KUCHING – A total of 192 students holding the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) had received offers under Sarawak’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) as of 30 June 2026, according to the state government.
Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee provided the figures during the Second Meeting of the Fifth Term of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. He was responding to a question from Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How about access to the scheme for students with UEC qualifications.
Of the 192 students, 137 are studying at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, 21 at Curtin University Malaysia in Miri, 33 at the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) in Sibu, and one at i-CATS University College.
The figures show that students with UEC qualifications have accessed the scheme across four participating institutions in Sarawak. Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus accounted for the largest share of the reported recipients, followed by UTS and Curtin University Malaysia.
Annuar said the scheme was open to eligible UEC holders who met the relevant academic and course admission requirements. He said the policy was intended to ensure Sarawakians had opportunities to pursue higher education regardless of race or educational background.
Under the stated eligibility conditions, UEC applicants must obtain at least five Grade Bs in the upper secondary UEC examination and satisfy the entry requirements for their chosen courses. Meeting the academic threshold alone does not necessarily guarantee admission, as applicants must also qualify for the programmes they intend to pursue.
The deputy minister also clarified that UEC holders are not required to pass Bahasa Melayu as a condition of entering the four universities or receiving FTES funding. This clarification addresses a key eligibility question for students whose secondary education follows the UEC examination pathway.
The scheme covers a designated list of 64 programmes. According to Annuar, students applying for courses included in the list can receive automatic funding if they meet the stipulated conditions.
The programme-specific requirement means prospective applicants need to check whether their intended course falls within the approved list, in addition to confirming that they meet the relevant academic and university admission criteria. The reported figures relate to students who had received offers by the stated cut-off date and do not represent a full-year total.
Annuar said eligible UEC students receiving FTES support could also undertake industrial training and placements, provided they secured suitable opportunities. He noted that these opportunities were available to them in the same way as other students.
Industrial placements can give university students exposure to workplace practices and allow them to apply academic knowledge in professional settings. Access to such opportunities, however, depends on placement availability and the requirements of the relevant institution or host organisation.
The scheme’s inclusion of eligible UEC holders provides another route for Sarawak students to access financial support for approved tertiary studies. The reported enrolment distribution also shows that recipients are pursuing education at institutions located in Kuching, Miri and Sibu.
The state government’s latest figures establish the number of UEC holders offered FTES places by 30 June 2026, while the eligibility conditions set out the academic and programme requirements applicants must meet. Students considering the scheme should verify current course availability and admission criteria with the participating universities before applying. – Sarawak Daily
