UCSI University Malaysia: Fees, Programs and Admission for International Students
A private Kuala Lumpur university ranked #282 in QS, with 150+ programs, three intakes a year and published total course fees.
UCSI University is a private Malaysian university founded in 1986, with its main campus in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, and two more campuses in Bandar Springhill and Kuching. It offers over 150 programs from Foundation to PhD, including medicine, pharmacy, engineering, computer science, business, hospitality and music. In the QS World University Rankings it is placed #282.
UCSI suits students who want three intakes a year, a strong music or hospitality program, or a pathway to finish a degree in the UK or Australia. It suits you less if you need a guaranteed route to a medical license at home, a budget below typical private-university prices, or two diplomas: UCSI offers transfer pathways, not dual awards.
For the full country overview, see our Study in Malaysia guide.
| Key fact | UCSI |
|---|---|
Founded | 1986 (formerly Sedaya International College) |
Type | Private Malaysian university, part of UCSI Group |
Campuses | Kuala Lumpur (Cheras, main), Bandar Springhill (medicine), Kuching (Sarawak) |
Students | More than 15,000, according to the university |
QS World University Rankings | #282 |
QS Asia | Top 30 in Asia, 8th in Southeast Asia |
Programs | Over 150: Foundation, Diploma, Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
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.
| Program | Length | Approximate total fees, international students |
|---|---|---|
Foundation in Arts (IT, Accounting, Finance, Economics), KL | 1 year | RM 38,416 |
Foundation in Science (Medical Sciences), KL | 1 year | RM 40,006 |
Foundation in Science (Medical Sciences), Springhill | 1 year | RM 36,296 |
Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons) | 3 years | RM 103,881 (RM 106,022 with bridging course) |
Bachelor of Computer Science (AI) |
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.
UCSI fees for the whole course
RM for the whole course, Approximate Total Fees
- Foundation in Arts, KLRM 38,416
- Foundation in Science, KLRM 40,006
- International Business (3 years)RM 87,088
- Computer Science (3 years)RM 103,881
- Computer Science (AI) (3 years)RM 125,993
- Pharmacy (4 years)RM 232,726
- Doctor of Medicine (5 years)
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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.
How to apply to UCSI
1
Check your grades. Computer science: Foundation or Matriculation with CGPA 2.00+, two A-Level subjects, or a qualification MQA treats as equivalent. MD: A-Level BBB/ABC/AAC in Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Maths, or Foundation in Science with CGPA 3.0, plus an interview. Indian MD applicants need an average of 70% in these subjects, NEET and an NMC Eligibility Certificate. Thresholds for FSc/HSSC, WAEC, HSC or Thanaweya are not published, so we assess your certificate individually.
2
Meet the English requirement. Computer science: IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 42. MD: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550 PBT. Foundation: IELTS 4.0. With a lower score, computer science students take Basic English alongside the program, and MD applicants can get a conditional offer. A letter confirming English-medium schooling can exempt you.
3
Prepare documents. Certificates with English translations, all passport pages in color (valid at least 18 months), a 35×45 mm photo, a Health Declaration and a medical exam. Travelers from yellow fever risk countries, including Nigeria, need a vaccination certificate. Malaysia is not part of the Apostille Convention, so universities ask for certified true copies and certified translations instead.
4
Register online and pay the application fee by bank transfer.
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.
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 and , or public ones such as and . See the full list of and the .
14 questions to ask before you pay the deposit
Deposits are almost never refundable. Ask these by email before paying — and keep the university's answer on record.
- What to ask about the programme, accreditation and the degree
- What tuition does not include and when a deposit is refunded
- Who files the visa application — you or the university
- Five red flags that mean you should not pay
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.
