Malaysia has several universities that offer law degrees and related postgraduate study options. The programs below include undergraduate and postgraduate routes, but availability and admissions rules vary by university. Prospective international students should review each university’s official admissions page before applying. For more background, see this overview of the Malaysian education system.
Law programs can help students develop legal knowledge, analytical reasoning, and professional skills. The list below highlights five top Malaysian universities with law-related programs.
Top Law Schools in Malaysia
1. University of Malaya
First on this list is Universiti Malaya, or the University of Malaya. Its Faculty of Law was established in 1972 and has provided legal education and law-related programs since then.
The faculty offers a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Jurisprudence. The LL.B. (Hons.) is conventionally completed over four academic years. The Bachelor of Jurisprudence is an external program that enables working adults to study privately.
At the postgraduate level, the faculty offers four master’s programs and a doctoral program: Master of Laws, Master of Criminal Justice, Master of Commercial Law, Master of Legal Studies, and a Ph.D.
The faculty also offers the Legal Education Extension Programme (LEEP), a series of short courses for legal professionals and other interested individuals and organizations, and Clinical Legal Education through its legal aid clinic, which is run by third- and final-year law students under supervision.
2. National University of Malaysia
The National University of Malaysia, locally known as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), describes its Faculty of Law as one of Malaysia’s premier law institutions. Its undergraduate curriculum includes both civil and Sharia courses. The faculty’s mission includes upholding Malay as a legal language and universalizing knowledge based on national culture.
The faculty offers one undergraduate Bachelor of Laws program, which is completed in four years. Its current postgraduate offering consists of an LL.M. and Ph.D. The LL.M. is available in coursework, mixed-mode, and research formats.
The Ph.D. is thesis-based. Applicants generally need a relevant recognized honors bachelor’s and master’s qualification, subject to the routes listed on the faculty’s admissions page. The official UKM Ph.D. law page gives a study duration of six to 12 semesters full-time or eight to 14 semesters part-time.
3. Universiti Utara Malaysia
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) offers law-related undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Its law-related bachelor’s pages list a Bachelor of Law with Honours and a Bachelor of Philosophy, Law and Business with Honours, each with an eight-semester duration.
UUM publishes a separate page for international undergraduate applicants. Because the current official international admissions page does not list program-specific availability, prospective international students should confirm whether their preferred law-related undergraduate program is open to them before applying.
At the postgraduate level, UUM lists the Master of Commercial Law, Master of Corporate Law, Master of Human Resource Law, and research-based Master of Law. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) by GSGSG is offered by full research and includes law as a research field.
4. Multimedia University
Multimedia University’s Faculty of Law offers a one-year Foundation in Law, a Bachelor of Law (Hons.), a Master of Laws, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Law.
The one-year Foundation in Law is an entry route into the bachelor’s program, but it is not the only route. The Bachelor of Law (Hons.) page also lists recognized foundation or matriculation study, STPM or A-level equivalents, and a related diploma among its entry routes. The LL.B. is structured as a four-year program, while MMU’s Faculty of Law webpage states a possible four-to-seven-year duration. The curriculum covers law in Malaysian and international contexts.
The faculty’s postgraduate research programs include the Master of Laws and Doctor of Philosophy in Law. LL.M. research fields include contract law, corporate law, criminal law, media law, and others. The LL.M. can be completed in two to three years full-time or three to five years part-time. The Ph.D. can be 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 (UiTM) offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including the Bachelor of Laws, Master of Law, Postgraduate Diploma in Syariah Law and Practice, and Doctor of Philosophy in Law. The LL.B. is a four-year, eight-semester program. It includes opportunities for student exchanges with universities abroad, exposing students to other legal systems and cultures.
UiTM lists several master’s options. For the Master of Law by Research, applicants generally need a recognized law or law-related bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.50. Applicants who do not meet the CGPA threshold but have at least five years of relevant work experience may be considered. Applicants without one of the specified bachelor’s qualifications may need to complete bridging law courses. For the coursework LL.M., applicants generally need a first degree in law with a CGPA of at least 2.50 or equivalent, or another qualification relevant to legal studies that is recognized by the faculty.
For the Ph.D., applicants must have a recognized master’s degree in law with a CGPA of at least 3.00 or equivalent and submit a written research proposal. The official program page lists a full-time duration of three to five years and a part-time duration of six years.
Studying law in Malaysia can help students develop legal knowledge and learn about Malaysian and international legal issues. Admissions rules, study modes, and eligibility can differ by program, so review the official university links before applying.
We hope this article on law schools in Malaysia was helpful. To find more information, see our Malaysia Page or explore Available Programs for International Students!
