My personal opinion is as follows ...

If you can enter local university, go for it; gain local degree in accounting first, secure MIA membership first; then "baru" take the profession course, as these professional course is not cheap and not easy to get passed.

Additionally, you ask yourself, whether you are top student or at least above average ++. If not, don't take risk, and waste your time to resit those professional course's paper. Secure a seat of MIA first, then earn money with your MIA membership and go for professional course.

Again, in future, you might change your mind, as the world is not only accounting, and there are many many many others.

Conclusion:

1) If you are eligible to local university, then go for it
2) If your family income is not above average, got for local university, as it is cheaper, and you can experience campus life.
3) If you are not top student or least above average ++, then go for local university, don't take risk. And you might say, you still young enough to take risk; but, why need to do that, as the world is not only accounting, and there are many many many others.
4) You must consider you capability, and try within shorter time to secure MIA member (if you aim is Malaysia Accountant), and from this point, expand your view to professional course or other fields (not necessary accounting field)

Good luck.

Nowadays, all young people have their ambitions, which is good. But, most of them are too ambitious, without considering their own capability as well as risk, time wasted. Only see the glamour name of chartered. If you are "hang" half-way, if don't anything, no degree, no chartered, no money. Conclusion, at that time you 'baru' re-think your future, then it is too late, yes, really too late.

Just be pessimistic a bit, say 3 years down the road, you still :hang" half-way at your professional course, and at that time recession time come in (who knows?), you ending with "apa pun tarak".

Secure something first. A bird in the hand (degree) is worth a dinosaur in the bush (chartered accountant).

This post has been edited by wfwong: Jan 16 2011, 11:53 AM

Yes, TARC is different, as you can read that, although you do not have a pass in ACCA, you still have advanced diploma. My main point is for those who straight away start their engine in LCCI / CAT => ACCA paper 1 ... until the end. Should they fail half-way, meaning "apa pun tarak" ... LCCI + CAT is useless, ACCA half-way is no value. Therefore, it is advisable to grab a thing first, like degree in accounting (like the thread starter wondering ACCA or Degree) or TARC Adv Diploma. TARC Adv Diploma is specifically designed for ACCA course, as after that you are required to take, if not mistaken, 4 final subjects only.