APEL.A

Access to Higher Education

APEL.A (Access) is an alternative admission pathway for individuals with relevant work experience and learning gained outside formal education to pursue postgraduate studies at INCEIF University.

↗ Check Your Eligibility ↗ How to Apply

Available Programmes at INCEIF

APEL.A is applicable for the following INCEIF postgraduate programmes:

Master in Business Administration (Sustainable Business) (MBA)

Masters in Islamic Finance Practice (MIFP)

Executive Masters in Islamic Finance (eMIF)

Masters of Science in Islamic Finance (MSc)

PhD in Islamic Finance (by Coursework and Dissertation)

Admission Criteria

Master’s Entry: T7

Minimum age: 30 years
Formal qualification: STPM, Diploma, A Level or equivalent
Relevant work experience
Open to Malaysian and non-citizen applicants
Must pass APEL.A assessment

PhD Entry: T8

Minimum age: 35 years
Formal qualification: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
Minimum 5 years relevant working experience after obtaining the Bachelor’s degree
Open to Malaysian and non-citizen applicants
Must pass APEL.A assessment

How APEL.A Works at INCEIF

INCEIF University collaborates with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), an MQA-approved APEL Assessment Centre, to facilitate APEL.A applications for prospective students seeking admission into INCEIF programmes.

Self-Assessment by INCEIF

INCEIF Marketing and APEL Centre conduct an initial review of the applicant’s suitability based on age, academic background and relevant work experience.

Registration Support

INCEIF assists eligible applicants to register in the MQA APEL Portal for APEL.A and select Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) as the APEL Assessment Centre.

Screening

The APEL Assessment Centre reviews the applicant’s eligibility, supporting documents and work experience in accordance with MQA requirements.

Assessment

Assessment activities are conducted by the APEL Assessment Centre in accordance with MQA standards. The assessment includes aptitude test, portfolio assessment, interview and/or research intent presentation depending on the entry level.

Master’s Assessment Details → PhD Assessment Details →

Certification and Admission

Successful applicants will receive the APEL.A Certificate through the MQA process and may subsequently apply for admission into eligible INCEIF programmes.

Assessment Fees

Student pays directly to MQA: RM60 / USD60
Balance to UNIMAS for Master’s: RM500 / USD500
Balance to UNIMAS for Doctorate or PhD: RM690 / USD690

Validity and Duration

APEL.A certificate is valid for 5 years
Master’s process: approximately 1–2 months
Doctorate or PhD process: approximately 2–4 months
Candidates should apply at least 6 months before intended intake

Frequently Asked Questions

What is APEL.A?

APEL.A (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Access) is an alternative admission pathway that recognises knowledge, skills and competencies acquired through work experience, professional practice and prior learning. It enables eligible individuals who may not meet conventional academic entry requirements to gain admission into higher education programmes.

Who is eligible to apply for APEL.A?

Applicants must meet the minimum age, academic qualification and work experience requirements prescribed by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) for the relevant APEL.A entry level.

For admission into INCEIF programmes, the eligibility requirements are as follows:

🎓

Master’s Entry T7

Minimum age: 30 years
Formal qualification: STPM, Diploma, A Level or equivalent
Relevant work experience
Open to Malaysian and non-citizen applicants
Must pass APEL.A assessment

🏛️

PhD Entry T8

Minimum age: 35 years
Formal qualification: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
Minimum 5 years relevant working experience after obtaining the Bachelor’s degree
Open to Malaysian and non-citizen applicants
Must pass APEL.A assessment

How long does the APEL.A assessment take?

The duration may vary depending on the assessment schedule and completeness of the submitted documents.

As a general guide:

🎓

Master’s T7

1–2 months

Approximate process duration

🏛️

PhD T8

2–4 months

Approximate process duration

ⓘ

Applicants are encouraged to begin the process at least six months before their intended intake.

Can I use APEL.A for more than one programme?

The certificate may be used for eligible programmes within its validity period, subject to admission requirements.

What happens after I obtain the APEL.A Certificate?

Upon obtaining the APEL.A Certificate, you may proceed to apply for admission into the relevant INCEIF programme.
The APEL.A Certificate serves as evidence that you have met the access requirements through the APEL.A pathway. However, admission remains subject to INCEIF’s programme requirements, document verification and admission procedures.
The APEL.A Certificate is valid for five (5) years from the date of issuance.