Another popular loan aside from PTPTN is the Pinjaman Pendidikan Boleh Ubah (PPBU). PPBU slightly differs from PTPTN whereby it only provides financial assistance studying in the selected fields except for medicine and aviation. You can read more about the two differences here PPBU v PTPTN: Which One is Better? The purpose of Bank Rakyat establishing PPBU is to assist students with poorer financial backgrounds to pursue their studies in higher education.

What it is

PPBU is only offered to students studying Skills Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Professional, Master’s Degree, and Doctorate (PH.D) - Image via outofthesandbox.com

PPBU is offered to students pursuing tertiary level education from Skills Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Professional, Master’s Degree, and Doctorate (PH.D). Its aim is to aid the social and economic development of Malaysians by enabling bright but needy students to receive undergraduate education at local Public OR Private Higher Learning Institutions and Training Institutes in the country on a full-time basis.

What are the Minimum Requirements?

PPBU has a specific CGPA score that is required for every course in order to apply for this loan - Image via SELECCIÓN DE LA HUERTA DIGITAL on Flipboard.com

For PPBU , their requirements are  very specific, broken down into general and specific, based on the level of study you are currently at:

General Requirements

• Malaysian citizen
• NOT less than 18 years old during application and acceptance of the study offer.
• NOT exceeding 30 years old upon graduation for Malaysia Skills Certificate, Diploma, Professional Qualification and Bachelors Degree.
• NOT exceeding 45 years upon graduation for Masters Degree, Doctorate & PhD.
• Confirmation of admission from the public OR private University OR Training Centre.
• Applicants must have/create a savings account with Bank Rakyat with a minimum of RM100 account balance.
• Only fields of studies which are recognized by the Public Services Department (JPA) / Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) / Malaysian Vocational Training Council (NVTC) / Government Agencies (Malaysia) concerned and acknowledged by the Board of Trustees of YBR.

Specific Requirements

• For Doctorate / PHD the qualified applicants must hold a Masters Degree qualification with CGPA of 3.00 and above OR a Bachelor’s Degree with a CGPA of 3.75 and above. Duration of study: 3 years or 6 semesters. 
• For Masters Degree, applicant must hold a Bachelor’s Degree with CGPA of 3.00 and above.Duration of study: 2 years or 4 semesters. 
• For Degree, applicants must hold a Diploma OR STPM (Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia) with CGPA 3.0 and above OR – STAM equivalent to STPM OR Matriculation with at least CGPA 3.00 and above. Duration of study: 4 years or 8 semesters. 
• For Diploma, the applicant must have SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) qualification with a minimum grade of 5As. Duration of study: 3 years or 6 semesters. 
• For Professional Qualification applicant must hold a Diploma or Degree with a CGPA of 3.00 and above. Duration of study: 2 years or 4 semesters. 
• For Skills Diploma (Diploma Kemahiran), applicants should have attained or currently holding Level 2 Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) qualification and passed SPM (with 2 credits and passed Bahasa Malaysia). Duration of study: 3 years. 
• For Skills Certificate (Sijil Kemahiran), applicants should have passed SPM, with a mandatory pass in Bahasa Malaysia and at least 2 credits in any other subjects. Duration of study Level 1 to Level 3. 

What courses do they cover?

PPBU does not accept applications from students pursuing in medicine or piloting courses -Image via nytimes.com

 Priority is given to the following fields of study

• Accounting
• Banking
• Business Management
• Human Resources
• Economy
• Media Communication
• Law
• Actuarial Science

However, applicants involved in other fields may apply as well, as PPBU does sponsor all other courses, with the only two exceptions being medicine and piloting.

How much do they sponsor?

Unlike PTPTN it is given according to your financial background, PPBU gives their maximum amounts according to the level of your studies - Image via pexels.com

PPBU gives out maximum amounts based on the level of study you apply for:

• PhD: Up to RM55,800 for 3 years (RM800/Monthly) 
• Masters: Maximum of RM12,000 annually (Fee+Allowance)
• Bachelor’s Degree: Maximum of RM9,500 annually (Only RM6,500 for UiTM & Polytechnics)
• Professional Qualification: RM28,500 for 2 years (Fee+Allowance)
• Diploma: Maximum of RM7,500 annually (UiTM & Polytechnics only RM6,500)
• Skills Diploma: Up to RM30,000 for 3 years (RM400 Monthly/fee)
• Skills Certificate: Up to RM30,000 for 2 years (RM400 monthly/fee).

What exemptions are there? Will I have to pay the whole amount back?

For those who did very well in their studies which is getting a CGPA of more than 3.75, they will be exempted from paying their PPBU loan - Image via rvshare.net

PPBU has an extensive breakdown of discounts given to those who do well. Below is the list of ranges of CGPA achieved compared to the discount you will receive.

What about the repayment? How do I do that? When do I have to do that?

Only those who have been accepted to pursue their postgraduate studies are allowed to postpone their loan payment - Image via tuition.io

 Upon graduation, students are required to submit their full academic transcripts along with a letter to the office of graduation YBR through e-mail or post. Repayment to PPBU is done via two methods, namely either through internet banking (i-rakyat) or in any branch of Bank Rakyat. Postponement of repayment will only be allowed if the student is accepted to pursue their studies at a higher level and for approved reasons which are subject to the discretion of Yayasan Bank Rakyat.

How to apply?

The following is a chart that explains how to apply for the PPBU loan - Image via yayasanbankrakyat.com.my

To apply for PPBU, please click on our Yayasan Bank Rakyat (Pembiayaan Pendidikan Boleh Ubah) 2018 page

Dates

TIER 1: Diploma, Vocational/Skills DIploma, Skills Certificate (April 2 - June 29, 2018)

TIER 2: Degree, Professional Qualification, Master's & PhD (July 2 - September 28, 2018)