KUALA LUMPUR: Students who failed to get places in public universities still have options, including polytechnics, micro-credentials, professional qualifications and the accreditation of prior experiential learning (Apel), experts said.

The advice came after 62,102 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) leavers failed to secure places through the Higher Education Ministry’s UPUOnline system for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The central public university admission portal received 235,852 applications from SPM leavers, of which 235,480 could be processed.

It said unsuccessful applications were mainly due to low merit scores, unsuccessful interviews or entrance tests, application errors and unsuitable programme choices.

Following the appeals process, UPU offered places to an additional 11,353 applicants from the 28,743 appeals submitted.

Visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute Ooi Kok Hin said students should consider polytechnics, which form part of Malaysia’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) ecosystem and consistently records strong graduate employability.

Ooi also asked school leavers to pursue micro-credentials, saying employers increasingly value targeted skills and industry-recognised certifications.

“The conventional pathway is to enter a tertiary institution, but the labour market is not creating enough jobs and underemployment remains a major challenge.

“Even if you complete a four-year degree, it does not necessarily mean you will secure a job that matches your qualifications,” he said.

His views echo those of Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister Nurhisham Hussein, who was quoted by Berita Harian as saying that not all Malaysians needed a university education, as only 20 to 25 per cent of jobs required a degree while most could be filled through skills training and work experience.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said on July 24 that recognised micro-credential programmes could help Malaysians upskill and reskill quickly.

PhD candidate in sociology of education Shakira Teh Sharifuddin said Malaysia must move away from the perception that a degree is the only route to career success.

She said professional qualifications, such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), are highly sought-after by employers.

“It’s quite a challenge to get students to enrol in professional qualifications such as ACCA or CIMA because they are not university degrees.

“But in reality, they lead to some of the most employable careers,” she said.

Shakira also highlighted Apel, administered by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, as an alternative pathway for working adults, recognising work experience for credit transfer towards higher education programmes.

“Not everyone wants to continue to university after school.

“There are many reasons for that, including family circumstances and personal interests,” she said.