Why Study Science and Information Technology at UTP

The year 1997 was an eventful year that saw numerous, yet priceless milestones reached. J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was published taking the world by storm, setting the stage for a global brand and near cult following. The best chess player the world has ever known, Garry Kasparov, obtained an unfortunate title by becoming the first world champion to lose a match to a computer under standard time controls, succumbing to IBM’s Deep Blue, a landmark for Artificial Intelligence. Another intellectual lodestar that stamped its mark in 1997? Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) was established on January 10th of that year. Fast forward two decades, and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) has made quantum leaps and finds itself on the forefront of academia not only in Malaysia, but the world. While many are fully aware of Universiti Teknologi Petronas’ accomplishments in the field of engineering, a substantial number are unaware of the other exemplary courses offered by UTP or its advantages. As such, today we will tackle that very subject, and give you reasons as to why you should study science and information technology at Universiti Teknologi Petronas.

 Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS(UTP) Intake 2019

A Variety of Courses

Job search website juggernaut CareerCast conducted a study in 2017 to decipher what the most in-demand jobs of the year were, using data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The result? Four out of the top 9 jobs that occupied the list were technology or IT related, from data scientists to information system analysts. Many universities have shuffled their resources and focus to accommodate this upheaval in the career market. Universiti Teknologi Petronas however, has not, as the institution’s focus has been perpetual in the field. The two Bachelor of Technology courses on offer are:

• Bachelor of Technology (Hons) Business Information Systems 
• Bachelor of Technology (Hons) Information and Communication Technology 

Both of the above courses are infused with most up-to-date syllabi available to ensure Universiti Teknologi Petronas graduates are some of the most employable ones in the field. Covering subjects such as database management systems, programming, software engineering and more, each graduate will be imbued with not only exhaustive technological knowhow, but the courses will also be melded with business-oriented knowledge to further complement a Universiti Teknologi Petronas graduate’s command of the current economic climate.

Furthermore, Universiti Teknologi Petronas offers two Bachelor of Science courses:

• Bachelor of Science (Hons) Applied Chemistry 
• Bachelor of Science (Hons) Applied Physics 

Both of these applied science courses involve advanced subject matter that go well beyond the norm, all done in an effort to ensure the mastery of each and every Universiti Teknologi Petronas student, as well as provide them with the best launchpad to propel their future careers. Students who take up Applied Chemistry can major in either Petrochemistry, Sustainable chemistry or Nanotechnology while those who opt for Applied Physics can take up special topics in their area of interest, either Oil and Gas Exploration, Renewable Energy or Nanotechnology. Carefully curated, these topics and majors all reflect the current needs and wants of the job market, not only locally, but overseas as well.

From Your First Step, to Your Last, UTP Has You Covered

Our current Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Razak once said, “Having a degree today is not enough”. With the job market more saturated than it has ever been, his words have never rang as true as they have now. A degree is no longer sufficient to guarantee a job, even in the field of science and technology, and it’s up to students to gain that edge over their competitors. Many see postgraduate options as the key to this ever-evolving riddle, and in this respect Universiti Teknologi Petronas has prepared well as their postgraduate options are both extensive and compelling. Their postgraduate programmes in the field of science and technology include:

• MSc in Information Technology
• Master of Science (MSc)
• PhD in Information Technology
• PhD of Science

Whether a student chooses to go down the technology route, or take the road less travelled and trot down the science pathway upon completion of their bachelor’s degree, students can choose to pursue their master’s and PhD studies in either of the fields at Universiti Teknologi Petronas. This is of course on top of the fact that Universiti Teknologi Petronas also offers Foundation programmes:

• Foundation (Science stream) 
• Foundation (Technology stream) 

Students are often left in a pickle after completing a course, the thought of having to pursue the next level of their education at a different university, possibly restarting the cycle of adaptation and making life unnecessarily arduous. Students who choose to study Science & Technology at Universiti Teknologi Petronas will face no such dilemma, with their path clearly paved out and there for all to see, being able to start with a Foundation, continue on to a bachelor’s degree, then a master’s and finally a PhD. This permits them to channel their energy and concentrate solely on their respective courses, catalysing excellence.

The No.1 Private University in Malaysia

While many institutions try to lay claim to the elusive title of the premier private institution in Malaysia, in an already congested academic landscape, Universiti Teknologi Petronas has secretly held it aloft for a stretch of many years, adding to their burgeoning collection of accolades. The 2017 SETARA ratings saw Universiti Teknologi Petronas become one of only 3 private institutions to be awarded the full 6-Stars, joining the Fab Five of UM, UPM, USM, UTM and UKM, alongside Monash University Malaysia and International Medical University (IMU).  Universiti Teknologi Petronas was awarded an additional 5-stars, on this occasion by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). Having also been ranked #101 in the QS Asian University Rankings 2017/18, UTP has clearly cemented its place at the summit. While their engineering courses have also been highly lauded, a lesser known fact is that UTP’s Computer Science & Information Systems courses were ranked in the top 300 by QS’s World University Rankings by Subject 2018, a clear indication of their consistency and excellence; something  a future student can expect when taking up Science and IT course at Universiti Teknologi Petronas.

World-Class Facilities

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) facilities are truly world-class and all-encompassing, aimed to cover every need a budding student will find popping up. Some of the facilities found at Universiti Teknologi Petronas include:

Teaching and Research Laboratories

Erected and maintained to ensure efficient delivery of academic lessons and promote cutting edge research projects.

Sports and Recreation Facilities

Some of the amenities found in Universiti Teknologi Petronas include:

• A swimming pool
• Football field
• Futsal court
• Sepaktakraw court
• Basketball court
• Tennis court
• Volleyball court
• Rugby court
• Squash court
• Badminton court
• Netball court
• Gymnasium

Health Services

Students at Universiti Teknologi Petronas are well taken care of, so much so, that UTP has its own health centre, from which the medical personnel provide emergency and routine health services 24/7.

Others

There are 19 different restaurants/cafes found in and around the Universiti Teknologi Petronas that give students a headache when it comes to choosing what to have for lunch, as well a range of ATMs of different banks and a laundry service.

Universiti Teknologi Petronas has established itself as a premier institution in Malaysia. This is fact. However, with much of the focus centred around their engineering courses, perhaps more attention should be given towards the brilliant science and technology courses offered by Universiti Teknologi Petronas. With recognition being bestowed upon by QS and ranking in the top 300 in the world for the subject, a clear and concise pathway from foundation to PhD, a well-rounded education and facilities galore, no one is betting against Universiti Teknologi Petronas.