Find your right fit
WITH the exception of the last couple of years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, studies conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency in the UK show that more and more students are going to the UK to further their studies. In fact, according to the UK Council for International Student Affairs, Malaysia is one of the top countries outside of the European Union to send students to the UK for higher education.
UK university programmes are so popular among Malaysians that over the last few decades, numerous UK branch campuses have popped up in our country. Even local private universities are offering twinning programmes with various UK universities.
For many of the UK academic programmes offered in Malaysia, you get the option to study locally, in the UK or both throughout the duration of your degree and be conferred a degree from that UK university upon graduation.
Telling them apart
Upon researching on the various programmes on offer, you may come across programmes that denote a 2+1, 3+0, 1+2 arrangement. These digits refer to the number of years you spend studying in a country.
For example, a 2+1 programme means that you spend two years studying in Malaysia and the final year in the UK. A 3+0 programme, meanwhile, means that you complete all three years of your degree in Malaysia, but still obtain qualifications from a UK university.
Below is a closer look at different types of programmes.
l 2+1 (Two years in Malaysia, one year in the UK) – The 2+1 is arguably the most popular sort of UK programme among Malaysians as it gives students a chance to study in Malaysia and in the UK.
If you are keen on studying in the UK but want to save up before going abroad, this programme is for you. The credits that you accumulate in the first two years of your degree can be transferred so that you may finish the rest of your course in the UK.
With this programme, you can enjoy the experience of living there and partake in the vibrant activities to the fullest instead of having to survive by penny pinching for three years.
● 3+0 (Three years in Malaysia, zero years in the UK) – If you have a tight budget but still want to obtain a UK degree, this programme is the way to go. It is perhaps the least expensive option out of all UK programmes.
During this programme, you complete all three years of your degree in the comfort of your home country, surrounded by familiar environments and people. The best part is that you will still earn a degree and qualification from your chosen UK university.
l 1+2 (One year in Malaysia, two years in the UK) – Though uncommon, a few universities do offer a 1+2 programme where you can spend the first year studying in Malaysia and complete the rest of your degree in the UK.
Credits accumulated and modules covered in your first year can be transferred so that you may finish your course in the UK.
This programme may cost a bit more than the 2+1 or 3+0 options as you will spend a longer time in the UK, but it is a fast-track option if you are eager to get there. It is still cheaper than completing your entire degree in the UK.
At what cost?
For Malaysian students who feel ill-prepared to move halfway across the world for three years, a twinning programme with a partner university or studying at a branch campus can be a good alternative.
Such programmes appeal to many Malaysians because it makes a UK education a little bit more attainable. You get the same quality of education here as you would in the UK at a considerably lower fee.