Everything You Need To Know About KPM

 

APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON 30 JUNE 2022

A brief introduction to KPM 

(from a fellow graduate that somehow is still waiting for her graduation)

Hi there! I'm guessing you're here to know more about KPM after just receiving your SPM results. Whether or not you got what you hoped for, there's so much more opportunities for you to grab after your school life. Don't worry okay, there's still time to be the person you hope to be ad give yourself a chance to do amazing things.

What is KPM? 

Kpm stands for Kolej Profesional Mara, an institution under MARA that offers diploma programs. This means that only diploma programs are offered, so if you're looking to continue in foundations (asasi), A-levels, IB or matriks then KPM is not the place to apply for.

However, if you're looking to continue in diploma, then this is the chance for you to apply.

What are the main requirements to apply for KPM?

The main requirements are:

• Warganegara Malaysia
• Bumiputera
• Lepasan Sijil SPM
• 18 - 25 years old

Of course however, there are additional requirements depending on what course you are applying for.

Programs offered & campus locations

There are many KPM campuses around Malaysia with 14 programs to choose from.

For a clearer view of the entry requirements, click here: 

https://apponline.mara.gov.my/upimonline/syaratKPM.html 

What is IEP?

If you've gone through the entry requirements you will see IEP pop up a lot as one of the many requirements for most programs in KPM.

IEP (Intensive English Program) is basically a 2 months program  for SPM graduates that managed to get 3 'kepujian' but a Grade D for Bahasa Inggeris and passed in Maths. Those with these grades must go through the IEP program first before going for diploma.

Within the 2 months, students will learn Listening & Speaking, Reading, Writing and Grammar.

What are given to IEP students?

• Tuition fee for the 2 months of program will be fully funded by MARA.
• Free accommodation (Hostel)
• Elaun Sara Hidup (ESH) of RM250 a month for those that managed to finish the IEP Program and continue Diploma in KPM.
• Registration fee is RM75 and must be paid through MARAeps (a mobile application)

What happens After IEP?

• To qualify for your diploma program in KPM, you will need to complete your IEP program with a Grade C.

• To qualify for Diploma in Halal Industry in KPM, you will need to complete your IEP program with a Grade B.

• IEP finishers are not qualified to apply for Diploma in English Communication.

The Benefits of KPM

Bebas Hutang

• The tuition fee is fully sponsored by MARA
• Pay for only registration fee for each semester (+- RM400),  book fees and fee muafakat (koperasi).

Allowance

• MARA also gives Elaun Sara Hidup (ESH) of RM300 every month and a lum sum for the first 3 months of being in KPM.
• You don't have to pay back MARA the allowance given.

• 1 time ticket flight sponsored by MARA for students in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan.

Chance to Study  Overseas

• Those that achieve CGPA 3.90 and above for Diploma will be qualified to apply for MARA's IESP Program (IPMa Excellent Student Program) to continue Degree overseas.
• Though there are additional requirements for students looking to apply for this scholarship later on.

 Scholarships to Continue Locally

• Those that achieve CGPA 3.75 and above for Diploma will be qualified to apply for MARA's TESP Program (Tertiary Education Sponsorship Program) to continue Degree locally.

Free Accommodation

• Most first semester students are guaranteed a place in the hostel.
• The hostel fee is free.
• Hostels are usually shared among 5-6 people depending on which campus you apply for. 

Quality Program

• It's a program recognised by MQA

How to Apply for KPM

1. Start applications by going to UPIM Online website. (Deadline is 30 June 2022).

link is https://apponline.mara.gov.my/upimonline/ 

2. You do not need to buy a pin number.

3. Check the main requirements as well as program requirements. Make sure you are qualified before applying.

4. Fill in all your important details.

5. DO NOT FORGET to print out the proof of applications for your own usage later on.

Important Timelines You Should Take Note

Personal Experience in KPM Seri Iskandar

I myself am a KPM graduate from KPM Seri Iskandar. I took Diploma in English Communication (DEC) for 2.5 years and I can easily say those were the most fun, enjoyable and productive years of my life. The course itself I would say is very doable. Almost all of my friends and acquaintances I know managed to graduate from our program with a CGPA of 3.5 and above. DEC is a program that focuses a lot on English skills on the first semester, however along the way you are introduced to many more subjects, most of which will prepare you for academic writing, business and the working industry afterwards. 

If you are someone that loves to write, analyze articles, give opinions and brainstorm ideas for essays then you should definitely give this program a go. And if you're the type that has never been too passionate in writing and researching but have the potential to try, you shouldn't worry as much because during classes lecturers will guide you with rubrics and consultation time.

Even though it is an English program, we learnt many other subjects along the way as well. We did a few semesters of Mandarin, which in my opinion was one of the most fun classes we had. A few Islam subjects, business/ e-entrepreneurship,  media, work place communication, sociology, MUET preparation and many more.

Everything I'm about to explain is based on my experiences in college from 2019-2021. I finished KPM 

7 months ago so I'm not too sure how many drastic changes have been made since I left.

The facilities at KPM Seri Iskandar are all decent though the lecturer building is the most modern/ nicest building of them all. Most classes are air-conditioned and under one building only a walking distance from our hostels. It's literally so dekat you could wake up at 7:55 a.m. for an 8 a.m. class and still make it (kalau tak mandi). The cafe also serves really good food for an affordable price. I used to always eat nasi and butter chicken for RM4.50 at the cafe and with thanks to MARA's allowance it made everything a lot easier.

The hostels (here we call kamsis) are okay-ish. KPMSI doesn't have the most modern/ nice looking hostels I would say but it's doable with the fact you get to live there for free. I used to share rooms with 5 other people and there was little to no privacy. Though I had so much fun with my roommates so I guess that depends on what type of roommates you get. And no, you can't choose which room/ roommates you get. The toilets are shared and each floor has two toilets. They have two iron rooms for each floor as well but from what I remember a lot of rooms had dysfunctional irons (don't know if they fixed that already). They also have study rooms but I don't think people use them to study because those rooms were dusty af. But then again, because we were given accommodation for free, we just had to make do but don't be scared, it really isn't as bad as it sounds.

Curfew used to be until 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9/10 p.m. on weekends (i can't remember). And back in my diploma days they gave out a rule where girls can only pakai baju kurung/ jubah keluar outing but i'm not sure if they still do that anymore.

Social life there is fun. If you like doing sports petang2 then there's many sports you can join. If you like being active in clubs then KPMSI has many clubs to choose from. As for me, I managed to take part in nothing sampai habis grad. Alhamdullillah masih jadi student yang baik walaupun malas turun bersukan.

Our college is also really close to Bandar. You can easily book a grab or naik SP (seniors buat perkhidmatan kereta) if you want to go places yang dekat2. Near college ada Billion (for cheap groceries and kalau terdesak tengok cinema), Tesco, Econsave. Food ada Mykori, Pizzahut, Dominoes, Secret Recipe, MCD (yang sentiasa penuh students), KFC, Chicken Rice Shop and a new Starbucks that I didn't have during my diploma days. The Seri Iskandar bus station is 5 minutes away but a bigger bus station would be in Aman Jaya which is about 30-25 minutes away. If you're considering travelling anywhere by train then the closest station is Batu Gajah which is around 25 minutes away. Usually kalau students Seri Iskandar nak jalan2 yang seronok sikit then they will go to Ipoh which is approximately 35 minutes away. Tapi kalau stakat nak makan pizza or buy groceries then everything ada dalam bandar Seri Iskadar.

All I can really say is taking Diploma in KPM will be a core memory for you if you happen to apply because the campuses are small and there's not many students. Everyone kind of knows everyone and it's the perfect interchange from finishing SPM to starting Degree later on because you're still guided the way teachers would guide you in school but there are things you'll also be experiencing a whole new journey of assignment deadlines, group assignments, organizing events, consultations and many more.