Planned by Tan Sri Halim Saad, Kolej Matrikulasi Yayasan Saad (as it was then known) is a residential college, modelled after British boarding schools. The teaching staff consists of Malaysians as well as expatriate teachers.
KYUEM is known to be a 'premier' A-Levels college, with its students consistently attaining Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards and securing offers into the highest-ranking universities.
Overview
KYUEM boards about 525 students mostly between the ages of 16 and 20. The college is led by a headmaster, who is appointed by the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees. Each house is overseen by a houseparent, typically selected from the teaching or administrative staff.[citation needed]
In addition to the core A-level subjects, it is compulsory for students to take the IELTS as it is an admissions criteria for universities in the United Kingdom.
Most students at the school take four A-Level subjects, but many also take three. The A-Level subjects offered are:[2]
by the Arts Department – Accounting, Economics, English Literature, History and Geography.
by the Science Department – Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Marine Science.
by Mathematics Department – Mathematics and Further Mathematics.
Facilities
Students either live in one of the 104 houses or villas - 42 for male and 62 for female students;[needs update] one of the 8 villas - 5 for male and 3 for female students; or the apartments usually housing girls. A new block was completed in July 2006. The second floor of the block is used by the Arts department for classes, whereas the old Arts department classes (on the ground floor of the Academic Block) were converted into science laboratories. The teachers and staff live in apartments provided on-site.[citation needed]
The college has 10 science laboratories, two lecture theatres, three IT laboratories which supply access to the internet connection and air-conditioned classes. Initially, there was only one academic block, with only eight science laboratories. However, a new block was added in 2006, and the non-laboratory classes on the ground floor were renovated to become two science laboratories.[citation needed]
The college has an Olympic-size swimming pool, a football field, two basketball courts, two tennis courts, two volleyball court, and a multipurpose hall for squash, futsal badminton, or a basketball court (not simultaneously).[citation needed]
Students at KYUEM are sorted into four houses: Diamond, Garnet, Sapphire and Topaz.[citation needed]