Get To Know Us

We are Malaysia’s top UK education specialist.
Since 1985, MABECS was founded with one goal: to help and empower Malaysian students to pursue higher education in the UK. Today, that much still holds true. Our highly experienced Education Advisors counsel students through every step of their journey—from course selection to UCAS applications to visa guidance—while keeping in mind that no two students are the same. Through this student-first approach, MABECS has grown to be the leading UK education agency in Malaysia.

Our team of Education Advisors have passed both the British Council and BUILA tests adding on to their extensive experience to ensure a smooth application process, which includes:

Identifying the right university and course aligned with your aspirations and qualifications.

Navigating entry requirements with confidence.

Securing your visa and more.

Our Story

Let us go back to the very beginnings, which means meeting our founders David and Carmen Guard.

Carmen Guard

Growing up in the small English village of South Newington, Carmen Guard has always been curious about the world. Her wanderlust pushed her to pursue new experiences in distant countries, from Lebanon to Canada, where she met her husband David. Their journey continued in Ethiopia, where Carmen Guard–with their firstborn baby in tow–dipped her toes into teaching a typing class to a cohort of 15 students, which mostly consisted of men. It was then that Carmen Guard found her passion for helping students.
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Due to safety concerns, however, the couple left Ethiopia and returned to England, where Carmen Guard spent the next 13 years devoting herself to her four children. It wasn’t long before Carmen and David Guard were itching for a change of scenery. In 1974, they moved to Malaysia, and Carmen worked as the Social Secretary in the British High Commissioner’s office. During that time, she co-founded the Association of British Women in Malaysia as an avenue for community building and philanthropy work, values she brought to MABECS when she founded the company in 1985. In the thirty years that followed, Carmen Guard proved herself to be the backbone of the company, fearlessly leading the company to greater and greater heights while doing what she loved most: helping people.
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David Guard

David Guard’s journey in education and philanthropy began with a challenging start at school, where he was considered 'unteachable.' However, his potential flourished at his next school, leading him to St. Edward's School in Oxford and later to study Natural Sciences at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. After graduating, David Guard emigrated to Canada, where he met his wife, Carmen, and worked as an engineer. Their journey continued in Ethiopia, where David Guard discovered his passion for teaching while educating future science teachers.
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Returning to the UK amidst political unrest, David Guard spent thirteen fulfilling years at Bloxham School as a physics teacher and housemaster, enriching the lives of students through sports and pastoral care. Seeking new challenges, David Guard moved to Malaysia in 1974, where he spent 25 years, first as an education advisor and then as Director of the Centre for British Teachers, significantly impacting the Malaysian education system. David's legacy lives on through MABECS, the company he founded, and the David Guard MABECS Scholarship, continuing his lifelong dedication to education and helping others.
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Mabecs Archives

Mabecs Monitor Issue 01
Mabecs Monitor Issue 02

See how we got here.

April 1974
David Guard arrives in Malaysia to work as an Adviser at the Ministry of Education. Initially planned for two years, his role was extended to four due to his significant contributions.
1978-1982
David Guard is appointed Director of the English Language project by Tan Sri Murad bin Mohd Noor, the then Director of Education in Malaysia, under the Centre for British Teachers (CfBT).
1983-84
David Guard organizes university tours in Malaysia for British institutions.
August 1985
MABECS is founded, with Tan Sri Murad as Chairman, David Guard as Senior Adviser, and Mr. Chee Tiam Chin, Mr. Narian Singh, and Mrs. Carmen Guard as additional directors. David and Carmen set up operations in Narian Singh’s office on Jalan Benteng.
1986
MABECS relocates to Section 5 in PJ, at No. 37/5/4F.
1989
David Guard, with assistance from Vanessa Lim, launches The MABECS Monitor, a student-focused magazine distributed to schools and colleges, featuring competitions and educational content.
1990s and 2000s
Expansion of the MABECS Schools Advisory programme.
2000
First UCAS online application form submitted using the Electronic Application System (EAS).
2005
20th Birthday with MABECS Family.
2009
MABECS relocates from No. 9, 2nd Floor, Jalan Barat to B-3A-05, Block B West, PJ8.

IELTS Authorised Registrar with British Council.
2019
MABECS Global is established, expanding into education counselling beyond the UK. A new office has been opened in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

MABECS relocates from B-3A-05 to B-07-03, Block B West, PJ8.
2020
Full Digitisation of MABECS Sevices by February 2020.
2022
MABECS opens its first office in Kuching, Sarawak, and launches the David Guard MABECS Scholarship with the University of Birmingham, covering one year of tuition.
2023
MABECS Kuching relocates to a new office.

IELTS Authorised Registrar with International Development Program.
2024
MABECS continued its growth as a leading education advisory firm. By expanding its network and enhancing its Schools Advisory Services, MABECS is committed to helping students access quality education.