Which Pre-U Qualification Is Accepted by the 5 of the Top Universities in the World?

Among the many pre-university programmes offered in higher educational institutions in Malaysia, A-Levels is one of the more popular choices that students go for. Short for ‘Advanced Levels’, A-Levels is a widely recognised university qualification and is accepted in more than 160 countries.

The structure of A-Levels are similar to that of SPM; the assessments are 100% exam-based, which is similar to the structure of SPM exams. This sense of familiarity may be why many post-SPM students gravitate toward A-Levels. A-Levels are widely accepted by most, if not all, universities in Malaysia and beyond.

In fact, the following institutions all accept A-Levels qualifications. They are listed in the top 10 based on the QS World University Rankings:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Image via QS WOW News

MIT is ranked first in the QS World University Rankings 2019 and has been ranked first for several years. Times Higher Education (THE) even recognised MIT as one of the “six super brands” on its World Reputation Rankings, along with Berkeley, Cambridge, Harvard, Oxford and Stanford. Its strongest showing based on subject is engineering, followed by computer science, the natural sciences, business, architecture, economics, linguistics, and mathematics.

While MIT does recognise A-Levels as a qualification, all universities in the US require international students to undergo standardised tests, such as SAT or ACT and TOEFL before enrolling. Thus, on top of the results for A-Levels, students must undergo one of these tests as well. Besides that, MIT advocates students who challenge themselves academically; hence, they would typically admit students who have taken at least four subjects in A-Levels, two of which are Mathematics and Science.

2. University of Oxford

Image via US News & World Report

The University of Oxford, though placed fifth in the QS World University Rankings 2019, is the top university in the UK. One of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, the University of Oxford is known for its collegiate system, comprising comprises 44 colleges and halls, as well as the largest library system in the UK. The university is ranked first in the world for anthropology, archaeology, English language and literature, geography and pharmacy.

Depending on the course, offers for students studying A-levels will range between A*A*A and AAA depending on the course.

3. University of Cambridge

Image via Crimson

The University of Cambridge places sixth in the QS World University Rankings 2019 and is overall second among the top universities in the UK. The University of Cambridge, similar to the University of Oxford, is also a collegiate university comprising 31 colleges. The University of Cambridge offers courses with six academic schools: Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Technology.

For the University of Cambridge, the typical conditional A Level offer will be A*AA or A*A*A, depending on the course. Applicants taking four subjects won't normally be at an advantage compared with those taking three, although competitive applicants for STEM courses often have Further Mathematics as a fourth subject.

4. Imperial College London

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Imperial College London is ranked eighth in the QS World University Rankings 2019 and is the third best university in the United Kingdom, as well as the top university in London. It is often regarded as a one-of-a-kind institution in the UK, focusing exclusively on science, engineering, medicine and business.

The minimum entry standard into Imperial College London for A-Levels is AAA overall. The typical three A-level offer: A*AA – A*A*A.

5. University College London (UCL)

Image via Evening Standard

University College London (officially UCL since 2005), is one of the world’s top multidisciplinary universities and offers a range of subjects from medicine to languages, law to engineering, and history to astrophysics. It is ranked 10th in the QS World University Rankings 2019 fifth in Europe. UCL prides itself for having 33 Nobel Prize winners and 3 Fields medallists among their alumni, faculty and researchers.

A-Levels qualifications are accepted in most, if not all, universities in the UK. Thus, enrolling in UCL should not be a problem if you have achieved the minimum scores in your A-Levels. Depending on the undergraduate degree programme, UCL makes offers in the range A*A*A-ABB.

It is clear that an A-Levels qualification is widely accepted by most universities in Malaysia, including five of the top universities in the world. So, where should you consider pursuing your A-Levels study in Malaysia before deciding to continue your studies abroad?

Kolej Yayasan UEM (KYUEM) is among Malaysia’s premium A-level colleges specialising in university preparation via Cambridge International Examinations. The college prides itself in providing the ideal preparation and training necessary for entry into any of the world’s top universities. In fact, in the past decade, a significant number of their graduates have successfully entered the very universities listed above. KYUEM’s academic achievements through their students over the years have proven their success in A-Levels teaching expertise.

The A-Level programmes offered at KYUEM are rigorous and in-depth. On top of that, the faculty is made up of teachers whom are all UK A-level specialists and are highly qualified. KYUEM practises learner-centred, holistic education at all times. The emphasis is on quality learning. As a specialist institution, KYUEM only offers Cambridge AS and A-level examinations, which allows them to thoroughly focus on the curriculum and help students achieve success.

If you are interested to know more about KYUEM, click on the link below to get more information!

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