Holders of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) can still apply for direct entry into medical degree programmes at private higher education institutions, after the Cabinet decided to keep the existing minimum entry requirements.
Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said on Friday (Nov 13) that UEC holders who obtain at least a B4 in each of five specified subjects remain eligible to apply for a medical degree at a private university or college.
Under the Malaysian Medical Council’s guidelines that took effect on Oct 29, 2024, the five subjects are Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Advanced Mathematics I, and Advanced Mathematics II or Advanced Mathematics.
Speaking at a press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Fahmi said the Cabinet had decided to retain the minimum entry requirements for UEC holders that applied before recent amendments.
He said the Health Ministry and the Malaysian Medical Council would coordinate follow-up action with the Higher Education Ministry to make sure the process runs smoothly, that any issues that arise are resolved, and that the standard and quality of medical education at private institutions are maintained.
The UEC is the standardised examination taken by students at independent Chinese secondary schools in Malaysia.
The decision covers private institutions only. The UEC on its own is not accepted for direct entry into medicine at public universities, and the Higher Education Ministry said in May that places in critical programmes such as medicine at public universities would continue to be assessed on SPM results.
For UEC holders who hope to become doctors without leaving the country, the decision keeps open the route into medical programmes at private universities and colleges, as long as they meet the grade requirements.
Fahmi, who is also the communications minister, did not say when the follow-up action by the ministries and the council would be completed.