PETALING JAYA: All initial fees for tertiary institutions have been capped at RM1,500 as the government hopes to keep the cost of higher education manageable to encourage more Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) graduates to further their studies.
This was among the measures announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling Budget 2024 in October last year.
The cap was also in line with the value of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation’s (PTPTN) advance loan.
The PTPTN advance loan amounts to RM1,500 for all eligible prospective students.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, wanted to ensure new students pursue tertiary education and existing tertiary students continue theirs.
As such, he said current university students who cannot afford to pay their tuition fees will not be barred from registering for their subjects or modules for the next term.
Instead, students who are facing financial difficulties can pay after subject registration.
The capping of the initial fees is part of Budget 2024’s RM16.3bil allocation to the higher education sector, which focused on the welfare of students, among others.
The move aims to bring down financial barriers for underprivileged students to further their studies at public and private institutions.
Checks by Sunday Star found that the initial fees of public and private universities, which are available online, are around the RM1,500 directive.
Based on top public universities in the country, the initial fees range between RM200 and RM900, with some inclusive of one-off admission and application charges.
Initial fees for private universities also range between RM300 and RM1,200, with the higher end of the charges including hostel admission fees.
To ensure that universities abide by the directive to cap the initial fees at RM1,500, the then higher education minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in November last year that appropriate action would be taken against those who violate the directive.
The ministry, he said, would intervene if there are reports of universities attempting to flout the directive and decision by Putrajaya.
