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YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHY STUDY IN MALAYSIA p3

THE MALAYSIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM p5

APPLYING TO A MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY p8

APPLYING FOR A MALAYSIAN STUDENT VISA p11

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION IN MALAYSIA p14

TUITION FEES p18

WHAT NOW? p21

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WHY STUDY IN MALAYSIA

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 4

MALAYSIA’S REPUTATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW, AS IS THE CASE WITH ASIAN IN GENERAL. HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT IT SITS ALONE, ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMMUNITY AS A LONE ISLAND UNTO ITSELF. IN FACT MALAYSIA ENJOYS LINKS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOME OF THE TOP UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE WORLD, WHILE THEIR INSTITUTIONS’ STANDARDS ARE MONITORED BY THE COUNTRY’S MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION. MEANWHILE YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT MALAYSIA BOASTS AN INCREDIBLY DIVERSE POPULATION.

Below are a couple of reasons why students strongly

consider studying in Malaysia:

STRONG LINKS WITH INSTITUTIONS ABROADLike Asia in general, Malaysia is seeing more and more

professors coming to teach from countries which have

traditionally been viewed as education heavyweights in the

world, like America and the UK. This is because the country

is investing in its education system, drawing the best teaching

talent in the world to Malaysia’s shores each year. Meanwhile

Malaysian institutions have forged strong links with many

top institutions from these elite study destinations, hosting

branch campuses and offering twinning degree programmes;

this is where a student can study a degree offered by an

overseas institution in Malaysia for 2 of the 3 years of their

undergraduate degree, and then study their final year

overseas – this is a nice stepping stone for those domestic

students who wish to study abroad but aren’t quite ready

making the full jump.

ENGLISH WIDELY SPOKEN Being able to speak the language can be something which

makes prospective international students nervous about

moving abroad. However, you’ll be pleased to learn that

English is widely spoken and is in fact a compulsory school

subject for natives. It is the main language in many higher

education institutions and even takes precedence in some

official contexts. While over 130 different languages are spoken

in Malaysia, Chinese Mandarin is one of the most popular and

offers international students an excellent opportunity to learn

as China’s influence in the world increases.

Check out Monash University Malaysia’s video about

studying in Malaysia:

A TECHNOLOGICAL HUB Malaysia is pinning a lot of its future growth in technology.

Recently, a representative of their Multimedia Development

Corporation said that a big focus would be ‘high-end

engineering research and development’, pointing to DHL’s

recent setting up of R&D facilities in the country. In fact,

the country owes much to technology development for the

vast overhaul in its economy in the past 50 years since they

gained independence. Students seeking careers in Computer

Science or Information Technology would be well off seriously

considering the country as a study destination.

AN AFFORDABLE OPTIONWhile the quality of study in Malaysia is high, students may

be surprised to learn that tuition fees and the cost of living

is relatively low compared to study destinations with a more

established history as a study destination. For instance, both

tuition fees and living costs in Malaysia are almost a third than

what you would expect in the UK or Australia. With money

being an important factor to consider when it comes to the

decision to study overseas, this may be hugely attractive to

students; and with this money you’ve saved, you can head to

Kuala Lumpur which has become a shopping capital of the

world for electronics, fashion and jewellery.

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THE MALAYSIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 6

AN EMERGING INTERNATIONAL HOT-SPOT FOR BUSINESS AND EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN MALAYSIA WELCOME THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN STUDENTS EACH YEAR.

In 2011, 93,000 international students from over 100

countries completed higher education courses of study in

Malaysia, with the amount of foreign students enrolled in

Malaysian institutions increasing notably from 1997 to 2003.

The nation’s overall higher education sector experienced a

36.8% growth in the same period.

With a multitude of international partnerships, study

arrangements and unique degree options, understanding

the Malaysian higher education system can be a bit tricky.

Luckily, we’ve laid it out for you to make planning your

studies that much easier.

TYPES OF INSTITUTIONAll higher education is managed by the Malaysian Ministry of

Education, with institutions owned either publicly or privately.

The government subsides approximately 60% of Malaysia’s

tertiary education, with the difference accounted for via the

private sector.

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY COLLEGESMalaysian colleges help prepare students for entry into

university, either via courses that prepare them to sit as

external candidates for university or through bridging

qualifications. University colleges are independent institutions

that do not have university status, but have the power to

award degrees at undergraduate level that are held in the

same regard as those awarded by universities. Courses are

available across most general study areas and are retrievable

via institution websites.

UNIVERSITY Both public and privately owned Malaysian universities award

students a number of qualifications across undergraduate

and postgraduate levels. There are also eight branch

campuses of foreign universities in Malaysia established by

nations such as the UK, Ireland and Australia that each offer

students unique degree and credit-transfer options.

MALAYSIAN ACADEMIC YEAR Important dates in the Malaysian academic year vary from

institution to institution. As a rough guide, the Universiti

Teknologi Malaysia outlines the following rough dates:

The year is split into 2 semesters. Semester one ranges from

September until the middle of January. Semester two runs

from end of February until end of August/early September.

Final exams run for 3 weeks, are in end of Dec/middle Jan

and in the middle of until the end of June.

UNDERGRADUATEBachelor degrees in Malaysia are typically between 3-5

years in length for full time students. A Bachelor degree in

a general area of study such as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) will

usually take three years to complete. Most programmes at

private universities are taught in English, whilst Bachelor

programmes at public institutions are primarily taught in

the Malay or Bahasa Melayu languages, expect studies in

science or mathematics.

Students must complete a course load equivalent to at least

120 credits in order to be awarded a Bachelor’s degree.

Whilst undergraduate degrees are offered in general areas

such as Arts or Science by some universities, there are also

a number of more specific programmes that enable students

to focus more directly on their subject area. Major and minor

options vary between programmes and should be pursued

directly with the host institution.

A student’s ‘major’ is a specific area they have chosen to

focus on within their general field of study. Students must

complete a certain quota of subjects in this area in order to

be gain the title. A ‘minor’ is a secondary area of focus within

a general study field with a lower requirement quota.

Some universities offer students the chance to gain an

Honours (Hons) qualification as part of their Bachelors. Entry

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 7

criteria are unique to each programme, but will always

require a high academic standard and typically add a

year onto the student’s Bachelor degree. Honours students

will often need to complete a long-form research task in

their final year such as a thesis or independent research

project. Students need to apply separately for an Honours

programme, and should research separate application

dates and deadlines thoroughly.

POSTGRADUATEEntry requirements to specific postgraduate courses of

study differs substantially across study are and institution,

and should be confirmed directly with your host. Very broadly

however, most programmes will require that you have a

recognized undergraduate degree at the very least.

Programmes are offered across both Masters and Doctoral

levels, completed via taught coursework, a long-form

dissertation or research project, and/or by completing a

thesis. Taught courses comprise the majority of programmes

postgraduate level, and are structured in a similar way to

those in the UK and Australia. Students will attend lectures,

seminars, tutorials or workshops and complete assessments

in the same format as in undergraduate study.

Malaysian Masters programmes can take between 1-5

years to complete for full time students, depending on

particular credit requirements. PhDs may take up to four

years. Most postgraduate programmes across all institutions

are taught in English.

TWINNING PROGRAMMESMalaysian universities offer students the unique opportunity

to complete their Bachelors degree across two partnering

institutions in different countries. In the ‘2+1’ twinning

programme, students may choose to gain course credit from

a reputable university in countries such as the UK, Australia,

Canada, New Zealand, France or Germany. Twinning

students wishing to complete their studies in the US will

participate in the ‘2+2’ programme, in which transferable

coursework is first completed in Malaysia before travelling

to the States to complete the degree programme. Students

also have the option to complete a ‘3+0’ foreign Bachelors

programme, in which foreign study programmes are

conducted by institutions in Malaysia.

Students pay Malaysian tuition fees throughout their entire

undergraduate programme, regardless of host country or

nature of twinning programme.

Read our full guide to Twinning Programmes in Malaysia

ACADEMIC CULTUREMalaysia’s higher education sector is highly international,

and so depending on where students complete their

studies they are likely to encounter teaching styles and

academic environments influenced by a number of different

cultures (which is an added bonus of studying in Malaysia).

Generally however, the Malaysia academic culture is loosely

modelled upon that of the UK: students are expected to

follow coursework independently, and manage their own

academic progress.

Malaysian communication is subtle, and relies on extreme

politeness and diplomacy. Where some students may be

used to expressing their opinions overtly in class as a means

of demonstrating their engagement with course content,

in Malaysia, this may be seen as abrupt and even rude.

Students are assumed to maintain a sufficient academic

independently that will be reflected through their grades.

Nature of assessment is specific to the course of study

and should be confirmed directly by the institution.

Now that you’ve got a better idea of how the higher

education system in Malaysia works, start browsing courses

in Malaysia now and plan your study abroad adventure!

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APPLYING TO A MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 9

WITH AN ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL SECTOR, UNIQUE STUDENT SCENE AND ENVIABLE CLIMATE, MALAYSIA IS AN INCREDIBLY POPULAR STUDY CHOICE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.

The nation’s low costs of living and relatively low tuition

fees also make the choice to study abroad in Malaysia

an easy one. But despite Malaysia’s reputation for

being student-friendly, it’s important you take the application

process seriously and make the right decision in choosing an

institution. Let our breakdown of the application process to

study in Malaysia help lay things out for you.

RESEARCHAs with anything, it’s always better to be as prepared as

possible, as early as possible. Students should familiarise

themselves with the higher education system in Malaysia and

decide which sort of institution they’d like to complete their

studies at. Malaysian institutions also offer students a number

of unique internationally-credited degree options known as

‘twinning’ that students are advised to research thoroughly

before applying. It is recommended that, at the very least,

students begin their research an academic year before their

intended study abroad commencement date.

Most universities also provide online handbooks or course

guides students should research and use to confirm that they

will be correctly credited for subjects undertaken abroad.

Going home to learn that you’ll need to extend your degree

or re-take subjects at certain credit levels will extend both

the length of your degree and tuition costs for the additional

time spent studying. It is always a good idea to download the

university prospectus if you can (something which you can do

here on our site).

International students may apply directly to Malaysian

universities, but first you must check whether the institution

you are applying to has obtained correct accreditation status

from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

Learn more about ‘twinning’

INTAKEIntake dates differ across institutions, study levels and

areas. Major intakes for most universities across both

undergraduate and postgraduate levels are in late February

(semester one), and again in mid-late July (semester two).

Many universities often have second or third round offer

intakes, or minor intakes for special courses of study

throughout the year. For example, Monash University

Malaysia has a unique minor intake period in mid-October for

students in special enrolment sequences.

Very broadly, application deadlines are about two-three

months for a start at the beginning of the following semester.

For example in 2013/2014, international students applying to

the University of Nottingham Malaysia had from September

1- January 15 2014 to lodge an application for the 2014

Malaysian academic year (however, you should always

confirm dates for when you plan to apply).

Some universities have separate application dates

for international students and so it’s important that all

prospective students directly confirm relevant deadlines

both with their host and home institutions. Most university

applications can be completed online directly through the

institution’s website.

WHAT DOCUMENTS WILL I NEED?Specific requirements may differ between study programmes

and institutions but generally speaking, you will need to

submit certified copies of all relevant academic transcripts,

a photocopy of your passport (all pages), a photocopy of

your identification card (i.e. a valid driver’s licence), a recent

passport-sized colour photograph, personal medical health

report and relevant application fees, as well as the application

form to your host institution. You may also be required to

prove your level of proficiency in English. If required, your

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 10

IELTS score is valid for three years from the sitting date.

Students should ensure that their score will be valid at the

time of application, or organise to sit another exam well

before the application cut-off date.

Students applying to study at postgraduate level may also be

required to submit research or thesis proposals.

Institutions typically take about five-seven days to process

your application after the cut-off date. You will then be sent

an ‘Offer of Place’ letter that outlines study course details,

relevant fees and dates. You will need this letter to help

you apply for a student pass at the Malaysian Immigration

Department once in Malaysia.

Learn more about Malaysian student immigration

requirements

APPLYINGAs there is no centralised application service for international

students in Malaysia, you can apply directly to a university

online through their website (you can click through to their

site from their profile here on Hotcourses Abroad).

MALAYSIAN ACADEMIC CULTUREHigher education in Malaysia is incredibly international, and

so depending on the institution, course of study or even

cultural background of your professor your experiences might

be different. However, Malaysian culture favours extreme

politeness and diplomacy, so students used to academic

environments in which they’re encouraged to be outspoken

are advised to proceed with caution. Whilst some classes

encourage discussion, expressing your opinion in class is

not necessarily taken as a means of demonstrating your

engagement with course content, and may be taken as

disrespectful or rude.

Students are expected to display initiative in following the

course content and monitoring their academic progress.

Assessment varies in nature depending on study level and

subject area but generally students are assumed to take

responsibility in attending class, completing work on time and

undertaking independent research outside of class.

APPLICATION TIPSThousands of international students apply to and are

accepted by Malaysian universities every year, so if you scour

institution websites, student forums and publications you’ll

find a multitude of guides that breakdown the application

process for their programmes extremely thoroughly. The

University of Nottingham has a downloadable, step-by-step

guide complete with screen grabs to guide you through the

process. You can always consult our own editorial section for

applying to a Malaysian university at any time.

Remember that for applications where you’re required to

submit a personal statement, the professors that are likely to

read it will live and breathe the subject matter you’re telling

them you want to study. Don’t be embarrassed to sound

enthusiastic about what you’re studying, but don’t get carried

away, either. Malaysian academic culture is loosely based on

that of the UK and Australia and so favours direct, no-frills

prose. Malaysian communication style however is subtle and

focused on mutual ties of respect, so coming across as too

self-important can also make applications seem ill-thought

out. The magnitude of your interests and achievements

should come across without you needing to explain how

great they are.

Now that the application process seems less scary,

why not start browsing courses in Malaysia now and start

planning your study abroad adventure?

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APPLYING FOR A MALAYSIAN STUDENT VISA

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 12

BOASTING THE 11TH HIGHEST PROPORTION OF INBOUND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WORLDWIDE, MALAYSIA IS A KEY PORT OF CALL FOR ANY STUDENT LOOKING TO STUDY ABROAD. WITH 200,000 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS EXPECTED TO BE STUDYING IN MALAYSIA BY 2020, THE INFLUX OF FOREIGN GUESTS HAS SEEN CREATION OF NEW STUDENT VISA REQUIREMENTS.

Whilst more regulated, the process is by no means

impossible: in fact, it’s incredibly doable, and for

the most part is mainly managed directly by your

host institution. Let our overview of the student visa process

in Malaysia help make things clear.

STUDENT PASS AND STUDENT VISAAll international students will need a valid Student Pass

and Visa to study abroad in Malaysia. By Malaysian law,

only public or private Malaysian institutions beneath the

jurisdiction of either the Ministry of Higher Education

or the Ministry of Home Affairs are able to accept

international students.

To obtain a Malaysian student visa you will first need to

apply for a Student Pass. Once you have an approved

provisional Student Pass you will be issued a student visa

upon your point of entry into Malaysia. You will receive a

full Student Pass once in the country. You will need both a

Student Pass and a Visa to study in Malaysia.

Click here to check if your host institution accepts

international students

BEFORE YOU LEAVEYou will be issued a Student Visa upon your arrival in

Malaysia provided you have your letter of approval for a

Student Pass ready at the immigration checkpoint.

Once you’ve been accepted by a Malaysian institution

they will submit an application for a Student Pass on your

behalf. You will need to lodge relevant documentation with

your host and pay relevant fees before they can do this. If

your application is successful, the Malaysian Immigration

Department will issue a letter of approval for a Student Pass

to your host. Your host will then send the completed letter

to you whilst you are in your home country, along with a

signed Personal Bond document that serves as a sort of

endorsement of your good character. The letter of approval

will act as a provisional Student Pass that enables you to

enter the country as a student.

It takes about one-two weeks to process your application

and for a decision to be reached. Students are advised to

submit documents with their host ahead of time as they will

not be allowed to enter Malaysia without a letter of approval.

When you book your flight to Malaysia, you must tell your

host all of your exact arrival details: the airport you’re arriving

at, your flight number, your arrival date and time.

All students, except those from the People’s Republic of

China will be able to enter Malaysia once they have a letter

of approval. PRC students will need to obtain a Single-

Entry Visa directly from their local Malaysian embassy or the

Council of Malaysia before they arrive.

Learn more about visa requirements for students from the

People’s Republic of China

POINT OF ENTRY You will need to have your Student Pass approval letter

handy when you reach immigration in Malaysia.

When you get to the airport, a representative from your host

university will be waiting to meet you at customs. You will

then be issued a Special Pass that will enable you to enter

the country which is valid for two weeks. You will need to go

to your nearest State Immigration Department before these

two weeks are up to get your full Student Pass. You will also

be issued a Visa upon your arrival in Malaysia, which will be in

the form of an endorsement on your passport that is valid for

at least six months.

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 13

USEFUL LINKS

Applying to study in Malaysia

Tuition fees in Malaysia

ONCE ARRIVEDYour host institution will submit your passport to the

Immigration Department within two weeks of your arrival in

Malaysia so that you can get a full Student Pass. This may

take from six-eight weeks. When you get your passport

back, there will be a Student Pass sticker inside it that you

will need to renew yearly.

WHAT EVIDENCE/ DOCUMENTATION DO I NEED TO PROVIDE?To apply for a student pass, your institution will submit the

following documents on your behalf:

• An official letter of acceptable from your host institution

• A completed Student Pass application form

• Two photocopies of a valid passport photo page

• Three passport-sized photos

• Proof of purchase of Malaysian Health Insurance

• A photocopy of your medical health examination report

• Proof you’re able to financially support yourself for the

duration of your study programme

• A Personal Bond document that has been signed by your

host institution

Your host institution is bound by law to sign the Personal

Bond document if they have accepted you as a student, but

you will need to pay a document fee. Universities will not

lodge your application until you’ve paid all relevant fees.

FEESPersonal Bond document fees vary depending from RM 300-

RM 1,500 (US$ 91- US$ 457) depending on your country of

origin. You might also need to pay an application fee to your

host university. For example, the University of Nottingham

Malaysia Campus charges RM 500 (US$ 152) payable before

they lodge your application, and another RM 500 that is paid

in person on your course registration day.

You may also need to pay additional fees as part of your

Student Pass application such as medical check-up fees

and health insurance costs that also depend on your country

of origin. You can get an estimate of how much these fees

might be on the Education Malaysia website.

International students will also need to purchase one of

three health insurance packages as part of their Student

Pass application. Costs vary from RM 500- RM850 (US$

152- US$ 259).

Yearly fees for a Student Pass are RYM 60 (US$ 18), whilst

visa fees may be anything from RYM 15 – RYM 90 (US$

4.50- US$ 27), depending on your country of origin. All fees

must be paid directly to the State Immigration Department.

Check the document fee for your country of origin

Check visa fees for your country of origin

Check which health insurance package you need

KEEPING YOUR VISAYour Student Pass is valid for a year and may not be renewed

if you have not met class attendance requirements, or have

no proven course selection for the following semester.

You will need to renew your pass at least one and a half

months before its date of expiry. This can be done through

your host university, each of which has a separate renewal

process that is retrievable on their website. For example,

Monash University Malaysia requires submission of specific

documents as well as a fee of RM 1000 (US$ 305) that also

covers health insurance costs.

Now that you know how straightforward the Malaysian

student visa process is, why not start browsing courses in

Malaysia now and plan your study abroad adventure?

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STUDENT ACCOMMODATION IN MALAYSIA

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 15

With a low cost of living and enviable climate,

it’s no surprise the destination is so popular.

But amongst getting your study credits and

immigration requirements organised, securing student

accommodation can feel a particularly trying part of the

study abroad planning process. Let our overview of student

accommodation options in Malaysia help make things

easier for you.

Tip: Accommodation queries might be something you want

to ask a university about through our site, using the ‘Ask a

question’ button.

Note: MYR1 = £ 0.18 = US$0.31

ON-CAMPUSMost Malaysian universities will provide some kind of

managed, on-campus accommodation for international

students. On-campus accommodation in Malaysia varies

more in nature than countries such as the USA and UK,

where living ‘on-campus’ typically refers directly to living in

a residence hall. In Malaysia, on-campus housing can be

in the form of a residence hall or student hostel, each with

a different set of facilities and rental rates. All universities

that welcome international students have an international

admissions office whose jobs it is to help find you find

accommodation and settle into Malaysian student life, so

don’t be afraid to take advantage of the resources they offer.

RESIDENCE HALLSWhere residence halls are offered, they are a popular

option for international students as they place you right

at the centre of campus life. Some halls are located a few

minutes’ walk from campus, but are seldom much further

than that. Particulars of residency agreements vary across

location and institution: for example, some universities

provide the option for students to purchase a meal plan at

around MYR10-MYR20 (US$3-US$6) per day, whilst others

only have self-catered options. Very broadly, students will

be likely to pay between MYR600-MYR3000 (US$184-

US$920) per semester, with a single bedroom is likely to be

around MYR100-MYR500 (US$ 30-US$150) per month. For

example, a shared room in the Universiti Putra Malaysia’s

International Residential College costs between MYR540-

MYR600 (US$ 166-US$ 184) per month, whilst a double

costs from MYR270-MYR300 (US$ 83-US$ 92).

Students with the option to stay in a residence hall will need

to research their options well before their arrival in Malaysia,

or ideally, as soon as you’ve received your offer. You will

need to apply for a place in a residence hall and submit

your request directly to your host in accordance to their set

deadline. Students should pursue and confirm these details

on their host’s website.

HOSTELSStudent hostels are the most commonly offered types of

student housing in Malaysia. With varied communal facilities

and living areas, living in a student hostel is somewhat

comparable to living in a shared college house, or even a

dormitory. Students may share rooms or have private rooms

within a communal space.

For example, the Swinburne University of Technology

(SARAWAK)’s student hostel offers 420 places to students,

with priority going to international and regionally-located

students. There are four room options available, ranging from

MYR90-MYR222.50 (US$28-US$68) per week in rent, not

including deposit costs. Rent is payable per semester, and

students must submit a booking form to the university in

order to secure a place. Rooms are divided into hostel blocks

SPORTING UNIQUE DEGREE OPTIONS AND GLOBALLY REGARDED INSTITUTIONS, STUDYING ABROAD IN MALAYSIA OFFERS STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO FORGE INTERNATIONAL TIES AND BROADEN THEIR PROFESSIONAL HORIZONS.

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 16

that are each furnished, equipped with Wi-Fi, a bathroom and

toilet on year floor and a communal living area. Each block

has 24-hour security guards on duty.

OFF-CAMPUSIt is common for both local and international students to live

in off-campus housing whilst studying in Malaysia. Conceived

as kind of student communities, most student housing areas

are located within a short distance of the institution, and may

be share houses, apartments or studio flats, typically with

three- four bedrooms, a living area and communal facilities.

As with on-campus housing, students will need to apply for

off-campus housing directly through their host university.

Rent is paid monthly and usually does not include amenities.

For example, Monash University Malaysia’s Sunway Monash

Residence is a 22-storey apartment block located a three

minute walk from campus. The complex is designed to

function as a student community, offering 2114 bedrooms

equipped with beds, desks, wardrobes and Wi-Fi. Students

may elect to live in a single room with shared facilities for

RYM 3540 (US$ 1087) in rent, payable every three months,

or a single room with an ensuite for RYM 4960 (US$ 1522) in

rent every three months.

MANAGED APARTMENTS AND STUDIO FLAT (CONDIMINUMS)Typically more expensive options than shared flats or

some residence halls, these options allow students to live

more independently as they study. Some universities offer

these types of accommodation to students in addition to

other on and off-campus housing options. For example,

Multimedia University (MMU) offers students the chance to

rent apartments in the area of Ixora for between MYR180-

MYR400 (US$ 55-US$123) per month, including water and

electricity bills. Units are shared between four-eight people

and come furnished with 24 hour security and Wi-Fi.

Managed apartments are often shared and come both

serviced and non-serviced, but are typically not located

within a larger ‘student community’ as with most off-campus

housing options. Whilst of course rental costs vary between

cities and institutional agreements, students can expect to

pay something like MYR1500-MYR2500 (US$460-US$767)

per month, including facilities.

STUDENT AGENCIES AND RENTING PRIVATELYThere are also a number of housing agencies that specialise

in student housing. Many university admissions offices will be

able to help you contact these agencies, or you can contact

them directly yourself. As with any local property market,

prices and property availability varies wildly depending on

where you are, what your budget is and what you’re looking

for. On average, rental costs per month for a single bedroom

apartment in a city centre is around MYR1,530 (US$470).

Whilst some student agencies will enable you to organise

accommodation before arriving, students wishing to rent

privately will usually be unable to secure housing until they

arrive in Malaysia. If this is the case, students are advised to

have a back-up plan and perhaps organize to stay in a hostel

whilst they sort out their details. With plenty of other student

housing options though, there should be no reason you

would find yourself without a place to live.

EXTRA TIPSMalaysia is a tropical, temperate country, and so most rental

costs will change depending on whether they include air

conditioning or not. Make sure you ask exactly what is meant

by ‘air-conditioning’: sometimes a cheaply rented room with

‘air-conditioning’ might mean a small desk fan.

If you’re renting through an agency, privately or even choosing

between different types of off-campus accommodation,

it’s always a good idea to contact other bodies and ask

questions so you can best weigh out your options. The very

trade of real estate agencies is to provide you insight into their

property market, and you shouldn’t feel any sort of obligation

towards them for because you’ve asked for information.

Real estate agents expect people to be frugally-minded, so if

you’re dealing with an agency or private agent, don’t be shy

to ask if there are specials available for students.

University-managed accommodation is fixed in price but

where possible, be sure to do a virtual tour and get into

contact with student ambassadors who have lived there or

know more about it. If you’re staying in a student hostel, type

the name of the hostel into travel sites, forums and search

engines: the hostel might be geared towards students, but

might also accommodate travellers or short-term stays. Travel

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 17

sites almost always have a reviews and comments section,

and often rank hostels based on their cleanliness, value for

money and atmosphere.

Now that you’ve got an idea of your accommodation options

whilst studying in Malaysia, start browsing courses in

Malaysia now and plan your study abroad adventure!

USEFUL LINKS

Student living costs in Malaysia

Applying to study in Malaysia

WWW.HOTCOURSESABROAD.COM

TUITION FEES

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 19

WITH PROGRESSIVELY MODERN, EMERGING METROPOLITAN LIFE, MALAYSIAN CITIES WELCOME INCREASING AMOUNTS OF INTERNATIONAL GUESTS PER YEAR. HAVING SET THE AMBITIOUS GOAL OF BECOMING THE WORLD’S SIXTH LARGEST EDUCATION EXPORTER BY 2020, MALAYSIA’S HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR IS RAPIDLY ADVANCING, MAKING IT A POPULAR STUDY CHOICE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.

FEESThe fees below are a guide; we always recommend

checking with the institution or department for the exact

fee for the course you’re interested in.

Note: RM 1 = £0.18 = US$ 0.30

As well as public universities, there are three types of private

tertiary education institutions in Malaysia: private colleges,

foreign branch campus universities and Malaysian private

universities.

International students also have the unique option of

‘twinning’ when studying in Malaysia, offering students the

chance to complete their undergraduate degree across

partnering institutions in two different countries. Participating

countries include the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand,

France, Germany and the US.

UNDERGRADUATEWhilst fees vary between institution and study area,

undergraduate tuition fees across the nation are

comparatively low. Foreign branch campus universities

will usually be the most expensive, whilst fees across

Malaysian private universities and colleges vary depending

on subject area and institution. Fees are generally lowest in

public universities. On average, courses at foreign branch

universities will cost around the following, by subject area:

• Business...RM 48,000-RM 84,000

(US$ 12,970-US$ 22,700)

• Engineering...RM 82,000-RM 102,000

(US$ 22,160-US$ 27,570)

• IT...RM 52,800-RM 84,000

(US$ 14,270-US$ 22,700)

• Medicine...RM 325,000 (US$ 87,840)

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIESPublic universities are government-funded and self-managed,

and will generally be your cheapest study option. For

example, public university Universiti Utara Malaysia charges

the following per course, by subject area:

• IT...RM 8,900-RM 9,910

(US$ 2,701-US$ 3,008)

• Hospitality Management...RM 9,090-RM 9,390

(US$ 2759-US$ 2,850)

• Other programmes...RM 8,690-RM 8,890

(US$ 2,638-US$ 2698)

Students are also required to pay a personal bond

between RM 500- RM 2000 (US$ 151- US$ 607) that is

refunded upon completion of their studies, depending on

their country of origin.

PRIVATE UNIVERSITIESAt a Malaysian private university, students would look to pay

around the following per course, by subject area:

• Business... RM 30,000-RM 40,000

(US$ 8,110-US$ 10,810)

• Engineering... RM 46,000-RM 52,000

(US$ 12,450-US$ 14,050)

• IT... RM 33,000-RM 43,000

(US$ 8,920-US$ 11,620)

• Medicine... RM 250,000-RM 333,000

(US$ 67,570-US$ 90,000)

• Hospitality & Tourism... RM 31,000-RM 55,000

(US$ 8,380-US$ 14,865)

• Music... RM 53,000-RM 59,000

(US$ 14,320-US$ 15,950)

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 20

PRIVATE COLLEGESPrivate colleges would roughly charge around the following

per course, by subject area:

• Business...RM 39,000-RM 52,000

(US$ 10,540-US$ 14,050)

• Engineering...RM 45,000-RM 47,000

(US$ 12,160-US$ 12,700)

• IT...RM 33,000- RM 40,000

(US$ 8,920-US$ 10,810)

• Hospitality & Tourism...RM 45,000-RM 48,500

(US$ 12,160-US$ 13,110)

• Music...RM 54,000

(US$ 14,600)

Specific institutions also offer a number of scholarship

options to international students in Malaysia. Details are

available on specific university websites which you can

access through their profile on our site.

POSTGRADUATETuition fees for Postgraduate studies in Malaysia are also

very competitive, and as with undergraduate, differ between

public and private study institutions. On average however,

a Master of Business Administration costs between RM

21,000-RM 30,000 (US$ 6,560-US$ 9,375) at a private

university, and between RM 13,000-RM 25,000 (US$ 4,060-

US$ 7,810) at a public university.

For non-medical postgraduate programmes at public

universities, you’re looking at around RM 1,800-RM 6,000

(US$ 560-US$ 1,875) per year. Other course fees are tied

specifically to an institution.

For example, the International Medical University, a private

institution, charges per module rather than per course,

with some master’s programmes charged per semester.

International students pay from RM 2,700- RM 5,300

(US$ 820-US$ 1,610) per module for a Masters degree.

Dissertation and research project modules cost from around

RM 21,550-RM 26,750 (US$ 6548- US$ 8128). Detailed

course fees and costs of other specialist postgraduate

programmes should be pursued on the institution’s website.

Once more, we always recommend you confirm the fees for a

specific course with the institution or department themselves.

This information is available on our site or you can contact

the institution themselves through us.

Now that you have an idea of tuition fees in Malaysia,

why not start browsing courses in Malaysia now and start

planning your study abroad adventure?

READ MORE

Student living costs in Malaysia

WWW.HOTCOURSESABROAD.COM

WHAT NOW?

STUDYING IN MALAYSIA: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE 22

HOPEFULLY NOW THAT YOU’VE READ OUR EBOOK, YOU FEEL MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT STUDYING IN CANADA. WHAT’S BRILLIANT ABOUT THIS EBOOK IS THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND SAVE IT TO ANY OF YOUR DEVICES; SO YOU CAN REFER TO IT THROUGHOUT YOUR STUDY ABROAD JOURNEY, WHEREVER YOU ARE.

LET’S TAKE THE NEXT STEP TOGETHER...We don’t want to leave you alone to figure out the rest. We

have lots more to offer you at Hotcourses Abroad. Visit our

site and you can do the following:

Search for and compare courses

You can search for and compare courses in the most popular

study destinations in the world. You can search quickly

according to your preferences including subject, study level,

country and study mode; that way you find the course that is

perfect for you.

Search for scholarships

We offer a scholarship search facility to help you find a

scholarship to make your study abroad dreams a reality.

Connect with a university

Rather than wait for a heavy, print prospectus to arrive in the

post, you can download full prospectuses to your device

to access wherever you go. You can also ask a university a

question, as well as click through to their site directly from

their profile if what you read about them interests you.

Read student reviews

Find out what other international students think of a university

you’re considering, by reading student reviews on our site. As

well as scores for several key categories, you can read their

comments and advice.

Read articles and study guides

Our study guides and articles will guide you through each

step of the study abroad journey, from research and applying,

to student visas and preparing to leave. These are written by

and collaborated on with current international students and

graduates, professors, university staff and other experts; this

way you know you’re getting the correct advice, laid out in an

easy-to-understand manner.

Explore Hotcourses Abroad now and become a member!

Good luck,

The Hotcourses Abroad Team

Oh, one last thing....

Be a wonderful friend and share this eBook with those you

know who are also interested in studying abroad.

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and our local language sites), we have sites which

cover Higher Education and Adult Learning in our

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populated by a diverse and truly international team.

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