Many law schools in Malaysia are globally recognized and consistently positioned in world university rankings. Several renowned law schools offer English-taught degree programs. This opportunity is excellent for international students interested in Asian law and its culture. The Malaysian government prioritizes education in the country and assures that all academic institutions offer high-quality research and learning.
Law education is no exception, and institutions provide a range of law disciplines that equip students with outstanding legal knowledge, skills, analytical reasoning, and professional development. Fortunately, Malaysia is home to numerous outstanding law universities. So, here is a list of the country’s top law schools!
Top Law Schools in Malaysia
1. University of Malaya
The first top law school in Malaysia to be recognized is Universiti Malaya or the University of Malaya. Its Faculty of Law was founded in 1972 and has provided students with top-quality legal education and various law-related academic courses since then. Because of this, it has equipped graduates and future leaders with copious amounts of legal knowledge and skills that benefit their chosen professional careers.
Since its establishment, the faculty has offered a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Jurisprudence program to aspiring law students. Ideally, the LL.B. program is completed in eight semesters and one particular semester. Its goal is to produce top-notch graduates by providing students with unparalleled academic programs and training.
Meanwhile, under the postgraduate study programs, the faculty offers four master’s programs and one doctoral program for Malaysian and International students. The programs offered are Master of Laws, Master of Criminal Justice, Master of Commercial Law, Master of Legal Studies, and a Ph.D.
The faculty offers other substantial academic courses: the Legal Education Extension Programme (LEEP), a short course for law professionals and non-law professionals interested in recent advancements in the field of law, and the Clinical Legal Education program, a system that trains law students through practical experiences through real client interactions.
2. National University of Malaysia
The National University of Malaysia, locally known as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, is already considered one of the best law schools in Malaysia. However, its Faculty of Law thrives on being the foremost department in providing highly focused study programs structured in the country’s legal system, particularly the Syariah and Civil Law. It also correlates its studies in Malay culture and promotes Malay as the preferential legal language in teaching.
The faculty offers one undergraduate program, three master’s programs, and one doctoral program. Currently, it only offers one Bachelor of Laws program, which is completed in four years. You can also take the school’s Master of Business Law (MBL), Master of Intellectual Property (MIP), and Ph.D. The faculty only admits graduates and professionals who meet specific criteria in their chosen study program.
Non-law graduates and professionals may continue their studies in the executive postgraduate programs in MBL or MIP. Only eligible students who meet the desired requirements are accepted. The Ph.D. is offered for professionals who have obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree. This research study can take six to 12 semesters, full-time, or eight to 14 semesters, part-time.
3. Universiti Utara Malaysia
Universiti Utara Malaysia was established to become a leading school in management education and the most distinguished management institution in the country. It offers numerous academic programs, and each faculty member provides a high-quality education, giving students a broad range of expertise in related fields.
UUM’s School of Law delivers an exceptional law program in Malaysia and has several undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. While most law schools offer a law undergraduate program exclusively for Malaysian students, the faculty, on the other hand, offers all its study programs, including undergraduate studies, to international students.
Two bachelor’s degree programs are offered in the faculty: the Bachelor of Law and the Bachelor of Philosophy, Law, and Business. Meanwhile, available postgraduate programs are the Master of Commercial Law, Master of Corporate Law, Master of Human Resource Law, Master of Law, and Ph.D. in Law. All of them incorporate management courses, making them unique amongst law degrees offered by other universities.
4. Multimedia University
Multimedia University has become a top law school in Malaysia. Before its Faculty of Law became an independent group, it was initially formed as a law unit under the Faculty of Management at MMU. Its function is to provide law subjects to business and engineering degrees. However, it evolved and became part of the Faculty of Business and Law in 2004, where they welcomed their first law students in their undergraduate program. In 2013, the school established a separate department known as the current faculty name.
To be accepted into the school’s undergraduate program, students must first take a one-year Foundation in Law program. This curriculum will qualify students to undertake a Bachelor of Law (Hons) upon completion. Earning this degree at the university will take four to seven years. The study program concentrates on the fundamentals of law at the national and international scope.
A handful of postgraduate study programs are available, such as the Master of Laws and Doctor of Philosophy (Laws) program. You can do specialized research in your LL.M. degrees like contract law, corporate law, criminal law, media law, and more. Master’s programs can be taken in two to three years, full-time or part-time, or three to five years. On the other hand, Ph.D. programs are typically completed in three to five years, full-time or five to seven years, part-time.
5. Universiti Teknologi MARA
The Faculty of Law at Universiti Teknologi MARA offers several study programs in Malaysia. These include UiTM’s Faculty of Laws undergraduate programs, Bachelor of Laws, and its postgraduate programs, Master of Law, Postgraduate Diploma in Syariah Law and Practice, and Doctor of Philosophy in Law. The LL.B. degree is a four-year program that allows students to participate in student exchange programs with affiliated universities abroad and exposes them to other countries’ legal systems.
The master’s study program accepts law students with the following requirements: a bachelor’s degree in law with a grade point average (CGPA) of 2.75 or equivalent, a written research proposal, and a positive evaluation of the faculty’s postgraduate committee. The admission of Ph.D. applicants is similar to master’s program requirements.
To get admitted to the doctorate program, law students must acquire and possess the following requirements: a master’s degree recognized by the Malaysian government and University State with a cumulative grade point average, or CGPA, of at least 3.0, a written research proposal, and a successful interview with the postgraduate committee.
Studying for a law degree in Malaysia can unlock a treasure chest of top-notch education career opportunities. These factors allow international students to develop their legal knowledge and understand how to navigate the laws that guide a country. So, if you’re interested in pursuing this field, consider the universities above and learn more about them through the links.
We hope this article on best law schools in Malaysia was helpful. If you want to learn more information similar to this, feel free to check out our Malaysia Page or you can check out some of the Available Programs for International Students!
