The Cost of Studying in Malaysia: Tuition, Living Costs and Scholarships
Real fee schedules, the mandatory visa and insurance costs, a first-year sample budget, and the scholarships international students can actually get.
The cost of studying in Malaysia for an international bachelor's student starts with tuition of roughly RM 35,000–45,000 a year at a private Malaysian university, plus 6% SST. On top of that, budget about RM 2,000–3,500 a month to live in Kuala Lumpur and around RM 2,700–3,300 in visa, Student Pass and insurance fees in the first year.
Full scholarships exist mostly at master's and PhD level. At bachelor's level, expect merit discounts rather than free study.
Fees below are in ringgit (RM) from current price lists. Next year's prices are not published yet and may rise. Universities quote USD at an indicative RM 3.80 per dollar, while the market rate is about RM 4.08, so plan in ringgit.
For the full country overview, see our Study in Malaysia guide.
Tuition: the biggest part of the cost of studying in Malaysia
The type of university sets your tuition more than anything else. Here are approximate ranges for international students, without SST.
| University type | Approximate tuition (international) | 6% SST |
|---|---|---|
Foundation year (private) | RM 28,000–37,500 for the whole program | Added on top |
Private Malaysian university, bachelor's | RM 35,000–45,000 per year | Added on top |
UK / Australian branch campus, bachelor's | RM 48,000–65,000 per year (medicine up to about RM 139,000) | Added on top |
Public university (UM, UTM, UPM), bachelor's | About RM 16,000–33,000 per year | UM lists fees "not inclusive of 6% SST"; check each university |
Since 1 July 2025, private universities charge 6% Service Tax on fees paid by non-Malaysians, and fee schedules usually show prices without it.
A Foundation year adds a full year of costs. APU's entry table sends Indian Class XII, Pakistani HSSC/FSc, Bangladeshi HSC, Nigerian WAEC/NECO, Egyptian Thanaweya Amma and GCC certificates straight to the bachelor's degree.
Computer Science bachelor's: current fees compared
Computer Science is offered almost everywhere, so it makes a fair comparison. Some universities publish a yearly price, others a whole-program price.
| University | Type | Published fee for international students | Price list | What to add |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Private | RM 34,900 / 36,100 / 37,500 by year; RM 108,500 in total | Fee Guide | 6% SST, RM 5,000 one-off registration fee | |
Private | Tuition RM 124,080 for 3 years; RM 152,187 with all international fees and SST | Current intake | Already all-in | |
Medicine is a separate budget: UM lists MBBS at RM 673,200 for 5 years. Taylor's states that housemanship in Malaysia is not available to international students, and that Indian students currently cannot meet NMC requirements there.
Smaller items add up. APU's dual degree with De Montfort University (UK) costs GBP 450 extra per level. Intensive English costs RM 2,750 per 4-week level at APU. Foundation costs RM 28,400 at APU and RM 47,529 all-in with SST at Taylor's College. Compare more options on our universities in Malaysia page.
Master's fees
Master's fees are usually quoted for the whole course, so compare full-program prices rather than annual ones.
| University | Program | Fee for international students | Price list |
|---|---|---|---|
APU | MBA, full-time | RM 42,000 (deposits and other fees extra) | Current list |
Taylor's University | MBA, full-time | Tuition RM 56,920; RM 75,057 with all fees and SST | Current intake |
Monash University Malaysia | International Business, Data Science, AI and others | RM 65,280–74,160 for the whole course | Current list |
Universiti Malaya |
Master's students can also apply for the government's MIS scholarship (see below). Program choice and entry rules are on our master's in Malaysia page.
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Mandatory costs: EMGS, Student Pass and insurance
Every international student applies for a Student Pass through EMGS, and the fees are fixed in the official EMGS Schedule of Fees (v1.6, November 2025). These amounts apply to universities in Peninsular Malaysia.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
EMGS processing fee, new student (pass of 6–12 months) | RM 1,600 + 8% service tax |
eVAL (visa approval letter) | RM 150 |
i-Kad (student ID card) | RM 50 |
Medical screening after arrival | RM 250 |
Student Pass sticker | RM 60 |
Single-entry visa | RM 50 for India, RM 20 for Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt and most other countries |
Medical insurance (EMGS plans, per year) | RM 456–958 |
Universities usually collect these fees as a package with their own processing charges. Taylor's charges RM 2,920 for a 3-year bachelor's plus RM 644 insurance a year. APU charges around RM 3,600 at offer acceptance and RM 2,000 after visa approval. UM's non-refundable package is RM 5,451 for a one-year pass.
Also budget for a personal bond of RM 1,000–2,000, usually refunded after graduation, and one-off international fees: RM 5,000 at APU, or RM 2,800 plus RM 3,000 at Taylor's. The full visa sequence is on our Malaysia student visa page.
Living costs in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru
A student in Kuala Lumpur needs roughly RM 2,000–3,500 a month: less with a shared hostel room, more with a private studio and frequent Grab rides. Numbeo puts a cheap lunch at about RM 20, a transit pass at RM 50 and a one-bedroom flat outside the center at about RM 1,500.
| University housing | Monthly rent per person |
|---|---|
APU satellite residence (triple room, no air-con, utilities included) | RM 410 |
APU on-campus residence (en-suite twin) | RM 990–1,050 |
Taylor's Waterfront Residence (twin, off-campus) | RM 1,250 |
Taylor's U Residence (en-suite twin, on campus) | RM 1,700 |
UCSI residential halls (twin, utilities included) | Around RM 700 |
Universiti Malaya residential college (shared / single) | RM 450 / RM 900 |
UTM hostel, Johor Bahru (double / single) |
Check payment terms too: Taylor's asks for six months' rent in advance plus deposit, for example RM 13,792 for a U Residence twin. Johor Bahru is cheaper: UTM estimates RM 1,000–1,500 a month for students living on campus.
Sample budget: first year of a bachelor's in Kuala Lumpur
This example uses APU's current Fee Guide for an IT or Business bachelor's. Your university and housing choice will move the total up or down.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
Tuition, year 1 | RM 34,900 |
International registration fee (one-off) | RM 5,000 |
6% SST on tuition and registration fee | RM 2,394 |
Visa and Student Pass packages (at offer and after approval) | Around RM 3,600 + RM 2,000 |
Personal bond (refundable after graduation) | RM 1,000 |
Living costs including housing (RM 2,000–3,500 a month) | RM 24,000–42,000 |
Total, first year | About RM 73,000–91,000 |
From year 2 the one-off items disappear: tuition is RM 36,100 and APU's visa renewal costs RM 1,100–1,450. For comparison, UTM engineering in Johor Bahru costs RM 75,000 for all 8 semesters, with hostel rooms from RM 360 a month.
First year of a bachelor's at APU
RM for year one, IT or Business bachelor's, current APU Fee Guide
- Tuition, year 1RM 34,900
- Living costs including housingRM 24,000–42,000
- Registration fee (one-off)RM 5,000
- Visa package at offeraround RM 3,600
- 6% SST on tuition and registrationRM 2,394
- Visa package after approvalRM 2,000
Scholarships in Malaysia for international students
The main government award is the Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS). It is for full-time master's and PhD students only. It covers tuition for the whole program and pays RM 1,500 a month.
- Who can apply: citizens of Commonwealth countries (including India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Bangladesh), Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and several other countries.
- Requirements: under 40 for a master's or under 45 for a PhD; CGPA of 3.00 or a 2nd Class Upper; IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL PBT 550; two references; a research proposal of at least 1,000 words for research degrees.
- Where and when: 20 public universities, including UM and UTM, and several private ones. The current round is closed; dates for the next one are not announced.
| University | Who can get it | What it gives |
|---|---|---|
APU (bachelor's, Foundation, Diploma) | All nationalities with A-Level, O-Level/IGCSE or IB results | 10%, 20% or 30% off tuition; renewed each year with CGPA 2.50+ |
APU (master's) | All nationalities, by bachelor's CGPA (3.2+ / 3.5+ / 3.7+) | 10% / 20% / 30% off tuition |
UCSI University | Top results: A-Level AAA, IB 36+, IGCSE 6 A*/A or equivalent; interview | Partial tuition waiver for the whole bachelor's |
Taylor's University | Malaysians and students progressing within Taylor's Education Group | Other international students should ask the university's counsellors |
APU's and UCSI's merit criteria list A-Level, IGCSE and IB, not CBSE, FSc or WAEC. Awards cover tuition only, not visa fees or insurance.
What to know before you apply
- No apostille. Malaysia is not in the Apostille Convention, so an apostille does not help. Universities ask for certified true copies and a certified English translation. We check each university's rules before you pay for anything.
- Everyone needs a Student Pass. Tourist visa-free entry does not allow study. Every student applies through EMGS, and the pass is usually issued for up to one year, so budget for yearly renewal.
- International fees differ from local ones. Program pages often show the Malaysian price first, and private universities add 6% SST. We compare offers by the international all-in figure.
Documents and legalisation: a checklist for nine destinations
Where an apostille is enough, where consular legalisation is required, and what separate recognition step each destination asks for — with the order of steps and timings.
- The basic document pack needed everywhere
- Apostille or consular legalisation — a table by destination
- Denklik, homologación, CIMEA, NCEQE: what they are and how long they take
- Three mistakes that cost applicants a year
Send us your certificate, your field of study and the budget your family is working with. In a free consultation, we will check which universities in Malaysia fit that budget and calculate the all-in first-year cost in ringgit. We will also tell you which scholarships you can realistically apply for. Write to us via the form, WhatsApp or Telegram on our contacts page.
