As soon as you’re done with your SPM, you’re likely to be bombarded with questions like “what are you going to do with your life?” or “where will you be studying at?” Many people at your age haven’t figured out what they want to do with their lives, so you’re not alone. Take this time to enjoy your youth, and explore what you like to do as much as you can. If you’re still unsure of what you’re interested in, check out these five best reasons to choose a pre-university course:
- Improve your English If your English language skills need some brushing up, a pre-U course could be the perfect platform for you to polish your skills. Your college or university will have a different, more diverse environment which allows for better communication between your peers and faculty members and gives you the chance to converse in English. There’ll be people from all walks of life with different levels of English skills, so don’t hesitate to improve it. Unlike speaking English at your school, you won’t be mocked if you try to improve your language skills at your college or university.
- Have the flexibility to choose modules or subjects
Unlike high schools where everything is dictated by the authority, you’ll have more autonomy when you do a pre-U programme. Most pre-U programmes allow for flexibility when it comes to choosing the subjects or modules of your liking, and you also get to decide whether you want to attend classes held in the afternoon or evening. This is perfect if you hate waking up early in the morning!
- ‘Test-drive’ a particular course
Pre-U programmes require you to choose a pathway so you’ll be able to take specific subjects of your choice. However, you may discover that the course isn’t the right one for you during your programme, making it easier for you to transfer or switch courses. Doing so at a pre-U level is cheaper and less complicated compared to finding out what you don’t like during a degree course.
- Have the freedom to apply to any international university
Depending on your pre-U programme, you may be able to apply to any international university in countries such as the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand – the top countries most Malaysian students would choose to go to. If you aspire to study in a particular country, make sure your pre-U programme is based on the country’s learning methods.
- Get the grades needed
If you have some idea of what you want to do when you enter the workforce, you’ve probably figured out which degree course to take. However, you may not meet the minimum entry requirements for the course, and this is where a pre-U qualification comes in handy. It helps you to get the grades you need in order to pursue the degree course of your choice. It also helps you prepare for challenging subjects so you’ll get used to how demanding the course will be.
In addition to specific subjects such as communications, business, law, sciences, or accounting, all pre-U programmes include MQA subjects like Moral Studies and Malaysian Studies, and core subjects that include Maths and English. If all of this sounds awesome to you, you can . The minimum requirement to enter a pre-U programme is five credits in SPM, with passes in Maths, History, English, and Bahasa Malaysia. Certain pathways like accounting or science require you to meet the specific grade in related subjects.