UCSI University Malaysia: Fees, Programs and Admission for International Students

UCSI University fees for international students

UCSI has no separate fee schedule for international students. Each program page shows "Approximate Total Fees" for the whole course. The university calls it an estimate, because visa and administrative charges differ by country, and a regional counselor gives the detailed breakdown.

Fees are for the whole course, from UCSI program pages. The pages carry no update date, and next year's fees are not published yet. Since July 1, 2025, international students at private universities pay 6% Service Tax; UCSI does not say whether these totals include it.

The application fee also covers the first-year EMGS visa fee: RM 3,100 for most programs, RM 3,150 for Engineering, RM 3,400 for Music, RM 3,600 for Medicine, Pharmacy and Master's. From the second year, the EMGS renewal fee depends on your nationality. You pay the amount in your Letter of Admission by bank transfer in US dollars.

Programs and the degree you receive

UCSI covers medicine, pharmacy, nursing, engineering, architecture, computer science and IT, business, hospitality, music and performing arts, psychology and food science. You receive a UCSI degree unless you transfer abroad through a pathway.

Study routes at UCSI

• Foundation — 1 year in 3 semesters. The Science route leads to medicine, pharmacy and engineering; the Arts route to business, IT and accounting.
• Bachelor's degrees — 3 years for computer science and business, 4 years for pharmacy, with at least 6 months of work placement.
• Doctor of Medicine (MD) — 5 years; years 1–2 at Bandar Springhill next to UCSI Hospital. The program page states it is accredited by the Malaysian Medical Council and the Maldives Medical and Dental Council, and listed by WHO, WFME and the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council.
• International Degree Pathways — transfer to a partner in the UK (2+1, 2+2, 1+2), Australia, New Zealand or Switzerland. UK partners include UWE Bristol, Northumbria, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Essex, Strathclyde and Dundee. The partner then awards the degree and charges its own fees.
• Postgraduate — Master's and PhD programs across the same faculties.

UCSI University admission requirements for international students

UCSI publishes entry requirements program by program, not one table for every national school system. The steps below show what the university asks for and where we check your case individually.

What to know before you apply

UCSI is open about fees and entry rules, but several limits matter for international students. Each has a practical way around it.

Limitations and how to handle them

• Fees are whole-course estimates. Tax, EMGS renewals, insurance and housing may come on top. Ask for the detailed breakdown before paying; we help you read it line by line.
• The MD does not guarantee a license at home or an internship in Malaysia. Graduates need housemanship, and UCSI does not state whether international graduates can complete it in Malaysia. Check your home medical council rules before applying.
• A pathway is not a dual degree. After transfer, you study under UK rules and fees. The UK Graduate Route requires at least 12 months in the UK on a Student visa, so a short final year there may not qualify.
• Post-study stay depends on your passport. Malaysia's 12-month Graduate Pass is open to citizens of 32 countries, including India and GCC states, but not Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt or Bangladesh.
• Scholarship criteria are written for A-Level, IB and IGCSE. The UCSI University Trust Scholarship gives a partial tuition waiver for top results such as A-Levels AAA or IB 36+. CBSE, FSc or WAEC holders fall under "equivalent qualifications".
• Part-time work is limited to 20 hours a week during holidays longer than 7 days, with immigration approval. Do not count on it to pay tuition.

Rankings and accreditation

UCSI is #282 in the QS World University Rankings and has stayed in the global top 300 for five years in a row. In QS Asia it is in the top 30 in Asia and 8th in Southeast Asia. Its strongest subjects in QS by Subject are Music and Performing Arts (both #24 in the world), Art & Design (#29) and Hospitality & Leisure (#47).

Program quality in Malaysia is controlled by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), and accredited programs are listed in the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR), where you can check any program by its code. UCSI's MD is fully accredited until May 11, 2029, and Pharmacy until April 4, 2028. The Bachelor of Computer Science (AI) has provisional accreditation (MQA/PA), so full accreditation is still pending.

Housing and student life

On the Kuala Lumpur campus, students live in the Residential Halls, mostly in twin-sharing rooms, with a few single en-suite rooms in block E. According to UCSI's brochure, a room costs around RM 700 per person per month, paid per semester, with water and electricity included.

Book before you fly. The non-refundable booking fee is RM 1,000 for blocks D and L and RM 2,000 for block E, and students arriving without a booking are not given a room. Off-campus rooms managed by the university group cost roughly RM 950–1,600 a month, with a 12-month lease.

A student in Kuala Lumpur typically needs about RM 2,000–3,500 a month for living costs. UCSI says students from 120 countries have studied there over its history. You must arrive via KLIA or KLIA2; the free airport pickup requires the Pick-Up Form at least 7 working days ahead.

Student visa

Every international student at UCSI needs a Student Pass through EMGS, even if your passport allows visa-free tourist entry. You receive an eVAL, travel, complete a medical check within 7 working days of arrival, and then the pass is endorsed. It is usually issued for up to one year and renewed annually.

Health insurance recognized in Malaysia is mandatory; EMGS packages cost RM 456–958 a year. Full steps and fees are in our Malaysia student visa guide.

Other options

If UCSI's fees or entry rules do not fit, compare private universities such as Taylor's University and Asia Pacific University, or public ones such as Universiti Malaya and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. See the full list of universities in Malaysia and the cost of studying in Malaysia.

Not sure your certificate meets UCSI's requirements? Send us your documents for a free consultation. We check your grades and English against the program, list what to certify and translate, and compare UCSI with 2–3 alternatives that fit your budget. Message us via the form, WhatsApp or Telegram.