Universities in Malaysia
Universities in Malaysia: fees, ranking, list of the best universities and other important information for admission process
Malaysia’s universities are still quite new. The oldest one, the University of Malaya, was started in 1962, but it is already ranked 13th among the best universities in Asia. Besides that, five more universities in Malaysia are also in the top 100. Studying in Malaysia is much cheaper — about 3 to 4 times less than in Western countries.
Since Malaysia used to be a British colony, many people speak English. This makes it easier for international students to live and study there. The local Malay English is also easy to understand, so students can quickly adjust and feel comfortable.
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List of the best universities in Malaysia
University of Malaya
🇲🇾 Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
from 1,627 USD
University of Science Malaysia
🇲🇾 Malaysia
from 3,337Â USD
University of Technology Malaysia
🇲🇾 Malaysia, Skudai
from 845Â USD
National University of Malaysia
🇲🇾 Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
from 451Â USD
University of Putra Malaysia
🇲🇾 Malaysia
from 4,450Â USD
Advantages of universities in Malaysian universities
- Well-known around the world. In the past 8 years, the University of Malaya has moved up in the global QS university ranking from 156th to 65th place — even higher than Sorbonne University. Malaysia also has campuses of top British and Australian universities like Monash, Nottingham, and Southampton. But remember: just because a university has a famous name doesn’t mean every course will be great. It’s important to check the program details and who the teachers are before you apply.
- Many international students. About 130,000 students from 136 countries study in Malaysia. According to UNESCO, it’s the 11th most popular country for international students. This means you’ll meet people from all over the world, learn about other cultures, and practice your English.
- Affordable prices. Studying in Malaysia is much cheaper than in many other countries with similar education quality. For example, studying engineering at an Australian university branch in Malaysia costs about $17,000 per year, while the same degree in Australia costs $54,000. At the University of Malaya, it’s even cheaper — about $5,000 per year. In nearby Singapore, tuition is similar, but living costs are about double.
- English. There are around 2,000 bachelor’s programs in English. All master’s and PhD programs are also taught in English, so language won’t be a problem.
- Recognized degrees. All university programs in Malaysia are checked and approved by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency to ensure good quality. This means your degree will be recognized and trusted.
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Disadvantages of universities in Malaysia
- Cramming. In universities, it is not the ability to reason that is most appreciated, but the ability to memorize syllabus by heart. The authority of the teachers is high, and they do not like to be argued with. In addition, they have little interaction with students, more often they just read lectures monotonously. This approach does not teach students to think critically, and it makes learning boring.
- Admission difficulties. Secondary education in Malaysia lasts 12 years, so you cannot enter Malaysian universities immediately after 11th grade, if secondary school in your country lasts that long. You will first have to study one year at a university in your home country or take a Foundation / A-Level / IB program.
- Work while studying. A student visa in Malaysia does not give the right to work, for that you need to obtain a separate permit. But even with it, you can work only 20 hours a week and only during the holidays. You can get a job in restaurants, convenience stores, hotels and gas stations, though you cannot hold the position of a cashier.
Requirements for admission to universities in Malaysia
| Type of study | Age | Duration | Min. cost / year | Avg. cost / year | Examinations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University preparation | 17+ | 1-2 years | 2,036Â USD | 4,524Â USD | IELTS 4.0 |
| Vocational education | 17+ | 2-3 years | 339Â USD | 4,976Â USD | IELTS 4.0 |
| Undergraduate | 18+ | 3-5 years | 829Â USD | 5,654Â USD | IELTS 6.0+ / TOEFL 550+ |
| Master | 21+ | 1-3 years | 2,278Â USD | 6,107Â USD | IELTS 6.0+ / TOEFL 550+ |
| PhD | 21+ | 3-5 years | 2,231Â USD | 7,916Â USD | IELTS 6.0+ / TOEFL 550+ |
There are several ways to close the academic gap between high school in your home country and in Malaysia, if needed:
- Complete a preparatory program — Foundation — in Malaysia;
- Enroll in a college or a polytechnic in Malaysia for an Associate’s program. Studying there lasts three years. Upon graduation, the student is immediately admitted to the second year of the Bachelor’s degree program. There are programs in English;
- Complete a year of undergraduate studies in your country and then apply to a Malaysian university;
- Complete an A-Level or IB program.
The academic year in Malaysia lasts from January to November. Most universities admit students in three waves:
| Preparation of documents | Application deadline | Response from university | Start of studies |
|---|---|---|---|
| May-June | October | November | February |
| November-December | March | April | July |
| February-March | June | July | October |
As a rule, there are no entrance exams in Malaysian universities, but some universities may arrange interviews.
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Types of institutions in Malaysia
There are several types of institutions of higher education in Malaysia:
- Universities are the largest group of higher education institutions in Malaysia. There are 92 universities in the country. They are divided into public, private and foreign.
- Public — There are 20 public universities in Malaysia. They are categorized into comprehensive, research and focussed institutions.
- Comprehensive Universities offer courses in various fields of Humanities or Social, Natural, Accurate, Technical, and Agricultural sciences. They are focused on the undergraduate degrees — about 70% of the programs award them;
- Research universities are, in contrast to the comprehensive ones, more focused on the research, and students often continue with an academic career. They offer approximately the same number of undergraduate and graduate programs;
- Focussed Universities conduct research within a specific technical field, such as Mechanical Engineering or Computer Engineering. Similar to research universities, the number of undergraduate and graduate / doctoral students is the same there;
- Private universities — medium in size: usually 10-15 thousand students study in them. There are 62 private universities in the country;
- Branches of foreign universities — 10 branches of universities from the UK, Australia, China and Ireland.
- University colleges differ from universities in campus size and number of students. Vocational education institutions in Malaysia offer two- and three-year programs. They are divided into:
- Community colleges — funded by the state;
- Polytechnics — also funded by the state, but considered more prestigious;
- Private colleges — teach double degree programs with foreign universities.
Vocational education in Malaysia
Vocational education in Malaysia can be obtained at community colleges, polytechnics and private colleges. There are programs in a wide variety of areas, from Agriculture and Engineering to Accounting, Computer Science and Design.
You can go to college without an additional year in Foundation, and they also cost less. On the other hand, colleges are considered less prestigious, even if they offer undergraduate programs. The studies are conducted mainly in Malay, but there are also English language courses. After graduating from college, you can immediately seek employment or continue your education at a university.
All vocational education institutions are divided into three types:
- Community colleges are funded by the state and accountable to the Ministry of Education. There are three types of programs in colleges: Certificate, Diploma or Advanced Diploma programs. Certificate lasts two years and the student must earn 60 credits. Diploma program is three years-long and requires 90 credits. Then you can continue your studies in the second year of a Bachelor’s degree program or in the Advanced Diploma courses. To obtain an Advanced Diploma, you need to get 40 more credits. At the end of college, students undergo compulsory work practice. It lasts 4-6 months. There are 242 community colleges in the country.
- Polytechnics are funded by the state, like the community colleges. There are Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs. Qualifications provided by polytechnics and colleges are legally equal, but entering a polytechnic is usually more difficult. Here you can get a Bachelor’s degree in partnership programs with universities. There are 36 polytechnic schools in Malaysia.
- Private colleges offer the same programs as public ones. Formally, colleges cannot award Bachelor’s degrees, but some of them have partnership agreements with foreign universities. In dual degree programs, students study abroad for a year and receive a Bachelor’s degree. Some colleges offer programs pre-university and GCE A-Level. All programs are accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, which sets educational standards and monitors their implementation. There are 25 private colleges in the country.
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Public and private universities
Public universities are considered the most prestigious in Malaysia. The top-200 of the QS Global University Ranking includes 5 public universities and not a single private one. The oldest of them, the University of Malaya, was founded in 1949 and ranks 59th. Public universities tend to be larger than private ones. They offer programs in many areas, while private ones specialize in specific programs.
The main difference between public and private universities is the price. Public universities receive funding and research grants from the government, so their tuition fees are lower. For example, an MBA program at the University of Malaya will cost 6,574 USD/year. In private universities, the price can be up to two times higher.
There are 3 times more private universities in Malaysia than public ones: 62 versus 20. And the number is growing every year. Most of them appeared after 1996, when the Higher Educational Institutions Act was issued. Private universities were allowed to grant their own degrees, and their programs received accreditation from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.
It is believed that admission requirements in private universities are not as strict as in public ones. This is not always the case: in the best private universities, the requirements for language and GPA are not lower. But enrollment is still easier: they recognize different qualifications and degrees, while state universities give preference to local exams, such as STPM. Because of this, foreigners mainly enter private universities — 70% of all international students in Malaysia study there[4].
Branches of international universities in Malaysia can be distinguished into a separate category. These are 10 branches of prestigious Australian, British, Chinese and Irish universities. Three of them — Monash University, the University of Nottingham and Southampton University are in the top-100 best universities in the world, according to QS ranking. Education there costs 3-4 times more than in Malaysian public universities. But students receive the same degrees and study in the same programs as graduates of the major campuses.
Organizations and schools associations
- MAPCU — The Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities. The organization unites 54 universities. It coordinates the activities of private universities and defends their interests in the legislative bodies of the country. It is engaged in improving the quality of programs and interactions with the government, develops workplace rules and codes of conduct for university employees.
- NAPEI — The National Association of Private Educational Institutions. The organization does mostly the same things as MARCU. The main difference is that NAPEI includes not only universities, but also private schools. In total, the association includes 60 educational institutions.
- Association of Commonwealth Universities. It includes 20 Malaysian universities and another 500 from other former British colonies. The association organizes summer schools, exchange programs, offers scholarships to students and teachers, conducts research on global issues — climate change, human rights, wars and conflicts. The organization strives to make education accessible to all. To do this, it gives grants to women and students from disadvantaged countries, conducts seminars and conferences.
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Free universities in Malaysia
All higher education in Malaysia is paid, but some universities give discounts to students from certain countries. To find out if there is a discount at the university, it is best to write to the admissions office mail, since the sites do not always provide up-to-date information.
Both the state and private universities in Malaysia offer scholarships and grants to students. They are awarded for study excellence and special academic achievements, such as publishing articles and participating in conferences. There are some scholarships for undergraduates; information about them can be found on the websites of universities.
The most famous scholarship — Malaysian International Scholarship (MIS) — is designed for Master’s and PhD students. It covers not only tuition costs, but also flights, accommodation, textbooks, medical insurance. You can read about the requirements for applicants and selection criteria here.
Fun facts about universities in Malaysia
- The University of Malaya has a botanical garden and experimental farm with fruit trees, ponds and livestock pens. The farm hosts classes with biology students, and city locals come to the garden for a walk.
- In August 2020, scientists from the Medical Research Institute at National University of Malaysia discovered a new strain of coronavirus. According to their reports, it is 10 times more infectious than the original Chinese strain[5].
- The University of Malaya has students from 80 different countries — almost half of the countries around the world. Most often, people travel to Malaysia from Bangladesh, China, Nigeria, Yemen, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
- Fashion design students at Limkokwing University run their own fashion shows. Shows are held every Thursday in the assembly hall. Anyone can visit them.
- The Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) has its own model of a security operations center. The classroom is equipped like a real secret service office. It hosts classes for students in the field of Cybersecurity. There they learn to analyze incidents, prevent cyberattacks and plan responses. This is how students gain experience for future work.
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