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EnglishWhat Study Levels and Study Modes Are Available at USM?
Updated
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) offers study options across six levels — Foundation, Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Distance Learning, and Open Distance Learning (ODL) — plus alternative delivery routes including Offshore/Franchise programmes, USM@KL, and Dual/Double/Joint Degrees. The right choice depends on your current qualification and whether you can study on campus or need a remote or partner-institution route.
Study levels at a glance
USM's own programme pages group its offerings by the question a prospective student is asking. The table below maps each level to the profile it is designed for, using USM's own descriptions.
| Level | USM's description | Suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | "A program to prepare me for university" | School leavers preparing for a degree |
| Diploma | "I'm planning to start my diploma studies" | Students starting applied studies, e.g. the Nursing Diplomas at the Health Campus |
| Undergraduate | "I'm interested in pursuing a degree" | Students seeking a bachelor's degree |
| Postgraduate | "I want to pursue postgraduate studies" | Graduates and researchers, including Dual or Joint PhD candidates |
| Distance Learning | "I prefer to study remotely" | Students who want remote study |
| Open Distance Learning (ODL) | "I'm looking for online study option" | Working professionals, e.g. those seeking an ODL Master's |
Foundation and Diploma
Foundation is positioned as preparation for university and is aimed at school leavers. USM's Programme Eligibility Checker is explicitly "built for Foundation & first-time applicants," with separate paths for foundation, international, and local students. If you have just finished high school and have no prior tertiary enrolment, this is the entry point to check first.
Diploma study is a separate starting track. USM cites its hands-on Nursing Diplomas at the Health Campus as an example of this level.
Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Undergraduate study is the bachelor's degree route. Postgraduate study covers master's and doctoral work, including research pathways — USM specifically mentions researchers aiming for a Dual or Joint PhD with international partners.
Distance Learning and ODL
USM distinguishes two remote options. Distance Learning is listed for students who "prefer to study remotely." ODL is framed as the online study option and is explicitly linked to working professionals, with the ODL Master's named as an example. If you need to keep working while studying, ODL is the route USM describes for that situation; if you simply prefer remote study, Distance Learning is the broader label.
Alternative routes and locations
Beyond the standard on-campus levels, USM lists several delivery modes:
- Offshore / Franchise programmes — programmes offered by a partner institution, in countries including India, China, and Türkiye.
- USM@KL — study in the heart of Kuala Lumpur rather than at a main campus.
- Dual / Double / Joint Degree — programmes offered in collaboration with partner universities.
- USM+1 — described by USM as a flexible pathway for direct intake.
USM also describes itself as Malaysia's only APEX university and notes a global academic network that brings its degrees to students through these offshore and franchise arrangements.
Campuses
Programmes are delivered across multiple locations:
- USM Main Campus, Penang
- Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, Penang
- Health Campus, Kelantan
- Pusat Kanser Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Penang
- USM@KL, Kuala Lumpur
- KLE Campus, Belgaum, India
Which campus applies to you depends on the programme — the Nursing Diplomas, for instance, sit at the Health Campus in Kelantan.
How to decide which route fits you
Work through these questions in order:
- What is your current qualification? If you have just finished high school, start with Foundation or Diploma. If you hold a bachelor's, look at Postgraduate.
- Can you attend on campus? If not, choose between Distance Learning and ODL — ODL if you are a working professional seeking an online option.
- Do you want a Malaysian campus or a partner institution? Offshore/Franchise programmes are delivered by partner institutions abroad; USM@KL places you in Kuala Lumpur.
- Do you want a single USM award or a collaborative one? Dual, Double, and Joint Degrees involve partner universities.
Verify eligibility before applying
USM provides a USM Programme Eligibility Checker on its admissions pages. It is designed for Foundation and first-time applicants and separates foundation, international, and local student paths. Use it to confirm which level and programme you qualify for before preparing an application — eligibility rules differ by level and by student category, so the checker is the most direct way to test your own case.
Note that the site materials summarised here describe programme types and pathways; specific entry requirements, fees, and intake dates for each programme are not covered and should be confirmed through the checker or the relevant programme page.