Postgraduate Coursework vs. Research in Malaysia

The postgraduate life takes dedication and perseverance, many who have undergone this perilous journey will come to a fork road: Coursework or research?

In Malaysia, both public and private institutions are aggressively expanding their postgraduate courses. Depending on the institution some provide purely coursework where as other institution would prefer the research approach.

1. Coursework

In Malaysia, majority of graduates would pursue a coursework Masters programme rather than research. Full time or Part time solely depends on the graduates and their time management skills.

Popular coursework Master programmes:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Engineering
• Master of Architecture (Part II)
• Master of Science

For graduates who're pursing full time, most of them are backed up with scholarships and funds that caters to their programmes.

Part-time graduates would normally be working individuals. Universities provide most part time classes during weekends, this is so that the course does not interfere with the graduates work schedule.

2. Research

Most graduates would go with the research approach when they're pursuing their Doctorate or Ph.D. programme. This is due to the nature of Ph.D. programmes, which normally would take 5 to 6 years to complete.

Ph.D. programmes in Malaysia are usually for graduates who're interested in being an expert in their respective fields, and for those who're planning to be an academic.