EASYUNI Ultimate University Guide 2013 July Issue | Page 21

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Australian Matriculation

Allowing students to acquire their pre-u quali?cation in a
year or less, Australian matriculation programmes have topped
the popularity chart for those who are seeking to pursue
their higher education in Australia. Australian matriculation
programmes are widely recognised by universities in Australia,
certain private universities in Malaysia, and certain selected
universities in the world. The three Australian matriculation
programmes available in Malaysia are Australian Matriculation
(AUSMAT) leading to Western Australian Certi?cate of Education
(WACE), New South Wales Higher School Certi?cate (NSW
HSC) and South Australian Matriculation. Although these
three programmes are different in structure and syllabus, the
weightings for grading comprise of 50% coursework and 50%
external examination.
On top of that, Australian matriculation students will earn an
Australian Tertiary Admission (ATAR) rank which is calculated
based on the students’ results after completing their courses.
Although ATAR is one of the criteria when selecting applicants
for admission, it cannot guarantee one’s admission into their
university of choice. Other than being suitable for those who
are interested in pursing their studies in Australia, Australian
matriculation gives you variety in your studies while assessing you
continuously throughout the course.

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Canadian Pre-University & Matriculation

There are two Canadian pre-u programmes – International
Canadian Pre-U (ICPU) and Canadian International Matriculation
Programme (CIMP) – currently offered by local private colleges
and universities, both of which leads to the Ontario Secondary
School Diploma (OSSD) which is widely recognised and accepted
as pre-u quali?cation in Canada, United States and selected
universities in United Kingdom, Singapore and others. It takes
about 1 to 1.5 years to ?nish this programme and students are
generally required to pass six subjects and an English course.
Students should also know that in this course, students are
required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of community
service before they can graduate.

complete your bachelor’s degree programme in less time as some
foundation programmes allow students to take subjects that can
contribute towards ful?lling part of a degree’s requirements. For
students who want to keep their study options open, there are
broad-based foundation courses that are usually geared towards
arts or science and it usually takes about a year to complete.
You should consider foundation courses if you already have an
idea of your career path, want a head start or prefer assessments
through tests, quizzes and assignments on top of a ?nal exam.

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Local Matriculation

Local matriculation serves as a bridge for SPM students to
enter degree programmes at local universities. Local matriculation
is also recognised by some universities in UK and New Zealand. It
is a one or two-year programme, determined by the matriculation
department of the Ministry of Education and there are two
stream selections available – Science or Accounting. Students are
also required to adhere to a formal dress code.
Local matriculation is a match for those intending to gain entry
into a local public university and prefer to be assessed through a
grading system similar to that of a public university.

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Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia
(STPM)/Form 6

Students who want to stay longer in school can opt for STPM
which is considered equivalent to the GCE A-Levels quali?cation
in the UK. It is accepted by the most reputable bachelor’s degree
programmes in universities all over the world. You can also
register as a private candidate to take the STPM. There are 23
subjects you can choose from, including the compulsory General
Paper. Now, two forms of assessment will be combined in the
STPM – school-based assessment (20-40% of ?nal score) and a
centralised examination (60-80% of ?nal score). Students will
also be required to take the Malaysia University English Test
(MUET) which is a prerequisite to enter public universities.
STPM is ideal for those who want an affordable globally
recognised pre-u quali?cation.

Since coursework plays an important role in your assessment
(70% of total marks), this programme is suitable for those who
wants extra-curricular activities to play a bigger part in your
course. This is also an opportunity to improve your English to
prepare yourself for undergraduate studies overseas.

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Diploma Courses

A diploma course is suitable for those who have decided
on an industry which requires speci?c skills or vocational
training. Other than equipping yourself with industry-related
skills and knowledge, you can also opt to continue your
studies or enter the workforce early. This course takes about
two or three years to complete, depending on your subject.
There are two types of diploma courses - skills and vocational
diploma course, and diploma and advanced diploma for higher
education, with the latter being able to prepare you for further
studies later on when you pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Skills and vocational diploma courses are suited for those who
prefer to work with their hands. On the other hand, it is not as
academically demanding as a full degree.

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Foundation Courses

Foundation courses are regarded as assistance to students
who move from SPM (O-Levels) to a speci?c bachelor’s degree
programme. There are ‘twinning’ or transfer programmes
with university partners, local or overseas, allowing you to
EASYUNI Guide 2013

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