The high number of applications for competitive programmes and unsuccessful interviews were among the factors candidates fail to secure places at public universities through the UPUOnline system, said Higher Education Ministry director-general Husaini Omar.

In his briefing on UPUOnline in Putrajaya today, competitive programmes such as medicine, accounting and law received a large number of applications and stiff competition because there were many eligible candidates.

Citing the medical programme as an example, Husaini (above) said the programme received...