If you're planning to study a bachelor's degree at a private higher educational institution (PHEI) in Malaysia, you would be glad to know that they accept all qualified students with pre-university qualifications such as STPM, GCE 'A' level, SAM (Australia), CPU (Canada), SMU3 from Indonesia, university foundation programmes, and other qualifications deemed equivalent.
Here's a list of foreign pre-university qualifications which are equivalent to Malaysia's STPM or A-levels:
| Country of Origin | Foreign Qualifications which are Equivalent to Malaysia’s STPM |
| Australia | Australian Year 12 |
| South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) | |
| Tertiary Entrance Education (TEE) | |
| New South Wales: Higher School Certificate (HSC) | |
| Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) | |
| Western Australia Certificate of Education (WACE) | |
| Bahrain | Tawjahiya (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) |
| Brunei Darussalam | Cambridge GCE A-Level |
| Brunei Darussalam | Matriculation |
| Cambodia | Diploma of Upper Secondary Education (Grade 12) |
| Cameroon | Cameroon GCE A level |
| Canada | Canadian Grade 12 |
| Canadian Pre-University (CPU)/Ontario: Ontario Secondary School Diploma | |
| China | Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate |
| Denmark | Bevis for Studentereksamen |
| Bevis for Højere Forberedelseseksamen (HF) | |
| Egypt | Thanaweya A’ama (Certificate of General Secondary Education) |
| Secondary Education Certificate of Al-Azhar> | |
| France | Baccalaureát + Grandes Ecoles (entrance examination) |
| Germany | Zeugnis der Reife / Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife / Abitur |
| Ghana | West African Higher School Certificate / GCE A-Level |
| Ghana | Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (since 1993) |
| Gambia | West African Examinations Council GCE A-Level |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE); Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) |
| India | All India Senior School Certificate (awarded by Central Board of Secondary Education) |
| India | Higher Secondary Course Certificate / Higher Secondary School Certificates / Higher Secondary Certificate / Higher School Certificate (awarded on completion of Standard XII) |
| Pre-Medical from Punjab University | |
| Pre-University Examination from Mahatma Gandhi University | |
| Certificate of Second Year Pre-University Examination issued by Education Department of the Government of Karnataka | |
| Intermediate Public Examination Year conducted by the Board of Intermediate Education, Hyderabad, India | |
| Higher Secondary Examination (Class XII) Certificate, Government of Kerala, Board of Higher Secondary Examination | |
| Intermediate Pass Certificate (cum Memorandum of Marks), Board of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh | |
| Marks Sheet, Bihar Intermediate Education Council, Patna | |
| Senior Secondary School Examination, National Institute of Open Schooling (formerly known as National Open School) | |
| Indonesia | Sekolah Menengah Umum (SMU) 3 / Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) / Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan (SMK) / Madrasah Aliyah, with grade point average 6-10 |
| Iran | High School Diploma (on completion of Grade 12) + KONKUR (university entrance examination) |
| Iraq | Sixth Form Baccalauréat / Certificate of Preparatory Education |
| Ireland | Leaving Certificate passed at Higher / Honours Level Grades A-C |
| Italy | Diploma di Maturità (Classica/Scientifica/Tecnica/ Linguistica/Professionale/Magistrale/Artistica) (up until 1999) |
| Esame di Stato (from 1999) | |
| Japan | Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho) |
| Jordan | Tawjihi (General Secondary Education Certificate) |
| Kenya | East African Advanced Certificate of Education (EAACE) / Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE) (up to1988) |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) | |
| Korea-South Korea | High School Graduation Equivalency Examination |
| Kuwait | Shahadat-al-thanawia-al-a’ama (General Secondary School Certificate) |
| Liberia | Senior High School Certificate |
| Libya | Secondary School Certificate / Secondary Education Certificate |
| Macao | Cambridge Overseas Higher School Certificate (COHSC) / GCE Advanced |
| Ensino Secundário Complementar | |
| Mauritius | Cambridge Overseas Higher School Certificate / GCE A-Level |
| Morocco | Diplôme du Baccalaureat |
| Namibia | HIGCSE (Higher International General Certificate of Secondary Education) |
| Cambridge Overseas Higher School Certificate (COHSC) / GCE -Level | |
| Nepal | Higher Secondary Education Certificate (HSEC) |
| Netherlands | Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) Diplomas |
| New Zealand | National Certificate in Educational Achievement Level 3 (NCEA)/td> |
| Niger | Baccalauréat / Diplôme de Bachelier de I’Enseignement du Second Degré |
| Nigeria | West African GCE A-Level (up to 1989) |
| West African Examinations Council Senior School Certificate (WAEC Senior School Certificate) / NECO (Nigerian Examination Council) (since 1989) | |
| Oman | Thanawiya amma (Secondary School Leaving Certificate / General Secondary School Certificate) |
| One year Certificate / Foundation Year | |
| Pakistan | Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) / Intermediate |
| Palestine | Tawjihi (Certificate of General Secondary Education Examination) |
| Poland | Swiadectwo Dojrzalości / Matura |
| Qatar | A l-Thanawaya Al-Amah (General Secondary School Certificate) |
| Saudi Arabia | Tawjihiyah (General Secondary Education Certificate) |
| Scotland | Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE) HIGHER GRADE, Scottish Examination Board |
| Sierra Leone | Senior School Certificate |
| Singapore | Singapore Cambridge GCE A-Level |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) |
| South Africa | Senior Certificate (with matriculation endorsement) / National Senior Certificate |
| Somalia | Secondary School Leaving Certificate |
| Spain | Selectividad |
| Sudan | Sudan School Certificate (formerly called the Secondary School Certificate or Higher Secondary School Certificate) |
| Sweden | Avgangsbetyg / Slutbetyg fran Gymnasieskola (previously Studentexamen) (Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate) |
| Taiwan | Senior High School Leaving Certificate |
| Thailand | Maw 6 with a score of 50% or above / Islamic Study Upper Secondary School Certificate |
| United Arab Emirates | Tawjihiyya (General and Religious) |
| United Kingdom | GCE Advanced, UK |
| Vietnam | Upper Secondary School Graduation Diploma |
| Yemen | A l-Thanawiya (General Secondary Education Certificate) |
Besides a pre-U qualification, proficiency in the English language is an important requirement by PHEIs. Students are expected to have adequate knowledge and understanding of English, as this is the language of instruction at private colleges and universities. Various international examinations such as IELTS and TOEFL are recognised as English proficiency standards and form part of the entry requirements for bachelor’s degree programmes.
Here’s an example of commonly accepted English Proficiency Standard at most PHEIs.
| English proficiency test | Required scores for first degree programmes |
| Paper-based TOEFL | 500 to 600 |
| Internet-based TOEFL | 79-87 (some PHEIs may require minimum points in each of the elements – writing, speaking, reading and listening) |
| IELTS | 6.0 to 7.0 (some PHEIs may require a minimum score in each band) |
For more information, please visit the website of the national quality assurance agency at www.mqa.gov.my.
Source:
- Study in Malaysia Handbook, 9th edition
- www.mqa.gov.my
Related articles:
- Step by step guide for international students: a timeline of what you need to do when coming to Malaysia
- Becoming An International Student In Malaysia
- Studying Abroad - Where to Next? : Your Higher Education Options in Malaysia
- Why you should study in Malaysia
- How many ways are there to study for a bachelor’s degree?
- Studying for a home-grown Malaysian bachelor’s degree qualification
