With over 170,000 international students from all over Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, Malaysia has become one of the significant destinations for higher education. Besides its pioneering education model across Asia, Malaysia offers unique opportunities for international students to shape their future by promoting academics and careers both locally and internationally.
Studying in Malaysia has various benefits and advantages for prospective students to complete their education with the best experience. First, due to its position at the center of Southeast Asia, Malaysia has a rich culture and diverse population, which makes it easier for international students to adapt. Second, studying in Malaysia is more budget-friendly than in other countries, and there are plenty of scholarship options.
Third, Malaysia hosts one of the most breathtaking natural resources and unique cuisines in the world, which makes it a pleasant and exciting journey besides academics for international students.
In this Ultimate Guide to Studying in Malaysia, we’ll cover everything you need to know, from admission requirements to living costs and more. So, if you’re ready to discover why Malaysia is the perfect study-abroad destination for you, read on!
Table of Contents 
How to Plan for Your Studies in Malaysia
Prospective students are required to plan their studies accordingly to get into their preferred programs in the country. Below are some important factors every international student must consider for their application.
Education System in Malaysia
Each year, Malaysian universities await new skilled and passionate international students with plentiful opportunities. However, it is critical for prospective students to acknowledge the academic expectations of Malaysian universities from them. Consequently, to understand Malaysian universities’ expectations, students should start by understanding the Malaysian education system.
Malaysian universities have accepted international students from all levels of education since the early 1990s. Although there aren’t any official statistics about the number of international students in the country as of 2023, the Malaysian government has a long-term vision to host over 250,000 international students by 2025. The number of universities for higher education in Malaysia is listed below:
- Public Universities and Polytechnics: 53
- Private Universities: 50
- Private University colleges: 16
- Foreign University branch campuses: 10
International students in Malaysian universities are provided with alternative program options. In addition to the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs, students can enroll in transnational programs or credit-transfer programs.
Transnational programs refer to the programs or courses recognized by a foreign university to be completed in Malaysia. Credit-transfer programs allow students to convert or obtain credits based on American or European standards (ECTS).
Choosing University in Malaysia
Each Malaysian university has its own merits and advantages for international students in that they encourage innovation and research to become a global destination for higher education by 2025. International students are provided with a wide scale of academic programs in Malaysia for different degrees of study.
The Malaysian government and many Malaysian colleges support international students with guidance on how to choose a school with the desired and appropriate program. Essentially, international students must recognize their academic interests and examine the employment opportunities of their selected program or university carefully.
Below are the top Malaysian colleges and universities you should consider when choosing a school and degree of study:
Planning your path to success? Check out our article on the Best Universities in Malaysia now and start your journey there!
Choosing a Study Program in Malaysia
Choosing the right university is definitely one big step ahead taken by international students, yet the greatest importance must be paid to choosing the right academic program in Malaysia since the program you study will define your future in academics and employment.
Malaysian universities offer a wide range of academic fields and degree programs, yet it is the international student’s role to choose which one suits them best for what they really want to and can do.
Popular study subjects and academic programs in Malaysia are usually Cyber Security, Medicine, Dentistry, or Public Health, Data Science or Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems, Engineering, and Biomedical Science.
Malaysian higher education provides international students with different options at the certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels. The overall entry requirements for different degree types are listed below:
- Certificate Programs: usually take 1 to 3 years for students with secondary school qualifications and accept students of 17 years of age or older
- Diploma Programs: usually take 2 to 3 years for students with secondary school qualifications and accept students of 17 years of age or older
- Bachelor’s Degrees: usually take 3 to 5 years to complete and are more theoretical compared to vocational schools
- Master’s Degrees: can take 1 to 3 years to complete and may require a thesis
- Ph.D. Programs: can take 3 to 5 years to complete and may require coursework and a dissertation
How to Finance Your Education in Malaysia
Below is the information for international students in Malaysia to consider when financing their education.
Tuition fees in Malaysia
As stated above, completing higher education in Malaysia is much more affordable compared to many Asia-Pacific countries. Although average tuition fees depend on the university and degree of study, a general range of the costs change as the following:
- Bachelor’s tuition fees: $2,200 to $5,000 per year for public universities/colleges, $1,500 to $10,500 per year for private universities/colleges
- Master’s tuition fees: $560 to $4,500 per year for public universities/colleges, $1,700–$3,400 per year for private universities/colleges
- Ph.D. tuition fees: $2,300 to $2,800 per year for public universities/colleges; for the tuition fees for private universities/colleges, please visit the university’s admissions website.
The most affordable Malaysian universities and colleges are usually public universities, such as the University of Malaya (UM), the University of Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), and the University of Sains Malaysia (USM).
When considering the tuition fees, please keep in mind that the type and field of the program can drastically affect the tuition fees. Programs such as engineering and medicine usually demand higher amounts of tuition fees. For instance, the average tuition for the Bachelor of Medicine in public universities can take up to $27,000 per year for public universities/colleges.
Find your dream university without breaking the bank – check out our article on the Cheapest Universities in Malaysia now!
Cost of Living in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is ranked #1 among the most affordable cities for higher education in the world for affordability, budget-friendly living costs and the abundance of scholarship options available. This makes studying in Malaysia especially attractive for international students since it is easier to finance their living expenses.
Living expenses usually include accommodation, transportation, food, textbooks and other supplies, clothing, traveling, and more. International students should expect to spend $500 to $850 per month to cover their basic expenses.
As for accommodation, Malaysian universities offer different options for international students. When choosing a university dormitory, international students can expect to pay from $70 to $300 per month, yet if they wish to rent an apartment, they can expect a monthly payment of $90 to $700.
Nourishment is also easily affordable in Malaysia; if you are careful of your spending, you can expect your food and grocery expenses to be around $250 to $400 per month. If you wish to enjoy the traditional or local food in the area and eat out, you can expect to pay some more.
To make transportation budget-friendly, international students can pay for the Monthly Pass, which is around $16 on average. The average cost of sports and entertainment activities is around $30 to $70, yet a more appropriate estimation can be made by the individuals.
According to the MOHE (Ministry of Higher Education), international students are to pay for health insurance during their stay in Malaysia. Annual health insurance coverage is from $4,500 to $11,200 for all international students studying in Malaysia.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
International students in Malaysia are offered plenty of financial aid and scholarship options. Many Malaysian universities and colleges offer full or partial tuition fee waivers, tuition fee payments with allowances, or full grants.
Both partially and fully funded scholarship options are available for international students in Malaysia. Scholarships in Malaysia are abundant since, apart from privately-owned grants, the Malaysian government supports international students with the following:
- A full or partial waiver of tuition fees,
- A monthly stipend,
- A block grant,
- A combination is one of more benefits.
These scholarship opportunities are available for international students with all types and degrees of study. For detailed information and a catalog of various types of scholarship options, you may visit the Malaysian higher education website.
Some of the popular scholarships available for international students in Malaysia are the following:
- Malaysia International Scholarship: for master’s and Ph.D. students, tuition fees and monthly allowance (US$360)
- Malaysia Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan: for master’s and Ph.D. students, tuition fee waiver, health insurance, and other expenses
- University Putra Malaysia International Graduate Student Scholarship: for master’s and Ph.D. students, tuition fee of up to 30%
- UiTM Endowment Scholarship: for bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. students, full tuition fees and monthly allowance,
- Heriot-Watt University Scholarships: for bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. students, 50% of the tuition fee and other expenses
Turn your study abroad dreams into a reality – check out our article on the Best Scholarships in Malaysia now to learn more about your scholarship options!
How to Apply to Malaysian Universities
Below are the important steps for international students to follow when applying to universities in Malaysia:
Admission Requirements
When choosing a university and program in another country, international students must be especially careful about the demands and requirements of the desired school and program. Each Malaysian university may have its own requirements for international students for different degrees and fields of study. Therefore, the best thing to do should be to make sure the prospective student acknowledges the admission requirements in every detail.
General admission requirements to study higher education in Malaysia are proof of diploma for the highest completed education, recommendation letters, proof of language proficiency, transcript of academic records, payment of the application fee, and motivation letter. Some programs may require additional documentation, such as student portfolios, oral/written exam scores, and more. For an accurate list of admission requirements, please visit the desired program’s web page.
Required Documents
Each Malaysian university and program has its own regulations for prospective students, and sometimes international students may be required to submit additional documents for admission. Typical documentation for Malaysian university admission is listed as the following:
- Completed application form (if the form is completed online, a digital or printed copy is applicable)
- High school diploma (for bachelor’s applications)
- Bachelor’s and/or master’s diploma (for master’s and Ph.D. applications)
- Proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or more.)
- Letter of Intention/Motivation Letter
- An official transcript of the completed courses at the previous academic level
- Letter(s) of recommendations
- Copy of valid passport and photo
Please keep in mind that these documents may differ for each program and university.
Application Deadlines
Application periods differ in each university in Malaysia; however, there are typically two intakes and application dates for international student admission:
- Fall intake: International students should complete their application by June to be enrolled in their desired program in September
- Spring intake: International students should complete their application by November to be enrolled in their desired program in February
To have access to the program-specific dates for application and admissions, please visit the related university’s web page.
General Admission Steps
When considering your application to Malaysian universities and colleges, you must organize an admission plan with the important steps to avoid missing any deadlines or documents. Below is the general admission steps an international student should consider when applying to academic programs in Malaysia:
- Choose your desired university and program: check out the program catalogs of each university
- Find out the language requirements
- Check program requirements and prepare documents
- Pay the application fee and submit your application
- Apply for scholarships and other grants
How to Obtain a Student Visa in Malaysia
According to the MOHE (Ministry of Higher Education), all international students wishing to study in Malaysia are required to be eligible for a student visa. A student visa is valid for 12 months for each international student; therefore, it must be renewed at least one year before it is expired.
International students who receive an admission letter from one of the governmentally recognized universities and colleges in Malaysia can start right after their application for a student visa. Usually, the approval is after four to six weeks. Below are the important steps to apply for a student visa in Malaysia:
- Obtain proof of English proficiency: Since most universities in Malaysia, the Malaysian government mandates international students to document their scores on governmentally approved English language proficiency exams. To check which English exams are accepted, please visit MOHE’s website.
- Obtain university acceptance letter: international students are to submit a copy of their offer letter from a Malaysian university or college to be eligible for the student visa.
- Prepare all the documents: although it can be overwhelming to work on too much paperwork, international students must prepare all the nece
