How to Choose the Right course to Study after SPM in Malaysia
Many students are clueless after SPM about what to study and how to choose the right university that will equip them for a successful future. But do not worry, it is normal not to know which course that would fit you.
Choosing the right career is a vital first step for your future. This can be an overwhelming task if you are unprepared. With the wide variety of career choices available to a student, the time after SPM can be a confusing one if not guided properly. 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.
You might also be interested to read:
- Choosing the Right Course After SPM or O-Levels Increases Your Chances of Getting a Good Job & Salary in Malaysia
- Study Options After SPM
- Explore Your Study Choices After SPM
- Best Diploma Courses in Malaysia at Top Colleges & Universities
- Entry Requirements for Foundation, Diploma & Degree Courses in Malaysia
- How to Choose the Best Private University or College in Malaysia that Fits Me?
- Study Courses that has High Job Demand in Malaysia
- Top 20 Courses to Study in Malaysia that has High Job Demand & Stable Salary
- Top 10 Best Courses to Study in Malaysia
- Malaysia’s 28 Top Jobs in Demand in Future with High Salaries
Talk to the right people to help you choose the right course after High School
Aun Jie, Chemical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
Have you ever asked for directions to a place and your friend gave you the wrong information? It can be very frustrating and stressful. You would have wasted precious time. If you ask directions from someone who don’t know where the place is, they will give you the wrong directions.
Would you ask a doctor on how to repair your car? It does sound ridiculous but most of the time we do ask people who are not trained nor have the expertise for their advise on what to study.
I talked to this boy who was working at Parkson to save money so that he can continue his degree studies in Mass Communication.
He stopped after Year 1. He had graduated with a Diploma in IT and realised that he did not like IT. So, he had to begin all over again by taking the Foundation before going into the Degree in Mass Comm.
I guess he could have saved time if he had asked the right people to help him.
Some of these university counselors have little or no training in career counselling. They are trained in the products that the university is offering and on how to best “sell” them to you.
Their priority is not your future but to ensure they meet their sales targets. Therefore, you cannot believe everything they tell you. You need to check with the proper authorities and people with experience.
Always make your decisions based on facts and evidence. Do not decide based on your feelings or that your relatives say that it is good. Ask, “What are the reasons that it is a good course to study?”
Just because you like the course, doesn’t mean that it suits you
Brendon, Entertainment Arts graduate from KDU University College
This sweet girl told me she wanted to study Forensic Science. I told her she must have loved to watch all the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) TV series. She smiled.
I then asked her if she had ever seen a dead body without a head or with the intestines outside the stomach. She paused and got what I was trying to get at. What we see on TV may not reflect real life.
Like the people trying out for American Idol, we have seen some who could not sing a tune and yet got angry when the judges told them that they could not sing. We laugh at that, but sometimes, we ourselves also make the same mistake. We like something a lot but if we do not have the skill or talent for that, it would lead to pain.
It is important to choose a course that we are actually good at. There should be evidence that we are good at it such as our SPM results and what our parents, friends and teachers tell us.
I had talked to a student who only had low credits for Physics and Add Maths and wanted to study Mechanical Engineering.
Although he met the minimum requirements, I discouraged him from taking it because he was weak at it and his personality was playful. He insisted and after 2 semesters, he had dropped out of university.
Choosing the Course to Study in Malaysia for Passion or for Money?
Ignatius, Mechatronic Engineering at Asia Pacific University
Sometimes choosing something that you love may get you a job that does not pay high or you could not even find a job as well.
Last year, it was reported in the Star that there were 1,100 jobless fresh graduate pilots and yet when I told some students that, they still insist on spending RM250,000 to pursue their passion. Now, there is nothing wrong with that if you are rich.
I did not come from a rich family so I decided to choose to study Communication instead of my passion, Psychology because there were not many jobs for this back during my time. In addition, I needed to go for a Masters too which I could not afford.
Now, with what I have learnt in Communications, I have combined it with my passion for Psychology to work in marketing with universities helping students to choose the right course and university.
If we do not come for a rich family, we have to research to make sure that the course we choose will provide job stability and a good salary.
The university that we choose is important as well. Star Newspaper has reported that those who have a good command of the English language has a 25% higher salary and fast promotion opportunities than those who don’t.
It is important to choose a good university who can prepare you well for a successful future instead of choosing a cheap university so that you can just get the degree qualification.
If you are not well equipped, even with a degree, you will get low salary for the next 60 years of your work life. If you need advise on what to study, please feel free to contact me for a free career test and advise.
Best Course to Choose to Study at the Top Private University in 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 SPM 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 SPM 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.
Many of the course counselors at the universities are paid by the universities to get you to register there, so their main motivation is to get you to register, not to help you make the right choice.
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.
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.
Ask a Knowledgeable & Experienced Education Consultant in Malaysia to Help you Choose the Right Course after SPM
Choosing a course to study after SPM is not a science, it is a process
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. Students 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. 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 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.
Best Education Pathway After SPM
Eric Lu, Business at KDU University College
There are basically 2 pathways after SPM or O-Levels. You can either go for a Diploma course or Pre-University Course in Malaysia or Singapore. “Pre” means before, therefore, “Pre-University” means the course that you take before entering into a university bachelors degree programme. The common courses under Pre-University are STPM, A-Levels, Foundation, AUSMAT, etc.
Students after SPM or O-Levels who are not sure what to study at degree level can go for the Pre-University course in Malaysia like A-Levels, AUSMAT or Foundation and then proceed on to the degree in Malaysia.
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 will include a % breakdown of assessment. You need to understand yourself and capabilities in order to decide which Pre-University course would best suit you.
Students who are sure of what they want to study after SPM or O-Levels can enter the Diploma course first. The Diploma pathway in Malaysia for students after SPM is 2 or 2.5 years and then enter into Year 2 of the Degree programme.
There are many types of diploma and Pre-University courses in Malaysia as well as hundreds of
Gi Hang, A-Levels at Taylor’s College
undergraduate majors to choose from. But knowing the right one for you is the most difficult decision. If you read this guide from start to finish, you’ll know the best courses in Malaysia that would suit you.
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.
Choosing the best possible course to study is a very important decision to make, and often a challenging one. For some people, choosing the course is simple as they have always wanted to be a brain surgeon or a dentist or an engineer.
Many students in Malaysia tend to choose their course based on what their parents or relatives recommend, rather than on what they are good at or really like to study. The end result is that a lot of Malaysian students discover that they have started on courses that may be unsuitable to them after studying a few semesters. Worse is when they start work, they find that it is not what they like.
When choosing a course students need to choose based on your personal strengths and your career goals. Let the experienced counselors at EduSpiral Consultant Services take you step-by-step through the choices.
Most importantly, the right course will help you to develop skills for the long term, for your career and personal development. The skills for a successful future include, communication, English-language proficiency, problem-solving, strategic and analytical skills, creative thinking, innovation, team-work, leadership and assimilating new ideas.
There are so many courses out there and it can be confusing to choose the right course to study after SPM, UEC, STPM, O-Levels or A-Levels. Choosing the right course is a big decision and it is important to get it right as it can impact your future success.
So how should you go about choosing the best course that fits you?
Step 1: Look at your Interests, Skills & Personality
Renee Tan, Mechanical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
This requires the individual to develop a certain degree of self-awareness. This require you to ask:
- What kind of person am I?
- What do I like?
- What are my hobbies?
- What is my personality?
This process of self-assessment consists of using several instruments in order to uncover your interests, personality type, work related values and skills. It is looking at these things in combination that can help you figure out what courses will be good matches for you, and you could learn something that will surprise you. The greater the overlap between an individual’s interests, aptitudes and personal characteristics and those required by the area of study, the greater the degree of satisfaction when engaged in that area of study. This process will help you decide which course best fits you. If you find the right course at the right college you will be inspired to succeed.
Match what you have come to know about yourself (self-assessment) to a course. During this phase of the career planning process you will decide which course is the best fit for you based on what you now know about yourself and the courses you have researched. This will entail looking at the jigsaw pieces of your life to date and putting them together. Considering your interests, hobbies, skills, aptitudes and achievements, both academic and personal, and identifying certain personality traits combined with appropriate course exploration will hold the key to successful course choice.
Step 2: Look at your Actual Results
Your results in SPM, UEC, or O-Levels will act as a guide in what you are actually good at. For example, if you are good in Physics & Add Maths, then you can consider engineering courses. If you fail in any of these subjects and want to study engineering, then you are being unrealistic.
Step 3: Research the courses and offer at top colleges or universities
Ka Jun, Pharmacy at UCSI University
Make a list of courses to explore that are of interest to you and then research each course. The internet, college prospectuses, family and friends are your best sources of information and support. Someone who is already studying the course can give you great insight from a student’s perspective.
It is important to attend college open days or other career events and make every effort to speak to lecturers, tutors or admissions staff in the colleges you are interested in, as they will facilitate your decision-making.
Many students drop out or change course, so something is going wrong with students initial decisions. A lot of heartache can be avoided if you take the time to look at the college websites to find out not just which subjects you will be studying on your course but also to find out the content of the individual modules of each subject.
In this way you will know exactly what lies ahead of you. Discovering that you have made the wrong choice can be upsetting, and expensive.
Check out the duration of the course, accreditation, and additional costs such as accommodation, books, travel etc.
Step 4: Talk to the Right People
If your car needs to be repaired, you would ask advise from a mechanic and not from a Doctor. So, when asking about your future career, ask from people who are experienced and knowledgeable. Many Malaysians tend to listen to their parents and relatives without checking the facts to see if it is true. An uncle would tell them to study a certain course and the student would just go for it without doing any research or consideration to see if it fits them.
EduSpiral Consultant Services has more than 20 years experience in helping students choose the right course based on facts and evidence. Students who are still confused and need advise can contact us for a free consultation at 01111408838.
Can I ask what can i study ? , i just got my spm result and i asked many university/college, but they not recommend i study computer science due to i din’t take addmath in spm , therefore right now im really confusing what to study , Any Suggestion ?
Do you know what is Computer Science in the first place? You need to know what computer science, information technology, software engineering, networking, etc are and then you will figure out that you can still take IT and achieve your goal. You need to look at the subjects of the computing courses to see which one would fit your needs. You can email me at info@eduspiral.com with your full name and mobile number for more assistance.
Hi, my spm result is not good, I only get A- for my English, A for history, maths and bm , C+ for my add maths and the rest are B or B+. I really wanted to study law but i don’t know whether it suits me or not. If this doesn’t suits me then what shall i study?
Take A-Levels and then while taking A-Levels, go intern for a Law firm to see if the type of work fits you.
Confused about what to consider first… think about wich subjects you’re good at, which course you’re interested or which job you want in the future?
It is not a matter of which one to consider first. To choose a course, we consider all these at the same time.
What is the list of suitable course for me if I am very good in physics and maths in spm
Engineering or IT
Hi, I’ve just gotten my spm results and would like to further my studies in Mass Communications. I can’t decide between going for Event Management, Broadcasting and Public Relations. Help?
It depends on your career goals. Which university do you plan to study at? You can email me at info@eduspiral.com with your full name and mobile number for more details.
Sorry I don’t have enough information about you to advise on which one suits you
Hi, I’m a SPM leaver with a straight As result in spm. I do like science especially biology and chemistry but at the same time I like to social with people alots and I don’t wish to work in the lab… so medicine course or mass communication course, which one suit me the most ?
Thanks.
Since you are not sure, take the A-Levels first. Doctors also need to “socialise” with their patients.
Hi I m diploma graduate. I did diploma in paramedic science. My cgpa is 3.81
My ambition is to be a doctor but unfortunately my spm wasn’t good. I got B+ for BI, BM. C for biology, physics n sejarah. A in mathematics n moral. D in chemistry n additional mathematics.
I m so clueless on what course I should do my degree? Because from small I set my mind to b a doctor..
Ask your college on what to study after the degree. It is not possible to go into medicine with your results. Dreams have to be supported by results and hard work.
I am a science stream student. I have and A for chemistry and B+ for Bio and physics.
What careers are suitable for me? and is it wrong for me to do arts course?
Take Foundation in Science and figure out which course for your degree while you study that.
I get good grades in maths and add maths, I think software engineering suits me better but most of my friends suggest me of actuarial science. Can I know what future job if i take actuarial science and are these two jobs demand in Malaysia? tq
Actuarial Science is a tough programme and to become an actuaries takes 5-9 years after graduating with a degree. Software Engineering is in demand in Malaysia and worldwide.
Hello, i’m currently studying diploma in Business Administration and will like to further study to Bachelor of Corporate Administration (Honours) or even get ICSA, but some said ICSA students are mostly females, why is it so? (by the way I’m a Male) . Upon studying, i heard some of them saying that this course (Business Administration) although it provides a wide jobs career but the salary is quite low. Besides, some even said Accounting is way more better in terms of the job and salary. what should i do then, I really need some advice regarding on this matter, because i do care of my future especially in terms of job and salary. Not only that, with the course of Business Administration, can I pick risk management job (with that course Bachelor of Corporate Administration (Hons) and do you know the average monthly salary(fresh graduate) of that job Please do help me,,thx.
So what if most of ICSA students are females? Personal Assistants for top CEO’s can be male or female. There is nothing wrong with being a male chartered secretary. When we make decisions, we base them on facts and evidence, not on sexism, gossip, rumours, hearsay, or ignorance. Starting salary is standard for fresh graduates at about RM2000 to RM3000. It depends on how you perform in the interview, your command of the English language, confidence and knowledge. Accounting can be higher but if it’s not what you are interested in, there is no point to go for it. There are thousands of accounting professionals with low salaries and thousands with high salaries. What you make of yourself will decide which category you end up in.
I want to study diploma in accountancy in kdu.I want to know how many students take this course last year as I have autism.i dont want to take acca at all.
We don’t provide such detailed statistics. The number of students who studied in the course has no bearing on the quality of the course.
I am interested in forensic phsychology since I was a little girl even when I dont know anything about it. all I do is watch actors playing roles in television drama such as CSI .Watching actors reading the criminal’s mind is like an open book and it amazes me by the powerful skill they have. As I grow up , its began to grow in me. I always read books about body language and many other skills that I can learn about human reading. I kept on reading and reading as much as i could about body language and many more skills that i could learn about humans as i know that psychology is supposedly to be a part of our lives. psychology has many benefits that i adore. for an example, it helps us in so many various ways in communication and even applying it to legal issues and understanding people who does crimes. problems in crime scenes can be solved more quickly with the help of an expert as they know what they have to do and what has to be taken care of. this also helps the police to solve the problem with easy .
I am now 18 years old and have finished my SPM .I am pure science student. I want to know how can I be Forensic Psychologist starting from SPM and where can I learn the course in Malaysia or the best university at oversea? What I must do to get into the course?Does this course have future in the the future? Like example right now the medic course are full and dont need students and doctors more..
You go for the degree in psychology first, after that go for Masters and PhD
Hi!which course that i should pick as i am good at History but not Maths??
You have not provided enough information for me to determine which course would suit you.
what should i do if i dont know what course should i take after spm. Can you help?
You may go to the link and fill up the EduSpiral Career Assessment form in order for me to understand you better and advise you.
http://eduspiral.com/eduspiral-career-assessment-test/
I’m quite clueless on what to study after SPM, there’s too many pre-u programme,
I am someone who likes arts(as in handicraft), add maths(i love it more than modern maths because it’s really challenging and it just so fun to solve the questions), physics and also history.
I am planning to pursue Law or architecture or something related to arts, maths and physics(which I don’t know what career have these ;A;, is there any you can recommend?)
To study Law, you must be good in the English language and take the A-Levels. To become an architect, it will take about 8 years. Depending on your results, it sounds that you are better suited for Multimedia Design, Interior Design, or Game Technology. For more details on other universities, you can email me at info@eduspiral.com.my with your full name and mobile number.
Hi, i finished my SPM two years ago which was 2012. last year due tp peer presure from my relatives,parents and my own stupidity, i enrolled myself into a pre-u course (FIS). the college i went to was 5 minutes away from home. Tho it was convenient in terms of transportation and well i didnt have to get stuck in the jam or anythg, i made a mistake by not checking on the college reviews. i differed a semester as i couldnt cope with the teaching. the lecturers were not very helpful and tho complaints were made no actions were taken by the HOD. I finally decided to leave the college for good and currently am working part time. i do wish to continue my studies but my parents had paid a total of RM6000 to the respective college (half 1 1/2 semester fee) and we are just from an average middle class family. I do not wish to repeat the same mistake again. I am very much interested in accountacy but i do not know if history is going to repeat itself as i am very confused with what course suits me best. I thought by doing foundation in science, i can persue a degree in medicine but i was wrong. I would love if someone would be kind enough to help me with this confussion.
If you know you want to study accounting, you can just go for the Diploma in Accounting where you will study for 2 years, and then enter into Year 2 of the Accounting degree for another 2 years. You may apply for the PTPN Loan up to RM8000 a year for the Diploma and RM16000 a year for the degree.
My brother was a 2013 spm candidate. He Got 1 credit. Passed the rest. He cant go into diploma so what should he do?
If he has a pass in BM and Sejarah then he can go into the Certificate course and then into Diploma. The fees are about RM13,000 for Certificate and RM30,000 for Diploma. There is no loan at all.
Hi! I’m just finish my form 6. I got two B – for my maths t and chemistry , a B+ for my pengajian am and C+ for biology. Im still deciding to choose either law or optometry course. I like to debate and felt interested in criminal cases. But I’m poor in reading. Being a optometrist , how much is the paid? Thanks.
If you don’t like reading then how to study law? It requires a lot or it. I do not have the stats for the starting salary for an optometrist
hi im in a dilemma in choosing to continue my degree in physio or accountacy. i know theyre both clearly different fields. but im the type of person who like to study about the human body but no matter how hard i study for the past years, (including my foundation 2013-2014) i could never get good marks. as for maths, im okay with it and ive been doing well for my spm and foundation. but ive never liked accounts since form 3 haha so i didnt take acc for spm. please advise 🙁
There is no demand for physiotherapists in Malaysia. You can go to Jobstreet to check. If you don’t like accountancy, then why ask me about accounting.
hi,,i just have 2 creadits its Science and ART wich course i can take ?
You can go for a certificate course and then into diploma, but there is no PTPN or MARA loan for your studies.
I got 7A+ in the SPM 2013, I’ve been offered F6, but I don’t think It’s a good pathway to pursue my dream in Law especially the chance to enter prestigious universities for F6 students are thin. Should I study in the private school?
It is up to you, if you have the money then just go for the A-Levels. STPM is not easy and if you are not prepared for it, you will not do well.
Thank you for your advice, about Law.Most people think being a lawyer not only will be underpaid and will witness many hideous sides of people. Are this true?? Thank you!
In life, you will meet people and see things that you won’t like, being a lawyer is just the same. Law pays pretty good but if you are not good at it then you won’t get paid well.
Hello,
I finished my foundation in medical sc in MSU with 3.56 CGPA..I’m interested in doing medical degree in ucsi university.I’m really scared that ucsi won’t accept my foundation. Can get some help from u people!! Thank you
You need to submit your transcript, course outline, letter of completion and SPM Cert for evaluation before allowing you to go for the interview.
Does biotechnology has demand in malaysia?
According to the government, they are investing billions in the biotech industry.
i have done my alevels and i am considering which course to take as there are too many options to choose. i am interested in accounting, finance, business, actuarial and economics. which course is the easiest and highest paying in the future?
Easy is relative. If you are good in football, then it will be easy. If you are not, then it would be difficult. What did you get for your Maths in SPM and A-Levels? For more details, you can email me at info@eduspiral.com.my with your full name and mobile number.
i get C for business B for economics and D for law in my alevels and i get A for my maths in SPM.
Then Finance is a good choice for you. Looks like you actually don’t like to read. You are good at calculations. For more details, you can email me at info@eduspiral.com.my with your full name and mobile number.
What is the list of suitable course for me if I am very good in add maths and maths in spm
You can consider actuarial science, accounting, finance, software engineering, or IT. To advise you properly we would also need to know your interests, and what you like. For a Career Assessment Form, you can email me at info@eduspiral.com.my with your full name and mobile number.
Hello, my name’s Lee Eng Kit. I am interested in Gaming Designs and have used a few programs including DAZ3D, Adobe After Effects and some other freewares that is available on the web to experience and produced some minor image rendering skills. With my deep interest for computers (Especially gaming), do you have any suggestions on which courses I should take, and what are my steps after that?
On a side note, I am still waiting for my SPM results, what are the minimum requirements for me to study the courses you may recommend?
Wow, cool, am sure you are on the way to being a great game designer. You should go for the Diploma in Game Technology or go for Foundation and then into the Degree in Game Technology. For the Diploma, you will need at least 3 credits in SPM including Maths while for the Foundation, you will need at least 5 credits including Maths. For more details, you may email me at info@eduspiral.com.my with your full name and mobile number. Cheers!
is there any nursing course which is provided scholarship for malaysian students?if my stpm CGPA is 2.9.If i scare of cadaver ,is it means that i do not suitable to be a nurse?
As a nurse, you definitely have to deal with death and cadavers so if you cannot deal with that, it can be difficult. Scholarships generally are available for CGPA 3.4 and above.
I truly think eduspiral is doing a good job…I would like to know which college is the best to study pharmacy???