Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Access
APEL. A
APEL for Access (APEL.A) offers an alternative pathway for individuals to have their work experience or informal learning recognised as a substitute for the traditional entry requirements for pursuing tertiary education.
Admission Process
- Complete APEL. A assessments conducted by the APEL Centre
- Apply for a programme through Apel.A Certification
- Eligibility to apply for admission into a programme of study using the APEL.A or APEL.M does not guarantee admission to the programme of study.
- Applicants must comply with the admission criteria stipulated below for entry via the APEL.A or APEL.
APEL. A Criteria
- Applicable to local and international applicants
- Must meet the minimum age requirements
- Must fulfil the minimum formal qualifications
- Must have prior experiential learning
T7 Masters Programme
(by Coursework, Mixed Mode and Research)
- At least 30 years of age in the year of application.
- Possess at least an STPM/Diploma/equivalent qualification** (or those with higher qualifications, e.g., Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma
- Possess relevant work experience
Pass the APEL A assessment for Master’s Level
- Master of Education
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Design
- Master of Computer Science
Assessment Weightage:
| Assessment Instrument / Level | APEL T-7 Master’s Level | APEL T-7 Master’s Level |
| Coursework or Mixed mode | Fully Research-based | |
| Aptitude Test | 40% | – |
| Portfolio | 40% | 50% |
| Interview | 20% | 20% |
| Research Intent + Presentation | – | 30% |
| Total | 100% | 100% |
Assessment Fee:
APEL.A T7: RM560
The duration of the Aptitude Test is two and a half (2.5) hours.
Structure of Assessment
| Components | Test Content | Structure of Assessment |
| Bahasa Malaysia Language* | – Reading & comprehension – Vocabulary – Grammar & tenses – Error correction – Spelling | Part A: 13 Objective Questions Part B: 1 Structured Question |
English Language | – Reading & comprehension – Vocabulary – Grammar & tenses – Error correction – Spelling | Part A: 12 Objective Questions Part B: 1 Structured Question |
| Numerical Literacy | – Basic descriptive statistics – Basic numeracy – Basic algebra – Problem-solving | Part A: 25 Objective Questions Part B: 1 Structured Question |
| General Knowledge**, Critical Thinking and Digital Literacy | – General knowledge: current issues, digital literacy, and information sourcing – Critical thinking: logic reasoning, classification skills and pattern recognition | Part A: 25 Objective Questions Part B: 2 Structured Questions |
* / ** For international applicants, expatriates, and their family members:
- The Bahasa Malaysia Language component will not be tested. The number of questions omitted under the Bahasa Malaysia Language component will be added to the English Language component.
- Under General Knowledge, the section on current issues will focus on issues in the global context.
| No. | Entry Requirements | Documents |
| 1 | A Malaysian citizen / an expatriate working in Malaysia / an expatriate’s family members. | A certified copy** of MyKad orA certified copy** of the passport |
| 2 | At least 30 years of age in the year of application. | |
| 3 | Possess at least STPM/Diploma/equivalent qualifications*** | Copies of relevant academic certificates along with certified transcripts ** |
| 4 | Possess relevant work experience* | |
Note:
*The local applicants for Master’s (T-7) coursework and mixed mode programmes must
fulfil three requirements:
- The applicant is a Malaysian citizen.
- The applicant is at least 30 years old.
- The applicant has at least STPM/Diploma/equivalent qualifications.
- The applicant has possessed relevant work experience.
If they do not meet requirement 1 and/or requirement 2, the application is considered non-compliant, and the application is deemed unsuccessful.
For applicants whose qualifications have not been previously evaluated and approved by the MQA/National Accreditation Board/relevant Ministry, RU will notify them that the qualifications are not accepted for further assessment.
Applicants may appeal for screening by the MQA. The appeal application for applicants must be submitted along with a service charge of RM100.00 and certified true copies of the following documents:
- Decision of not meeting the academic qualification screening by RU;
- MyKad (front and back on an A4-sized white paper);
- Resume (personal biodata); and
- Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM)/Diploma/other recognised equivalent qualification for APEL T-7 application (copy of scroll and full transcript).
MQA will notify the appeal application decision via email to the APEL candidates who applied and RU APEL Centre. The application procedures and the APEL Screening Meeting schedule can be referred to on the MQA portal.
** If applicant does not apply with RU after 6 months, he / she will be de-registered from MQA APEL registry.
*** Applicant may submit appeal to re-sit the Aptitude Test up to a maximum three (3) times within one (1) week from the date of the notification of APEL.A result. If the applicant fails at the 2nd re-sit, the learner must wait for a minimum of three (3) months before re-sitting for the 3rd time.
**** Portfolio re-submission and repeat interview can only be made at least six (6) months after the date of notification of APEL.A result.
***** Applicants apply for admission to RU.
Note:
* The local applicants for Master’s (T-7) fully research-based programmes must fulfil
three requirements:
- The applicant is a Malaysian citizen.
- The applicant is at least 30 years old.
- The applicant has at least STPM/Diploma/equivalent qualifications.
- The applicant has possessed relevant work experience.
If they do not meet requirement 1 and/or requirement 2, the application is considered non-compliant, and the application is deemed unsuccessful.
For applicants whose qualifications have not been previously evaluated and approved by the MQA/National Accreditation Board/relevant Ministry, RU will notify them that the qualifications are not accepted for further assessment.
Applicants may appeal for screening by the MQA. The appeal application for applicants must be submitted along with a service charge of RM100.00 and certified true copies of the following documents:
- Decision of not meeting the academic qualification screening by RU;
- MyKad (front and back on an A4-sized white paper);
- Resume (personal biodata); and
- Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM)/Diploma/other recognised equivalent qualification for APEL T-7 application (copy of scroll and full transcript).
MQA will notify the appeal application decision via email to the APEL candidates who applied and RU APEL Centre. The application procedures and the APEL Screening Meeting schedule can be referred to on the MQA portal.
** If applicant does not with RU after 6 months, he / she will be de-registered from MQA APEL registry.
*** Portfolio re-submission and repeat interview can only be made at least six (6) months after the date of notification of APEL.A result.
**** Applicants apply for admission to RU.
T6 Bachelor’s Degree Programme
- At least 21 years of age in the year of application.
- Possess relevant work experience.
- Pass the APEL.A assessment for Bachelor’s degree level.
- Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours) in Artificial Intelligence
- Bachelor in Data Science (Honours)
- Bachelor in Information Technology (Honours)
- Bachelor in Business Administration (Honours)
- Bachelor in Business (Accountancy)(Honours)
- Bachelor in Supply Chain Management (Honours)
- Bachelor in Graphic Design (Honours)
- Bachelor in Multimedia Design (Honours)
- Bachelor in Fashion Design (Honours)
- Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
Assessment Weightage:
| Assessment Instrument / Level | APEL T-6 Bachelor’s Degree |
| Aptitude Test | 30% |
| Portfolio | 70% |
| Interview | – |
| Research Intent + Presentation | – |
| Total | 100% |
Assessment Fee:
T6: RM370
The Aptitude Test will take two (2) hours
Structure of Assessment
| Components | Test Content | Structure of Assessment |
| Bahasa Malaysia Language* | – Reading & comprehension – Vocabulary – Grammar & tenses – Error correction – Spelling | 10 MCQ questions |
| English Language | – Reading & comprehension – Vocabulary – Grammar & tenses – Error correction – Spelling | 10 MCQ questions |
| Numerical Literacy | – Basic descriptive statistics – Basic numeracy – Basic algebra – Problem-solving | 10 MCQ questions |
| General Knowledge**, Critical Thinking and Digital Literacy | – General knowledge: current issues, digital literacy, and information sourcing – Critical thinking: logic reasoning, classification skills and pattern recognition | 10 MCQ questions |
* / ** For international applicants, expatriates, and their family members:
- The Bahasa Malaysia Language component will not be tested. The number of questions omitted under the Bahasa Malaysia Language component will be added to the English Language component.
- Under General Knowledge, the section on current issues will focus on issues in the global context.
| No. | Entry Requirements | Documents |
| 1 | A Malaysian citizen / an expatriate working in Malaysia / an expatriate’s family members. | A certified copy of MyKad** orA certified copy of the passport** |
| 2 | At least 21 years of age in the year of application. | |
| 3 | Possess relevant work experience* | |
Note:
* If applicant does not apply with RU after 6 months, he / she will be de-registered from MQA APEL registry.
** Applicant may submit appeal to re-sit the Aptitude Test up to a maximum three (3) times within one (1) week from the date of the notification of APEL.A result. If the applicant fails at the 2nd re-sit, the learner must wait for a minimum of three (3) months before re-sitting for the 3rd time.
*** Portfolio re-submission can only be made at least six (6) months after the date of notification of APEL.A result.
**** Applicants apply for admission to RU.
T4 Diploma Programme
- At least 20 years of age in the year of application.
- Possess relevant work experience.
- Pass the APEL.A assessment for Diploma level.
- Diploma in Information Technology
- Diploma in Digital Game Art
- Diploma in Fashion Design
- Diploma in Visual Communication
- Diploma in Interior Design
- Diploma in Business Studies
- Diploma in Human Resource Management
- Diploma in Psychology
Assessment Weightage:
| Assessment Instrument / Level | APEL.A T-4 Diploma Level |
| Aptitude Test | 100% |
| Portfolio | / |
| Interview | – |
| Research Intent + Presentation | – |
| Total | 100% |
Assessment Fee:
T4:RM240
The Aptitude Test will take two (2) hours
Structure of Assessment
| Components | Test Content | Structure of Assessment |
| Bahasa Malaysia Language* | – Reading & comprehension – Vocabulary – Grammar & tenses – Error correction – Spelling | 10 MCQ questions |
| English Language | – Reading & comprehension – Vocabulary – Grammar & tenses – Error correction – Spelling | 10 MCQ questions |
| Numerical Literacy | – Basic descriptive statistics – Basic numeracy – Basic algebra – Problem-solving | 10 MCQ questions |
| General Knowledge**, Critical Thinking and Digital Literacy | – General knowledge: current issues, digital literacy, and information sourcing – Critical thinking: logic reasoning, classification skills and pattern recognition | 10 MCQ questions |
* / ** For international applicants, expatriates, and their family members:
- The Bahasa Malaysia Language component will not be tested. The number of questions omitted under the Bahasa Malaysia Language component will be added to the English Language component.
- Under General Knowledge, the section on current issues will focus on issues in the global context.
| No. | Entry Requirements | Documents |
| 1 | A Malaysian citizen / an expatriate working in Malaysia / an expatriate’s family members. | A certified copy** of MyKad orA certified copy** of the passport |
| 2 | At least 20 years of age in the year of application. | |
| 3 | Possess relevant work experience* | |
Note:
*If applicant does not apply with RU after 6 months, he / she will be de-registered from MQA APEL registry.
** Applicant may submit appeal to re-sit the Aptitude Test up to a maximum three (3) times within one (1) week from the date of the notification of APEL.A result. If the applicant fails at the 2nd re-sit, the applicant must wait for a minimum of three (3) months before re-sitting for the 3rd time.
*** Applicants apply for admission to RU.
Note: APEL A entry requirements of each level follow Guideline to Good Practices: Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Access (APEL.A) and Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Micro-credentials (APEL.M), First Edition 2023, MQA
* For the APEL.A T-4, T6, and T-7, the number of years of work experience is not stipulated and may vary.
** The documents must be certified true copies by an officer recognised by Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), as listed in the “Certification of Documents”
** For International Qualifications Equivalency, learners may refer to the document entitled “The List of Entry Qualifications for International Student” on the MQA website https://www.mqa.gov.my/pv4/nilai_taraf.cfm
Certification must be performed by an officer recognised MQA:
- Grade A Government Officer (Pegawai Kerajaan Kumpulan A)
- Principal / Headmaster (Pengetua / Guru Besar / Guru Penolong Kanan)
- Member of Parliament (Ahli Parlimen)
- District Officer / Village Head (Pegawai Daerah / Ketua Kampung)
- Pengerusi JKKK – Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung
- Ketua Kaum / Ketua Anak Negeri
- Commissioner for Oaths (Pesuruhjaya Sumpah)
The certifying officer must include their official stamp, which must display their
- name
- designation
- workplace address
For applicants whose qualifications have not been previously evaluated and approved by the MQA/National Accreditation Board/relevant Ministry, RU will notify them that the qualifications are not accepted for further assessment.
Applicants may appeal for screening by the MQA with a service charge of RM100. The appeal must include the notification document from the RU APEL Centre and certified copies of the following documents:
- Copy of MyKad;
ii. Copy of Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM)/Diploma;
iii. Copy of full Diploma transcript; and
iv. Resume (curriculum vitae).
MQA will notify the appeal application decision via email to the APEL candidates who applied and RU APEL Centre. The application procedures and the APEL Screening Meeting Schedule can be referred to on the MQA portal https://www2.mqa.gov.my/portalapela/en/appeal.cfm.
If the applicant’s appeal is accepted by MQA, the RU APEL Centre will arrange for the candidate to take the Aptitude Test and submit a Portfolio for assessment.