SG Academy vs UNIRAZAK: TVET skills or a university degree?

Last updated 21 July 2026. Published by SG Academy (SG TVET Group). UNIRAZAK information is drawn from public sources (unirazak.edu.my) as of July 2026; where a figure is not published, we say so rather than estimate.

They're on different tracks — that's the whole point

SG Academy and UNIRAZAK are often mentioned together, but they belong to two different parts of Malaysia's education system. SG Academy is a TVET (skills) college regulated by the Department of Skills Development (Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran, JPK); its qualifications are skills-based, culminating in the Diploma Kemahiran Malaysia (DKM) plus industry certificates. UNIRAZAK is an academic private university regulated by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), granting degrees up to PhD as well as professional pathways such as ACCA and CPA Australia.

Because of that, comparing them isn't about "which is better" in the abstract — it's about what you want next. Want a hands-on technical job as fast and affordably as possible? A skills college fits. Want an academic degree, a professional accountancy credential, or postgraduate study? A university fits.

Side-by-side comparison

SG Academy fees as of July 2026, subject to eligibility and programme. UNIRAZAK degree fees are not published on its website — do not estimate; contact UNIRAZAK admissions for a quotation.

Who each is for

SG Academy suits school leavers, working adults, career switchers, and retrenched or reskilling workers who want a technical trade quickly — mechatronics, IT, culinary, multimedia, drone piloting, EV, solar, Siemens automation or USAII AI — frequently with little or no out-of-pocket cost through funded routes.

UNIRAZAK suits students who want an academic degree, a professional accountancy credential (ACCA / CPA Australia), a business, management, education or public-service career that expects a degree, or postgraduate research up to PhD.

TVET skills diploma vs academic degree — what's actually different

A common confusion is that a "diploma" is a "diploma." It isn't. SG Academy's Diploma Kemahiran Malaysia (DKM) is a skills qualification: assessed on practical competence and issued under the national skills framework by JPK. A university's academic diploma or degree is issued under the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) by an MQA-accredited institution and is more theory-and-credential oriented. A DKM and an academic diploma can sit at a similar MQF level, but they come from different sectors — skills versus academic — which is why they lead to different destinations.

The honest trade-off: a skills diploma gets you into a specific technical job faster, with hands-on evidence employers can see; an academic degree is a broader credential that some professions and all postgraduate study require. Neither is "higher" — they answer different questions.

Cost & funding compared

SG Academy publishes concrete figures. As of July 2026 and subject to eligibility: EV certification is around RM3,999 self-funded or RM4,299 via HRD Corp levy; the 5-day reskilling programme is roughly RM4,000 and may be PERKESO-funded for eligible retrenched or EIS workers; and the DKM-PRO diploma for working adults is structured around a PTPK education loan, with a possible monthly living allowance. Funded routes mean eligible learners can pay little or nothing out of pocket.

UNIRAZAK is PTPTN-eligible and offers scholarships and financial assistance (the site cites RM30 million in assistance to students since 2018). However, its degree fees are not published on the website — request a quotation from UNIRAZAK admissions rather than relying on estimates. The value comparison isn't only about being cheaper: SG Academy's shorter programmes also mean you can start earning sooner.

Duration & speed to employment

SG Academy's short courses run from 5 days to about 6 months, and its DKM diploma takes roughly 2–2.5 years — so you reach the job market quickly. UNIRAZAK's degree pathways are longer, but they lead to a degree credential; the university reports a strong 91% graduate employability rate, with 48% of fresh graduates hired by Tier-1 companies. The trade-off is real and simple: start earning sooner with a skill, or invest longer for a degree.

Careers & recognition

An SG Academy pathway points at concrete technical roles: automation technician, EV technician, CAAM-licensed drone pilot, solar installer/O&M, IT support, chef, multimedia creator, or AI-certified roles — backed by certifications recognised by employers and international bodies (Siemens, IMI-UK, CAAM, USAII). A UNIRAZAK pathway points at degree-gated and professional roles: accountant on the ACCA/CPA track, manager, educator, public-sector professional, plus articulation to Master's and PhD.

Be clear-eyed about one thing: some careers require a degree — many professional, management and public-service tracks do. When that is your target, a university like UNIRAZAK is the right door, and no skills certificate substitutes for it.

Entry requirements

SG Academy is deliberately accessible: many programmes accept students without SPM credits — especially hospitality and culinary tracks and the DKM-PRO pathway built for working adults — with age-based or PMR-based entry on some courses. UNIRAZAK follows standard academic entry: SPM into Foundation and then a degree, or STPM/Diploma articulation into later years.

Can I do both? Articulation & progression

Yes — and this matters if you're worried a diploma is a dead end. TVET and DKM graduates can often continue to a bachelor's degree through credit transfer or articulation at many Malaysian universities, sometimes entering Year 2 or 3. That makes an SG Academy skills diploma a low-cost, fast first step that keeps the university door open: earn a job-ready skill and income now, and pursue a degree later if your career needs one.

Frequently asked questions

Is a TVET diploma (DKM) the same as a university diploma?

No. SG Academy's Diploma Kemahiran Malaysia (DKM) is a skills qualification regulated by JPK/DSD, focused on hands-on job competencies. A university diploma from UNIRAZAK is an academic qualification regulated by MQA. They can sit at similar MQF levels but come from different education sectors and serve different goals.

Which is cheaper, SG Academy or UNIRAZAK?

SG Academy programmes are generally lower-cost and shorter, with government-funded routes (PTPK, PERKESO/EIS, HRD Corp) — for example EV certification from RM3,999 self-funded or RM4,299 via HRDC levy, and reskilling around RM4,000 which may be PERKESO-funded (as of July 2026, subject to eligibility). UNIRAZAK's degree fees are not publicly listed; request a quotation from its admissions team.

Can I study for a degree after an SG Academy diploma?

Yes. TVET and DKM graduates can often continue to a bachelor's degree through credit transfer or articulation at many Malaysian universities, so a skills diploma can be a fast, affordable first step that keeps the university path open.

Do I need SPM to study at SG Academy?

Many SG Academy programmes do not require SPM credits, especially hospitality/culinary tracks and the DKM-PRO pathway for working adults. Entry requirements vary by programme; counsellors advise the most suitable route based on your background.

Is SG Academy recognised?

SG Academy is a 5-star TVET college recognised by Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran (JPK) under the Department of Skills Development. Its Diploma Kemahiran Malaysia is government-recognised, and its programmes carry international industry certifications including Siemens (Germany), IMI (UK), CAAM and USAII.

Is UNIRAZAK a recognised university?

Yes. UNIRAZAK (Universiti Tun Abdul Razak) is an MQA-accredited private university in Kuala Lumpur, licence DU005(W), offering programmes up to PhD level as well as ACCA and CPA Australia pathways.

Methodology: this comparison uses public information from unirazak.edu.my and sgacademy.pages.dev as of July 2026. SG Academy is the publisher of this page. Where UNIRAZAK does not publish a figure (such as degree fees), we note that rather than estimate.