PETALING JAYA: School leavers who receive offers to public universities, polytechnics, community colleges and public skills training institutions are chosen based on meritocracy, says the Higher Education Ministry.

It said the admissions were done by ranking all eligible candidates from the highest to the lowest merit scores.

The ministry said 74.25% (159,027 candidates) of the applicants have been given offers to continue their studies.

This is from a total of 214,173 UPUOnline applications received from SPM leavers.

“Of that number, a total of 83,667 candidates were offered seats at public universities while 43,531 candidates were offered to polytechnics, 26,474 were extended offers to community colleges and 5,355 to public skills and training institutions,” it said in a statement on Friday (June 28).

About 16,593 candidates were offered places through the special pathway with 15,082 B40 candidates, 425 persons with disabilities, 732 athletes and 354 Orang Asli.

A total of 31 graduates from institutions under the Social Welfare Department have received offers.

Overall, 504 study programmes were offered this session, including 104 certificates, 53 foundations, 346 diplomas, and one bachelor’s degree programme.

Candidates who did not receive an offer will be able to appeal to UPUOnline for a period of 10 days, starting from June 28, 12pm until July 7, 5pm.