Study abroad options in the UK
After IGCSE and SPM, students can opt for UK foundation programmes, A levels or the IB programme. There are also special foundation and A-level tracks for students who are interested in medical school or Oxford and Cambridge university.
Foundation programmes
Foundation programmes are for high school-leavers who wish to pursue a degree at a UK university. They acts as a bridge between your current qualifications and UK university entry qualifications and is designed to plug academic gaps, improve your English and familiarise you with UK life and culture in preparation for university. They are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to the A levels. In contrast to A levels which is 100% exam-based, foundation programmes feature a combination of coursework, assessments and examination to determine your final grades.
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Popular foundation courses: Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Queen Mary, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Durham, Newcastle, Exeter, Birmingham, Bristol
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Duration: 4 to 9 months
Foundation streams: Business, Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, Medicine, Architecture
Cost of tuition: £14,000 to £25,000
Scholarships: Yes, £1,000 to £5,000
Intakes: January, September, June. Selected providers offer intakes in March for an intensive foundation.
English requirement: UKVI IELTS 4.5 and above
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A Levels
A levels is the ideal option for students who are aiming at high-ranked UK universities such as University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL and London School of Economics, or those interested to pursue competitive degrees such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. It is common for International students to attend a boarding school or independent sixth-form college to complete their A levels. Some education providers offer specialised A level programmes to prepare students for Oxbridge or admission to competitive degrees such as medicine and dentistry.
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Duration: 18 months / 24 months
Cost of tuition: £25,000 upwards per year
Scholarships: Up to 50%
Progression: Universities worldwide
Intakes: January, September
After completing pre-university studies such as Australian matriculation , A levels, IB, STPM or equivalent, students can enrol at universities in the UK directly if they meet entry requirements and are accepted by the university. Students who miss the mark have the option of International Year One programmes offered in the UK.
Direct to University
There are over 100 university options in the UK for students keen to pursue an array of degrees. Popular options are business, engineering, computer science, law, medicine, pharmacy and psychology. Students with good grades can consider applying to Russell Group universities, which is a group of 24 top-ranked research-intensive universities in the UK.
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Russell Group Universities:
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University of Birmingham
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University of Bristol
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University of Cambridge
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Cardiff University
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Durham University
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University of Edinburgh
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University of Exeter
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University of Glasgow
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Imperial College London
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King's College London
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University of Leeds
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University of Liverpool
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London School of Economics & Political Science
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University of Manchester
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Newcastle University
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University of Nottingham
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University of Oxford
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Queen Mary, University of London
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Queen's University Belfast
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University of Sheffield
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University of Southampton
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University College London
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University of Warwick
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University of York
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Top universities in the Russell Group such as Cambridge and Oxford will require A level grades at a minimum of AAA and above to apply for most courses. Other universities in the group may require a minimum of ABB, depending on the course.
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Most university degrees in the UK take approximately 3 years to complete. Pharmacy is a 4-year degree whereas Architecture takes 5 years, including the Master of Architecture. Degrees in dentistry, medicine and veterinary science will require at least 5 years.
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Some degree programmes in the UK incorporate a sandwich year where students can gain a year of internship or work experience as a part of their programme. These are commonly referred to as Sandwich Programme. The work placement year adds tremendous value to your life experience and has the added benefit of enhancing your employability upon graduation. Many graduates end up getting employed by the companies they interned at during their university time.
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International students who have completed their bachelor's degree in the UK are eligible for the 2-year Graduate visa.
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International Year One
An IYO (International Year One) programme is the equivalent of first year bachelor's degree in the UK. It is designed for students who missed the cut for direct entry into the university. Classes are smaller, usually more more than 25 students in a class and students get more support to bridge their academic studies and English language skills. Students who have completed an IYO programme can progress directly to second year of their undergraduate studies in a range of subjects such as business, engineering, psychology and architecture.
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Some examples of IYO are:
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Cardiff ISC offers IYO in Accounting and Finance / Engineering / Law with progression to Cardiff University
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Sussex ISC offers IYO in Computing / Film and Media / International Relations and International Development with progression to University of Sussex
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Kaplan International College London offers IYO in Engineering with progression to the University of Birmingham
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INTO Manchester offers IYO in Business, Accounting and Finance with progression to a number of universities such as Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, Queen Mary University of London, University of Sheffield, University of Leeds and more
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INTO Exeter offers IYO Psychology with progression to the University of Exeter
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The minimum entry requirement to IYO programmes is usually a DD in A levels or equivalent. The duration of the IYO programme is 9 months. Intakes are commonly available in September and January.
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Course duration: 9 months
Intakes: Sept, Jan
English requirement: UKVI IELTS 4.5 to 5.5 depending on the provider
Tuition: £15,000 to 25,000 per year
After completing a year or two of a bachelor's degree or a diploma qualification in Malaysia, students have the opportunity to transfer to universities in the UK with advance standing.
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University Transfer
A number of local private universities in Malaysia offer their students the opportunity to transfer to universities in the UK to complete their bachelor's degree. Common transfer majors are business, law, design and computer science. Some UK universities will accept transfer students into Year 2 and a handful will accept students into the final year. For transfer cases, the university will commonly request for the full syllabus and grading scheme of the programme students have completed in Malaysia to determine if the course contents match up. This is a cost-saving option for students who are tight on budget but would still like to have an overseas study experience. It is also suitable for younger students who may want to stay close to their family a little longer.
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International transfer students who have completed their bachelor's degree in the UK are eligible for the 2-year Graduate visa.
After receiving their Bachelor's degree, students can opt to study a pre-masters or a masters.
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Masters
Masters degrees in the UK are popular amongst international students, more so due to the 2-year post-study work visa that is currently made available to international students. Students who are interested to pursue a master's qualification in the UK should be holding a recognised bachelor's degree (First class, Upper Second Class or Lower Second Class). Students who do not have a bachelor's degree but have extensive working experience may be accepted into Masters degree in the UK on a case by case basis.
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Popular master's programmes in the UK are Accounting and finance, business management, data science, business analytics, computer science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, media and communication, architecture, design, law.
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A number of masters programmes incorporate an integrated work placement component where students can gain up to 1 year work experience in the UK. During the work placement year, students pay minimal tuition.
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Course duration: One to two years
Intakes: Sept, Jan, Feb
English requirement: IELTS 6.0 equivalent and above depending on the programme
Tuition: £12,000 to 25,000 per year
Graduate visa: 2 Years
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Pre-master's
The Pre-Masters programme is intended for students who already have an undergraduate degree, looking to study a masters in the UK but fall short of the university's entry requirement. Specifically designed to improve your English language level, study skills and academic knowledge, this course will help you to succeed in your postgraduate study and in your professional career.
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Course duration: One or two semesters
Intakes: Sept, Jan. Some options of Nov, April intakes are available depending on the provider​
Streaming: Business, Media, Social Science, Engineering
English requirement: IELTS 5.5 equivalent and above
Tuition: Ranging from £12,000 for 1-semester programme to £20,000 average for 2-semester programme