A science foundation degree is a two-year undergraduate degree that is designed to prepare students for a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The government of Malaysia announced the launch of an initiative to provide science education in the country. It has been focused on increasing the number of research papers and publications by providing incentives for scientific endeavors. Malaysia is a country with significant opportunities for science graduates. However, due to the lack of science graduates in Malaysia, a lot of new graduates are forced to take up jobs unrelated to their field. The government has taken action and plans to increase the number of science foundation degrees by 50% by 2020. Science foundation degrees in Malaysia came about to address  need for skilled graduates in the scientific sector.

The government made it mandatory for all public and private universities to be accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to award science foundation degrees starting in 2004, but many universities had already been awarding science foundation degrees before this new law was introduced. The first science foundation degree was awarded by Universiti Teknologi MARA in 2004. Malaysia is one of the most recent countries to embrace science. With the rise of science education, there is a need to have qualified teachers in Malaysia. Although Malaysia is not yet fully equipped with the necessary infrastructure on STEM education, it has caught up fast enough to provide the needed step towards having an educated and skilled workforce. As of 2018, Malaysia has over 6,000 students enrolled for science foundation degrees. Malaysia is one of the few countries in the world to produce a large number of scientists and engineers with a science foundation degree.

Malaysia has managed to produce so many scientists and engineers with this type of education due to their strong emphasis on science-based education during their formative years in school. This means that they also have a very high success rate when it comes to landing competitive jobs as well. Malaysia is a nation that encourages scientific advancement and has a small but growing number of students studying science degrees. Malaysian students are taking advantage of the opportunities available in the country’s education system, which offers Science Foundation degree programs that provide a pathway for progression into higher education.

A Science Foundation degree is the first degree offered by universities in Malaysia. It provides a wide range of career options for graduates who want to work in fields related to natural sciences and technology. Malaysia, which is home to a population of more than 30 million, has only two universities that offer science degrees. Compared to other countries, Malaysia has a relatively low number of graduates in science.  Science foundation degrees, which are also known as professional degrees in Malaysia, are awarded after students complete a four-year undergraduate degree with additional work experience and studies. More than 2,000 students graduate from Malaysian universities with science foundation degrees every year.