8 Reasons to Study in Malaysia
01| World-Class Education
Offering a degree that is well-recognised globally, Malay- sian universities rank in the world’s top universities and a total of 13 in the top 600 according to QS World University Rankings 2023. Based on QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022, 10 Malaysian programmes were placed among the top 50 universities for the study of their academic subject.
02| Affordability
Malaysia offers affordability in many areas, from food, travelling, transportation and the tuition fees. Our average total tuition fees per annum are approximately at US$ 4,400 for public universities & US$ 4,970 for private univer- sities. Malaysia sits among one with the lowest cost, in which our Cost-of-Living Index is only 42.47.
03| Modern and Progressive
Malaysia is well-known as a modern, progressive and Muslim-friendly country with easy access to Halal food and contemporary life and facilities. Malaysia’s modern and convenient transportation system connect every part of the city, through our Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Klang Valley LRT, MRT and Monorail.
04| English is Widely Spoken
English is widely spoken and used in Malaysia. As one of the main requirements for students’ admission to apply for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Malaysia has adminis- tered its own English proficiency test, the Malaysian University English Test (MUET). Whether you are navigat- ing through the streets of the capital city Kuala Lumpur or exploring the serenity in the rural areas, you can interact with the locals or your international friends using English.
05| Strategic Location
Malaysia is located in a very strategic location, in the heart of Asia. Hence, it is easy and affordable to travel to neigh- bouring tourist destinations. During semester breaks, students can travel with ease locally and internationally. Easily access through the world-class Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Malaysian owned carrier, all ASEAN cities are just a short and affordable flight away.
06| Safe and Peaceful
Malaysia has safe, peaceful, and vibrant communities. Malaysia is currently ranked 18th in the world’s most peaceful country based on the 2020 Global Security Index (GPI) report, providing you a safe and secure environment for your study journey. Enjoy a peaceful day and night in the countryside or a safe adventure in city life throughout your study journey.
07| Multicultural Society
Malaysia is known for its friendly community and a melting pot of Asia’s well-diverse community. Malaysia’s diversity in culture makes Malaysia a food haven and one of the few countries with hundreds of celebrations and festivals all year round. Students will also gain a global perspective on working, interacting, and living with people from different cultures. Experience the beauty of diversity and cultures when you study in Malaysia.
08| Dynamic Lifestyle
Many international students choose to study in Malaysia because they want to broaden their horizons and develop personal growth. Students get to experience a dynamic lifestyle as they can explore many exciting activities, beau- tiful destinations, and its harmonious multicultural society. The Malaysian landscape is varied, with pristine beaches lining its coast and its biodiversity-rich rainforest offers many adventures to explore in Peninsular and East Malaysia. Explore beautiful islands in Malaysia with colour- ful coral reefs, fishes, and other rare marine inhabitants and wondrous beauty of mountains ranges with stunning scenery like Mount Kinabalu, Sabah.
01| World-Class Education
Offering a degree that is well-recognised globally, Malay- sian universities rank in the world’s top universities and a total of 35 in the top 600 according to QS World University Rankings 2021. Based on QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021, 32 Malaysian programmes were placed among the top 100 universities for the study of their academic subject.
02| Affordability
Malaysia offers affordability in many areas, from food, travelling, transportation and the tuition fees. Our average total tuition fees per annum are approximately at US$ 4,400 for public universities & US$ 4,970 for private univer- sities. Malaysia sits among one with the lowest cost, in which our Cost-of-Living Index is only 42.47.
03| Modern and Progressive
Malaysia is well-known as a modern, progressive and Muslim-friendly country with easy access to Halal food and contemporary life and facilities. Malaysia’s modern and convenient transportation system connect every part of the city, through our Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Klang Valley LRT, MRT and Monorail.
04| English is Widely Spoken
English is widely spoken and used in Malaysia. As one of the main requirements for students’ admission to apply for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Malaysia has adminis- tered its own English proficiency test, the Malaysian University English Test (MUET). Whether you are navigat- ing through the streets of the capital city Kuala Lumpur or exploring the serenity in the rural areas, you can interact with the locals or your international friends using English.
05| Strategic Location
Malaysia is located in a very strategic location, in the heart of Asia. Hence, it is easy and affordable to travel to neigh- bouring tourist destinations. During semester breaks, students can travel with ease locally and internationally. Easily access through the world-class Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Malaysian owned carrier, all ASEAN cities are just a short and affordable flight away.
06| Safe and Peaceful
Malaysia has safe, peaceful, and vibrant communities. Malaysia is currently ranked 18th in the world’s most peaceful country based on the 2020 Global Security Index (GPI) report, providing you a safe and secure environment for your study journey. Enjoy a peaceful day and night in the countryside or a safe adventure in city life throughout your study journey.
07| Multicultural Society
Malaysia is known for its friendly community and a melting pot of Asia’s well-diverse community. Malaysia’s diversity in culture makes Malaysia a food haven and one of the few countries with hundreds of celebrations and festivals all year round. Students will also gain a global perspective on working, interacting, and living with people from different cultures. Experience the beauty of diversity and cultures when you study in Malaysia.
08| Dynamic Lifestyle
Many international students choose to study in Malaysia because they want to broaden their horizons and develop personal growth. Students get to experience a dynamic lifestyle as they can explore many exciting activities, beau- tiful destinations, and its harmonious multicultural society. The Malaysian landscape is varied, with pristine beaches lining its coast and its biodiversity-rich rainforest offers many adventures to explore in Peninsular and East Malaysia. Explore beautiful islands in Malaysia with colour- ful coral reefs, fishes, and other rare marine inhabitants and wondrous beauty of mountains ranges with stunning scenery like Mount Kinabalu, Sabah.
Why Malaysia
Known for its tagline ‘Truly Asia’, Malaysia has long since cemented its reputation as one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Other than UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Mount Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu National Park, Malacca City and pristine marine parks, – it is also one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant economies that can be the launchpad for your education and career.
Having been for decades a leader in industrial growth and political stability, Malaysia is also one of the top destinations for those seeking internationally-recognised education. Boasting highly-ranked universities, the Ministry of Education maintains Malaysia’s high standards in keeping with education sectors around the region. The government also grooms top talent through public and private tertiary level institutions as well as accredited skill centres, resulting in the country being a global leader in key industries.
In addition to being at the forefront of quality education, its affordable, cosmopolitan cities provide rich cultural immersion and memories that can last a lifetime. Having the capital city of Kuala Lumpur ranked as the second most affordable student city has no doubt helped.
In Malaysia, experiences, lasting friendships and opportunities are abundant. Education in Malaysia will provide you with the tools to kickstart your future.
World Class Universities
Having been for decades a leader in industrial growth and political stability, Malaysia is also one of the top destinations for those seeking internationally-recognised education. The government grooms top talent through public and private tertiary education institutions as well as professional bodies and accredited skill centres, resulting in the country being a global leader in key industries.
By maintaining high standards in keeping with the region’s education sectors and key industries, Malaysian universities rank highly in global university ranking tables. The oldest and premier university, the University of Malaya, is placed 13th on the QS World University Rankings 2020: Asia as a testament to our standards.
| Top Universities in Each Category | ||
| University | Ranking According to QS World University Rankings 2023: Global | Category |
| Universiti Malaya (UM) | 70 | Public Institution |
| Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) | 123 | Public Institution |
| Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) | 129 | Public Institution |
| Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) | 143 | Public Institution |
| Monash University Malaysia* | 57 | International Branch Campus |
| University of Southampton, Malaysia Campus* | 78 | International Branch Campus |
| University Nottingham Malaysia Campus* | 114 | International Branch Campus |
| Newcastle University of Medicine, Malaysia* | 122 | International Branch Campus |
| Taylor’s University | 284 | Private University |
| UCSI University | 284 | Private University |
| Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) | 361 | Private University |
* Denotes the ranking shown is of the parent university.
In recent years, many international universities have set up branch campuses in Malaysia. Similar to the twinning programme, students reap the benefit of an international experience through their degree from a reputable foreign university by spending some time at a third country where the university’s home campus is.
| No. | Name of Foreign University Branch Campus | Year Established | Location in Malaysia | Country of Origin |
| 1. | Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and University College Dublin Malaysia Campus * Founded as Penang Medical College | 1996 | Penang | Ireland |
| 2. | Monash University Malaysia | 1998 | Selangor | Australia |
| 3. | Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia | 1999 | Sarawak | Australia |
| 4. | The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus | 2000 | Kuala Lumpur/ Selangor | United Kingdom |
| 5. | Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus | 2004 | Sarawak | Australia |
| 6. | Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia | 2007 | Johor | United Kingdom |
| 7. | University of Southampton, Malaysia Campus | 2011 | Johor | United Kingdom |
| 8. | Heriot-Watt University Malaysia | 2012 | Putrajaya | United Kingdom |
| 9. | University of Reading Malaysia | 2013 | Johor | United Kingdom |
| 10. | Xiamen University Malaysia Campus | 2015 | Sepang, Selangor | China |
Affordability
One of the main attractions Malaysia holds for foreign students is ‘affordability’. The major cost considerations when it comes to a foreign education are course fees and living expenses.
Kuala Lumpur has been named the world’s second most affordable student city by QS Best Student Cities 2018. This is mainly because the costs of living and tuition fees in the local currency are at least half if not two-thirds cheaper compared to countries like Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore and Canada.
Annual tuitions fees in Malaysia are from USD 4,000 – 6,000, whilst living expenses would be circa USD 400 – 700 per month. By comparison, tuition fees in Singapore would cost USD 7,000 – 10,000 and living expenses are at least twice as high. Only in Malaysia can you strike that balance between uncompromised quality and unmatched affordability – receiving a world-class education and living in comfort yet without the hefty price tag.
| Programme | Duration | Cost (USD$) |
| Pre-university | 10 – 24 Months | $3,000 – $10,000 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 3 Years | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Foreign Bachelor’s Degree (Twinning or International Branch Campus) | 3-4 Years | $40,000 – $100,000 |
| Medical Programme | 4-5 Years | $30,000 – $100,000 |
| Post-graduate Programmes | 1-2 Years | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Doctoral Programmes | 3-5 Years | Depending on Course and Structure |
English is widely spoken
Although Bahasa Malaysia is an official language of this country, English is widely spoken in Malaysia as a second language. Most courses at universities are taught in English and it is possible to live in urban areas of Malaysia by speaking only English. Communicating inside and outside the campus is easy, especially once you have also picked up the Malaysian English habits like ending you sentence with ‘lah’!
Modern and Progressive
As one of the global leaders in engineering and manufacturing, companies in these industries – Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HP) Services, AirAsia, Shell Malaysia and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) – produce Malaysian industry leaders and attract talents from around the globe.
Given industrial advancements over the years, knowledge and best practices have been integrated into relevant courses and are continuously updated. Institutes like University Malaya, University of Technology Malaysia, University of Science Malaysia and Malaysian University of Science and Technology offer top-ranked undergraduate degrees in different fields of engineering. Malaysia is also a leader in tourism, medical technology, optical equipment and agriculture. These sectors contribute to Malaysia’s thriving economy and are an integral facet for the global economy.
Doors to many high-flying careers are available to students in and outside Malaysia. With plentiful opportunities and a progressive and modern working environment, choosing to work here after your studies can help to take your career to the next level.
Multicultural Society and Food Heaven
Made up of ethnic Malay, Chinese, Indian, and other indigenous ‘Bumiputera’ groups, Malaysia is also known for is diverse, multicultural society.
In fact, in the Bornean states of Sabah and Sarawak, there is a myriad of indigenous ethnic groups with their own unique language, culture and heritage. Interacting with the different ethnic groups of Malaysia can expose you to a wide range of lifestyles, religions and communities. This melting pot leads to students gaining invaluable experience unique to Malaysia, and possibly learning life skills such as picking up a new language, or cultivating new friendships.
Students also gain a global perspective on working, interacting and living with people from different cultures. This perspective helps inculcates values like hard work, resilience and tolerance, ultimately creating individuals who are able to adapt to any environment and contribute their vast experience to any organisation they join.
Dynamic Lifestyle
Known for its tagline ‘Truly Asia’, Malaysia has long cemented its reputation as one of the world’s top tourist destinations. An ecotourism hotspot, the country is home to an estimated 20% of the world’s animal species as well as four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Amongst them, Kinabalu National Park boasts one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia. If you are into hiking or simply enjoy looking at the Milky Way in the quiet of the night, this place is for you.
The Malaysian landscape (link to page things to do) is as varied with pristine beaches lining its coast and its biodiversity-rich rainforest offer many adventures to those who seek them. If you are a scuba junkie, islands like Sipadan is perfect for swimming around some of the most colourful coral reefs, fishes and other rare marine inhabitants.
Strategic Location
Malaysia is strategically located as the tourist hotspot in Asia. During semester breaks, you can travel with ease locally (link to things to do) like Langkawi and Redang, or regionally to places like Bali, Phuket, Krabi and Hanoi. Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bali take only 3 hours, whereby to Krabi take merely 1 hour 30 minutes.
You can travel to further reaches of the world quickly and rather cheaply. A 5-day trip to Korea including Seoul can be as low as USD 750. A return trip with 3-night stay to Tokyo from USD 350. Visiting your Indonesian friend’s family while enjoying Bali’s beaches? It can be as low as USD30 for a return trip!
World’s Top Peaceful and Prosperous Country
Malaysia is among the top 25 Most Peaceful Country, currently ranked 20th in the 2020 Global Peace Index by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). It boasts being one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant economies, which is the fruit of decades of industrial growth and political stability. The government has, over the years, successfully implemented a successful development and industrialisation of the nation. Today, Malaysia is a confident and vibrant entity that is stable, secure, increasingly prosperous at home and at peace with its neighbours, all of which are strong foundations to becoming a high-income, innovation-based society.