Jesselton University College (JUC) has implemented a clear and targeted admissions policy to increase access to higher education for students from the bottom 20% of household income groups in Malaysia. This effort is grounded in our institutional mission to empower underprivileged communities through education and is aligned with national economic classifications and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We have formally established a yearly admission target of 60% for students whose household income falls within the B1 and B2 categories of the B40 group, based on the official household income classification by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). These two categories represent households earning less than RM3,169 per month. JUC defines these students as belonging to the Bottom Financial Quintile, representing those who are most economically at risk of being excluded from quality tertiary education due to financial constraints.
This target has been in place since 2022 and remained actively implemented throughout 2026. It will continue as part of JUC’s long-term strategic planning through 2030, ensuring continuity in our commitment to poverty alleviation and equitable access to higher education. It is not a one-time initiative, but a standing institutional benchmark monitored by the university’s Student Development and Admission Committee, with progress reviewed annually using institutional admission and student records and reported internally and externally.
In 2026, JUC continued to strengthen its efforts to widen access for students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those from low-income families and underserved communities in Sabah. The university continues to identify financial barriers that may prevent eligible students from entering higher education and provides appropriate institutional support to improve their access and continuation.
JUC’s commitment extends beyond admission. Eligible students from low-income backgrounds are supported through various mechanisms, including scholarships, tuition assistance, housing and transportation support, subject to the university’s applicable eligibility requirements. These support mechanisms are intended to enable students from the lowest-income groups not only to enter higher education but also to continue and successfully complete their studies.
The initiative also supports JUC’s institutional objective of improving student retention and completion among low-income students, with a separate target of 85% graduation for eligible low-income students by the time they complete their programmes. This ensures that JUC’s commitment to the bottom financial quintile extends throughout the student journey, from admission and financial support to retention and graduation.
Through this sustained effort, JUC actively supports SDG 1 (No Poverty) by reducing education-related financial barriers for low-income families, SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting inclusive and equitable access to tertiary education, and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by ensuring that these opportunities and support mechanisms are equally accessible to women from low-income backgrounds.
JUC firmly believes that economic hardship should never be a barrier to education. Our 60% annual admission target for students from the bottom financial quintile, together with annual institutional monitoring and continued financial support, reflects JUC’s long-term responsibility to ensure that deserving students have the opportunity to access, continue and successfully complete higher education regardless of their financial circumstances.
