Higher education may sometimes come at a cost which may be prohibitive for students with limited financial resources. Some are fortunate to obtain scholarships, while others have found benefactors to pay for their tuition and living expenditures. But for many young Malaysians, they must find other ways to pursue their tertiary education dream, and among the best available methods is to apply for education loans.
Calan Moy Ka-Shing (right) enjoys working out at the gym, playing Ultimate Frisbee, and hanging out in church with his friends.
22 year olds, Calan Moy Ka-Shing and Ng Zhi Ching, who are currently pursuing their Bachelors (Hons) of Computer Science (Software Engineering and Digital Systems Security) and Bachelors (Hons) of Accounting and Finance in collaboration with University of Hertfordshire respectively at INTI International College Subang (INTI), share their experiences on applying for loans from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation, a government entity otherwise known as PTPTN.
PTPTN was founded in 1997 with the aim of assisting students with funding their undergraduate degrees. Since its establishment, PTPTN has financed more than 60 per cent of Malaysian students in pursuing their studies both at private and public higher education institutions1.
Calan shared his opinion about how financial aids are a boon to students who require them, especially when times have hit rock bottom for families who have faced financial instability during the pandemic. Besides supporting students financially, he believes the education loans distributed by PTPTN and other scholarships motivates students to study harder.
“I have personally witnessed the efforts made by my friends to keep their scholarships by going the extra mile in their studies,” said Calan who added that he has fostered many friendships in INTI which he will cherish for the rest of his life.
Ng Zhi Ching pursued her Diploma in Accounting at INTI International College Kuala Lumpur prior to enrolling in her current degree programme at INTI International College Subang.
Available to all Malaysians who are pursuing higher studies at public and private learning institutions in the country, PTPTN loans are meant to help students pursue their diploma or degree programmes that have been accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
The PTPTN loan allows students to fully or partially pay their tuition fees, as well as cover their cost of living throughout their studies.
“The financial aid from INTI was timely as my family’s financial situation during the COVID period was not the best. Receiving the aid helped me to complete my studies during a particular semester. Although the PTPTN loan I obtained was insufficient to cover the full cost of my programme, it did ease some of the financial burden from my family. I am thankful for the loan that was approved by PTPTN as it came through when I needed it the most,” expressed Calan.
Zhi Ching who is born and raised in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur is currently enrolled in a programme that she has always been interested in, namely accounting. Having passed that subject with flying colours in high school, Zhi Ching decided to pursue the dual award programme at INTI as she felt it was more affordable compared to other higher education institutions in the vicinity, and she would have an array of career opportunities to choose from once she completes her degree programme.
Her dreams to pursue the course of her choice were made possible by her family and also the financial aids offered by INTI and PTPTN.
“The financial aid offered by INTI and PTPTN eased my family’s burden financially. That weight was lifted off their shoulders and they did not have to worry about how they were going to pay for my fees every semester. They could also look into other aspects like my living costs as the education loan provided by PTPTN partially covered my tuition fees,” explained Zhi Ching.
Zhi Ching also agrees that these aids provided by higher education institutions and government corporations like PTPTN are helpful for students like her to realize their ambitions, especially students from the B40 and M40 groups who were hardest hit during the pandemic.
“Families of the B40 and M40 groups find it harder to pay their children’s tuition fees as it is beyond their capacity when they have more than one child to pay for at the same time. This is when PTPTN plays an important role for these families because the loan supports their children to pursue their higher education and continue their future aspirations,” concluded Zhi Ching.
1 https://eduadvisor.my/your-complete-guide-to-ptptn-loan-in-malaysia/