Masters in Malaysia: Formats, Fees and How to Get In
Coursework, research and mixed-mode master's programs at public and private universities, with real fee lists, entry rules and the MIS scholarship.
Masters in Malaysia are taught at public research universities such as Universiti Malaya and UTM and at private universities such as Taylor's and APU, in coursework, research and mixed-mode formats. Tuition for the whole program ranges from about RM 26,500 to RM 79,100 at the universities on this page (current fee lists), before visa fees, insurance and living costs.
Two things make postgraduate study here different from a bachelor's: master's students can bring their family, and the government's Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) is open only to master's and PhD applicants.
Every international student needs a Student Pass issued through EMGS (Education Malaysia Global Services), so plan the visa timeline together with the application.
Coursework, research or mixed mode: which format fits
The format changes how you study, how you are assessed and when you apply.
| Format | How you study | Assessment | Suits you if |
|---|---|---|---|
Coursework (taught) | Scheduled modules, group projects, a final project | Assignments and exams; APU runs its master's on 100% coursework, no exams | You want a career step: MBA, data, AI, management |
Research | Independent thesis under a supervisor | Thesis and examination | You plan a PhD or an academic or R&D career |
Mixed mode | Modules plus a larger research project | Both | You want a thesis without giving up taught subjects |
Length depends on the program. UTM prices its master's programs over 3 semesters. APU describes its full-time MBA as "1+ year". Always check the duration on the program page, because it also sets how long your Student Pass must cover.
Deadlines differ by format, too. In the last cycle, UTM closed September taught and mixed-mode applications on 31 July but kept research applications open until 31 October. Expect a similar split next year; universities publish exact dates closer to each intake.
For research programs, agree a topic with a supervisor first; MIS, for example, asks research applicants for a proposal of at least 1,000 words.
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Masters in Malaysia: tuition by university
Prices below are for the whole program, for international students.
| University | Type | Program examples | Tuition, whole program (international) | Fee list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Universiti Malaya | Public | Master of AI / Cyber Security; Data Science; Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering; MBA; Master of Laws | RM 48,100; RM 41,700; RM 55,100; RM 79,100; RM 34,100 | UM international booklet |
UTM | Public | Engineering (coursework / research); Computing or Business; MBA | RM 31,000 / RM 28,400; RM 26,500; RM 32,154 | UTM postgraduate fee page |
Monash Malaysia | Branch campus (Australia) |
Three things change the final number. Since 1 July 2025, private universities add 6% Service Tax (SST) for international students, and fee lists usually exclude it; Universiti Malaya also quotes fees without 6% SST. You pay in ringgit: universities convert to USD at an indicative RM 3.80, while the market rate is around RM 4.05–4.10. And next year's fee lists are not out yet, so plan on current prices with a possible increase.
Full price lists by university are on our cost of studying in Malaysia page.
Budget beyond tuition
- Application fee: RM 500 at Universiti Malaya, about RM 450 at UTM. At UCSI, the master's application fee is RM 3,600 and already includes the first-year EMGS payment.
- EMGS and immigration fees for the first year: about RM 2,700–3,300 by the official EMGS schedule. Universities often charge their own package instead; at UM it is RM 5,451 for a one-year pass, non-refundable.
- Medical insurance: RM 456–958 a year on EMGS plans.
Master's fees by university in Malaysia
RM for the whole program, international students, current fee lists
- Universiti Malaya — MBARM 79,100
- Monash Malaysia — AI, Data ScienceRM 74,160
- Taylor's — MBA, full-timeRM 56,920
- Universiti Malaya — AI / Cyber SecurityRM 48,100
- APU — MBA, full-timeRM 42,000
- Universiti Malaya — Data ScienceRM 41,700
- UTM — Engineering (coursework)
Entry requirements for a master's degree in Malaysia
Academic record
APU asks for a bachelor's degree in a related field with a CGPA of at least 2.50. Applicants with 2.00–2.49 go through an internal assessment. An unrelated degree with a CGPA of 2.00 or higher can work if you have relevant work experience or take prerequisite courses. At Taylor's, the benchmark is around 2.7 CGPA. Scholarships set the bar higher: MIS needs at least 3.00.
English
Universities usually ask for about IELTS 6.0–6.5 for a master's. APU asks for IELTS 6.0 (PTE 59) for its MBA and 6.5 for the Master of Finance. EMGS accepts IELTS, TOEFL, MUET, Cambridge English and PTE Academic. Check the test version: Universiti Malaya does not accept IELTS Indicator, TOEFL Home Edition or IELTS UKVI.
Documents you will need
- Degree certificate and transcripts as certified true copies, with a certified English translation if they are in another language.
- Passport valid for at least 18 months when you apply. APU asks for 24 months from the intake date.
- Photo 35×45 mm on a white background.
Popular fields and where to study them
- Business and MBA: offered at public (UM, UTM) and private (Taylor's, APU) universities; the table above shows how far prices differ for the same title.
- Computing, AI and data: APU (AI, Cyber Security, Data Science and Business Analytics, Software Engineering), Universiti Malaya (AI, Cyber Security, Data Science), Monash Malaysia.
- Engineering: the core of UTM, a public engineering and technology university; also UM and Monash.
Scholarships for international master's students
The main government award is the Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) from the Ministry of Higher Education. It is for full-time master's and PhD study only. It covers tuition for the whole program and pays RM 1,500 a month.
MIS is open to citizens of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, and of Commonwealth countries, including India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Bangladesh. Master's applicants must be under 40, with a CGPA of 3.00 (Second Class Upper) or higher and IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL PBT 550. Medicine, nursing and pharmacy are not priority fields. MIS works at 20 public universities, including UM and UTM, and several private ones. The current round is closed, and dates for the next round have not been announced.
Other funding options
- APU postgraduate Merit Award, open to all nationalities: 30% off tuition for a bachelor's CGPA of 3.7+, 20% for 3.5+, 10% for 3.2+.
- MTCP (Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme), listed by UTM: a government award for applicants from developing countries, up to age 45, CGPA 3.00 and IELTS 6.0.
How to apply: from shortlist to Student Pass
Shortlist programs and check each code in the MQR. Confirm the intake: Universiti Malaya accepts master's applications for the March intake from 7 September to 30 January.
Apply to the university and get an offer. Taylor's asks international applicants to apply at least 9 weeks before the intake; APU recommends 6–8 weeks.
Submit the EMGS Student Pass application and pay the fees. You must be outside Malaysia at this point.
EMGS runs an academic check and passes the file to immigration. The official timeline is 14 working days for a complete file; plan for 4–8 weeks, longer in peak months.
Receive your eVAL (electronic Visa Approval Letter), then apply for a Single Entry Visa on the official eVISA portal. Citizens of Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia all need one; it takes about 48 hours.
What to know before you apply
Apostille does not work for Malaysia
Malaysia is not in the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille adds nothing here. Universities ask for certified true copies (notary, solicitor, public official or your own university) and a certified English translation. We check each university's format before you pay for translations.
Everyone needs a Student Pass through EMGS
Visa-free entry is for tourism only: Indian citizens can visit visa-free until 31 December 2026, but not study. Study longer than 3 months needs a Student Pass through EMGS. We prepare and check the file with you; details are on our Malaysia student visa page.
International fees are higher, plus 6% SST
APU's MBA costs RM 42,000 for international students and RM 38,800 for Malaysians, and private universities add 6% SST. Compare offers by the international price with tax and visa packages included.
Work is limited to semester breaks
Students may work up to 20 hours a week, only during breaks or holidays longer than 7 days, with immigration permission obtained through the university. Breaking the rules can cancel your Student Pass; confirm current terms with your university. Do not plan to pay tuition from part-time work.
The Graduate Pass is not open to every nationality
The Graduate Pass gives graduates 12 months to look for work, with no extension, and only citizens of 32 countries qualify. India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain are on the list; Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and Bangladesh are not. It also needs a Malaysian sponsor earning at least RM 1,500 and a RM 600 fee. Otherwise, staying on means an Employment Pass arranged by an employer; we plan this before you choose a program.
A UK degree earned in Malaysia does not give the UK Graduate Route
A dual degree or 3+0 program gives you a UK degree, but the UK Graduate Route requires applying from inside the UK on a Student visa after at least 12 months of study there. Choose a dual degree for the qualification, not for UK work rights.
Motivation letter: template and a paragraph-by-paragraph guide
A ready skeleton in English with a note on what each paragraph has to do, plus the mistakes that make a letter useless.
- Where a letter is really required and where it is not
- A five-paragraph template with example wording
- How to strengthen it with specifics and numbers
- Seven mistakes and a checklist before you send
Send us your bachelor's transcript, English score and budget. In a free initial consultation we will tell you which formats and universities fit your profile, whether you qualify for MIS or a merit discount, and what the Student Pass will cost for your nationality. Reach us via the form, WhatsApp or Telegram on our contacts page, or read the study in Malaysia overview first.
