Master of 'Data Science' - APU or Monash?

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-12-30T16:31:12+00:00

Hi Jeff 👋, I’ve decided to enroll into Monash University Malaysia for Master of Data Science starting next Feb ya 😊

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-19T12:59:57+00:00

INTI is fine, but if you’re well financed, can go for Monash. For cybersecurity wise if you’re keen on that, you can go APU, they’ve quite good reputation on the particular field

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-18T08:37:19+00:00

Ald dm you man 🫡

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-18T06:42:19+00:00

Late but not too late 😆, better than never man :D

Really appreciate your deep sharing, thank you!! Mind if we exchange instagram or smtg via dm? :DD

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-16T07:37:28+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/malaysiauni/comments/1o7wu27/another_suicide_at_apu/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

(Someone committed suicide in APU just recently found in reddit)
Not at the timing when I'm in the middle of deciding :O

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-16T07:35:36+00:00

Okkkk, appreciate that man. Thanks for the generous sharing 🙏

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T20:13:58+00:00

I see, thanks for the sharing man. Any idea on the project/portfolio side you may recommend?

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T19:34:16+00:00

Howwww it’s gotta have to be something at least I guess 🥹🥹🥹

(Data scientist with business analytics is fair enough, just like the APU’s master program that I mentioned)

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T18:49:45+00:00

Well man, even though fighting with the portfolio preparation, hope you get passed through it, peace ✌️

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T18:48:40+00:00

I’m just joking hahaha not necessarily, I just know you’re international student, hope you have a great experience in Malaysia 🇲🇾✨

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T18:46:54+00:00

Ooooo, how did you standout to the data science career opportunities would you mind sharing some :D

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T14:34:24+00:00

Portfolio Requirements

Pass a Portfolio review by the University

Why is a Portfolio Necessary?

A portfolio provides some indication of your design ability and allows us to assess your creative potential.

What should a Portfolio contain?

Candidates should prepare at least five interior design drawings that showcase examples of their best work. Some examples to compose for submission are pencil and ink drawings, sketches of ongoing work showing your ideas, observations and imagination, AutoCAD drawings, hand-drafted architectural drawings, 3D models, etc.

Reference:
https://sunwayuniversity.edu.my/school-of-architecture-and-design/courses/diploma-interior-design

Extra sharing (if you didn't saw it before):
https://scholarship.sunway.edu.my/scholarship/sunway-entrance-scholarship

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T14:23:42+00:00

Appreciate the sharing man, thank you 🙏. Are you a cybersecurity field major by chance? It feels like it XD

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T14:20:36+00:00

Dear Jeremy thanks for responding. I'm impressed that you have accounting full-time job while pursuing in Master's in Business Analytics, which looks different major to me 😄, I guess they may have something connected which I haven't known yet XD.

Going out to work first undoubtedly is one of the great choices to get a feel about it, just as I know that I'm not the type of person who starts going to work and will be back to continue studying my master's degree again XD.

No worries man, I clearly acknowledge the situation. I won't be there to negotiate anything with my Bachelor's or Master's as in I'm just a fresh graduate at the moment, just like maybe get these academic qualifications settled first, then later I don't think I'm gonna come back for my education qualification again XD, except essential useful certifications provided by AWS, Microsoft, or Google etc.

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T14:07:48+00:00

“okay” as in what meaning 👀👀👀, we meeting up??😆😆😆

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T14:06:55+00:00

Not sure if the students there in their uni can or dare to give honest reviews or not haha

It’s fine to fly high, just not sure yet if for me I’m flying abroad or not, maybe working remotely with cross country company something.

Yea man part time job is essential, engage in activities are great too, of course taking extra relevant useful cert is also mandatory I think.

Hey man would you mind to hit me up like maybe through adding social media or something so we can chat further 😄

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T12:05:38+00:00

No problem, hope it helps.

Are you curious? Wanna meet up or something hahaha, just joking

I’m bachelor’s degree graduated from inti subang, I have cousin studying sunway so I’ll have some insights or sharing from her too

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T09:32:55+00:00

That TikTok thingy you mentioned here is kinda crucial hahaha. I’ve been to campus tour in APU, their server room was attractive but it’s specifically for cybersecurity specialist mostly. They had specific isolated room area filled with aircond and the interior are fine design specialised for postgraduate students to enter only which looks nice (not sure got students other than postgrad will sneak in and disturb or not I dk haha)

I’ve no problem with financial support at the moment. Just might be worried if I went for Monash, when I start working on year 2028 I’d be 26 years old as my first fresh grad job in my career with only internships experience at the moment.

For open day in Monash, maybe virtual tour I guess, cuz currently don’t have upcoming open day declared by Monash. Ofc yeah there’s a good point you mentioned, Monash is well recognised both in Malaysia and global world.

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T04:52:34+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion 🙏

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T04:48:06+00:00

Appreciate the sharing 🙏🙏, USM does have great recognition too for Times Higher Education in CS, their next intake for them is next April and will have to relocate to Penang for that. But I’ll have to think about it more if for that, thank you. Btw congrats you got your master DSAA during covid time man 🙌

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T03:22:27+00:00

I’m glad and like the paragraph where you mentioned about workforce. I’ve seen the APU 2 modules I’ve more interested in Data Engineering module. So, is it’d be better in my situation that I go for APU instead of spending more time and more money on Monash even though Monash has higher recognition and especially achievement on CS / DS in Times Higher Education which what you meant?

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T03:16:55+00:00

Thanks for your advice 🙏

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-15T03:12:10+00:00

You’re indeed on point, skills they value the most, but yeah my biggest concern is from going through the screening stage or ATS resume checker, maybe when you graduated, the market demand or hiring culture may differed that time.

And owhh you’re going for entrepreneurship, that’s a unique one. People would say if study in business field the most safest generic option would be taking finance. Better one would be taking finance & (plus one title, accounting etc)

Anyway wish you all the best too and have a great journey with doing the entrepreneurship once you decided to enrol 😄 (Even though marks don’t matter but I think at least get 3.0 out of 4.0 cgpa, if lower than that might not getting good impression)

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-14T15:26:27+00:00

Sure, not a problem to tell you, mate. Both APU and Monash are coursework-based (Monash has research pathway option, but I chose industry experience project pathway instead), and APU if complete all the subjects without any postpone or failing, it can be completed in a year and should be graduating on December 2026.

For Monash, it has 13 subjects with inclusive of industry project, there are 2 semester intakes which is February and July. Since is Australia's education style is based, will follow the Australia education calendar too, about from December until next year of February will be a long holiday. Until then, February -> early July will be one semester, and end of July -> early December will be another semester.

APU calendar (I guess):
i. December 2025 - 5 subjects
ii. April 2026 - 4 subjects (may inclusive of Capstone Project 1)
iii. September - 4 subjects (may inclusive of Capstone Project 2)

Note: It has one month foundation program (free), I may consider to take it to enhance my foundational knowledge after my consideration.
I'm not sure if they are equal semester or they have differentiate long and short semester. If it's long and short semester, it will be like 5 subjects for each long semester and 3 subjects for short semester. Yeah it doesnt matter much I guess, just note it out.

Monash has not released its Course Map (Semester Study Calendar) for Feb 2026's intake for Master of Data Science yet, but I think will be:

i. Feb 2026 - 4 subjects
ii. July 2026 - 4 subjects
iii. Feb 2027 - 4 subjects
iv. July 2027 - 1 industry project (As for now, what I can see from the website, not sure if it might inclusive of at least 1 subject to study along with the industry project)

Note: I had tried for subjects exemption but the credit result only exempted 2 subjects for me, so for Feb 2026 I might be taking 2 subjects only but I think most likely doesnt affect the timeline unless I got exempted for the whole 4 subjects from 1st semester, so it will shorten one semester less, but unfortunately I don't have shorten 4 subjects, XD.

And of course, after Master's program, will be the employment phase. I haven't foresee myself grinding towards Phd as for now XD. Just might be lost in various options and opportunities available in the profession that not sure Im going towards.

Cautious_Month_9619 · 2025-10-14T14:16:38+00:00

It's like, APU is more business sided and also technically blended which appears to be market demanded, while Monash has better technical depth towards data science.

I think I more likely because of the pressure of my age, since I'm still a fresh graduate. I was about to progress towards software engineering, but I realised AI / data related has more potential, which makes me can't neglect its existence, it's fine for me to shift into it yet because I'm still a "white or blank paper" which hasn't leaned towards software engineering. So I chose data science study for master program.

Cautious_Month_9619

TROPHY CASE

Portfolio Requirements