Picking the right pre-u for you
doctorjob walks you through the facts and figures to help you decide which pre-u course will suit you.
What is pre-u and why should I take it?
Pre-u – or pre-university in full – refers to the course of study you take before studying for a bachelor’s degree in university. In Malaysia, you have to take a pre-u course before you can be admitted into a university degree programme.
There are various pre-u courses that can lead you to further your studies locally or overseas. Some of them give you a more broad learning experience, while others let you specialise in a particular field from very early on. The nine courses available locally are:
Here are a few questions that you should ask yourself to help you decide which pre-university qualification to take. Make a list of the answers you have for each section, and then read through this magazine to see which pre-u is the best choice for you.
Where do I want to go from here?
The curriculum and syllabus of pre-university courses are designed by experts in education with a particular end in mind.
Some prepare you for study overseas eg in UK, Australia, US, Canada, France or Singapore, where the education system and standards may be different from Malaysia’s. Most pre-u courses that prepare you for overseas study will base the syllabus on the education system of the country the foreign university is in, to get you acclimatised to their way of doing things.
Other pre-u courses prepare you for your actual bachelor’s degree, keeping the areas of study close to the degree you will eventually pursue, and hopefully set you on your way to your future career. Specialisation starts earlier and the foundations are laid for you to hit the ground running in university. Some of the subjects may even be eligible for credit transfer, allowing you to finish your degree faster.
Mind your language
Apart from STPM and local matriculation, all other pre-u courses covered here are conducted in English. However, this does not mean that students of STPM and local matriculation should neglect their English subjects. MUET, an English proficiency test, is a common entry requirement for local universities.
STPM students who plan to pursue a course fully conducted in English in private or foreign universities will similarly need to be able to adapt to the change from learning in Bahasa Malaysia to English.
Many public universities conduct their classes in the national language, English or a mixture of both, while private universities are more inclined to carry out their classes in English with the exception of Bahasa Malaysia language classes.
Exam-based or activity-based?
Do you enjoy studying full-time for exams or do you prefer a mixture of projects and coursework? Do you prefer participating in class projects and giving oral presentations more than taking monthly tests or final examinations? Would you like to be able to take part in dramatic productions, music, art exhibitions, project showcases, industrial training and internships etc?
Know what your study style is, and be honest about your abilities and preferences. Research is essential to ensure that your time is not wasted during your pre-u course. Some courses encourage you to be more active outside the classroom, giving you marks for extra-curricular activities. Other courses such as the A levels and STPM are heavily exam-oriented, where there is less scope for coursework, projects or presentations.
How much can you afford
Other than STPM and local matriculation which are virtually free, all other pre-u courses have varying fee structures that are dependent on the subject of study, the institutions that offer them, the type of programme they are linked to (transfer, twinning, foreign degrees etc) and where they can take you afterwards.
If you have your heart set on a pre-u course that is out of your financial range, consider applying for a scholarship to fund your studies. There are plenty of government and corporate scholarships out there. Be aware that these scholarships are heavily contested and not given lightly.
Is the course recognised?
It is important to know that not all pre-u courses are automatically recognised by universities around the world. Different countries and different universities have different ways of measuring academic achievement. Therefore, research and choose your pre-u course carefully to make sure your pre-u qualifications meet the standards of your target university.
It would be ideal if you know what course you wish to pursue before you go to university, and to be familiar with the entry requirements of the course to help you decide on the right pre-u course. If you still don’t have an idea of which field to enter – don’t worry, you’re part of the majority – opt instead for a pre-u course that will give you wider options.
More tips: what you can do
- Make personal enquiries to the universities about the courses you wish to study
- Seek help from your family, teachers and any friends who are attending university
- Attend education fairs to get information directly from universities or colleges
- Visit student forums and ask for advice from current students.
This article first appeared in doctorjob's CoursesNOW! Pre-University 2011.
