This would be your One Stop Frequently Asked Question(FAQ) Center for Education Essentials.Topics ranging from General FAQ, Loan and Scholarship FAQ, Course Related FAQ and more are available here. The reason this FAQ Center was build because some of the question are being asked almost every time when there's a new intake or after major examination ends. We, with the help from the community in Lowyat.Net are hopeful that this One Stop FAQ Center would serve its purpose in clearing some doubt which you might encounter or have in mind.

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5. General Curiosity Frequently Asked Question
6. Grading/Marking Frequently Asked Question
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This post has been edited by Critical_Fallacy: Jun 17 2015, 01:58 AM

LAN/MQA FAQ

What is LAN/MQA? http://www.lan.gov.my
MQA(Malaysians Qualification Agency/Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia) or formerly known as LAN(National Accreditation Board/Lembaga Akreditasi Negara) is a body which functioned as listed below:-

MQA
a) to execute MQF as Malaysia qualification reference point
b) to develop criteria and standard for national reference for qualification recognition with the cooperation with relevant bodies/party
c) to ensure quality of the Higher Education Institution and its courses
d) to approve accreditation to the courses which have fulfilled the criteria and standard given
e) to ease the recognition and qualification standardization
f) to handle the Malaysian Qualifications Register(MQR)

LAN
a) To formulate policies on the standard and quality control of the courses of study and certificates, diplomas and degrees.
b) To set, monitor, review and oversee the standard and quality courses of study and for accreditation of certificates, diplomas and degrees.
c) To determine the level of achievement for the national language and the compulsory subjects specified in the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 (Act 555) as prerequisites for the award of certificates, diplomas and degrees
d) To advise and make recommendations to the Minister of Higher Education for his approval of courses of study to be conducted by the Private Higher Educational Institutions with regards to the suitability of arrangements relating to the educational facilities relevant to the courses of study and the standard and quality assurance of the courses of study.



I've checked in LAN/Higher Institution website for the courses which I've interested in. What are approved, provisional accreditation and full accreditation means?

approved - means the course have been approved to have fulfilled the minimum requirement to conduct a course and basically have a license to serve that course to the public. JPA does not recognize degrees from this category.

provisional accreditation - means the assessed group of students have fulfilled the professional requirement as required by LAN and the governing body of that profession, but it is still not enough to represent the entire course. this is awarded prior to full accreditation. JPA will recognize this degree IF u're from that particular batch/group of graduates.

full accreditation - means the course have been certified to fulfill the ENTIRE professional requirement as required by LAN and the governing body of that profession. JPA will recognize this degree.

I'm interested to know how LAN works. Mind to share?

Help! My course are not accredited. Any damages for me in working industry?

Getting to a course with accreditation might benefits you later if you plan to works with government agencies. If you're not bother to work with government agencies, there is not much problem. But take note that some company prefer to hire LAN accredited student because they have set a benchmark for that programmes

How they actually evaluate the accreditation and recognition, for example, if the LAN and JPA accredited and recognized after the 4th batch of students, what happen to previous batch student's degree? accredited and recognized as the 4th batch students, or considered not recognized?

Once the course is approved and accredited, current and future students will get the recognition throughout Malaysia. However, it does not apply to the previous batch student. During the accreditation assessment, they want to see ALL works done by the current AND previous students. And they weren't kidding about ALL works. Students that were granted accreditation during our times were those who had ALL their works. those who have less than 70% of their works (especially the final year dissertation/project) were not given accreditation.

So if you've graduated by an unaccredited course, keep all your works. I mean EVERYTHING!


How long they assess it for one time, before proceeding to list it succeed or failure? And is there any time limitation for the accreditation purpose?

The accreditation process usually takes between 2 to 4 years for a first time accreditation. That's AFTER the 1st graduates. It's not about bureaucracy, but more on waiting for the next batch to graduate and be assessed, and the batch after that and so on until they're satisfied.

Once a full accreditation process is awarded, it will be valid for 5 years (commonly). Reaccreditation process is shorter. Usually takes between 6 months to a year.

This post has been edited by stevanistelrooy: Jan 5 2008, 08:41 PM

Scholarships and Loans FAQ

What is PTPTN? http://www.ptptn.gov.my

National Higher Educational Fund or Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional Malaysia (PTPTN) is established to provide student facing financial constraint with study loan for those who opted to study locally either in IPTA or in IPTS. Availability of study loan entitlement differs with few criteria taking into consideration such as financial background of the applicant's family, courses and whether it is IPTA or IPTS. Some of the criteria for the application:-

1. Must be Malaysian Citizen
2. Full time student in his/her course whether in IPTA/IPTS
3. Fulfill credits requirement in SPM
4. No other sponsors

Please visit the PTPTN site first if you have any queries, as most of the answer can be found there. If you have any enquiries which was not listed, you can ask at Lowyat.Net PTPTN thread where helpful members will help to clear your doubt.

Is there any other option for me other than PTPTN?

You can find banks which offer study loans or applying to scholarship such as Yayasan Telekom Malaysia, JPA or many more. You can find more of this at Scholarship thread

How do I apply for PTPTN?

Currently, it is reverted back to the manual OMR form. The online application have been taken down until further notice. You will need to purchase setem hasil as well in order to complete it.

How much do I need to open a SSPN account?

RM20.

What is the minimum and maximum study loan for IPTA and IPTS?

Foundation:-
IPTS:-RM5000-RM8000 (*RM8000 need confirmation)

Diploma:-
IPTA:- RM1000-RM5000 per annum
IPTS:- RM3500-RM5000 per annum

Degree:-
IPTA:- RM1100-RM7000 per annum. 3 type of loan: Full loan RM 6500, partial loan RM3000 and lastly varies from RM1100 to RM1800 depending on course.
IPTS:- RM16,000 per annum exception for some some course such as medicine/pharmacy/optometry/nursing/allied health RM20,000 per annum. RM30000 is available for some medicine course such as Doctor of Medicine in UCSI. There are 3 types of available loan:- full loan RM16,000 , partial loan RM13000 and lastly RM10,000 all depending on few factors.

*All science stream student eligible RM500 per annum not inclusive of administration cost

What are the things that I need to prepared for PTPTN application?

Get the manual OMR form ready, and certified by the approved personnel. (refer below)
Get ready a copy of your photostated bank account page (the one which you can see your name, and account number)
Setem Hasil
And make sure that the manual OMR form that are in your hand neat, not torn,not dirty or not too much error or it will be rejected by PTPTN.

Who can certified the form?

English:-

1.All witnesses much be a citizen of Malaysia and residing in Malaysia.
2.All Government Grade 3, Group A and above under the Ministry, Federal and State Department, District Office, IPTA, School and others.
3.Commissioner of Oath and Justice of the Peace
4.Parliamentarian or State Assemblyman and Senator
5.Penggawa,Penghulu,Head of Community,Sidang, Mukim Development Officer, JKKK Chairman
6.For Sabah and Sarawak - Ketua Kaum, Ketua Anak Negeri, Kapitan, Pemanca, Sabah Park Officer
7.IPTS officer which have been given written permission from PTPTN
8.Police officers of the rank of ASP and above, Military officers of the rank of captain or equivalent and above

Bahasa Malaysia:-

1.Semua saksi hendaklah warganegara Malaysia yang bermastautin di Malaysia
2.Semua pegawai kerajaan Gred 3, Kumpulan A dan ke atas di Kementerian, Jabatan Persekutuan dan Negeri, Pejabat Daerah, IPTA, Sekolah dan lain lain.
3.Pesuruhjaya Sumpah dan Jaksa Pendamain
4.Wakil Rakyat dan Senator
5.Penggawa, Penghulu, Ketua Masyarakat, Sidang, Pegawai Pembangunan Mukim,Pengerusi JKKK
6.Untuk Sabah dan Sarawak - Ketua Kaum, Ketua Anak Negeri, Kapitan, Pemanca, pegawai Taman Sabah
7.Pegawai-pegawai IPTS yang mendapat kebenaran bertulis daripada PTPTN
8.Pegawai Polis yang berpangkat ASP dan ke atas atau Pegawai Tentera yang berpangkat Kapten atau setaraf dengannya dan ke atas.

This post has been edited by stevanistelrooy: Jul 4 2008, 02:38 AM

JPA FAQ

JPA Scholarships and Loans

UNDERGRADUATES

Tajaan Pengajian Ijazah Luar Negara (Overseas Scholarship)

i. Only offered to SPM leavers. STPM or any diploma holders could also apply, but only their SPM results will be considered. This is handled as case-by-case basis.
ii. Only offered to prestigious universities.
iii. Only offered to critical courses (course/fields that are currently critical to the development of the country, eg: medicine.)
iv. Candidates offered the scholarship will be required to go through preparation courses (A-levels, International Baccalaureate, Japan prep etc) that are fully funded by JPA as part of the scholarship programme. These courses could be between 3 months to 2 years.
v. Official application is only opened after SPM results have been announced. Application is free, and can be done online.

Refer here for more information and contact.

Pinjaman Pengajian Ijazah Luar Negara (Overseas Loan)

i. Open to all Malaysian citizens under 25, with exceptions to those or their parents who have been blacklisted by JPA due to previous loan defaults.
ii. Only one member of the family is eligible at one particular time, so no siblings going with you.
iii. Have already enrolled to a course or at least have received an unconditional offer and made full preparations to depart.
iv. Loans are only offered to cover your university fees ONLY, subject to a maximum of RM200k. No living allowances, food, books or even flight tickets.
v. There are two types of overseas loans:
a. Pinjaman Khas Perubatan (Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy)
Those holding this loan can opt to work for the government for 10 years without having to pay back the loan.
b. Normal loan
No special treatment. You will have to pay back everything.
vi. Course selection is subject to JPA's recognition
vii. Official application is opened twice a year (according to overseas term starting dates):
a. 1 December until 28 February (Australia, New Zealand etc)
b. 1 June until 31 August (UK, Ireland, India, US etc)

Refer here for more detailed information on courses offered, special requirements on each courses and contact.

Tajaan Pengajian Dalam Negara (Local Scholarship)

i. Open to all Malaysian citizens under 24.
ii. Open to diploma or degree studies except educational courses (kursus pendidikan), part time programmes.
iii. Not open to those who did not fulfill the course requirements in the first place; those who have already enrolled to second year and above; those who've already hold a degree or postgraduate certificates; students who're still studying in a pre-university programme; and to those currently working.
iv. Offer is open to applicants planning to study in any IPTA or 3 IPTSs (MMU, UNITEN or UTP).

Refer here for more detailed information on courses offered, references and contact.

Pinjaman Pengajian Dalam Negara (Local Loans)

There are no more loans offered for local studies. For loans, refer to PTPTN.



This post has been edited by stevanistelrooy: Jan 6 2008, 09:50 AM

Local Higher Learning Institution and its website

List of Malaysia Higher Institution of Learning website:-

Public Higher Education Institution/IPTA:-

1. Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia (UDM) http://www.udm.edu.my
2. Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia @ International Islamic University (UIAM) http://www.iiu.edu.my
3. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia @ National University of Malaysia (UKM) http://www.ukm.my
4. Universiti Malaya @ University of Malaya (UM) http://www.um.edu.my
5. Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) http://www.umk.edu.my
6. Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) http://www.ump.edu.my
7. Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) http://www.unimap.edu.my
8. Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) http://www.ums.edu.my
9. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) http://www.unimas.my
10.Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) http://www.umt.edu.my
11.Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) http://www.upsi.edu.my
12.Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) http://www.upnm.edu.my
13.Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) http://www.upm.edu.my
14.Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia @ Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM) http://www.usim.edu.my
15.Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) http://www.usm.my
16.Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) http://www.utem.edu.my
17.Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) http://www.utm.my
18.Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) http://www.uitm.edu.my
19.Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) http://www.uthm.edu.my
20.Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) http://www.uum.edu.my


Private Higher Education Institution/IPTS:-

The list below are the one which have website stated with the domain .edu.my with an exception of few .com and website listed at MOHE IPTS list. Full list of IPTS can be retrieve here MOHE IPTS LIST together with email and phone number.


For list of Polytechnic/Politeknik , click HERE

For list of Community College/Kolej Komuniti, click HERE

This post has been edited by stevanistelrooy: Jan 5 2008, 10:41 PM

General FAQ


What is difference between compound campus, city campus and cyber campus?

compound campus
This is the common layout of Malaysian universities where the entire campus is situated in an area belonging to the university. most often this sort of layout are bordered with fencing. Everything inside their compound belongs to the university.

city campus
City campus doesn't have a compound per se, but rather a collection of buildings housing various different faculties scattered about in a city. It means they own the individual buildings, but not the land in between each universities. this is a common layout for UK universities.

cyber campus
Students can apply, register, attend class and interact with their professors and fellow students without ever setting foot on campus. All this can now be done through a web browser from your home or office.



Help! I lost my SPM certificate. What should I do?

Make a police report or Oath letter which contains information listed below:-
i.Full name that is used during the examination
ii.Old or New Identity Card number
iii.Date of Birth
iv.Center Code where you took your exam(nombor pusat) and your index number(angka giliran)
v.Name of the examination
vi.Name of school and year exam taken

If you are applying for a re-issuance of a new certificate via a representative or by postage, you will need those mentioned above. If you are applying yourself, you will need to present your Identity Card on the spot. To be on safe side, make a police report before you go to save you all the hassle.

Include a copy of the previous certificate if you have any for reference.
RM10 processing fees will be charged for each copy of the certificate that you are applying for.Payment can be made through Postal Order(Wang Pos) or Money Order (Kiriman Wang Pos) to PENGARAH PEPERIKSAAN. Individual cheque are not accepted.

*Malaysian Examinations Syndicate(Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia) will not issue a new certificate if any of the rules above are not fulfilled or there are incomplete/fake details submitted. Processing fees will not be return.

Refer here for more:- LPM Site

It will take a few days for the new certificate to be ready.

I am applying to a university/college. How do I certify the copies of my certificates?

You can certify the photocopies of your certificates by submitting your certificates and copies to an authorized person to certify copied transcripts. In Malaysia, the lowest person legal to authorize your certificates are Pegawai Kumpulan A, generally known as officers with degrees holding a higher position in a government department. But simply put, school headmasters/mistresses are the easiest to access.

However, certain universities may require a higher authorized person to certify your certificate copies. Usually they would ask so because of high rate of fraud when students are applying. In such case, you would need to seek the assistance of a solicitor or lawyer. They will certify the copies for a fee. You may also refer to the list under PTPTN FAQ.


How do I translate my certificates?

Similar to making certified copies, you first translate your certificates on a different sheet of paper, preferably typed following the format of the original as close as possible. You do not need to include the logo or graphics in the certificate, enough by substituting the word "School Logo" where the school logo should've been. After completing all the translations, bring the original certificate and the translated copies to your headmaster or any Pegawai Kumpulan A who could read both languages, and they will certify them as certified translation.


How do I regrade/remark/recheck my SPM/STPM paper?

You can request for a review of your exam papers at lembaga peperiksaan malaysia (LPM). to do that:

i. first, get the form called Borang Semak Semula SPM 2007. You can get this at most schools, jabatan pendidikan negeri, kaunter semak semula lembaga peperiksaan malaysia or online at http://www.moe.gov.my/lpm/

ii. fill in the form (duh?). include the stuff that is required in the form. this includes 2 envelopes with your own address with 50sen stamps.

iii. send in the form with a payment of RM50 per subject (wang pos, kiriman, bank draft only. no cash or personal cheques). address the recipient as Pengarah Peperiksaan.

iv. send it in to

Pengarah Peperiksaan,
Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia,
Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia,
Aras 8, Blok E 11,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62604 PUTRAJAYA.
(U.P. Unit Peperiksaan SPM)

You have 30 days after SPM results was announced to send it in. You will get the results within 3 months.

Clueless on CGPA for some course in Local Public Uni?

You can find it over http://www.quansheng.org/jifen.php

What is UPU?

Read http://www.mohe.gov.my/soalan_lazim_sub.ph...&subcode=SUB001




This post has been edited by stevanistelrooy: Jul 4 2008, 03:59 PM

Grading/Marking FAQ

What is CGPA?

CGPA is where everything boils down to in your studies. it stands for Cumulative Grade Point Average, hence CGPA, which is an accumulation of all your grade points divided to every single credit you take. CGPA is also the determining factor of whether you get to graduate with 1st class, 2nd class upper, 2nd class lower or 3rd class. However, the minimum point for each class differs from university to university. UTM for example classifies 1st class as 3.70 and above and 2nd class upper from 3.00 to 3.69. MMU on the other hand classifies 2nd class upper from 3.30 to 3.69.

What is calculated?

CGPA is calculated based on all subjects that u take. each subjects usually comes with a credit value. some less important subjects carry between 1 to 2 credits, more important ones carry 3 to 4, and the core subjects can carry between 5 to 8 credits each. Also, there are subjects categorized as "compulsory attendance only" (hadir wajib sahaja) which usually carry 0 credits. These subjects hold no value, but failing it (due to poor attendance or whatever) will still hold u down from graduating successfully.

How is it calculated?

For each subject that you've successfully taken, a grade will be issued after the final exam. These grades each carry a specific point value. Typically, A carries 4.00, B carries 3.00 and C carries 2.00. each of these points will be calculated based on the credit rating of each subject, and later summed up to give u your GPA for that particular semester. For example:

semester 1

subject M (6 credits): B = 3.00
subject N (2 credits): A = 4.00
subject O (3 credits): C = 2.00

(6 x 3.00) + (2 x 4.00) + (3 x 2.00) = 32 total grade point for 11 credits. hence, your GPA for semester 1 is:

32 / 11 = 2.91 GPA for sem 1. since this is ur first semester, ur GPA is also your CGPA.

semester 2

subject P (6 credits): A = 4.00
subject Q (3 credits): B = 3.00
subject R (3 credits): E = 0.00 (FAIL)
subject S (2 credits): B = 3.00

(6 x 4.00) + (3 x 3.00) + (3 x 0.00) + (2 x 3.00) = 39 total grade point for 14 credits. hence your GPA for semester 2 is:

39 / 14 = 2.79 GPA for sem 2

Now that this is your second semester, your CGPA will be calculated by combining the two. However, a direct average is wrong. CGPA is calculated NOT based on the average of GPAs per semester, but based on grade points per credit that you take. To calculate your CGPA based on the two semesters above:

[(total grade point for sem 1) + (total grade point for sem 2)] / total credit taken in all semesters

[(32) + (39)] / (11 + 14) = 2.84 CGPA



Now, let's try the next semester where u retake the failed subject:

semester 3

subject R (3 credits): A = 4.00 (REPEATED SUBJECT)
subject T (3 credits): B = 3.00
subject U (3 credits): B = 3.00
subject V (3 credits): B = 3.00

(3 x 4.00) + (3 x 3.00) + (3 x 3.00) + (3 x 3.00) = 39 total grade point for 12 credits. hence your GPA for semester 3 is:

39 / 12 = 3.25 GPA.

Now, how do you calculate your CGPA when you have a repeated subject? Here's the main rule: you recalculate the repeated subject by replacing the old grade with the new one. It means, in your CGPA calculation, you never failed your subject R, you actually scored A! Lets see what it looks like:

[(grade points for sem 1) + (grade points for sem 2 excluding the failed subject) + (grade points for sem 3)] / [(credit for sem 1) + (credit for sem 2 excluding the failed subject) + (credit for sem 3)]

[(32) + (39 - 0) + (39)] / [(11) + (14 - 3) + (12)] = 110 / 34 = 3.24 CGPA!

A lot of students made the mistake of including the failed subject into the calculation despite having repeated it. Here's what the wrong calculation usually looks like:



Implications

Wrong calculations would lead to students being afraid to fail, simply because the impression that failed subjects would drag the CGPA even further down. This is wrong. Repeating the failed subject replaces the old grades. In your CGPA, it is as if you've never failed before. Most students would simply accept a C- or D+, which is usually the minimum passing rate, in hope that they don't have to ever repeat the subject, and hopefully score more subjects in time.

Thing is, once you've got a D+/C-, it's very hard to catch up and drag your pointers up. I strongly advise students whom ultimately concerned for their grades to DARE to fail and repeat it again. Of course, certain subjects are big enough that repeating means u have to extend another semester. Well, if it means graduating between a 2nd class lower and a 2nd class upper, why not?

good luck!

Take note:- Not every University/College is practising it. See the spoiler below:-



this system seems unfair to the non-failers, isnt it?

now, lets address the most common misconception over this system. we are extremely conditioned to accept that failure is not an option, or fail = death since school. we even frown upon those who ever failed at something, anything. and those who've failed will carry with them a shoulder load of shame all their life. this is not a good environment to encourage learning.

this will only encourage people to find ways not to fail. some studied really hard, some studied smart and some cheated - all for the sake of not to fail. but that's missing the point entirely. we're talking about adult education, where people start to have more things to do other than study. the nature of tertiery education is independent learning, where a student is self motivated to learn, not bcoz the teacher's teaching or their parents says so.

the ability to fail and repeat the subject is an option previously unavailable in school. the cost of failing in school is simply unbearable. fail a subject, and u repeat the entire year. that's not very encouraging.

so in tertiery level education, u are given an opportunity to fail a particular subject and retake it in the future. yes, it does however come with several drawbacks:

i. subjects are not always available every semester. failing a particular subject offered only once a year would mean u'd have to wait several months before resitting the subject again.

ii. repeating a credit means paying the fees again. yes, u've paid for the previous credit that u've failed. but now u're retaking it again. so pay up!

iii. repeating would often mean extending ur studies. literally, u wont be graduating the same year as 1st year friends. it's kinda weird going to convocations where u dont know the rest of the graduates.

iv. learning with ur juniors might not be the same or as fun as learning with ur friends. but some guys find this a great way to get to know girls

This post has been edited by stevanistelrooy: Jan 5 2008, 08:59 PM

Law Studies FAQ

Nature of the legal profession

Being a lawyer is not a mere profession in the sense of completing the required task and earning an income for it. There are other important roles connected to the legal profession. According to Lord Denning, a lawyer is a social guardian. A lawyer has an extra responsibility in society because a lawyer would have the required training and knowledge to speak about social injustice and abuse of power.

Therefore, a lawyer is regarded as a social commentator. He is given the duty to ensure that the social values and rights are taken care of. Human rights and public rights would be issues that are of paramount importance to lawyers. It is a lawyer's endeavour to ensure the rights of the society will not be infringed especially by powerful individuals or the state and these are lawyers' responsibility to society.

Whenever any form of social injustice such as the oppression of labourer and citizens and the exploitation of any weaker section of the society occurs, it will be crucial that these form of injusice are corrected and be brought to the attention of the people and hopefully through the powers of media, it will be brought to the attention of the whole community.

Besides that, when any form of manipulation by the powerful occurs in a society, it is the lawyer's bounden duty to ensure that any form of such abuse of position and corruption be highlighted. These lines of argument are basically the 'supposed' reasonings why lawyers do what they do when there is any form of injustice and oppression in society especially when this injustice is committed for the achievement of self-interest by the powerful.


1.What are the steps to become a lawyer in Malaysia. (local and overseas universities graduates)

The local public university option for a law degree would be Universities like UM, UKM, UITM, UIA, and other Public Universities offering a law degree. The procedure to gain admission into these Universities are as follows :-

STPM/Matriculation -> Bachelor of Laws/LLB (4 yrs) -> chambering 3 months -> short call to the bar (limited right of audience to appear before the court in chambers) -> chambering further 6 months -> long call to the bar(full right of audience)

The pathway for NUS is apparently the same as local public universities with the exception of STPM where A levels of it's equivalent is recognised.

There is currently a local private university law degree (MMU) which is pending recognition. The procedure is as follows :-
STPM/A Levels/Foundation/other recognised qualification by the University -> Bachelor of Laws (4 yrs)
Once it has been recognised -> chambering 3 months -> short call to the bar (limited right of audience to appear before the court in chambers) -> chambering further 6 months -> long call to the bar (full right of audience)

The local External Law Degree mirrored against the University of London's External Law Degree is the Bachelor of Jurisprudence(External) from University Malaya. The route is the same as a foreign university route.

In order for a foreign law degree to be recognised, the scholar must obtain at least 3 credits in one sitting for the SPM Examination or its equivalent and also obtain at least 2 principal passes in one sitting for the STPM Examination or its equivalent and the qualification holder must use these results to enter into the law programme from the respective University. An exception to this would be the mature student entry route which would require the mature student to satisfy the abovementioned SPM requirement in addition to a minimum of 5 years proven working experience in the related field and also the special panel of the University admitting the mature student must declare that the mature student is suitable and proficient to follow the law programme and this must be done in concurrence with the Legal Profession Qualifying Board(hereinafter referred to as LPQB). Therefore, the mature route is subjected to the LPQB's discretion and it is best if the LPQB is contacted directly with regard to recognition of the relevant law degree. Once the abovementioned entry requirement is satisfied the route will be as follows :-

Recognised foreign law degrees (check with LPQB due to the list being frequently updated) -> CLP -> chambering 3 months -> short call to the bar (limited right of audience to appear before the court in chambers) -> chambering further 6 months -> long call to the bar (full right of audience)

*There is a requirement of a lower second class honours for University of London (External) Law graduates in gaining recognition for their degrees from the LPQB but the same rule does not apply to Internal Students. I have not received a confirmation about this as I am not aware of anyone with an internal degree obtaining anything lower than a lower second class.

What is right of audience?

A 'right of audience' is defined by the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 as:

'the right to exercise any of the functions of appearing before and addressing a court including the calling and examining of witnesses'. (Section 119)

In short, only lawyers with right of audience(subject to local regulations), officers of the court, witness and litigants in person are allowed in between the bar and the bench. However, those without right of audience are unable to exercise the powers granted by the right of audience as defined above. Therefore, this distinguishes someone with right of audience with other natural person.

The bar in this case is an imaginary bar though commonly used to refer the bar separating the public gallery. The bench would be the area judges sit.

CLP will most probably be replaced in the near future.


Pathway to become a Barrister-at-law of England and Wales

The stages to become a barrister is divided into two with the first being the academic stage and the second being the vocational stage. Successful completion of these two will entitle the qualification holder to be called to the English Bar. The law degree must be a recognised law degree so as to satisfy the academic stage .
Once the academic stage is completed, the candidate will then proceed to apply for the vocational stage. This is where the student would have to apply for a place with the 10 accredited providers of the Bar Vocational Course(hereinafter referred to as the BVC)(formerly the Bar Exams) and this is done during the final year of the law degree. The student is recommended to join one of the four Inns of Court once the student has made up his or her mind in becoming a barrister anytime during his or her law degree.
However, once the student is accepted into the BVC, the student will have to submit the application to be a student member of one of the Inns before 31st May of the year the BVC is commenced. Once the student completes successfully the BVC, the student will be entitled to be called to the English Bar (without any right of audience) as long as the student completes 12 Qualifying Sessions(Formerly known as Dining) with their respective Inn.
In order for a student to gain right of audience in England, the student must complete a minimum of 12 months pupillage contract as well as specified Continuing Professional Training.
Alternatively, should the barrister(considering that the student would have been called to the English Bar) decide to practice in Malaysia, the route would
be as follows :-
chambering 3 months -> short call to the bar (limited right of audience to appear before the court in chambers) -> chambering further 6 months -> long call to the bar (full right of audience)

Pathway to become a Barrister-at-Law of Dublin

The pathway is basically almost the same as the path to become an English Barrister except that the academic stage must be recognised by King's Inn(The Subjects required are different) in addition to sitting for an entrance examination prior to the candidate proceeding for the Bar examinations. Successful completion of the Bar examination would enable to student to be called to the Irish Bar. This is sufficient to practice in Malaysia as King's Inn, Dublin Barrister-at-Law is recognised by the LPQB.

Should the barrister decide to practice in Ireland, the barrister would then have to complete a minimum of 12 months of Devilling.

*Every qualified person must at least obtain a credit in BM prior to chambering else the qualified person will have to sit for the Bahasa Malaysia Qualifying Examination.

Legal Profession Qualifying Board Malaysia,
27th Floor,
Menara Tun Razak
Jalan Raja Laut,
50350 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: (603) - 2691 0054
Fax: (603) - 2691 1042
List of Universities and Qualifications recognised in Malaysia
Country Institutions and Qualifications
Malaysia

1. Universiti Malaya Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
2. Qualifying Board CLP
3 Institut Teknologi MARA ADIL
4 International Islamic University Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
5 Universiti Kebangsaan Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)

Singapore
1. University of Singapore Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
2. National University of Singapore Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
3 University of Malaya in Singapore Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)

United Kingdom
1. The Inner Temple Barrister-at-Law
2. The Middle Temple Barrister-at-Law
3. Gray's Inn Barrister-at-Law
4. Lincoln's Inn Barrister-at-Law
5. The Law Society Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature England

Australia*
1. Australian National University Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
2. University of Sydney Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
3. University of Adelaide Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
4. Monash University Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
5. University of Melbourne Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
6. University of Western Australia Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
7. Macquarie University Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
8. University of New South Wales Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
9. University of Queensland Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
10. University of Tasmania Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
11. University of Technology, Sydney Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
12. Bond University, Queensland Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
13. Murdoch University Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
14. Queensland University of Technology Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)

New Zealand*
1. University of Auckland Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
2. University of Centerbury Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
3. Victoria University of Wellington Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
4. University of Otago Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
5. University of Waikato Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)

Ireland
1. King's Inn, Dublin Barrister-at-Law


Common legal qualifications

LL.B = Legum Baccalaureus = Bachelor of Laws

Legum = plural of Lex
Lex = singular for law

LL.M = Legum Magister = Master of Laws

LL.D = Legum Doctor = Doctorate of Laws

J.D = Juris Doctor = Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctorate

BA in Jurisprudence = Bachelor of Arts in the Final Honour School of Jurisprudence

BA Law = Bachelor of Arts in the Final Honour School of Law

2.Since members of the law society of england and wales are by reference to http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/membership.html able to gain membership to the Malaysian bar, why doesn't anybody speak of this route. Is there a limitation to only solicitor work or due to Malaysia's fused system, can such a member of the law society also undertake advocate work in Malaysia if allowed membership to the Malaysian bar?

Yes they are able to but in order for one to be entered on the roll to become a solicitor in England, one will have to secure and complete the training contract and it is extremely competitive especially when one is not a British citizen or an EU citizen. Therefore, the preferable route is to become a Barrister-at-law as one will be able to be called to the bar prior to gaining a pupillage contract though being a barrister alone does not by itself confer automatic right of audience. I know a few Solicitors in England who is currently an Advocate and Solicitor in the High Court of Malaya and there is no limitation on their part in Malaysia. Even in England, after the enactment of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, the distinction between a Barrister and a Solicitor has been narrowed considerably.

Besides, the recognition of a Solicitor is due to the discretion given to the Legal Profession Qualifying Board as opposed to recognition by statute. Considering the tendency of our policy to be very volatile, it is much safer to become a Barrister-at-law as only an Act of Parliament is able to amend it as opposed to mere discretion given to the Board.

3.Difference between US law with the rest

"We all know the language of the common law is English and all the case law and textbooks on the common law the world over are written in English and it would be poor advocacy to put your case to the tribunal with translations from the English text.....Always apply for permission to address the court in English." - Dato N.H. Chan, former Court of Appeal Judge

US, UK, Malaysia, Singapore, and a number of countries' legal system is based on the Common Law System. It is fundamentally English(British) but has been developed accordingly and today recognised as the US Common Law, Malaysian Common Law and Singapore Common Law as opposed to merely the English Common Law.

Therefore, the Malaysian Common Law is not different in the sense that the foundations are the same. The development of the body of cases is different. Why is it still important? Common Law is mainly based on the principle of stare decisis and the entire body of the common law is a wealth of knowledge by judges. To disregard the knowledge we could gain by referring to other common law jurisdiction decisions would not serve us beneficially contrary to popular belief.

Admission into the US - refer to the state bar association. Normally require a person to possess a Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited institution by the ABA. Else, a person with a foreign recognised law degree could take a LLM from an accredited institution. Both routes would require the person to sit for the state bar examination depending on which jurisdiction the person intend to practice.


4.What if my degree is not recognised by the Malaysian government. What can I do or option do I have?

If the degree is not recognised by JPA then the holder will not be able to work in the civil service.

If the degree is not recognised by the LPQB or S3 LPA 1976 then the only option would be to be an English Barrister or an English Solicitor(subject to recognition by the LPQB) if the degree is recognised by them.

Another unlikely and impractical alternative would be to become a lawyer elsewhere and to hope that the A-G will exercise his power under Section 28A Legal Profession Act 1976 so as to enable the lawyer to petition to be admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya or Sabah and Sarawak under Section 28B. The drawback here is, it is very unlikely that this power will be exercised and there is an expiry date for the Special Admissions Certificate.

5.Are there any requirements for a person to register as a clp student? Is it true anyone as long as he has got a law degree, can take the clp exam? Let's say I graduate with a LL.B from a aussie uni which is not among the 14 listed in the website, can i still do clp when im back?

Yes there are requirements for a person to sit for the clp examination.
The law degree must be a recognised one and you must have done your SPM/equivalent(which is recognised) and obtained at least 3 credits in one sitting and also done your STPM/equivalent(which is recognised) and obtain at least 2 principals in one sitting and you must use the result you obtained to gain a place in the Uni for the law degree. As for mature student, you must have at least 5 years proven relevant working experience and you must enter your degree using that experience and the Board must also be satisfied that you are suitable for CLP. Therefore, the STPM/A levels route is still safer even for mature student.

Do note on the credit in BM(SPM) requirement. Else, there is an additional BM Examination in which the candidate will normally be examined by a 3 person panel and normally 2 of them are judges. It is much tougher than SPM.

6.Career prospect of being a law graduates

Practically anything under the sun as long as the qualification satisfies the requirements stated by the prospective employer.

Normally, law graduates tend to proceed to become advocates or solicitors whether locally or abroad. There are those who prefer to enter fields like banking, business, commercial and management sectors where legal knowledge is sought after.

As a law graduate, there is an option of sitting for the ICSA Examination with 12 papers exemption. ICSA is recognised as a general degree on its own by JPA.

Please refer to :-
http://www.maicsa.org.my/students_recognition.aspx
Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA)

This post has been edited by stevanistelrooy: May 14 2008, 09:19 PM

IT/Computing FAQ

What is the difference between Computer Science and IT?

When you talk about Computer Science (CS), you're talking about the very fundamentals of how anything to do with computers work, where IT is more on the application of computer related systems into everyday usage.

One other misconception here is that a lot of ppl think that CS is about programming, but it actually is not. The programming aspect is actually more like a requirement for CS, but considering the contents of a CS course, the programming bit will be the least of one's worries.

Basically, a more generic IT course and CS may have the same amount of programming work, where in fact, the programming related work in IT courses tends to be more up to date than compared to CS, as both courses concentrates on different things.

However, the course contents of a IT course tends to go out of date rather fast (from Cobol, to Pascal, to VB, to whatever it is they're using now), while for CS most of what a person learns like even up to 20 years ago is still applicable. There may be newer things in CS coming up, but it all builds upon the very same foundation still.

An example here will be something like, say, a J2EE subject in an IT course. As we all know, the J2EE5 specs were finalized and implemented last year. Thus, whatever that may be taught in such a subject in an IT course a few years back is already considered as out of date.

A similar example in a CS course will be something like, algorithms, OO concepts, Operating Systems, and so forth. Algorithms is something that takes a long time to go out of date. Same with OO concepts too. Same with OS too. Different OSes changes all the time, but the CS content of a OS subject is to do with how the OS works under what you see on the screen. From stuff like memory management methods, process scheduling, and so on.

A person who had gone through CS will need to be more self reliant, as they will need to put in more self effort to learn up other stuff not in the CS syllabus in order to make themselves more competitive than the IT grads, but they've got a bigger advantage in the sense that they've got a stronger hold on the foundations of whatever that is computer related.

Likewise, CS and IT may or may not be the same, depending on how the institution structures it. If you really want to know, compare the course contents, not the course name.

If you're at a loss on what to take, just go for Computer Science. It does not specialize in any of the IT fields, but it provides you with a good enough foundation that allows you to venture into any specialization on your own effort, and allows you to be diversified with enough fundamentals from other areas too.

And having said that, do keep in mind that CS is probably more demanding than any of the other specialized fields in IT.


----------------------------

Take your time and visit the link below to understand more on Computer Science.

http://www.cs4fn.org

It's a website about what computer science is all about, what are the fun things you can do in computer science, how is CS NOT ICT, why CS matters more than ICT yada yada....

And for those who perpetually ask the question why CS instead of IT, maybe here's a good place to start looking and learning why:

The FUNdamentals: What is Computer Science?

And What is the skill of the 21st century

This post has been edited by stevanistelrooy: May 25 2008, 09:31 AM

FAQ on Game Development Course In Malaysia.


0. What is game development?
1. I don't know any programming or weak in programming. Would it deter me from pursuing into this course?
2. What type of career that I can get from this course?
3. How is Malaysia games industry heading to? Is there demand for this sector?
4. Is there any meeting or group of people which I can have a talk with related to this industry in Malaysia? Something like SIG.
5. What are the technical skills or things that I should/encouraged to learn when I am taking this course so that I can prepare myself after the graduation?
6. Compared with games development/design course in Malaysia with overseas, are there any much difference in term of what we are learning?
7. What do we learn mostly in Games Development/Designing courses? Programming, Maths or Graphical subject?
8. Is there any other path for me to join gaming industry?
9. Within which range of salary that games designing/development can get me to?
10. Which company or job criteria that I should look into when I am applying for my industrial training?
Links

www.gamasutra.com
www.gamedev.net
www.devmaster.net
www.conceptart.org
www.deviantart.com
gamedeveloper.texterity.com
www.igda.org/Forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=19
www.igda.org.my
www.mgdc.com.my
cmc.msc.com.my
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20050817/hong_01.shtml
http://www.igda.org/breakingin/
http://www.gamedev.net/reference/list.asp?categoryid=68

Note: "Game Design" term has been used abusively by local educational institutes. Don't rely on the term.



This post has been edited by stevanistelrooy: Jul 4 2008, 02:30 AM

Confuse about Certificate, Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Degree and etc?

For some starter, please read THIS POST first.

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PRE-UNIVERSITY

Pre-university certificates are courses or examination papers that are designed to bridge between O-levels (equivalent to SPM) and degree levels. It is the international standard for education (perhaps with exception in the United States), and is perceived as a requirement before anyone can enroll to a degree course at any university.

In Malaysia, we have a number of Pre-university courses or examinations that you can take, as described below:
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Matriculations

Matriculations is a centralized course run by the Ministry of Higher Education that usually spans 12 to 18 months. Matric leavers can only opt to courses in IPTAs, as it is not recognized by IPTSs or overseas universities. It literally means if you’re in matriculations, you have no other choice but to end up in an IPTA (this is not a bad thing).

Matriculations is perceived as easier than STPM if you’re heading to IPTA due to its semester format (it does not have a major examination like STPM). However, it is open to a majority of bumiputera and only a small number of non-bumi, one controversial aspect that is still being argued until now. The current matriculations subjects only centers in science stream, and students do not have any choice on this matter.

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Foundations

Foundation is a programme designed to bridge an O-level student straight into an undergraduate programme. It normally spans 12 months. However, unlike matriculations, foundation programmes are run by individual universities or colleges tuned to their own undergraduate programme. It means foundation certificate holds no value outside the university that hosts it. More often than not, it is only valid for the course the students apply it for (within the same university).

Foundations are run based on courses or fields offered at an undergraduate level. For example, if students choose to go for accountancy degree, they can take foundation in accountancy. Others like foundation in arts allows students to go for degrees in art and design, interior, graphic or anything that relates to art.

In foundation programmes, students will normally recap a few things from SPM that is inline to the course they’re taking, as well as studying the basic core subjects that relate to it.

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STPM/STAM

STPM and STAM are examination certificates equivalent to A-levels run by the Malaysian Examination Council. It is the most recognized pre-university certificate in Malaysia, valid to enter IPTAs, IPTSs and most international universities (especially commonwealth countries) as well. It spans 18 months with a major examination at the end of it, and usually conducted in public high schools. This effectively makes it the cheapest and most widely accessible pre-university course in Malaysia.

STPM and STAM are perceived as one of the hardest examination in Malaysia, and highly regarded amongst local universities. There is a wide variety of subjects that students could take according to their preferences, allowing them to fine tune their path for further education.

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A-levels and equivalent (MUFY, IB, SAM, AUSMAT, ICPU, CIMP, UEC, Cambridge Pre-U, ADTP/ADP etc)

A-levels is definitely one of the most popular choices of pre-university courses in Malaysia. This is due to its international recognition as well as being accepted for IPTS requirement. It spans 18 months and it is run by most private schools including IPTSs. However, this also makes it one of the most expensive pre-university certificates in Malaysia. Like STPM, A-levels offer a wide range of subjects that students could choose, increasing its versatility.

There are also other A-levels equivalent certificates (as listed above). Some of it are internationally recognized like the International Baccalaureate (IB), others like SAM or AUSMAT only caters for specific universities in Australia. The format is quite similar to A-levels, other the subject ranging, syllabus and depth varies. These courses are available at most private schools including IPTSs.


UNDERGRADUATE

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Diploma

Diploma is a higher-education certificate awarded after a 3 year (normally) course. There are conflicting definitions of whether a diploma is considered an undergraduate course or not, but for the sake of argument here, we will refer diploma as an undergraduate certificate.

Training at diploma level sets to instill all the basic and necessary skills of a course or field. It is in fact a professional programme, as holding a diploma allows you to apply for a low or entry level worker in a specific field. Meaning it still has value when applying for jobs, but because you are not trained with applied knowledge and theories like in degree level, a diploma holder is considered as the least expert trained person in a field, but you do have all the basic and necessary skills to function.

There are a lot more diploma programmes in Malaysia than degrees. It is conducted by IPTAs, IPTSs as well as polytechnic and other specialty schools. The prerequisite for a diploma is SPM or O-levels, and runs as a semester based programme.

A diploma might be a good choice for those after SPM who prefers to jump straight into a specialization. It is also an option for those who couldn’t secure a degree due to low achievements during STPM or equivalent. With a diploma, you can apply for a degree. Depending on your grades, you can opt for credit transfers into the degree, allowing you to join the degree at second year level. There were cases that high achievers were awarded third year straight away.

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Advanced Diploma

Advanced diploma is lower than an undergraduate degree, but higher than a diploma. It has more theoretical and applied knowledge components, almost similar to a degree. But the difference between an advanced diploma from a degree is the thesis/graduating project. At the end of a degree there's usually a research component that requires you to use everything that you've acquired throughout your studies in a single project. The thesis could take from 2 months to 1 year, depending on the course.

Although lacking only thesis, advanced diploma is still viewed as a diploma, and not to be confused with post-graduate diploma. Advanced diploma is not equal to degree, as it is one notch lower than a degree. However, an advanced diploma could carry a professional accreditation equal to a degree, as certified by the respective boards. In such cases, the advanced diplomas can be perceived as equally valued as a degree.

The prerequisite of an advanced diploma is usually a diploma of similar course. It serves as an additional year to the diploma, giving it an edge closer to a degree than just a diploma.

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Bachelor’s Degree

Honors and without honors

Honors is part of a degree title that indicates a higher level than a general degree, normally with more research component and complexity of applied/theoretical knowledge embedded in it as compared to a general degree. In Malaysia, the UK and the rest of the world, the title of honors are declared in the title of the degree you will be awarded when you start a course. Meaning you will be fully aware whether your degree is an honors degree or not.

However, this differs from Australian and New Zealand system, where honors is an extra title that you need to earn at the end of a degree. Usually this option is given to excellent students with high achievements towards the final semester. Taking this option allows a student to complete the degree with an extra year, but with an added value of honors in the degree title. This effectively makes Australian and New Zealand’s honors degrees more valuable than other honors degrees.

Honors do not relate to 2:1, 2:2. Those are degree classifications that indicate a student’s academic achievements. There are 4 primary degree classifications:

i. First class
First class is the highest degree classification one could achieve. It is considered a high distinction, an academic par excellence. You would need to score at least 3.70 CGPA to secure a first class degree.
ii. Second class (upper and lower)
Second upper class (2:1) and second lower class (2:2) are where students normally graduate with. You will need about 3.00 and above to score for upper class. Anything lower than that is lower class.
iii. Third class
Third class is graduating with minimum achievements, also known as a pass. A third class would normally strips the honors title from a degree, meaning despite paying for an honors degree, you will graduate without it.
iv. Fail

(The actual value of CGPA for classifications vary from university to university).



POST GRADUATE

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Post Graduate Diploma

Post graduate diploma is a higher education certificate that is higher than an undergraduate degree. Essentially, post graduate diploma is closer to research based honors degree than a masters degree. It is definitely not comparable to Masters let alone PhD, although if you perform well in your PG diploma, you might be eligible to skip straight to PhD. However, this is disputed due to the nature of the PG diploma that is not essentially research based.

PG Diploma is an option for people who:
1) Cannot qualify for Honours (if you're following the Australian/New Zealand system where Honours is a separate course that you need to qualify for);
2) People who switch fields (i.e., you graduated in Comp Science, but wanted to do PG research in Arts, hence you take Postgrad Diploma). It may be called Masters Qualifying in some places.
3) People who want to acquire certain knowledge in a particular field post-graduating but do not want to take a 2-3 year course.

PG Diploma is not a prerequisite for Masters. The only prerequisite for Postgrad Dip is that you have a bachelor's degree (undergraduate). And with the PG Diploma, you may apply for a masters course in the relevant field should you intend to do Masters.

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Masters

Masters degree is an academic degree that trains one to become an expert in a specific area, hence the term masters in general. Masters can take a variety of formats: taught course, research or a mixture of the two. However, it is accepted that a masters by research is regarded as higher and have more value in relations to academic exposure. Doing a masters by research also equips one for the journey through doctorate research, should one proceed to continue.

Requirements for a masters degree varies depending on course, specialization and depth. All do require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, but above that, some may require an honors 2:1 degree, others may require some work experience in relevant fields etc. The duration of study is usually between 12 to 24 months.

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Doctorate

A doctorate is simply the highest academic degree that one could ever achieve. This degree allows the achiever to bear the title Dr. (doctor) in front of one’s name. To achieve a doctorate, one has to contribute a substantial amount of original knowledge to the already existing body of knowledge. Originality would mean that that particular piece of knowledge simply does not exist before hand. Hence at the moment of graduation, the doctoral graduate is possible the only single person that possess that knowledge in the world, until he starts sharing, teaching or preaching it to others.

To qualify for a doctorate, you would need at least a masters degree, although this is not always necessary. A substantial amount of experience in a particular field (10-15 years) is sometimes considered enough to provide context to your research. Study duration is between 3 to 5 years.


This post has been edited by stevanistelrooy: Jul 5 2008, 01:52 PM