Malaysians and a second home in UK education
THE British left our land more than half a century ago but their systems are still highly visible today, especially in the education sector. While the syllabus is different, much of the systematic academic progression of our youths is similar to that in England.
Public schools are accessible, private and international schools are a viable option and universities and colleges offer competitive fees that attract prospective students the world over. The standard of living may be high, but many public systems such as transportation and healthcare are efficient and well maintained, which means less expenditure overall.
Various current and former students share their positive experiences of studying in the United Kingdom:
Student-focused from the beginning
Students always come first in the UK education system. Raja Zarim and Anida Mohd are currently in Sheffield with their children as Anida pursues her PhD in architecture at University of Sheffield.
Their four-year-old daughter Mia is enrolled in a local preschool and her class teacher has even visited the family home to consult with her parents.
This gives teachers valuable information from the start in terms of what to what to look out for in each student.
Immersive learning
Kristy Voon is a Kuala Lumpur-based copywriter and graphic designer who attended private school in Manchester in the early 2000s. Her family moved around when she was a child and she often attended Chinese medium schools, so when she first arrived in the United Kingdom, she barely spoke English.
“The way I was taught language was highly immersive. You had to learn it to survive. At the end of six months, I could converse quite well with my classmates,” says Voon.
“Going to school in Manchester (during my formative years) also helped me become more resourceful and confident.”
Expanding horizons while staying firmly on the ground
The city of London is a dream destination for many people and for many reasons. For Omar Baharum, it was home for over seven years when he pursued his degree and postgraduate diploma in architecture at the University of East London.
“In my university at least, the lecturers and tutors I had were practising architects,” he recalls.
“That helped give a sense of what was really happening on the ground so that we could prepare to be practising architects ourselves.”
Architecture degrees from the United Kingdom are also one of the few immediately accepted by Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia and it is similar for local guilds governing other professional fields such as medicine, law and engineering.
Omar also speaks fondly of the student trips he took yearly around Europe to experience architecture in different cities.
Scholarship opportunities There are many scholarships and bursaries available, especially for Commonwealth countries such as Malaysia. One of the most popular options is the Chevening scholarship offered by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office to those looking to pursue a master’s degree in the United Kingdom.
A former recipient is Sunway University Department of Performance and Media lecturer and arts practitioner with the critically acclaimed Five Arts collective, Mark Teh.
“The only way I could study in the United Kingdom was with a scholarship, as I didn’t have much funds,” he says.
He attended the prestigious Goldsmiths, a university under the University of London, to work towards a Master’s degree in Art and Politics.
Family first
Strong student unions can be one of the best support systems available, especially for postgraduate students. Anida speaks of the help they provided her children in many aspects.
“There is a nursery on the university grounds so when Zarim isn’t available, I can drop Zidan there and go for lectures and workshops.”
They even helped to provide a midwife when Zidan, the youngest child was born.
“Bringing the family here was quite straightforward,” says Zarim. “It was relatively simple to get a visa. All of us even received healthcare benefits.”
A UK education equals a brighter future
There are many reasons why studying in the United Kingdom should be your top choice. At every level, its quality and well-rounded education system is one of the best in the world.
Come to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Nov 5 and 6 for the Education UK Exhibition November 2016 and find the perfect institution for your needs.
Pre-register at https://my.edukexhibition.org/en to stand a chance to enter the lucky draw. Prizes include hotel and retail vouchers.