EASYUNI Ultimate University Guide 2013 July Issue | Page 29

Other than that, you will also need to consider the city centre’s
location. While the city centre has more entertainment
and excitement, it is considerably busier, noisier and not as
picturesque. But then again, living off-campus incurs higher
travel costs and restricted access.

3

Costs

With anything, there is a cost that you need to consider.
Living in some areas might be more expensive compared
to others. For example, living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is
considerably more expensive than living in other smaller cities.
Besides food, accommodation and travelling expenses, teenagers
also spend quite a bit on entertainment. Thus, you can always
do your research and check if the university offers student
accommodation. There is also ?nancial support available for
students that you can make full use of.
The tuition fee has also always been a factor that in?uences the
decision of students. Public universities generally offer a much
lower tuition fee compared to private ones. So, sort out your
budget and how much you are able to spend on your studies.
You should also ?nd out the other range of costs, such as the
sports centre, library photocopier and even your graduation
ceremony. However, students now worry less as there are loans
that they can apply for.

4

Type and Size of University

Every university offers different student experiences and it
all depends on your preference. Older universities generally
do more research and recruit a higher
proportion of school-leavers and offer
more traditional academic courses. On
the other hand, newer universities are
more locally and vocationally oriented
and recruit more mature and part-time
students. Universities also vary in size. A
smaller university gives a more personal
and cozy feel but with fewer facilities
and non-academic activities, while bigger
universities offer more activities at the
expense of more impersonal teachings as
lectures can be delivered to hundreds of
students at a time.

6

Facilities

Facilities in each university are fairly the same, with a library,
sports centre, health service, career service and others. If
there are speci?c facilities that you are looking for, it is always
worth it to check the university out. Another factor to consider is
the accommodation if you are staying away from home. Is there
accommodation for the students? If so, where is it located? If no,
are there any private accommodations nearby that you can live
in? Is it in a good location a few minutes walk away? A positive
answer for all these will put your parents and you at ease.
In short, compile a short list of possible universities that are
appealing to you, because they have better facilities, their good
reputation, the course offered appeals to you, or a combination
of all the mentioned factors. Then, get their undergraduate
prospectus. The prospectus supplies most of what you need to
know such as course details, facilities and entry requirements.
However, university prospectus always portray the university on
the bright and sunny side. Although they are rarely factually
incorrect, there are students who claim disappointment over
the experience. You can either go to the university personally or
attend a higher education fair where you can gather information
more ef?ciently. However, going to the university personally
could be helpful as you can experience the atmosphere of the
university yourself. It might also help to talk to the teachers or
those who have studied there previously, though you should
always be critical of what you hear as some might be talking
about how it was ages ago and universities have changed a lot
since then.

5

Quality and Reputation

Every university has their own
reputation and their quality
varies from one university to another.
Therefore, do your research and
check reviews to see if that particular
university you are interested in has a
good reputation and quality. But keep in
mind that higher quality and reputation
will cost you more. So, factor that in.
You should also view your own results
as universities with higher reputations
are more selective and demanding in
admitting students. They might require
you to score a near-perfect pointer.

EASYUNI Guide 2013

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