Malaysia has one of the most thriving higher educational reputations in Southeast Asia. Like other leading institutes in the region, Malaysian universities rank among the best in the world. These institutions have broad strategic partnerships with top-ranking schools in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Asian countries.
Moreover, the country offers a diverse, multicultural community, which will boost the student life experiences of international students. On top of that, studying in Malaysia is generally more affordable than in other countries, which offer the same quality of education and interdisciplinary research. In this guide, we walk you through some of the best English-taught universities in Malaysia.
Top Universities for English-taught Programs in Malaysia
1. University of Malaya
The University of Malaya, known as Malayan University, is a top-ranking public research institution in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Its roots trace back to 1905 when its predecessor, King Edward VII College of Medicine, was established. In 1949, the medical college was merged with Raffles College, forming what is now known as Malaysia’s first university—the University of Malaya.
The vision of creating a higher institution that will provide excellent educational services and produce a generation of skilled and educated individuals who will shape the nation’s future led to the establishment of the said university. However, in 1960, the institution rapidly grew, resulting in the division of the school into two autonomous national universities—one in Singapore and the other in Kuala Lumpur.
UM is considered to be among the best English-taught universities in Malaysia. It is the country’s most prestigious and premier higher education institution and has received the highest ranking in two prestigious global academic league rankings. The 2024 QS World University Rankings ranked UM 65th in the world, 3rd in Southeast Asia, and 16th in Asia.
Being considered Malaysia’s number one university, UM has the highest international outlook of any institution. Though its primary language of instruction is Malay, it offers several degree programs in various languages. Its Department of English also provides English-taught degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
2. Universiti Putra Malaysia
Universiti Putra Malaysia is one of the top English-taught universities in Malaysia. It is dubbed the second top-ranking institution in the country. Initially established with a primary focus on agriculture, the school offers the broadest range of research and academic programs in engineering, medicine, veterinary medicine, business, languages, and social sciences.
Although UPM was founded in 1971, its roots trace back to 1931. It multiplied over the years while maintaining its specialization in agriculture and becoming a prominent science and technology university in Malaysia. It has an outstanding global reputation with partner universities in different countries worldwide, which opened its doors for student mobility and staff exchange programs, research and project collaborations, and technology transfer.
The university has over 7,000 international undergraduate and graduate students, creating a diverse, global learning community. Moreover, it focuses on providing a high-quality education and ensures students receive the most of their school life throughout their study term. This Malaysian higher education school also allows many student societies and clubs, encouraging everyone to join fun cultural and arts activities.
The institution is well-known for awarding Ph.D. degrees in conjunction with two very prestigious UK universities: the University of Sheffield and the University of Nottingham. Although UPM teaches mainly in Malaysia, its Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication offers a range of English programs.
3. Universiti Sains Malaysia
The Universiti Sains Malaysia is a renowned research-intensive institution in Malaysia. Its name technically means the University of Science, Malaysia. USM is the second oldest in the country and the first Malaysian academic institution to be granted by the government to participate in the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (APEX) to achieve world-class status. It is also one of the largest universities in the country by enrollment and has an overall population of over 32,000 students.
The university offers various disciplines in natural sciences, applied sciences, medical and health sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, building sciences & technology, social sciences, humanities, and education. USM offers a range of English language courses, and most of its undergraduate courses in sciences (except for humanities and social sciences) are taught in English. Some postgraduate courses are also taught in English.
4. University of Nottingham – Malaysia
Another of the best English-taught universities in Malaysia is the University of Nottingham – Malaysia, an overseas branch campus of the UK’s prestigious University of Nottingham. It’s known as one of the top-ranking academic institutions in the country, with recognition from the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education as a tier 5, “excellent” private school.
Established in 2000, it was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2001 and the Queen’s Award for Industry (International Trade) in 2006 for its recognition as the first campus of a British university in Malaysia and outside the United Kingdom. The branch campus in Malaysia offers the best British quality of education in an Asian setting. It follows identical research and teaching standards to the UK’s leading institution.
In addition, the Malaysia Research Assessment (MyRA) awarded it a 5-star rating for its comprehensive education and research performance in 2015. Onwards, this higher institution became known as the top-rated international school in the country. All courses at the University of Nottingham – Malaysia are taught in English.
5. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
The Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, also known as the National University of Malaysia, is one of the country’s most research-intensive public universities. The institution offers a wide range of degree programs that meet international standards. It also continuously introduces new courses to ensure that it provides an education that caters to the needs and meets the industry’s demand. UKM is a significant player in the country’s economic development with its groundbreaking research in various disciplines, including engineering, architecture, and food science.
Moreover, the institution has many collaborative projects and commercialized partnerships with other prestigious universities overseas, contributing to its global reputation and offering a diverse and international learning environment. It also provides a range of English-taught degree programs for international students in various subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
When it comes to universities, Malaysia is right up there with the best in Southeast Asia. Its diverse population and lower tuition offers make studying here more satisfying for international students. The country also offers many English-taught programs from its best institutions, some even partnering with schools from the West, meaning learners can ensure the best education from them.
We hope you found this article on the best English-taught universities in Malaysia informative and helpful. Visit the Malaysia Page and the Available Programs for International Students to find out more about Malaysian universities and courses abroad!
