Best universities in Malaysia 2025

Malaysia is home to world-renowned universities offering high quality education at significantly lower costs than prestigious Western universities. The Institute for Economics and Peace confirms Malaysia's status as one of the most peaceful countries globally, thanks to its stable political regime. When entering some Malaysian universities, foreign students can be awarded scholarships. Also , in comparison with other Asian countries,  obtaining a student visa is easier.

The cost of studying in Malaysian universities ranges. In the case of undergraduate programs, tuition fees vary from 2,040 to 70,900 MYR per academic year. If entering postgraduate programs, tuition fees range from 1,470 to 100,000 MYR per academic year.

Examples of annual undergraduate tuition fees for the foreign students at public universities in Malaysia (2023 data):

• International Islamic University: 15,000 – 50,000 MYR
• National University of Malaysia: 21,500 MYR
• Technical University of Malaysia: 7,000 – 8,000 MYR
• University of Malaya: 11,800 – 58,200 MYR
• Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia: 6,000 MYR.

Examples of annual undergraduate tuition fees for the foregn students at private universities in Malaysia (2023 data):

• Binary University of Management and Entrepreneurship: 19,500 MYR
• HELP University: 18,800 – 24,300 MYR
• Multimedia University: 20,800 – 25,800 MYR

Admission requirements vary, which is stipulated by the educational institution the foreign student has chosen. However, the general requirements concern providing academic performance reports and personal documents (passport and visa).

In the case of entering master's programs, applicants may be required to provide a statement of purpose, a CV or resume, and recommendation letters. Some degree programs might require an entrance test before application.

If a student enters university, in which teaching is conducted in English, he will need to confirm language level  by providing standardized tests like IELTS or TOEFL. Some Malaysian universities accept Duolingo test scores, which confirm language proficiency.

To apply  to Malaysian universities, this process may take from a week to several months. Such factors as a student’s nationality, curriculum, influence the duration.

For undergraduate and graduate programs, IELTS 6.0 and above is required.

1. Completed introductory form;

2. Copy of passport;

3. Certificate/diploma;

4. Transcript of grades;

5. Motivation letter;

6. Certificate confirming English language proficiency;

7. Summary;

8. Letters of recommendation.

The average cost of a year of study for a bachelor's or master's degree in Malaysia is $7,000-9,000.

To study in Malaysia, you must obtain a student visa. The process of reviewing a student's application and confirming a student visa takes approximately 10 weeks. Upon arrival in the country, the student will also be required to undergo a medical examination.

In Malaysia, students have several accommodation options: campus, hostel, off-campus accommodation, apartments and studio apartments. On-campus accommodation: Most universities offer on-campus accommodation to international students. There are rooms for 1 and 2 people. Hostel: Student hostels are quite popular in Malaysia. The hostels are furnished, connected to Wi-Fi, and equipped with restrooms and restrooms on each floor. Students can live in shared or single rooms. Off-Campus Accommodation: In Malaysia, off-campus accommodation is common among both local and international students. For example, students can rent a room or studio apartment on their own or a whole house with friends in close proximity to the educational institution. Homes often have swimming pools and gyms that only residents have access to.

Private universities in Malaysia offer dual degree programs. After graduation, the student will have a Malaysian diploma and a UK/Australia/US diploma. Universities also offer to study at partner educational institutions for 1-2 years.

It is allowed to work on weekends and holidays, no more than 6 hours a day. The work must be related to the specialty of study. Almost every university provides internships for students.

Studying in Malaysia is different in that classes usually start three to four times a year. This allows you to prepare for the entrance language requirements and collect all the necessary documents.

Bachelor's studies last from 3 years. The master's degree course lasts from 1 to 3 years, the duration depends on the chosen program.

The average cost of living in Malaysia is about $6,000 per year.