Tertiary Education for International Students - Where Best to Get It

by StudyMalaysia.com on April 18, 2024 | Top Stories, Why Study in Malaysia

Tertiary Education for International Students - Where Best to Get It - StudyMalaysia.com

The global market for tertiary education now offers more choices of destination, more competition among education providers and more alternatives to the traditional study methods. More competition bodes well for consumers as education providers are obliged to provide better services, quality education and other facilities to make pursuing tertiary education in whatever country hassle-free so as to attract more international students.

Many believe that success is not about finding the best university nor landing on the perfect programme but choosing the right destination to devote a part of your life to. Studying in the right setting can make a world of difference to your student experience, the connections you make, the career path you follow and the trails of memories you leave behind. Studying is not just about earning a degree but it is a journey of self-discovery, personal growth and embracing the unknown.

Before you start exploring study destinations, perhaps you should self-reflect on some personal attributes:

What do you want to study?
What is your preferred language of instruction?
What is your budget - tuition fees and living expenses?
How far from home are you comfortable with?
What climate suits you?
What are some of your safety concerns?
What are your personal aspirations and that of your family to choose to study in a different country?

Some common factors to consider when choosing a study destination:

Accreditation: Find out whether the course you intend to do has the required accreditation as recognition of your degree is vital for you when you enter the job market later on.
University Ranking: Look up on the global university ranking of the university you have chosen. Although university ranking may not be the decisive factor for choosing a university, it gives a picture of what the university has to offer in terms of teaching (the learning environment), research done (reputation of the university), number of citations (research and influence around the world), international outlook (diversity in staff and students) and industry connections (whether knowledge acquired is relevant to business and industry).
Course Content: Study the course content offered for the programme you have selected the curriculum should align with your interest and goals.
Affordability/Financial Considerations: Consider your financial standing. You have to pay for tuition fees, accommodation, utilities, transportation etc. The duration of the course will also affect how much you have to spend.
Transportation Accessibility: How easy and cheap is it for you to get from the place of your accommodation to the university? Easy access is very important as you may need to go to the university every day and perhaps several times a day.
Climate: You have to consider the climate of the host country and whether you will be comfortable studying in that type of climate.
Accommodation: Find out the availability of different types of accommodation and the costs incurred. Accommodation within the campus (campus hostel), dormitory, student flats, living with host family are some options.
Guidance from counsellors: Consulting with the right people will give you insights into a lot of things you need to know before you take off to a new country.
Work Opportunities: It will be useful for you to find out whether there are opportunities for part-time work and internships during the study period. This is especially important for students who wish to earn some money to finance their expenses while studying.
Quality of life: This includes access to clean air, clean water, world-class healthcare, good infrastructure and freedom of choice.
Working opportunity after graduation and career prospects: Find out whether you are allowed to work in the host country after graduation. Check out the corporate partnerships of the university you have enrolled in, as this can affect your chances of finding a job upon graduation. Besides you should also find out whether there are opportunities of proceeding to an advanced degree or professional upskilling after your first degree.
Visa Application - It is important to know how to go about getting it and the cost of getting it.
Safety: Research the safety records like political stability, crime rates and healthcare policies of the country you are going to.
Culture and lifestyle To have cultural compatibility means you are comfortable with the language and culture. Or are you open to learning a new culture and way of life? The ability to adapt will make your life pleasant in the new country.

Studying outside your own country is a transformative journey that requires careful planning and considerations. Plan carefully to ensure that your experience is enriching, fulfilling and life-changing.

Malaysia - A Choice Alternative for an Ideal Study Destination

With rising costs of education in countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia coupled with the ringgit’s exchange rate being low compared with these countries, Malaysia is set to attract more international students who plan to pursue an education overseas. Malaysia stands out as an attractive choice for these students to pursue tertiary education without spending too much money and without sacrificing the quality of education they receive.

Malaysia boasts of good universities of world standard as shown from positions of many Malaysian universities, both home-grown public and private, in the QS World University Rankings as well as our own Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) ranking.

Another plus point for tertiary education in Malaysia is many universities here are affiliated to renowned universities in the United Kingdom and Australia and the establishment of foreign branch campuses in Malaysia thus enabling students to earn a prestigious degree at a fraction of the cost compared to when they have to complete the entire course in these countries. There are many choices of degree transfer programmes for students who want to do part of their course here and part of it overseas.

Universities and colleges in Malaysia would like to encourage international students to study here because of its high quality education programmes delivered by the institutions with a strong international outlook and well-developed campuses and facilities. There are also post-study work opportunities whereby Malaysia is issuing graduate passes for students from more than 25 countries including Brunei. Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Australia, India and China. This pass allows international students to stay for a year upon graduation to go on vacation, work or pursue the next study level.

To sum up, obvious reasons for making Malaysia an ideal study destination are:

Affordable tuition fees and living costs - Our universities provide high quality education and students can pursue their desired courses at reasonable costs. Accommodation of various kinds can be found here in the vicinity of the universities making access to the universities hassle-free. The good infrastructure here allows for cheap and easy transportation.
World-class education - Students can earn degrees which are internationally recognised, thus enabling them to fit into different working environments. There are over 100 globally recognized universities here, offering a wide array of courses for students to choose from.
Cultural diversity - Malaysia is proud of its cultural diversity with different races coming together in harmony. Students who study here will enjoy studying amidst a potpourri of different cultures with their unique food and festivities. Students will never run out of activities to do here - shopping, recreation, sports are available in all the bustling towns and cities.
Climate - Malaysia has a perfect climate all year round thus enabling students to enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities the whole year round. The lush green environment definitely makes your stay here very pleasant.
Safety - Malaysia is a safe country and the people are friendly. The healthcare system is good and of world-standard.
Visa Applications - The regulations are simple and straightforward making it easy for students to obtain study visas.
Reputation - Malaysia has a good record of fair treatment of international students who also enjoy freedom of choice here.
Language - English is the medium of instruction and is widely spoken all over the country. Students will feel comfortable and find getting around here a breeze.
Post-study work opportunities - Students from more than 25 countries are allowed to stay for a year upon graduation to go on vacation, work or pursue the next study level.

Some popular courses with international students are:

Accounting and Finance
Art and Design
Business Management
Engineering
Hospitality and Tourism
Mass Communication
Medicine

New International students who choose to make Malaysia their ideal study destination may be more well-equipped with the following steps.

To quote Alexander Graham Bell, " Before anything else, preparation is the key to success".

Get to know Malaysia by reading up about Malaysia, the climate, the people and the various cultures.
Choose your course by identifying your fields of interest prior to coming here. There are several course interest tests designed by StudyMalaysia for this purpose such as the ever-popular Course-Interest-Test at interest.studymalaysia.com.
Plan your budget - Although studying here is far more affordable than in lots of other countries, it is wise to find out exactly how much you have to spend for your tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses.
Apply for a visa - To do this you may need a copy of your passport, university acceptance letter, passport-sized photograph, academic transcripts and relevant certificates, proof of insurance, proof of sufficient funds to complete the whole duration of the course. Applying for Student Visa is easy. All your enrolled university will be able to help you.
Get ready to live in Malaysia - Book your flight and look for suitable accommodation. As with living in any country there are pros and cons. Thus so long as you can enjoy living in an all-year round pleasant climate among friendly people with a diversity of cultures and to top it all affordable tuition fee and cost of living, what more can you ask for?

There is no doubt that Malaysia is on its way to becoming an ideal study destination for students from near and far. The good blend of good quality education, cultural diversity and affordability makes it appealing to students. Furthermore, the range of esteemed and well-established universities guarantees students a world-class education and a truly enriching experience.