Asasi (Foundation) in Malaysia Universities

For SPM school leavers, besides going for Matrikulasi, you can also opt for a Foundation study.

Foundation is a pre-university course offered by public universities in Malaysia. This course is available at UM, UIAM, UiTM, UPM, USIM, UPNM, and UNIMAS. The duration of the Foundation program depends on the course offered, ranging from a One-Year Program (PST) to a Two-Year Program (PDT).

Why choose this course?

Unlike Form Six or Matriculation, Foundation is specifically designed to prepare students for university curricula. There are two types of courses in the Foundation program, namely 'open' and 'closed' courses. 

Open: Recognized by other universities for progression to a bachelor's degree program. Examples include:

• University of Malaya (all foundations except for Foundation in Built Environment and Islamic Studies, and all foundations in UIAM)
• Universiti Teknologi MARA (except for foundations in UIAM)
• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (except for AsasiPintar)

Closed: Only recognized by the university offering the foundation and not by other universities. Examples include:

• Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
• Universiti Malaysia Sabah
• Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
• Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia
• Universiti Putra Malaysia

Eligibility requirements

Applicants are required to pass with 5 credits in SPM, including Bahasa Malaysia. Foundations are usually offered to Bumiputera students. However, there are six Foundation courses offered to non-Bumiputera students, which are:

• AsasiPintar at UKM
• Asasi Sains Pertanian at UPM
• Four foundation courses at UPNM
• University Malaya (UM) ?

Subject choices

There are various streams in the Foundation program. Each university has its own program, which takes one or two years to complete. For example, UiTM offers the following foundation programs: ASASi bm, Foundation at Public Universities. Students are advised to explore the foundation programs offered by universities.

Assessment method

Foundation programs usually consist of one year of study (two semesters), but they can be extended to two years through the Two-Year Program (PDT). Examinations are held according to the semester. Depending on the university, there may be additional examinations, such as UIAM conducting Arabic language examinations. Grades are awarded based on the CGPA method. The highest CGPA is 4.0, and students are required to achieve a minimum CGPA of 2.0 or higher.

Fees

Fees are subsidized by the government. Additionally, students receive an allowance of RM1,250 per semester. The tuition fee is RM350, and the accommodation cost is RM360 per semester. Accommodation is provided by the university.

Application process Applications for Foundation can be made online through the website of the Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU).

Path to University Abroad: Universities abroad do not recognize Foundation, so students need to continue their studies at local universities for a bachelor's degree before pursuing studies abroad.

Local: The Foundation program lasts for one year and allows students to work for one year after graduation before continuing their studies in a bachelor's degree program, within the age range of 21-22. Students are required to repay the allowance if they are unable to complete their studies.

sources:

https://afterschool.my/bm/berita/asasi-di-universiti-awam

https://www.ukm.my/geniuspintar/asasipintar-ukm/