Malaysian Matriculation Programme

The Malaysian Matriculation Programme (Malay: Program Matrikulasi Malaysia) is a one-year pre-university preparatory programme offered by the Ministry of Education, Malaysia.

Starting in 2005, the selection process for the Malaysian Matriculation Programme uses a quota system in which 90 per cent of the places are reserved for Bumiputeras, a term referring to the indigenous ethnic groups of Malaysia, while the remaining 10 per cent are allocated to non-Bumiputera students. The quota system is part of government policies to help improve access to higher education for Bumiputera communities. This policy has sparked debate because some non-Bumiputera students who performed well in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, the national secondary school examination taken at the end of the fifth year, have limited opportunities to enter the programme.

Graduates of the Malaysian Matriculation Programme are awarded the Sijil Matrikulasi KPM by the Ministry of Education, which is fully recognised by all public universities in Malaysia. Although primarily intended for local university admission, the certificate is also accepted by some overseas institutions, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, with recognition varying by country and institution. By comparison, the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) is more widely recognised internationally, especially in the United Kingdom, where it is considered comparable to the A-level qualification.