Reported by:
Sr3ComB Ho Chia Chien
Sr3A Tiffany Cheah
Sr1ComC Gaby Seow Jing Yi
Photography by:
Counseling Department
On 14th April 2025, Kuen Cheng High School’s Counselling Department organized a seminar for senior students to share information about educational institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
“The United Kingdom comprises more than just England,” began Dr. Joyce Low from the United Kingdom Education Centre (UKEC). This education agency offers free advisory services and support to international students interested in pursuing higher education in the UK. Its mission is to ensure that every student has access to professional and personalized educational counselling. Dr. Joyce also shared her personal reflections from studying abroad. She spoke about how the experience gave her the courage to express her thoughts, motivated her to improve herself, and allowed her to gain unforgettable life experiences.
(Photo 1: Dr. Joyce presenting)
Next, one of the UKEC advisors, Ms. Jasreen — an alumna of Monash University Malaysia — shared key insights on studying in the UK and Ireland, focusing on seven main areas.
She began by discussing post-SPM pathways. Form 5 students must first choose a Pre-University programme, such as the UEC, A-Levels, or Ausmat, before pursuing a Bachelor’s degree. Most undergraduate degrees in the UK take three to four years to complete, although this may vary depending on the region — for example, in Ireland or Scotland — so it’s important to verify the duration of specific courses. Ms. Jasreen then explained the types of degrees available. A BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BSc (Bachelor of Science) typically takes three to four years. Interestingly, in Scotland, a BA is often awarded as an MA, which holds the same academic level as a BA in other parts of the UK.
Ms. Jasreen then spoke about entry requirements. Approximately 70% of UK universities accept UEC qualifications, and most universities in Ireland do as well.
She went on to discuss tuition fees and scholarships, which generally fall into two categories: merit-based scholarships (awarded based on academic performance) and guaranteed scholarships (granted when certain criteria are met). These scholarships can help students save between RM80,000 and RM120,000 per year, depending on the course.
Ms. Jasreen also outlined alternative pathways for SPM leavers, who cannot enter UK undergraduate programmes directly. These students may consider either an International Year One programme, which allows them to progress directly into Year Two, or an International Foundation Year, which serves as a preparatory year before starting Year One.
In the sixth part of the seminar, Ms. Jasreen introduced the UK university branch campuses in Malaysia, including the University of Nottingham Malaysia, Heriot-Watt Malaysia, and the University of Southampton Malaysia — ideal options for students seeking a UK degree without leaving the country. She concluded by emphasizing that all UK university applications must be submitted through UCAS, the official centralized application platform.
About 45 minutes before the event ended, a Q&A session was held with the school’s alumnus, Chew Ming Yih. Having spent several years studying in the UK before returning to Malaysia, Mr. Chew was warmly welcomed. Faced with a flood of enthusiastic questions, he patiently addressed each one in detail. Many of the questions focused on cultural shocks and the potential language barriers students might encounter abroad.
To wrap up the event on a lighter note, a quick lucky draw was held, with winners receiving plush toys of the official UKEC mascot. As the seminar came to a close, students gradually dispersed — not just with brochures in hand, but with a spark of excitement about their future possibilities. It was truly an afternoon to remember.
