Jasmine, Business Information Systems Graduate from Asia Pacific University (APU)
I was not sure of what to study. EduSpiral helped me to choose the right course.
Jasmine, Business Information Systems Graduate from Asia Pacific University (APU)

After UEC, there are many different pathways for you to choose from and sometimes it can be confusing.

Chinese Independent High School students in Malaysia who are not sure of what to study after UEC can contact EduSpiral Consultant Services to help guide you to choose the right course and university.

With the wide variety of courses available to a student in Malaysia, the time after your UEC  can be a confusing one if not guided properly by an experienced and knowledgeable education counselor. It can be overwhelming for students to choose the right major for their undergraduate degree studies in Malaysia. Preparations should have been made even before this time but fear not it is still not too late if you have not decided on a career path. It is important for you to research carefully the career that you intend to pursue.

It can be confusing to choose the right course after your UEC in Malaysia. You should carefully think about what are the options available to you. To choose the best course that fits you, you need to consider the following:

  • Look at your results – what are your best & worst subjects, and which subjects are your favourite?
  • What are your interests & hobbies?
  • What is your passion?
  • Job demand for the career of choice. There is no point in choosing a course out of passion and then graduate to find out that you cannot get a job in that field.
  • Salary of the career of choice
  • Discuss the budget for your studies with your parents. There is no point in choosing a course like Pharmacy or Medicine, if you cannot afford it.

What You Should Know if You Decide to Study in Taiwan after UEC

I had taken a course and wasn't doing well. Then, I met EduSpiral who guided me to the right course and now I am doing very well. Brendon, Entertainment Arts graduate from KDU University College
I had taken a course and wasn’t doing well. Then, I met EduSpiral who guided me to the right course and now I am doing very well.
Brendon, Entertainment Arts graduate from KDU University College

According to Channel News Asia, today, young Taiwanese face dim job prospects. They have been dubbed the “22k” generation — a reference to their minimum monthly salary of NT$22,000, which works out to just over S$1,000. Youth unemployment is more than 12 per cent, and many young Taiwanese are disillusioned.

“Most of my friends who studied overseas do not want to come back to work in Taiwan because of the low pay here,” said Mr Liao Jin-chuan, 30, a private tutor who earns about NT40,000 a month (S$1,685) and lives with his parents in New Taipei City.

Some students who are not good in the English language choose to study in Taiwan because it is easier. However, do note that according to a report by Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) of the Prime Minister’s Department late last year where it was cited that 48 per cent of employers reject students due to poor English. Unless you plan not to return to Malaysia to work, then that’s ok. If you do plan to stay on and work in Taiwan, do note that the salary for fresh graduates there is low and cost of living is high.

The Ministry of Labor (MOL) of Taiwan released a survey on starting salaries in various industries in 2014, indicating that the average starting monthly salary for graduates fresh out of school stood at NT$25,175 per year.

Youth Unemployment Rate in Taiwan averaged 12.91 percent from 2014 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 14.02 percent in August of 2014. Youth Unemployment Rate in Taiwan is reported by the National Statistics Republic of China (Taiwan). Now, if the Taiwanese graduates are having difficulty in securing a job, I am sure that the companies there would not be open to hiring foreigners first like you.

Learning to be good in the English language doesn’t make one less Chinese. After all, you are already good in Mandarin, why go to a university where everyone communicates in Mandarin so how are you going to improve your English? Many students proudly tell me, well, the lecturers teach in English and I will take an English course to improve. Then my point is, after 12 years of education at secondary school and you still haven’t improved your English, what makes you think that you can improve it in 4 years in the same environment as your school?

The other argument I hear is, “China is the world’s second economy and very important, so I can work there.” My reply to that is, well, China has more than 1.6 Billion people there and many degree graduates cannot get jobs, what makes you think that you have the extra skills to compete with them?

The only reason why I emphasise the importance of English is so that you have a better future. Language is not easily learnt overnight. The best time to improve it is during secondary school, if you didn’t, then university time is another opportunity.

When you start working, you will be too tired. You will be focused on your girl friend or boy friend, earning money to buy a car or house, and so forth.

What you decide today, can change your life forever, think about it.

Choosing the Right University to Study after UEC in Malaysia

“I was confused and had some questions. EduSpiral met up with me and my mum to explain more about the course and helped me choose the right course.”
Gary, Accounting Graduate from University of Wollongong Malaysia (UOWM) KDU

It is also important to choose the right university that would equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to move up in your career. Many students make the mistake of choosing the cheapest university for their studies and then later realise that they cannot get the promotion or salary increment because they did not get the skills needed. English is one of these skills that most students do not take seriously about its importance for promotion and salary increments in future jobs.

Think about it, if you are unable to write a report or email in proper English or do a presentation smoothly, how would you be able to become a manager or CEO eventually?

Go for education fairs and talk to the lecturers and counselors but do not register to quickly. Listen to their advise and take the information and then talk to your parents. Remember that the colleges and universities want your money for their “business” so they will want you to register quickly.

Take time to think carefully and do not be taken in by the sales gimmicks of getting a car or iPad or discount if you register on the spot.

Talk to the various counsellors at the booths to find out more information about the individual careers. Ask about tuition costs, short description of the career, job prospects, facilities offered in the college, and others. Check with them to see if the course is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), if you can apply for the PTPTN loan and how much you can apply for, how long is the course, etc.

Students should also visit the university’s campus to get a feel of what the student environment is like, look at the facilities and talk to the lecturers. EduSpiral Consultant Services provides a free campus visit to our partner universities.

Good English Improves Confidence and Communication Skills Therefore Increasing Chance of Promotion

EduSpiral advised & helped me choose the best college for A-Levels. And now I have graduated from a top ranked UK University in Malaysia Dexter Leong, A-Levels at HELP Academy & Degree from University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
EduSpiral advised & helped me choose the best college for A-Levels. And now I have graduated from a top ranked UK University in Malaysia
Dexter Leong, A-Levels at HELP Academy & Degree from University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus

Professional recruitment consultancy Robert Walters Malaysia country manager Sally Raj said English language proficiency could increase personal earning power. “This is particularly true for professionals within a client-facing role where communication skills are vital, good English skills will help them articulate and sell their ideas better. It will also aid them in working in a multinational corporation, where they need to communicate with various nationalities,” she said. She also agreed that higher English language proficiency would help attract and increase foreign direct investment (FDI) into Malaysia.

“Most foreign multinationals look for professionals who they are able to train for the role, meaning that higher English language proficiency would be one of the key factors that would draw them to Malaysia,” she said. Manpower Staffing Services (M) Sdn Bhd country manager Sam Haggag said it was widely recognised that fluency in the English language was a prerequisite to getting a job.

“Employees with good English communication skills tend to be more confident and thus representing the organisation better, putting the organisation in a positive light. Therefore, these employees are able to gain higher positions in the organisation,” he said.

It does not matter if you are top of your class or have a string of degrees, that dream job will not be yours unless you can speak and write well in English. Feedback from local and international employers shows that verbal and written communication skills in English remain the most sought-after attribute in prospective employees.

Malaysian Employers Look for Graduates with Good Communication Skills

EduSpiral counselled me online and met me at KDU Penang University College to take me around the campus. It helped me a lot in making the right decision. Archie Wong (Right), Business degree Graduate from KDU Penang University College
EduSpiral counselled me online and met me at KDU Penang University College to take me around the campus. It helped me a lot in making the right decision.
Archie Wong (Right), Business degree Graduate from KDU Penang University College

According to a recent Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) survey, it is the most important trait employers look for when recruiting graduates. The MEF Salary Survey for Executives 2010 revealed that 68% of the companies surveyed named communication skills as the top quality required in job applicants, followed by working experience (67%), interpersonal skills (56.2%) and passion and commitment (55.7%).

MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said globalisation had changed the nature of jobs, making communication skills, specifically in English, a valuable asset for today’s worker. He added that this was an essential criterion even for professions traditionally seen as “backroom” staff such as engineers, technical personnel and scientists. “It is especially so for those working in multinationals and bigger firms,” he said.

“Today, our clients are worldwide. In factories, for instance, engineers are a different breed from the past,” said Shamsuddin.

“Now, they have to be involved in various aspects of business and interact with clients.” Shamsuddin expressed concern that many local graduates today could not speak or write proper English, saying this was a reason why they faced difficulties getting jobs in the private sector.

Kelly Services (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Melissa Norman concurred, noting that six in 10 graduates who attended its interviews could not communicate effectively in English. The company is one of the top headhunters in the country. Norman said it was important to master English as it was widely used among the business community, both in Malaysia and internationally.

The Kelly Global Workforce Index survey released in 2010 listed “communication skills” as one of the top five most desired skills within the corporate sector. “We have encountered local graduates who are weak in spoken and written English and have limited vocabulary,” said Norman. “These candidates can only manage to secure jobs in small-medium enterprises and small businesses.”

Help! I don’t know what course to choose to study at university- what do I do?

Actuarial Science, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
My father wanted me to study at the best university for actuarial science & I wasn’t sure about my results. EduSpiral met up with us, explained about the course and university.
Min En, Actuarial Science, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia

It is important to choose the right course to study – you don’t want to waste your time and money on a course you don’t want to do (or end up dropping out of). To help you decide which course is right for you, make a list of courses that are of interest to you.

Is it a subject you have already studied? For example, maybe you loved the English subject and you read novels for pleasure in your own time. You can consider Teaching English as a Second Language, journalism or Mass Communication. In addition, you don’t have to do a journalism degree to become a journalist – many degrees are considered!

Maybe you’ve always been interested in computers and the internet at home, and enjoyed maths at school, so are considering a degree in computer science, a course subject you probably won’t have studied before. Experienced education counselors are able to analyse your interests, personality and exam results to help you make a list of possible courses for consideration.

Looking at your results in UEC could help you to decide which course you would be good at. If you are good in Maths & Physics then you can consider Engineering courses. Having good results in Chemistry, Biology & Maths, you can think of a career in Food Science, Pharmacy or Medicine. Talking to an experienced education advisor would help you to navigate through this confusing time of choosing the best course that fits you.

Many students after UEC make the mistake of just listening to advise without verifying whether the information given is true or not. In addition, just because you have heard or seen a lot of advertisements by a particular university, doesn’t mean that it is the best in that course.

You should also ask yourself if you would still be interested in that subject for a further three or four years – enough to motivate yourself to work and research independently? Remember, you are going to work in this career for the next 50 years after graduation, therefore, you should have a high interest in the course.

The course that you choose should also have a job demand for you after you graduate. Choosing a course that you are passionate about without job demand and you may end up being jobless. Look for statistics and research to support whether there is a job demand for your future career in Malaysia or Singapore. Here at EduSpiral Consultant Services, we do our research on the job demand for the careers in Malaysia, Salary Reports, and universities so that we can advise our students based on facts and evidence.

Look at the Course Content of the Degree Programmes. Even though the title of the degree programme is the same at various universities, the course content or subjects offered are different. You should look at the subjects from the universities and compare. Make sure that they are solid enough to prepare you for a successful career in Malaysia or Singapore.

Now why would you want to talk to EduSpiral Consultant Services when you can contact the private universities directly? Well, EduSpiral Consultant Services staff have more than 15 years experience in counseling students. Having worked in the private education industry, we have in-depth knowledge of each private university and college in what they are good at.

We have 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.

What am I good at? What am I not good at?

EduSpiral advised me on WhatsApp & provided all the information on Taylor’s University. He also helped to arrange a campus tour. Finally, he helped me to register as well as apply for the scholarship.
Hazel Hoh, Foundation in Arts (Communication)

An undergraduate degree course in Malaysia lasts three to five years – that’s a long time to spend studying something which you don’t enjoy, especially at a more intense level! First of all ask yourself what you have enjoyed studying at secondary school in Malaysia.

Your UEC results will show what you are actually good at. Having good results in Maths, you can consider Actuarial Science, Accounting, Computing or Finance courses. Having narrowed down to these courses, you can go for the Foundation in Arts for 1 year before really choosing which one to study for your degree.

Alternatively you can also think about subjects you definitely don’t want to study at university level and which you can’t wait to say goodbye to. Crossing these off will make your list of options smaller and less overwhelming.

Your parents and friends would also be able to give you an idea of what you are good at. Looking at your hobbies and interests would help to narrow down the list. Your hobby in drawing could open the possibility of choosing design courses.

What qualifications do I have already?

You may already have an idea of the area you want to study and find a career in, which will have dictated what subjects you’re already studying at school. However it’s good to look at the qualifications and grades you have (or are predicted to have) to see what you are already eligible to study. Students need to be realistic in choosing their course of study by looking at their actual results. If your actual results do not meet the entry requirements for your particular course of interest, then you may need to consider other options.

What are my interests?

I met up with EduSpiral and he to me to a few universities for a tour. We also discussed about the courses in detail to help me decide which university would be best for me for interior design. Kenneth, Interior Design at Taylor's University
I met up with EduSpiral and he to me to a few universities for a tour. We also discussed about the courses in detail to help me decide which university would be best for me for interior design.
Kenneth, Interior Design at Taylor’s University

If you can’t think of an academic subject which you’re especially strong at or one which you would want to pursue at university-level, think about your non-academic interests outside of school. It’s likely that you’re much more passionate about these but you’ve never even thought you could study a course related to these (or pursue a career in this area).

Your hobbies, interests and which clubs & societies that you have joined in secondary school would give you some idea of what you are good at. These, together with your actual results would contribute to your decision-making process in choosing the right course of study.

New courses are being created all the time to prepare and develop talent for growing industries, such as animation or computer game design. Projects, events and knowledge related to these interests can all contribute to show that you’re passionate about this area and eligible to study on a course which can prepare you for a related career.

In other cases there may be several routes to your dream career, some of which may allow you to study something different before transferring or. Talk to those who are already working in this area to see how they got to where they are now, including what they studied (or even what they wish they had studied).

Talk to the Best Education Consultant in Malaysia to Help you Make the Right Choice in your Studies

Choosing a course to study after UEC is not a science, it is a process

Lonnie Sik, Founder of EduSpiral, has more than 15 years of experience counseling thousands of students on how to choose the right course & university
Lonnie Sik, Founder of EduSpiral, has more than 15 years of experience counseling thousands of students on how to choose the right course & university

in finding out who you are and what you are good at. An experienced Education Advisor would be invaluable in assisting you to choose the right course in Malaysia or Singapore.

Students in Malaysia need to talk to the right education counselors so that you get the right information to help you in making this life-changing decision.

Ask the right Education Counselors in Malaysia to help you. Would you ask a Doctor on how to repair your car? Or would you ask a mechanic for medical advise? Although this sounds ridiculous, but many students do listen to advise from young and inexperienced counselors from universities, colleges or agents’ offices.  Talking to an experienced education advisor in Malaysia would help you to navigate through this confusing time of choosing the best course that fits you.

Experienced education counselors are able to analyse your interests, personality and exam results to help you make a list of possible courses for consideration. EduSpiral Consultant Services staff have more than 15 years experience in counseling students. Having worked in the private education industry, we have in-depth knowledge of each private university and college in what they are good at.

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.

The EduSpiral Career Assessment form is a simple form designed by us that gathers information from students after UEC in order to assess their aptitude helping us to determine the most suitable course and career progression.

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. 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.

Some of the Best  Degree Programmes to Study in Malaysia

Top Engineering and Built Environment Courses in Malaysia
My friend introduced me to EduSpiral. He gave me all the information on Facebook & then met us at the Education Fair to guide us on how to choose the right university Lyngkaran, Engineering at Taylor's University
My friend introduced me to EduSpiral. He gave me all the information on Facebook & then met us at the Education Fair to guide us on how to choose the right university
Lyngkaran, Engineering at Taylor’s University

Outstanding Computing and Information Technology Courses in Malaysia
I whatsapped EduSpiral and got the information I needed about the university and course. He then arranged for me and my mother to meet up with APU counselors and to tour the campus as well. Li Jian, IT at Asia Pacific University
I whatsapped EduSpiral and got the information I needed about the university and course. He then arranged for me and my mother to meet up with APU counselors and to tour the campus as well.
Li Jian, IT at Asia Pacific University

First Rate Applied and Health Sciences in Malaysia

The Best Business & Accounting Courses in Malaysia

EduSpiral explained the pathway to become an actuaries & gave facts on why Heriot-Watt is the best for actuarial science. We also toured the campus and hostel. Weng Hang, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
EduSpiral explained the pathway to become an actuaries & gave facts on why Heriot-Watt is the best for actuarial science. We also toured the campus and hostel.
Weng Hang, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
Excellent Social Science Courses in Malaysia
Top Design Courses in Malaysia
I didn't come from a rich family but I very much wanted to go to KL to study. EduSpiral helped me to find a good university with affordable fees. Eric Lau, Graduated from Graphic Design at First City University College
I didn’t come from a rich family but I very much wanted to go to KL to study. EduSpiral helped me to find a good university with affordable fees.
Eric Lau, Graduated from Graphic Design at First City University College
First Rate Hospitality and Culinary Arts Courses in Malaysia

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