Credit Transfers

We have had a few questions from students on pre tertiary credit transfers. We hope this guide clears some of the smog surrounding your opportunities.

There are many pre tertiary programmes for students who finish their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia [SPM] examinations. Its quite an alphabet soup with A's, SAM, AUSMAT, CPU and STPM's. A Levels are generally from the English pedigree with Cambridge [CIE] and the London Boards [Edexcel]. SAM and AUSMAT are the Australian pre tertiary pathway. CPU is Canadian while locally we have STPM and Matriculations for government Universities. Alas there is the effervescent foundation which in our case is accepted in the United Kingdom, Australia and many other countries; Malaysia included.

According to the Malaysian Qualifications Agency [MQA] these pre tertiary programmes are equivalent for entry qualifications to degree programmes. Thus students who study A Levels have broadly the same opportunities of entering a degree programme as students who have done STPM or Foundation. There are certainly some universities that stipulate their own individual recognitions but broadly they are equal, though we opine that the specialization afforded for the foundations make it just a notch ahead; primus inter pares if you will.

Following this logic a student who is studying the A Levels and would like to improve his/her mark or re-sit an exam can do so with SAM or a Foundation. The mapping of the syllabus for the foundation for example accords to the other pre tertiary programmes allowing students to fit nicely even though they had done other programmes. This is easier in the sciences where there are finite parameters, biology has to be biology anywhere and anyhow.

What is important is that a students complete the required credit hours that are stipulated. You can check this with us for your individual programmes.

Students thus with other pre tertiary results can look to the foundation as an alternative to retaking or re-siting their exams. This may be advantageous from the point of view of our exam time tables rather than waiting and wasting time. Another reason may be a fresh experience to counter the reasons for your challenges in other programmes. We find that often its never the programmes at fault but rather whether a student can sync to the system and structure of a programme. Its always a question of suitability. We also find that many students choose us due to our clear pathway to seats at Universities and our focus in preparing students for First Year.

So if you choose a pre tertiary and you are having trouble with it, remember that you are not stuck and you can opt for a change to better suit your academic preferences.  

Forecast results

Many see the forecast as a mere stepping stone to what the SPM might entail, but the humble forecast is capable of so much more. A forecast result allows students to attend the January intakes of colleges and universities instead of the march or post march intakes. To many thats a mere three months of well deserved R & R [rest and relaxation] time but it may mean that you lose out on the chance of graduating a year earlier. Yes 3 months may equal 1 year of losses.

This is because when you factor the exam dates for pre tertiary programmes and intakes for undergraduate University programmes, many a time students miss out on intake dates, scholarship applications [which open and close early] as well as registrations for the best classes and accommodation. Students in the January intake are able to get the best deals and often enter an intake earlier which translates to saving 1 year or more overall.

This entry comes with the help of the humble forecast. Students and parents though, sometimes worry, about problems in the real SPM results, due march, [eg shortage of credits] which may hamper progress in a January Intake. If you dont get enough entry qualifications, then time and money is wasted not to mention the emotional and psychological effects.

However many colleges like ours have bridging programmes in situations like these for students to top up their credits without leaving the course or wasting time by skipping intakes. For us, best of all, the bridging programmes are free. Think of it like extra tuition that you need not pay for.

Another fear is whether the programme chosen is the right one since a career is not for the next 4-5 years of studying but also includes the next 30-40 years of working. We recommend here to choose a pre tertiary programme that gives you the widest options for your degree and university so a change can be arranged where necessary. Many programmes limit your options to a very few degrees and universities and that may hamper your progress later on. Get the best that you can, for the money and qualifications that you have.

By doing this, you get to save time by studying and deciding what to do at the same time. Moreover your decision becomes an informed decision since within the duration of the programme [eg our foundation or a levels] you'll be exposed to many different subject matter, degree options and guest lecturers on careers. This allows you to really and truly know what your options entail before your decide what to do by the end of your programme. This experience is much better than lying on your couch with an Ipad imagining what your career will be like. Experience it first before deciding; to mitigate a risk of mistake.

We do all we can to ensure that you get to the right choice, one that will give you what you seek in life as well as being recognized and accredited.

So get that humble forecast out and make it work for you. As always if you need help call us.