How to choose the right course to study after SPM at the Best Universities in Malaysia

Written by EduSpiral Consultant Services For more information contact 01111408838

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.

• In a Gallup survey of 1.7 million workers in the USA, only about 20 percent said that they used their best strengths everyday at work.
• In a Rockport Institute Survey, more than 70% of successful professionals thought that they could have done a much better job of making decisions about their lives. They said that they had not know how to go about making choices in a competent way.
• In another survey, 64% of college seniors in the USA said that they had serious doubts that they had picked the right major or course.

For a personalised advise on how to choose the right course contact 01111408838

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Choosing the Best University to Study in Malaysia

It is interesting that most students do not invest time and effort to make a decision about something that could potentially change their lives forever. This decision on choosing the right university could cost from RM20,000 to RM200,000 and yet students and parents do not really take the time to research on which is the best choice.

I talked to a student who had 3 credits in SPM and would qualify to join a Diploma course. However, he joined TAR College’s Certificate course for 1 year 4 months first before entering into the 2.5 year Diploma. To enter into TAR College’s Diploma programmes, one needs to have at least 5 credits compared to 3 credits for all other

universities and colleges.

Now, he is anxious to transfer into a degree programme at another private university with an English-speaking environment to quickly complete his degree. He told me that he regretted not doing the research to choose the right university and therefore wasted 1.4 years.

He also needed an environment to help him improve his communication and command of the English language.

More time is spent on doing research to buy the right smart phone or car than on choosing the right course or university. Joseph Germani put it aptly that students spend more time choosing their mobile phone covers.

Some of the reasons I hear from students on choosing the course or university are:

• My friends are going there.
• It is cheap.
• It is near my house.
• I prefer a Mandarin-speaking environment because I find it difficult to talk in English.
• My auntie said that it is good. (Not knowing what really defines good or what are the statistics and evidence to support the choice)
• I don’t want to burden my parents so I chose the cheapest university.
• The university counsellor said that it is good.
• The university sent me a letter telling me that I have been accepted into the course even though I did not apply there.

  

• I like the lifestyle there.
• I have heard about the university somewhere so it must be good.
• I see a lot of their ads, so they must be good.
• I heard that they are the no. 1 college for that course. (Even though there is no external body to say that this college is ranked no. 1 or that the No. 1 claim is something the college is using for the advertising campaign)
• My girlfriend is going there.
• My parents told me to take this course because the future is good.
• It is easy to pass at that university.

Now, some of the reasons above are not totally wrong. It depends on the situation and whether you put in the effort to research. It is important to make the decision that would change your life forever based on facts and evidence.

Talk to the right people to help you choose the right course

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

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?

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

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 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 

This requires the individual to develop a certain degree of self-awareness. This require you to ask:

1. What kind of person am I?
2. What do I like?
3. What are my hobbies?
4. 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

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 15 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.

Some of the Best Pre-University & Degree Programmes to Study in Malaysia

Best Pre-University Programmes in Malaysia

• A-Levels
• AUSMAT
• Foundation in Engineering
• Foundation in Arts
• Foundation in Science
• Foundation in Business
• Foundation (General)
• Foundation in Design
• Pre-University Programmes

Top Engineering and Built Environment Courses in Malaysia

• Engineering
• Mechatronic engineering
• Civil engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Telecommunication Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering or Aeronautical Engineering 
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
• Materials engineering
• Applied Geology
• Architecture
• Quantity Survey

Outstanding Computing and Information Technology Courses in Malaysia

• Computer Science
• Computing
• IT
• Information Technology
• Information Technology with Database Administration
• Software Engineering
• Computer science or computer engineering
•  Information systems security
• Mobile Computing
• Games Development
• Intelligent Systems
• Computer System Engineering
• Business Information Systems
• Business Computing with E-Commerce 

First Rate Applied and Health Sciences in Malaysia

• Food science
• Biotechnology
• Optometry
• Nutrition 
• Nutrition with Wellness
• Biomedical Science
• Pharmacy
• Aquatic Science
• Aquaculture

The Best Business & Accounting Courses in Malaysia

• Accounting
• Accounting & Finance
• Accounting & Finance with Internal Audit
• Accounting & Finance with Forensic Accounting
• Accounting & Finance with Taxation
• Management & Marketing 
• Actuarial Science
• Business
• Business Administration
• Business Management
• Business Administration
• Banking & Finance
• Finance & Investment
• Finance & Investment
• FOREX & Investment
• Investment & Risk Management
• International Business
• International Business Management

  

• Entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurship & Marketing
• Economics
• Marketing
• Finance & Marketing
• Public Relations & Marketing
• Human Resource Management
• Logistics Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Media Marketing 
• Advertising & Brand Management
• Branding & Advertising

Excellent Social Science Courses in Malaysia

• Psychology
• Mass Communication
• Marketing Communications
• Film Studies
• Journalism
• Media Studies
• Public Relations
• Entertainment Arts
•  Social Media Marketing

Top Design Courses in Malaysia

• Design
• Multimedia Design
• Interactive Design
• 3D Animation 
• Fashion design with marketing
• Textile & Fashion Design
• Product design
• Transport Design
• CGI & Digital Effects
• Visual Effects
• Entrepreneurial design
• Interior Design
• Interior Architecture
• Graphic Design
• Fashion Design

First Rate Hospitality and Culinary Arts Courses in Malaysia

• Hospitality or Hotel Management
• Hotel Management
• Hotel & Tourism
• Culinary arts

Education and Music Courses in Malaysia

• Early Childhood Education
• Teaching English as A Second Language (TESL) 
• Music degree

Top Scholarships Available from the Best Private Universities in Malaysia

• Heriot-Watt University Malaysia Scholarships
• Curtin University Sarawak Scholarships
• Asia Pacific University Scholarships
• UCSI University Scholarships
• KDU University College Petaling Jaya Campus Scholarships
• KDU University College Penang Campus Scholarships
• First City University College (KBU International College) Scholarships
• HELP University Scholarships
• HELP Academy Scholarships
• HELP College of Arts and Technology Scholarships

Study at the Best Private Universities and Colleges in Malaysia

Switzerland

• IMI

Malaysia

1. Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
2. Curtin University, Sarawak campus
3. Asia Pacific University (APU) 
4. APIIT
5. UCSI University
6. Taylor’s University
7. UCSI University Sarawak Campus
8. First City University College
9. HELP University
10. HELP Academy
11. HELP College of Arts & Technology
12. KDU University College Utropolis Glenmarie
13. KDU College Damansara Jaya
14. KDU University College Penang
15. YTL International College of Hotel Management
16. IACT College
17. Point College
18. Saito College
19. Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA)
20. Nilai University
21. Reliance College

EduSpiral Consultant Services- Your Personal Online Education Advisor

Established since 2009, EduSpiral Consultant Services helps provide information and counselling on courses and universities in Malaysia.

EduSpiral Consultant Services represents the best colleges and universities in Malaysia offering a wide range of choices for students to choose from. These colleges and universities offer value for money in the quality of education and excellent facilities that you get. These universities and colleges are chosen by EduSpiral because they represent the best in their fields in Malaysia and affordable.

EduSpiral Consultant Services represents the best colleges and universities in Malaysia offering a wide range of choices for students to choose from. These colleges and universities offer value for money in the quality of education and excellent facilities that you get.

These universities and colleges are chosen by EduSpiral because they represent the best in their fields in Malaysia and affordable. EduSpiral provides in-depth information and counseling on their courses so that students are able to make the right choice.

If you are still not sure what to study, please contact us and we will send you a free EduSpiral Career Assessment Form.

Please contact us for more details.

• WhatsApp: +601111408838
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Please fill up the form for more information. If you do not give your mobile number or full name as in IC, your query will not be answered. Please make sure you give a correct email address and check your email including the SPAM or JUNK email folder within 48 hours as we will email you the information.