Post-Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students who applied for programmes at public tertiary education institutions for the 2020/2021 academic session via UPUOnline can expect to experience a more varied selection process, compared with previous years.
Higher Education Ministry's Student Admission Division director Wahi Nordin said in view of the Covid-19 crisis, the institutions involved were free to choose the methods of conducting interviews or tests, whether face-to-face, online, YouTube, video or other appropriate ways to ensure that they obtained the best candidates who qualified for the programmes.
"Starting from April 29 to May 20, the interviews or tests will be conducted by the public universities, teacher education institutes, the Education Ministry's Matriculation Division, the Polytechnic and Community Colleges Department, as well as the skills training institutes," he said.
"As part of the student selection process, undergoing interviews or tests is a condition of admission to specific programmes as determined by the university or institution's senate."
Decisions on the admission of SPM school graduates into certificate, foundation, matriculation, diploma and Bachelor of Education programmes were expected to be announced on June 3.
For holders of the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) certificate and equivalent qualifications, interviews and admission exams for relevant programmes would be conducted by public universities from June 1 to July 21.
"Post-foundation and matriculation candidates can update their programme selections in the second phase of UPUOnline, from July 20 to 24. Diploma or equivalent qualification holders can upload required documents within the same period," said Wahi.
Selection results for STPM or equivalent applicants for admission into the bachelor's degree programmes at public universities were expected to be announced on August 18.
All application results would be available through upu.mohe.gov.my and UPUPocket, which is an application that could be downloaded on mobile phones or devices. The status of application and appeal decisions could also be checked through UPUPocket.
The UPUOnline application to public tertiary education institutions closed on April 17.
Managed by the Central University Admission Division of the Higher Education Ministry, the UPUOnline deadline was extended from March 31 for SPM school leavers and April 7 for holders of STPM and equivalent qualifications.
This was to allow students ample time to submit their applications amid the enforcement of the Movement Control Order.
