Universities in Malaysia for International Students
Public, private and branch campuses compared, with current fees, QS ranks, the degree you actually get, and what to check before you apply.
International students can choose between three kinds of universities in Malaysia: public research universities, private Malaysian universities and branch campuses of foreign universities. The type you pick decides your fee, your entry route and which institution's name is on your degree.
Public universities such as Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) rank highest in QS and are usually cheapest per year. Private universities such as Taylor's, APU and UCSI offer more intakes and, in some programs, a second degree from a UK partner. Branch campuses such as Monash and Heriot-Watt teach their home university's programs at higher fees.
Whichever you choose, the application for your Student Pass goes through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). Below we compare the options with current fee data and show where applicants from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt and the Gulf most often get stuck.
Public, private or branch campus: the three types
Both public and private institutions need government approval to take international students, and the Student Pass rules are the same for both. The differences are price, intakes and the degree.
Public universities are government research universities. UM is the oldest; UTM focuses on engineering and technology. Both hold self-accrediting status from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). They publish fees for the whole program rather than per year, and usually run one or two intakes.
Private Malaysian universities include Taylor's, APU, UCSI and Sunway. They are Malaysian institutions, not branches of foreign ones. Many run dual awards or transfer pathways with UK and Australian partners.
Branch campuses belong to foreign universities: Monash (Australia) in Bandar Sunway, Heriot-Watt (UK) in Putrajaya, Southampton (UK) in Iskandar Puteri, plus Nottingham, Curtin, Swinburne and Xiamen. You study the home university's program in Malaysia.
| Public universities | Private Malaysian universities | Branch campuses | |
|---|---|---|---|
Examples | UM, UTM, UPM | Taylor's, APU, UCSI, Sunway | Monash, Heriot-Watt, Nottingham, Southampton |
Approx. tuition per year (international, current price lists, before SST) | about RM 16,000–33,000 | about RM 35,000–45,000 | about RM 48,000–65,000 (medicine up to about RM 139,000) |
Intakes | 1–2 per year | usually 2–4 per year | depends on the campus |
Degree |
Let's review your case in a free consultation
We will match a country, university and programme to your documents and budget, and explain deadlines and the visa.
or message us
Best universities in Malaysia: rankings and fees compared
The table shows the latest verified QS World University Rankings position and one example program per university.
| University | Type | Main campus | QS World University Rankings | Example fee for international students | Bachelor's intakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Universiti Malaya (UM) | Public | Kuala Lumpur | #58 | Computer Science: RM 89,200 for the full 3.5-year program (current price list) | October, March |
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) | Public | Johor Bahru (Skudai); also KL and Pagoh | #153 | Engineering: RM 75,000 for the full 4-year program (current fee page) | September; February for some programs |
Where universities in Malaysia are
Public, private and branch campuses compared on this page
3+0, 2+1 and dual awards: which degree do you get?
Malaysian private universities sell "UK degrees" in several formats. The difference shows up later, in visas and recognition at home.
Dual award. You graduate with two degrees and two transcripts: one from the Malaysian university and one from the foreign partner. APU runs this with De Montfort University (Leicester, UK) and charges an extra GBP 450 per level of study. Taylor's runs dual awards with UWE Bristol in Computer Science and Business, and with QUT (Australia) in Business.
3+0. You spend all three years in Malaysia on a foreign university's program. You usually receive the partner university's degree.
2+1 or 1+2 (transfer pathway). You start in Malaysia and move to the home campus abroad to finish. You then pay the foreign campus's fees and need a new student visa. The transfer is not automatic: you must reach the required grades. UCSI works this way with UK partners such as UWE Bristol, Northumbria, Hertfordshire, Strathclyde and Dundee. It is a transfer, not a dual award.
Whatever the format, check the program's accreditation. MQA grants provisional accreditation (PA) before full accreditation (FA), and accredited programs are listed in the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR). For example, UCSI's Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) currently carries provisional accreditation. Ask for the code and look it up in the MQR before you pay.
Entry requirements: can you go straight into a bachelor's?
APU's official entry table shows who can start a bachelor's directly:
- India: Standard XII (CBSE AISSCE, ISC, state HSC) leads directly to a bachelor's.
- Pakistan: HSSC / Intermediate (FSc) leads directly to a bachelor's; Matric leads to Foundation or Diploma.
- Bangladesh: HSC / Alim leads directly to a bachelor's.
How to apply to a Malaysian university
Shortlist programs and look up each one's accreditation code in the MQR.
Check the direct-entry rules for your school certificate and book an English test if you need one.
Prepare certified true copies of your certificates, certified English translations, and a passport valid for at least 18 months (APU asks for 24 months from the intake date).
Apply on the university's portal and receive an offer.
The university files your EMGS application. The official processing time is 14 working days for a complete file; plan for 4–8 weeks, longer in peak months.
After the eVAL (electronic Visa Approval Letter) is issued, apply for a Single Entry Visa on the official eVISA portal. Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are all on the EMGS list of countries that need it. Do not buy tickets before both are approved.
What to know before you apply
Other agencies often skip these points. Each has a workaround if you plan early.
Malaysia is not in the Apostille Convention
An apostille alone does not help you here. Universities ask for certified true copies of every page and certified English translations, and each university sets its own certification rules. We check which certification your chosen university accepts before you pay a notary.
Everyone needs a Student Pass through EMGS
Visa-free tourist entry, which citizens of Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have, does not allow you to study. You must be outside Malaysia when the application is filed. If you change program after the visa application, you need a new Student Pass, so choose carefully first. See our Malaysia student visa guide.
International fees are not local fees, and 6% SST comes on top
Sunway's Computer Science costs RM 39,800 a year for Malaysians but USD 9,779 for international students. UCSI's Pharmacy costs RM 232,726 for internationals against RM 161,340 for locals. Since 1 July 2025, private universities add 6% Service Tax to fees for non-Malaysians, and UM also quotes its fees before 6% SST. Universities convert USD at an indicative RM 3.80, while the market rate is about 4.08, so budget for the difference. A bank statement is not in the standard EMGS document list, although a university may ask for one. See our cost of studying page.
Part-time work is limited to breaks
Students may work up to 20 hours a week, but only during semester breaks or holidays longer than 7 days, and only with immigration approval filed through the university. Breaking the rules cancels the Student Pass. Plan to cover fees and rent without job income.
The Graduate Pass is not open to every nationality
The Graduate Pass lets graduates stay 12 months to look for work, with no extension. It is open to citizens of only 32 countries. India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain are on the list; Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and Bangladesh are not. Without it, staying on means an employer-sponsored Employment Pass.
IELTS: the score you need and where you can skip it
Checked thresholds at universities across nine destinations, accepted alternatives, and the cases where no certificate is needed.
- A table of thresholds at 20 universities: bachelor's, master's, medicine
- Where the university's own English exam replaces IELTS
- TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, MUET: what counts
- Five mistakes that force a retake
Send us your school certificate and English score. In a free consultation we will tell you where you can enter a bachelor's directly, which programs are fully accredited, and what your first year will cost, including visa fees. Reach us via the form on our contacts page, WhatsApp or Telegram. For the bigger picture, start with our study in Malaysia guide.
