Program Overview
Studying accounting and finance in Malaysia can be ideal if you’re organised, numerate, and appreciate data analysis and spreadsheets. Accountants are essential to firms of all kinds and serve as a strong foundation.
Accounting and Finance is a program that provides incredible potential for students, with chances to advance professionally and work for some giant corporations worldwide. However, despite their overlap, accounting and finance in Malaysia are distinct fields of study. Accounting entails thoroughly examining a company’s financial position, whereas finance is more concerned with money management. A course in accounting and finance in Malaysia will teach you every aspect of running a firm, including economics and marketing.
Accounting and finance courses might provide a fast route to a career in accounting. In most courses, students get the skills and information they need to become qualified in accountancy specialities like chartered, management, or public finance and sit for some of the required tests. You will also study maths, statistics, economics, and finance, and you may be able to apply theory on a placement. Graduates of accounting and finance in Malaysia frequently work in accounting, finance, business, government, banking, marketing, and management roles.
Students of accounting and finance in Malaysia will master computational and calculation skills and techniques used in professional accounting practice, learn how to use specialised accounting software and gain a broad understanding of the accounting, finance, and commercial sectors, frequently in an international context.
They will also gain advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of accounting and finance in Malaysia. When studying accounting and finance, it offers excellent professional advancement opportunities, with approximately 70% of students entering graduate-level jobs within six months of graduation. The one significant benefit of studying accounting and finance in Malaysia is the opportunity to learn about worldwide financial practices.
Most universities in Malaysia offer accounting, business, and finance degrees separately, but many also provide the option of combining honours degrees in these fields. This can be an excellent alternative if you’re having trouble limiting your options to a single specialisation. The theories and practices of accounting, the use and processing of financial information for decision-making, and a grasp of business, industry, and finance are just a few of the subject-specific abilities that may be developed through a degree in accounting and finance in Malaysia.
To become a qualified accountant, you must also have a professional accounting qualification. Many transferable skills, including numeracy, communication, problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, and a business emphasis, may be acquired through an accounting degree.
Accounting and finance graduates are sought after by companies operating particularly in the financial sector, but because many larger companies have their accounting departments, they are also employed throughout other sectors of the economy. This post will guide you through studying accounting and finance in Malaysia and explain why getting a degree in the program will benefit you in the long run.
Why Study This Program
Work Abroad
Your credentials will be acknowledged in more than 160 nations, from the UK to China, by becoming a chartered accountant studying accounting and finance in Malaysia with the help of their international organisations/branches. To better comprehend the global economy and experience a new culture, language, and way of life, you might opt to work abroad in various nations.
Also, if you work for one of the big companies abroad, which has networks of offices worldwide, you may have the chance to travel abroad on business. This opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of foreign chances is one of the best things about accounting. With a degree in accounting and finance in Malaysia, you can quickly find employment abroad if you intend to work overseas.
Except for a few legal provisions that could be unique to each country, most accounting concepts and methods are applicable across national boundaries. So, you might need to enrol in a few more classes to study for and pass a test on the fundamental accounting rules of the state or nation you want to relocate to.
High Financial Gains
Accountants earn considerably more than the standard pay grade. A senior accountant has a global average payscale of $84,000, according to PayScale.com, while an intermediate accountant makes an average of $12,200. In addition, the “Big Four” accounting firms—Deloitte, Ernst and Young (EY), KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)—employ a sizable number of accountants globally and are frequently included in lists of the best 100 places to work.
Depending on the job route they choose, graduates with degrees in accounting and finance in Malaysia may be able to earn highly lucrative wages. You may anticipate a starting income of roughly $22000 abroad if you pursue a public or private accountant career. You can hope to make up to $122,000 a year with more experience and the necessary credentials (National Careers Service).
Good Recommendations for Career Advancements
With a degree in accounting and finance in Malaysia, you may be able to volunteer with well-known institutions like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations (UN). More accountants or economists are always needed to assist these multinational organisations with daily auditing requirements. Be aware that you might not be able to receive a significant income from these companies.
However, your voluntary work with big multinational corporations may have value beyond financial compensation. Your knowledge and abilities will significantly improve. Working with these international groups can also provide access to influential individuals and businesses, the prominent names in the sector.
These contacts may benefit you if you pursue accounting and finance in Malaysia, advance in your job, or apply to top graduate programmes, especially if you have a stellar work history, even as a volunteer. After earning a college degree in accounting and finance, you will have a wide range of professional options. You can go on an entirely new path and apply the knowledge you’ve gained from your degree to work as a business development manager, data analyst, or mortgage advisor. Other career options include chartered accountant, stockbroker, or forensic accountant.
You’ll Always Be in Demand
The biggest myth about earning a degree in accounting and finance in Malaysia is that all you’ll do is make financial statements and fill in the ledgers of your business. This is by no means your only choice. Some occupations may potentially disappear owing to technology. The stability of some jobs depends on market trends or is impacted by an oversupply of recent graduates. Even in uncertain economic times, becoming an accountant is one of the most reliable careers. The demand for highly qualified financial experts with solid business acumen is expected to increase globally.
An accountant is necessary for every company area or industry. Despite technological improvements, an accountant’s abilities will still be needed in the workplace. The sector has had considerable technological advancements, including switching from paper to digital ledgers and using more sophisticated software and apps to facilitate work speed. However, an accountant’s analytical mind and skills are still required for these jobs. A person who has studied accounting and finance in Malaysia is a crucial worker who determines and ensures that the business is profitable.
Become Chartered
To stay current, accounting and financial professionals must adapt to the changing financial landscape. Despite this, qualified number crunchers will probably always be needed because money isn’t going anywhere. What does studying accounting and finance in Malaysia entail? It signifies that you possess an internationally regarded professional degree to practise accounting. It demonstrates that you’ve completed several years of formal education and have excelled on challenging tests in various topics linked to accounting and finance.
Although becoming chartered is not required to work as an accountant, it will boost your career chances and income expectations. Although you won’t instantly become chartered after earning a degree in accounting and finance in Malaysia, many Malaysian degrees provide exemptions from the tests you would otherwise need to take. This means that part of the tests required for the qualification will already have been passed by the time you graduate, making the process of being chartered much quicker and simpler.
Why Study In Malaysia
Option To Study For a Joint Honours Degree
Choose two courses you are interested in studying at a university in Malaysia with the possibility of earning a dual honours degree. Accounting and finance in Malaysia can be studied in conjunction with various other academic fields, such as business management, economics, and legal studies, to mention a few. As a combined honours degree is tailored to your interests, employers will be wowed by your enthusiasm and distinctive combination of talents.
Professional Training Facilities
Professional training labs utilised by major financial businesses worldwide are available if you study accounting at a Malaysian university. Thus, you will graduate with the ability to work for businesses with unique characteristics after studying accounting and finance in Malaysia.
Affordable Course Fees
The fee required to study accounting and finance in Malaysia is comparatively less than that required in many other countries, such as the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada, to name just a few. With accounting and finance degree expenses shooting up worldwide, Malaysia comes across as a reliable option to receive a high-quality education at an affordable cost.
Globally Recognised Degrees
Accounting and finance degrees from Malaysian universities enjoy global recognition. Studying accounting and finance in Malaysia allows students to pursue the program in Malaysia and then move anywhere globally. Several students continue their master’s and specialisation in Malaysia or transfer to other countries to pursue different pathways.
International Education Standard
The standard of accounting and finance programs in Malaysia meets international standards. This ensures exceptional education for students who enrol in this course. The course curriculum is rigorously developed, keeping in line with international benchmarks to ensure students learn the latest developments in accounting and finance.
Excellent Campus Facilities and Infrastructure
Malaysia offers excellent campus facilities, modern infrastructure, and innovative teaching aids for studying accounting and finance in Malaysia. The schools in Malaysia offer a great learning atmosphere. Several leading universities have developed in-house labs and testing facilities dedicated to helping students learn with hands-on experience, operate with state-of-the-art machinery, and stay up to date with the latest innovations.
Career Prospects
Sectors involving accounting and finance in Malaysia have long dominated the job market, and this trend will not change. Nearly every company and organisation requires experts to assist them in managing their money and keeping track of their accounts. As a result, accounting and finance have a massive market for employment and are a necessary component of the commercial world. You can manage money and the books of accounts thanks to the technical knowledge you get from a degree in accounting and finance in Malaysia. Individuals get the ability to evaluate financial data and steer and drive corporate choices.
Professionals in financial accounting are in charge of disclosing a company’s or organisation’s financial situation to the general public. This entails gathering and managing data, seeing patterns, and predicting upcoming requirements. By creating comprehensive statements, accounting professionals convey financial information to stakeholders and business executives.
Accounting and finance in Malaysia are similar, yet the two disciplines have several key differences. Often, auditors collaborate with businesses to examine the financial accounting offices’ reports. You can explore the following positions with a degree in accounting and finance in Malaysia.
Payroll Clerk
Employees of a corporation benefit from the correct and timely payment provided by payroll clerks. They monitor pay rates and billable hours to ensure every employee is paid what they are due. The withholdings, such as taxes or insurance, are also considered by payroll clerks before distributing checks to each employee.
Chartered Accountant
As a chartered accountant, you will offer guidance, audit financial records, and disseminate reliable information. This might entail accounting systems and procedures for financial reporting, taxation, reporting, external audit, corporate finance, company recovery, or bankruptcy.
Forensic Accountant
As a forensic accountant, you’ll utilise your accounting knowledge to examine financial irregularities and errors, such as fraud, financial misrepresentation, misbehaviour, and disputes. The position calls for expertise in accounting, auditing, and investigation. As an expert witness, you will testify in court based on your findings and present reports with reconstructions and insights into how actions were carried out.
Chartered Public Finance Accountant
Public finance accountants frequently pursue certification through the CIPFA program, which was created expressly to teach accountants about the various requirements of these kinds of organisations.
Controller
The controller in an accounting department’s activities is supervised by a professional in financial accounting. They ensure that the financial statements and the general ledgers of revenue, spending, assets, and liabilities comply with all applicable rules and regulations.
Tax Advisor
Tax experts work with private citizens and businesses to ensure their tax plans are the most advantageous for their circumstances. Tax consultants might further specialise by concentrating on personal tax arrangements.
Mortgage Advisor
To assist clients in locating the mortgage that is most suitable for them, mortgage counsellors sometimes work for banks. They meet with clients and inform them of the variations in mortgage packages.
Investment Banker
Investment bankers frequently work on business acquisitions, mergers, bond and share issuance, financing, and corporate privatisation. Moreover, they can be asked to advise on any of these activities or take part in firm buyouts and the acquisition of funding to expand their operations.
Retail Banker
Retail bankers offer financial services to people and small companies while working for banks and building relationships with customers. Individuals will be in charge of growing the bank’s retail portfolio by increasing awareness about their products.
Compliance Officer
Compliance officers aid businesses and banks in ensuring they adhere to all financial regulations. They research regional and local financial legislation and inform executives of any modifications or additions. Compliance officers frequently supervise staff responsible for upholding financial regulations at the bank or company where they work.
Program Duration
The duration to study accounting and finance in Malaysia is three years for the bachelor’s program. English is the medium of instruction followed in schools across all major international private universities.
The first year will have a number of common subjects between different specialisations. As students progress to years two and three, their modules and subjects will become more specialised as per their field of choice.
Students can sometimes switch from one specialization to another, but it will require approval from the University faculty and the relevant authorities in Malaysia.
Students who want to opt for program transfers to another University will usually need to prepare the transfer paperwork and start processing from their second year onwards to ensure all the paperwork and approvals are in place so the program transfer can be done.
Entry Requirements
The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) sets the entry requirements and guidelines for university admissions in Malaysia, which all universities must adhere to. All prospective international students must meet the minimum entry requirements, as the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) takes these standards into account during the application acceptance and processing phases.
The admission requirements to study accounting and finance in Malaysia for international students may vary from one university to another. However, the basic entry requirements are the same for most universities.
Usually, there are two pathways to entering a degree program in Malaysia:
- First, students can join a foundation program after completing their secondary schooling, O levels, or equivalent qualifications. After completing the foundation in the business program, they can continue to the bachelor’s degree as per their choice.
- Second, students who have completed their higher secondary school or A levels or equivalent will be able to join the bachelor’s degree programme directly into year one.
If a student fails to meet the entry requirements for a bachelor’s degree programme, the faculty may offer different pathways into the degree programme, for example, through a foundation or a diploma programme.
Universities may raise the entry requirements to ensure incoming students are academically prepared for the rigours of their programmes. So, prospective international students should consult with an admission advisor to determine the precise entry criteria for their chosen programme and their preferred university.
General Entry Requirements For Bachelor’s Degree
- A Levels: 2 Passes in A-Level in any 2 subjects, and a Credit in Mathematics at SPM/O-Level/IGCSE or its equivalent.
- Foundation: Passed the relevant Foundation programme (minimum CGPA of 2.0)
English Language
International students who wish to study accounting and finance in Malaysia will need to also provide proof of their English language proficiency with IELTS or TOEFL exams. Students who have studied the British or American curriculum are generally exempted from the English proficiency requirements since the medium of instruction for that curriculum is in English by default.
Students who have studied other curriculums where the medium of instruction is also English will usually need to provide a supporting letter from the school stating that the instruction language for their schooling has been English. With that letter, English language requirements are proven to have been completed.
Fees & Cost
Students sometimes only look at the tuition fee during the comparison. However, depending on how forthright and clearly the fee guidelines from the university are, the extra fees can be a hefty amount that could be a surprise. So students are advised to correctly add all the fees and decide which university fits their budget requirements to study accounting and finance in Malaysia.
Various factors will contribute to the overall cost structure, such as:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation fees
- Admission fee
- Registration and Visa fees and
- Other one-time fees.
These fees vary from university to university and can depend on varying factors. The quality, infrastructure, facilities and teacher-to-student ratio will also determine how much a university charges.
You must find the right balance between quality and cost to get the best education possible. The average cost to study accounting and finance in Malaysia is between RM30,000 to RM40,000 per year, depending on the University.
For reference, that’s around USD $7,500 to $10,000 per year for a 3-year accounting and finance degree program at the current exchange rate.
Accommodation
Accommodation cost is going to be another recurring fee for international students. Generally, students have two options: they can either stay at the on-campus accommodation provided by the university or at private accommodation. The prices will differ according to which university and area you choose.
Generally, campus accommodations at major universities start at around US$150 per month and can go up to $400 per month. The pricing for on-campus accommodation is determined by the size of the room, whether a student will be sharing the room or will be staying alone, or if the student is taking a master room which generally comes with an attached bathroom or decides to stay at a sharing room with shared bathroom.
Some universities also offer cooking facilities and on-campus accommodation, which are shared facilities which will also be factored into the accommodation costs. Utility costs are generally an add-on fee.
While choosing the university, you can check with your admissions advisor on the options available for accommodation and how much they will cost so that you have an idea of how much of a monthly budget you will require as a student.
Admission Procedure
Researching, applying and managing overseas admissions is a tedious, time-consuming and often confusing process. Incorrect application submissions can lead to lengthy processing, delayed approvals, or rejections. You can visit education, exhibitions and fairs to collect information. However, that is not enough. You can only collect cursory information at these places. However, your admission processing will usually take much longer. During that time, you will need consistent and dedicated support to ensure your application is in the right experienced hands.
This is where we help.
Edmates helps international students from around the world with complete admissions processing. Our integrated one-stop centre helps international students with everything. We help you find future-driven programs that match your abilities and interests in leading universities.
We handle the entire process from the beginning until you have joined the university. Our international support system will manage everything for you, absolutely free.
Each student is assigned with a dedicated admission advisor who will manage the complete admission process and also guide the student throughout the admissions process. The advisor will also liaise with the university admissions department to ensure clear communications and faster processing.
You can speak with your assigned advisor anytime by booking a free call online through the website. You will also receive regular updates regarding your application via emails, SMS and WhatsApp.
To learn about each step of the admission process, you can read our complete guide to start applying for your higher education the right way.