Guide in Choosing the Right University in Malaysia

How to Choose the Best Private University (IPTS) in Malaysia to Study 

Written by EduSpiral Consultant Services For more information contact 01111408838

Choosing the best private university or college to study in Malaysia after you high school can be confusing. I have written clearly the steps that you can take to help you in making the right choice. When choosing a university and college in Malaysia, it is important for students to gather the right information from knowledgeable and experienced counsellors. You may also go to this list of the best private colleges and universities in Malaysia to look at the ranking of the universities.

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

Choosing the Best Private University in Malaysia to Study

Don't choose a university just because someone told you that it is good. Ask why is it good? Don't choose because a university is "famous" because it has put out a lot of advertisements.
The best university in Malaysia will focus on quality, have award winners for the particular courses, years of experience offering the particular course, highly experienced lecturers, a good study environment (not a party university) and good facilities.
A student with 10As from Muar that I know had joined a famous college in Subang for Pre-University. He had wanted to go for dentistry but now is planning to go for a Business course because he did not get the necessary grades to enter dentistry.
Furthermore, he said that his results was one of the best in his class and half of them had to re-take the Pre-U at other colleges because they had failed.
So, if you do not have the self-control, it is better to choose a university that has less distraction or partying students so that you achieve success. Just because a university has a lake or has a beautiful campus doesn't necessarily mean that the quality or environment is the best for you.
Remember the best university doesn't mean it is the best university for you. The best university is one that fits your career goals, your personality and can push you to a higher level of success.
The university that you choose now can either equip you with the knowledge and skills to have a successful future or not enough skills ending up in joblessness.

Cost of studying at that college or university in Malaysia

What type of college do I like? (Large, medium, small, city, suburbs, or outer city) Some people like small colleges where you get a community feel while others like large colleges where they get to meet lots of people.

• Know yourself, if you like city life, don’t choose a college far away from the city even though the facilities are great. However, if you have a discipline problem in having too much fun, studying away from the city may be a good choice
• Facilities – computer labs, computers, science labs, student centre, job placement centre, etc. Note – You should expect to get what you pay for.
• If you like sports, you may not want to choose a college without a football field or gym.
• Is it near public transportation? This is important if you do not have transportation.
• Note that you get what you pay for, if you pay for a Kancil don’t expect a Mercedes service. Nothing wrong with a Kancil, it’s just being realistic with your “purchase” however that does not mean that you should get lousy service from that college.

Choosing the Right Course at the University or College in Malaysia

• Are the courses recognised and approved by the Malaysian Qualifications Audit (MQA)?Do they have enough students to start a class?
•  How many students do they have studying that course at that college?
•  What is the duration of the course?
•  Quality of lecturers. What are their qualifications? Years of experience.
•  Ask your friends who have studied there. Ask your friends who are studying there.
• How much money do I have? Ask your parents. If you take the PTPTN loan, note that you will need to have enough to pay the tuition fees as well as your cost of living.
• How much are the tuition fees? Does it include the exam and other fees?
• How much does it cost to live in KL?
• How much is on-campus accommodation?
• How much is off-campus accommodation? Note that it might be cheaper to find off campus accommodation on your own with friends. Is the accommodations near eateries, banks, entertainment, public transportation, etc.?

Size of the university in Malaysia and its facilities

• The size of the college also matters to some people as some prefer a small and friendly college environment where you know everyone's names. Some may prefer a medium sized college where there are more students to interact with and more facilities to use like a bigger library, student centre, computer labs etc.
• In large universities you might feel lost but there will be more facilities like a football field, gym, swimming pool, basketball courts, etc.
• You just need to understand your personality and then choose the type of college that fits you.
• If you are a sports person, you might want to find one with a football field, basketball courts, gym or swimming pool.
• The language spoken mostly at the college by the students may also matter if you don't know Mandarin or BM or English. If most of the students speak Mandarin at that university then it will not help you to improve your English. Having a good command of the English language helps you to get good jobs and promotions.
• Be careful of colleges who offer freebies like iPads, computers, etc. They are just marketing gimmicks to get you to register. Look at their quality and ask about their lecturers. I know of one new college who is giving away iPads to the first 100 students but is planning to buy used iPads to give away. This college does not even have any lecturers yet at their city campus. So, as students, you are spending a lot of money therefore you need to be wise.

Common Factors in Choosing the Best Private University in Malaysia to Study

Here’s a list of common criteria in choosing a top private university in Malaysia:

• Diploma and degrees offered
• Subjects offered in the diploma or degree (Are they relevant, up-to-date, and help you to achieve your career goals)
• Accreditation by MQA and other relevant professional bodies in Malaysia
• Type of programme (local degree, 3+0 UK or Australian degree, 4+0 American degree, degree transfer programme, etc)
• Entry requirements (Branch campuses in Malaysia have higher entry requirements)
• Location of the university
• Size of the student population
• Student culture (English-speaking environment, ambitious, serious about studies, lifestyle or party university, etc)
• Public vs. Private (STPM is tougher and choice of course & university is determined by the government)
• Costs (tuition, hostel, food, transportation, etc.)
• Financial assistance (Scholarships, PTPN Loan, EPF withdrawal, MARA Loan, etc)
• Campus resources (labs, libraries, wifi, computer access, sports facilities, etc.)
• Internship and co-op programs
• Class size (Small class size for personal attention)
• Faculty contact/classes taught by full-time qualified & experienced faculty
• Quality/reputation/ranking of the private university in Malaysia
• Safety (campus, community)
• Make up of the student body (diversity, international students, gender, etc.)
• Extra-curricular activities (Student organisations, clubs, sports, etc.)
• Housing options (on-campus, off-campus apartments)
• Student support services
• Intake dates

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

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.
EduSpiral provides in-depth information and counseling on their courses so that students are able to make the right choice.
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.
You can check out the list of best private colleges and universities in Malaysia in their various fields to find out which one fits you.