Should you get a UK qualification or a Malaysian one? Will it make a difference?One of the most discussed topics among students is studying abroad or locally, with some claiming that studying in a prestigious overseas institution will impress employers and help them get a higher salary than their peers who could only afford to study in Malaysia. Studying abroad is usually seen as a symbol of intelligence and calibre as most Malaysians tend to perceive UK degrees are superior to local degrees.<img class="fr-dib" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/76962/5b0618f26c3f7.jpg" style="width: 100%;"><h2>Wholesome experience</h2>The argument behind this idea is that studying in the UK can provide a more wholesome experience for students as they get to explore a different educational environment, gain a world-class education, be exposed to a wide range of opportunities and different styles of teaching, and interact with people from different backgrounds.Every graduate is concerned with their potential salary. Hence, they work towards getting the most expensive education, preferably in the UK, without researching whether it will really land them a high salary or a good position in the future. But does paying more for education mean a higher salary in the future?<img class="fr-dib" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/76962/5b0618f28566b.jpg" style="width: 100%;"><hr><h2>The perception of obtaining an international degree</h2>According to the QS Global Employer Survey Report, out of 10,000 companies surveyed, 80% deliberately hired graduates who have studied abroad. This is probably because obtaining an international degree is seen as a 'higher standard', especially if it is from a university or region that specialises in a particular field, such as studying culinary arts in France.What students say<img class="fr-dib" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/76962/5b0618f298d01.jpg">Emilie Ronald from the US studied a bachelor's degree in Paris and master's in London – Image via Fast CompanyStudying abroad also gives you the opportunity to meet people of different nationalities with unique perspectives that can mould your point of view. An interview by Fast Company mentions Ronald's thoughts and experiences on studying abroad. This is what she had to say: "I think this definitely gives me an edge and interesting stories and experiences to share—giving me a leg up on someone I would otherwise be on par with."<img class="fr-dib" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/76962/5b0618f2aa966.jpg">Steve Geinitz from the US pursued his PhD in Switzerland – Image via Fast CompanyGeinitz, who pursued his studies in Switzerland also mentioned: "Getting away from what you have always known and interacting with people from other parts of the world forces you to look at the world from someone else's point of view. Not only does this help to be able to communicate more effectively, it helps to learn how to empathize more readily."<hr><h2>More competent in the working field</h2>Additionally, studying in the UK can help you brush up on the English language and even pick up different languages, making you more competent when looking for jobs. Perhaps even more so if you've graduated from an institution that is either ranked one of the top in the world or that have produced graduates who have contributed tremendously in the industry. Imagine if your employer found out that you studied in the same university as Bill Clinton!<img class="fr-dib" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/76962/5b0618f2bd722.jpg" style="width: 100%;"><hr><h2>Better work performance</h2>Jobstreet.com confirms that overseas graduates earn approximately 12% more than local graduates in the private sector, as cited by The New Sunday Times. They attributed this to the communication skills, open-mindedness, adaptability and confidence of the overseas graduates. The executive director of the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF), Shamsuddin Bardan seconded the statistics and emphasised that overseas graduates generally perform better than their counterparts who studied in Malaysia. The heart of the matter is the mastery of the English language.In a separate article by Forbes, a new research by PhD candidate Erik van 't Klooster at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) has acknowledged that studying abroad makes one more employable.<img class="fr-dib" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/76962/5b0618f2cf7ab.jpg" style="width: 100%;">But what if you studied at the most esteemed university, received the best education and did an internship at the richest oil company, yet your skills are similar to those who didn't accomplish all of these? In other words, we would like to stress that not all graduates from Harvard became a Zuckerberg. While the university has earned its streak of awards and rankings and produced highly successful graduates, it will still require your initiative to learn.<hr><h2>No difference in hiring rate</h2>Contrary to the points above, a research done by The Straits Times points out that it makes no difference to employers whether students have obtained their qualifications overseas or locally. The survey shows that three in four of the 214 companies are not biased towards those with an overseas degree. They also rate both kinds of graduates as having the same level of intelligence and hardworking attitude.In another study by Hoo et al., the authors' findings indicate that Malaysian employers generally hire local and overseas graduates at the same rate, with perhaps only 1% – 2% more overseas than local graduates.With contradicting conclusions from various sources, let's get back to the million-dollar question: does a UK qualification guarantee better pay in Malaysia?<img src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/76962/5b0618f30bf3e.jpg" style="width: 100%;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">All the sources, when compared side by side, come to an agreement: the crux of the matter is the quality of the graduate. Obtaining a degree locally or abroad will not make much of a difference if students don't take advantage of the opportunity to grow and leverage the global experience. Your qualification may get you the upper hand at a job interview, but eventually it still boils down to your soft skills, experiences and personality. Those who have earned a local degree could be more competent than those with a UK degree. The University of Oxford will just be a name printed on your certificate if you don't actually have the skills needed to accomplish the job. Hence, obtaining a UK qualification only makes a difference in your pay if you perform better than your peers of the same level.

Should you get a UK qualification or a Malaysian one? Will it make a difference?  One of the most discussed topics among students is studying abroad or locally, with some claiming that studying in a prestigious overseas institution will impress employers and help them get a higher salary than their peers who could only afford to study in Malaysia. Studying abroad is usually seen as a symbol of intelligence and calibre as most Malaysians tend to perceive UK degrees are superior to local degrees.

Does a UK Qualification Guarantee Better Pay in Malaysia?

Of all the countries and regions in the world, the United Kingdom perhaps holds the most charm to Malaysian students in terms of pursuing their higher education. <a href="https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/sfr247/figure-11">Studies conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)</a> show that more and more students are going to the UK to continue their studies. In fact, <a href="https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Research--Policy/Statistics/International-student-statistics-UK-higher-education">according to the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)</a>, Malaysia is one of the top countries outside of the EU to send students to the UK for higher education. The UK university programmes are so popular among Malaysians that over the last few decades, UK branch campuses have popped up in our country. Even local private universities offer twinning programmes with various universities in the UK.&nbsp;We&rsquo;re sure you have some questions, like what are twinning programmes? What is a 2+1 programme? How is it different to, say, the 1+2 programme? What do all these numbers even mean? Don&rsquo;t worry! In this article, Afterschool.my will brief you on the types of twinning programmes offered in Malaysia in detail.&nbsp;<hr /><h2>What is a twinning programme?</h2><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/76961/5b06207b240d2.jpg" />Well, it&rsquo;s pretty much in its name: &lsquo;twinning&rsquo;, that is, when two universities team up and give you the best of both worlds. You get to study in one country at a time or throughout your degree&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s in the UK or home sweet home&mdash;and you&rsquo;ll be conferred a degree from that UK university by the end of it!&nbsp;UK twinning programmes are offered by local private universities that have formed partnerships with UK universities such as Brickfields Asia College (BAC) and Taylor&rsquo;s University, as well as UK universities that have established campuses in Malaysia such as the University of Nottingham and the University of Southampton.&nbsp;<hr /><h2>The types of twinning programmes in Malaysia</h2>In Malaysia, twinning programmes offered by higher learning institutions are typically denoted by digits e.g. &lsquo;2+1&rsquo; or &lsquo;3+0&rsquo;. The digits essentially refer to the number of years you spend studying in a country.&nbsp;For example, the &lsquo;2+1&rsquo; twinning programme means that you would spend two years studying in Malaysia and one year in the UK. Therefore, the &lsquo;3+0&rsquo; programme means that you complete all three years of your degree in Malaysia while still obtaining the qualifications of a UK university.&nbsp;<hr /><h2>Which one is right for you?</h2><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/76961/5b06207b48a24.jpg" />Before making a decision on which twinning programme is best for you, let&rsquo;s take a closer look at each of them:&nbsp;&gt;&gt; 2+1 (2 years in Malaysia + 1 year in the UK)The 2+1 programme is one of the most popular UK twinning programmes among Malaysians as it gives students a chance to study in Malaysia for two years before completing the final year of their degree in the UK. If you&rsquo;re keen on studying in the UK but you want to save up before going abroad, then this programme is for you. The credits that you accumulate in the first two years of your degree and the modules covered can be transferred so that you can continue the rest of your studies in the UK. By saving up enough cash to take with you to the UK, you can get the full experience of living there and enjoy the vibrant activities alongside your degree Instead of having to survive on a penny-pinching way of living.&nbsp;Universities in Malaysia that offer the 2+1 UK twinning programme include BAC, Taylor&rsquo;s University, and HELP University.&nbsp;&gt;&gt; 3+0 (3 years in Malaysia + 0 years in the UK)If you&rsquo;re on a tight budget but you still want to obtain a UK degree, then you can opt for the 3+0 programme. This programme is perhaps the least expensive option out of all the twinning programmes. The average cost of the 3+0 programme is RM50,000 (in total, not annually!). You will complete the three years of your degree in the comfort of your home country surrounded by all the things you&rsquo;re familiar with and be closer to home with your long-time friends and family, and you&rsquo;ll earn yourself a degree straight from the UK university.&nbsp;Universities in Malaysia that offer the 3+0 twinning programme include SEGi University, KDU University College and Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.&nbsp;&gt;&gt; 1+2 (1 year in Malaysia + 2 years in the UK)Though not all universities with twinning programmes offer a third option, select universities do have a 1+2 twinning programme where you can spend the first year studying in Malaysia and complete the rest of your degree in the UK. The credits that you accumulate in the first year of your degree and the modules covered can be transferred so that you can continue the rest your studies in the UK.&nbsp;This may cost a bit more than the 2+1 or 3+0 programme as you&rsquo;ll be spending a longer time in the UK, but hey, it&rsquo;s a fast-track option if you&rsquo;re eager to get there! It is still definitely cheaper than doing your degree in its entirety in the UK. One year of thrifty spending will do wonders to your bank account. Though this programme requires you to study in Malaysia only for the first year, it provides a guiding hand before you set off for your independent life in the UK.&nbsp;Universities in Malaysia that offer the 1+2 UK twinning programme include BAC, SEGi University and KDU University College.&nbsp;<hr /><h2>A costly affair?</h2><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/76961/5b06207b7cd1e.jpg" />For Malaysian students who may feel that they&rsquo;re not ready to move halfway across the world for the whole of their degree, a twinning programme can be a good alternative. Twinning programmes appeal to many Malaysians also because of its affordability. You basically get the same type of education here in Malaysia that you would in the UK at a considerably cheaper price. The average cost of studying in a world-renowned UK university&mdash;bear in mind that this includes tuition fees and cost of living&mdash;is RM150,000 per year. Compare that with the cost of twinning programmes here in Malaysia, which is an average of RM50,000. Whether you choose to do the 1+2 programme or 2+1 programme, spending even a bit of time in Malaysia before continuing the rest of your degree in the UK can make a big difference in the cost compared to completing all three years in the UK.&nbsp;

Discover the types of UK twinning programmes in Malaysia—learn how you can study part locally and part in the UK for a global degree.

Types of UK Twinning Programmes in Malaysia

Can you apply for PTPTN if you're in a 1+3, 3+0 or even a 2+1 twinning programme? 

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Does a UK Qualification Guarantee Better Pay in Malaysia?

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