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Study in Malaysia

Malaysia hosts branch campuses of Australian and British universities alongside strong local private institutions, all teaching in English. Living costs are among the lowest of any major study destination, and a new post-study Graduate Pass now covers Vietnamese graduates.

Tuition
US$6,200/yr
Living
US$4,600/yr
Total
US$10,800/yr
Work rights
20 hours/week during term
Post-study
Graduate Pass — 1 year

Current position

Policy for international students

  • Vietnam is on the list of 32 countries eligible for the Graduate Pass, allowing graduates to stay and look for work for one year without employer sponsorship.
  • Graduate Pass holders may sponsor a spouse and dependent children through a Dependant Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass, valid up to one year.
  • Student visa procedures remain among the simplest in the region — no proof-of-funds requirement for the study permit itself.
  • Credit-transfer (twinning) programmes let students complete part of a UK or Australian degree in Malaysia and finish abroad.

Cost

What a year in Malaysia costs

Adjust the level, city and scholarship percentage to see the effect on your annual total.

Scholarships: Merit awards commonly cover 20-50% of tuition; twinning programmes reduce the total cost of a UK or Australian degree by roughly half.

Estimated annual cost

Tuition—
Living costs—
Scholarship—
Total per year—

US dollars, indicative

Indicative US dollars per year. Actual fees depend on the institution and programme; confirm before you commit.

Admission

Entry requirements

  • Completed Grade 12
  • IELTS 5.0-5.5 depending on programme, or the institution's own English course

Funding

Scholarships & financial support

Merit awards commonly cover 20-50% of tuition; twinning programmes reduce the total cost of a UK or Australian degree by roughly half.

Awards are almost always decided at the point of admission rather than afterwards, and most pools are allocated on a rolling basis. Applying early in the cycle is the single biggest thing within your control.

How scholarship rounds work

At a glance

Work during study
20 hours/week during term
After graduation
Graduate Pass — 1 year
Baseline tuition
US$6,200/yr
Baseline living
US$4,600/yr

Subjects

What Malaysia is strong in

  • Business
  • Biomedical Science
  • Information Technology
  • Engineering
  • Communications
  • Hospitality

Institutions

Where to study in Malaysia

11 institutions in our directory, across 3 categories.

Browse all 11 institutions in Malaysia

Immigration

The Malaysia student visa

  • International students need a Student Pass, applied for through the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) portal once the institution has issued an offer.
  • EMGS screening plus the visa approval letter typically takes 4-8 weeks, so apply as soon as you accept your offer.
  • A medical examination is required — one before departure and one after arrival in Malaysia.
  • The Student Pass is issued for the duration of the course and renewed annually alongside proof of academic progress.

Questions

Frequently asked

Can I study in Malaysia without an IELTS certificate?

Yes. Most private universities accept an internal placement test, and those who fall short can take an intensive English programme on campus before starting the main course.

Can I transfer to another country partway through?

That is the core appeal of Malaysian twinning and 3+0 programmes. You complete one or two years locally and transfer the credits to the partner campus in the UK, Australia or the US to finish the degree.

Do I need to prove finances?

No proof of funds is required for the student pass itself, though you should still budget realistically for tuition and living costs.

How much does a year cost?

Budget roughly US$10,800 per year all-in for tuition plus living in Kuala Lumpur — lower outside the capital.

Planning Malaysia for 2026–27?

We will check your profile against the entry requirements, size the real budget and map the scholarship rounds worth applying to.

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