Getting the Best Advise on How to Choose the Right Private University or College to Study at in Malaysia

Helping you Choose the Best Private University or College to Study in Malaysia

Written by EduSpiral Consultant Services For more information contact 01111408838

Choosing the right university to study in Malaysia after high school is one of the most important decisions you can make in your life. This can be a confusing and difficult time if you are unprepared. With the wide variety of universities available to a student, the time after SPM can be a confusing one if not guided properly by an experienced and knowledgeable education counselor.

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 develop a good list of criteria, you need to talk to the right counselors or education consultant who are knowledgeable and experienced.

A knowledgeable counselor or education consultant  in Malaysia would be able to provide detailed information about the university and its courses, facts & evidence to support the job prospects for the course and in-depth information about  which university would be suit you. While an experienced counselor or education consultant would be able to analyse your results, understand your personality & skills to figure out which course and career suits you.

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

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.

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.

Here’s some advice for trying to find the university in Malaysia or Singapore that works for you.

1. Start with who you are and why you are going to university in Malaysia

You need to examine yourself and your reasons for going to college before you start your search. Why, really, are you going? What are your abilities and strengths? What are your weaknesses? What do you want out of life — something tangible or intangible?

Are you socially self-sufficient or do you need warm, familial support? Talk with your family, friends and high-school counselors as you ask these questions. The people who know you best can help you the most with these important issues.

2. A name-brand university in Malaysia will not guarantee your success.

Think about the people in your life who are happy and successful and find out where (and if) they went to college. Ask the same about “famous” people. You will likely find that success in life has less to do with the choice of college than with the experiences and opportunities encountered while in college, coupled with personal qualities and traits.

Some private universities have spent millions of Ringgit throughout the years telling you that they are the best. You should objectively look at the information carefully to assess which university in Malaysia is best for you. If you do not have the necessary knowledge and skills, you won’t get far in your career.

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.

Employers and graduate schools are looking for outstanding skills and experience, not how famous a university is in Malaysia that you come from. Remember that the employer will be interviewing you and not the university that you come from, therefore, if you do not possess the necessary knowledge and skills, you would not get hired even if you come from a top university.

3. You don’t need to know what major you want for your degree yet

Very few high-school students have enough information or experience to choose a major. You need the variety and depth of college coursework to determine your interest and aptitude. Most college students change their minds two or three times before they settle on a major.

After SPM or O-Levels you will take a Pre-University course first such as Foundation, A-Levels, AUSMAT, UNSW Foundation Year, etc. You have about 1 year in the Pre-U course to really figure out what to study for your degree. So, the most important thing is to choose the right Pre-University course that fits you.

I talked to a group of students who were advised by an Agent to take an external Pre-University programme. They did not achieve the necessary results to enter into university therefore wasted their money and time. When I asked them why they did not go for the Foundation programme at the private university since they knew that they wanted to study IT and also locally in Malaysia, they just said that they followed the advise of the agent whom they thought they could trust.

4. You can afford to go to a Private University in Malaysia.

If you make the assumption that you cannot afford college based on the “sticker price” of tuition, 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, MARA Loan, 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.

5. Campus Culture and Community Life at the Private Universities in Malaysia

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, athletic and recreational activities.

It is important to choose a private university in Malaysia that has an English-speaking environment, students who are ambitious and serious about studies, and a globalised student body. Mixing around with international students will help to improve your English language skills and understanding of different cultures.

Some private universities in Malaysia are known for their focus on lifestyle or known as party universities. There is nothing wrong with choosing them if you are able to control yourself. If not, you have to consider that this could affect your future.

A private university that has a diverse student body with many international students would help students to improve their English-language and cross-cultural communication skills. With globalisation, many top companies in the world are looking for professionals who are dynamic with strong management skills to lead a globalised work force.

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.

6. Quality/reputation/ranking of the Private University in Malaysia

There is no official ranking system in Malaysia for private universities. The MQA and Ministry of Higher

Education in Malaysia has a rating system for universities in Malaysia. It is the SETARA rating system.

Looking at the number of awards that the university and its students have won in competitions related to the course can be a guide in helping you to make the right choice. Many students make the mistake of just listening to advertisements or friends without checking the information.

Students should look at the qualifications of the lecturers at the university. How many are PhD and Master degree holders. Are the lecturers mostly part time or full time? Experienced lecturers would be able to guide students to achieve academic success.

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.

Students should check with the relevant professional bodies to see if the courses the university of interest are accredited. For example, Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), Nursing Board, Pharmacy Board, Malaysian Bar, MIA, Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia, etc.

7. The most important factor in choosing a college or university in Malaysia is fit.

Choosing a college 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. College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won. Finding a good fit requires time 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.

For more information and strategies, read our article, EduSpiral University Campus Tours to Help Students Choose the Best Universities. If some universities on your list are just too far away to make a trip, then you can add EduSpiral on Facebook and we can show you videos and photos of the campus and its facilities.

8. Decide What You Want in a Private College or University in Malaysia

Ask yourself what’s important to you, where you want to be and who you want to become. Then you can figure out what types of colleges will allow you to achieve your goals.

Here are some important points to consider when choosing a university in Malaysia:

• Size of the university
• Accreditation of the University’s courses by MQA and other relevant professional bodies in Malaysia
• Location
• Student culture – is it an English-speaking students environment
• Makeup of the student body – are there a lot of international students at the university so that you can mix around with them to improve your English and gain invaluable global perspectives
• Available degree programmes
• Hostel choices
• Available extracurricular activities
• Campus atmosphere

Which of these aspects are things you feel you must have to be comfortable at a private university in Malaysia or private college in Singapore? Which things are you flexible on?

In addition, think about what you want to accomplish in your college life. Do you want to train for a specific job or get a wide-ranging education? If you have a specific degree programme in mind, is the private college that you’re considering strong or famous in that area of study?

9. Talk to a Knowledgeable & Experienced Education Consultant to Help you to Choose the Best Private University or College in Malaysia

Choosing a the right university to study after SPM or O-Levels in Malaysia takes time, it is a process in finding out which university in best for you. You need to talk to the right counselors who are knowledgeable and experienced.

A knowledgeable counselor would be able to provide detailed information about the course, facts & evidence to support the job prospects for the course and in-depth information about which university would be suit you. While an experienced counselor would be able to analyse your results, understand your personality & skills to figure out which course and career suits you.

A knowledgeable education consultant means that he or she would know the entry requirements, course details, in-depth knowledge of the hundreds of courses out there, career prospects, job demand, professional recognition requirements, accreditation, best universities for the course, and other information that would help a confused student to make the right choice.

While an experienced education consultant would have had counseled hundreds of students analysing their

personalities and skilfully guiding them to the right course and university.

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 SPM, O-Levels, UEC, STPM or A-Levels in order to assess their aptitude helping us to determine the most suitable course and career progression. After knowing which course, we can then determine which private university in best for that course.

10. Choosing the Best University in Malaysia that Fits You

Students after SPM, O-Levels, UEC, STPM, A-Levels or Pre-University should choose the best private university or college in Malaysia to study so that you can gain the top skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the competitive working world.

Every university and course in Malaysia is different and each student wants different things to fit their education and career goals. There are hundreds of private universities and colleges in Malaysia offering a wide range of Foundation, Diploma & Degree courses.

Students after SPM, O-Levels, STPM, UEC, A-Levels or other Pre-University programme will almost certainly need to decide what is most important to you.

So choosing the right course at the right university in Malaysia for you will require some research and consultation with knowledgeable and experienced counselors. The more research you put into the process the more likely you will make the right decision. Doing your homework will pay-off.

Choosing the right university takes time to decide. You should visit the campus and talk to the staff and lecturers there. Check their facts to see what they say is true. See if the environment and facilities are good and that the students communicate in English there. EduSpiral Consultant Services takes students to visit the universities’ campuses to take them around for a tour and to give them in-depth counseling.

Some students choose their university because their friends are going there, or because their relatives said it was good, or the university was famous or glamourous.

Remember, you are choosing a university that will help to prepare you to work for the next 60 years of your life. If the university doesn’t equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills, you would get a low salary for the next 60 years of your life.

When making a decision, it is important to decide based on facts and evidence. Many students have told me that they chose a university because their auntie or uncle said that it was good.

But the question is, “What is their definition of good?” What is actually specifically good about the university?

When we ask these uncles and aunties this question, they would say because they have heard of the university before or someone told them that it was good. Now, that’s not a really good guide on choosing the university.

Furthermore many of the top private universities in Malaysia offer similar courses therefore making your decision a challenging one! Remember that no university is good at everything and no university is good at one area of study in Malaysia.

Many students in Malaysia are confused by advertisements, popularity and rumours. They simply believe the advertisements or the claims made by their friends and relatives without checking if they are true or not.

For example, one college claims that it is the best college in Malaysia for Law but there is no supporting evidence provided. Another misconception is just because a university is good for one course doesn’t mean that it is good for all the rest.

Some students have made the conclusion that one college in Sunway is good for all design courses including interior design even though it hasn’t won any awards for interior design and that it is a new course.

You must make your decisions based on facts and evidence, not on hearsay or gossip that is not supported by statistic, research, report or evidence. Many students spend more time doing research to buy your mobile phone than on choosing the university. Don’t you think spending time doing research and asking the right people about the university that could determine your future is more important? Would you ask a Doctor on how to repair your car?

Make the Right Choice to Study at the Best University in Malaysia

Students who are not sure of what to study after SPM can contact EduSpiral Consultant Services to help guide you to choose the right course and university.

There are many Pre-University or Diploma programmes or Degree programmes that you can go for after SPM, UEC, STPM or A-Levels so it can be confusing for you to choose the right one.

Choosing the right university can be confusing and depends on a lot of factors like your budget, results, passion, skills and career goals.

Students interested on how to choose the best universities in Malaysia can contact me for more information.