General information about studying in Malaysia

Asia has recently become a destination for many international students to complete higher education, especially Malaysia. Through the article, we will show you general information about studying in Malaysia and how it ranked 57th in education according to the United Nations Development Program index issued in 2019, with its education sector growing significantly in recent years.

General information about studying in Malaysia

The country of Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia, and has recently become a source of study attraction for many international students, especially those looking for high-quality education and a multicultural environment. This is due to its distinguished educational institutions and reasonable costs of living, making it the preferred choice for many students.

In addition to the absence of language barriers, although Malay is the official and national language in Malaysia, studying in English is widespread in most universities.

Malaysia includes branches of several famous foreign universities that follow the same curriculum as the main universities, allowing students to receive a globally recognized education.

Universities and colleges in Malaysia offer a wide range of programs in various disciplines, allowing students to choose what suits their interests and career goals.

Education in Malaysia

Education in Malaysia is one of the country's most important priorities. The government is committed to providing quality education to children regardless of gender or social class. Therefore, nearly a quarter of the state budget is allocated to improving education and training programs.

The Ministry of Education oversees education in Malaysia from pre-school to post-secondary.

Free education in Malaysia is available for 11 years of primary and secondary education, including grades 1 to 11.

Primary education begins at the age of 6 years, continues from the first to sixth grades, and is compulsory for all children. Followed by lower secondary education (grades 7 to 9), then continuing to upper secondary education (grades 10 and 11) in the sciences, technical and vocational fields, or the arts. After that, students choose between entering the twelfth grade, which is the first year of the last two years of study for students who intend to enroll in public universities in Malaysia), or private pre-university admission programs in Malaysia), or skills, technical and vocational programs.

Secondary education in Malaysia

Secondary education in Malaysia extends for five years, and is known as Tingkatan. Secondary education in Malaysia is divided into five stages. Stages 1 to 3 are known as lower secondary stage (Menengah Rendah), while stages 4 and 5 are known as upper secondary stage (Menengah Atas).

Admission to the first stage is for students who have completed primary school, with a minimum grade of D for Malay subjects at the end of primary school, otherwise students will be required to attend a one-year transitional class, called “removal” (Kelas/Tingkatan Peralihan).

Extracurricular activities are mandatory for students in the secondary education stage, provided that the student participates in at least two activities in most states, and three activities in the Sarawak region.

Extracurricular activities are classified into several categories, including unified groups, performing arts, clubs and societies, and sports and games.

Students' level at the end of third grade is determined by the Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah (PBS) assessment, which is an assessment set by the school.

At the end of the fifth level, the student passes the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, or the Malaysian Certificate of Education, to graduate from secondary school. Students are awarded a GCE 'O' Level grade for the English Language exam in addition to the regular SPM English exam.

There are several other types of public or government-supported high schools, including:

Religious Secondary School (Sekolah Menengah Agama)
Technical schools (Sekolah Menengah Teknik)
Completely residential schools
MARA Junior College of Science (Maktab Rendah Sains MARA

Education in Malaysia

Malaysian education rankings

Malaysia has shown tremendous progress in the field of education, rising educational performance and improving the quality of education according to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for 2024, with Malaysia now ranked third in Asia and sixth in the world.

The rates of improvement in education in Malaysia also increased by 22%, based on classifications that provide independent data on the performance of 240 educational programs in 25 Malaysian universities.

Living costs in Malaysia

Malaysia is characterized by affordable living costs, in addition to reasonable tuition costs borne by the student compared to most other countries, especially in Southeast Asia.

Rent and food expenses in Malaysia are not very expensive. Malaysia is the second cheapest country in Asia, and the third cheapest country in the world. In general, the average monthly cost of living in Malaysia for international students is estimated at RM1,200 to RM2,500, including housing, food, transportation, entertainment, and healthcare. However, the cost of living varies depending on the location, lifestyle and accommodation options of the student.

The affordable cost of living in Malaysia makes it an attractive source for many international students to move and live there.

Tuition fees in Malaysia for international students

The average tuition fee for a bachelor's degree in Malaysia ranges from RM25,176 to RM73,377 per year, depending on the type of university and course. The average tuition fee for a postgraduate course ranges from RM27,000 to RM47,297 per year.

Thus, international students pay between 3,000-12,000 US dollars annually on average in tuition fees, depending on the university and the type of specialization.

Tuition fees in Malaysia for international students

Requirements for admission to Malaysian universities

General information about studying in Malaysia includes knowing the requirements for student admission to Malaysian universities, which include:

Bachelor's degree programmes

Passing the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination with a grade of (C) in the Malay language subject or grade (C) in Bahasa Melayu/Bahasa Malaysia July Papers and Pass History (SPM 2013 and above).
Achievement of the minimum score in the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) as per the requirements of the study programme.

Master's degree

To be accepted into the master's program, you must first obtain a completed and recognized bachelor's degree in the specialty with a good cumulative GPA.

Some universities may request proof from the student of his ability to spend during the period of study in Malaysia. This requires proof of sufficient funds to cover living costs and tuition fees for themselves and family members who may accompany them to Malaysia in proportion to the average costs of living and studying in Malaysia.

Cheapest universities in Malaysia for international students

Many international students are looking for cheap universities in Malaysia for studying in Malaysia at a low cost, and here is a group of Cheapest universities in Malaysia for international students:

Universiti Malaysia Pahang: RM3700-4100 per seo zz mester
Universiti Malaysia Perlis: RM5,400 per year
Universiti Malaysia Sabah: at a cost of MYR 2630-3400 per semester
Tun Hussein Onn University: at a cost of RM3,000 per semester
Universiti Teknik Malaysia, Melaka: RM3,500-4,000 per semester
University of Science, Malaysia: 11,000 – 14,000 MYR/semester

Study in Malaysia scholarship

Both the Malaysian government and universities offer various scholarships and financial aid to international and local students every year. Scholarships for international students in Malaysia come in the form of scholarships, education funds, tuition fee waivers , and loans.

Malaysia scholarship includes:

Malaysian Government Scholarship for International Students to Study Master’s Program in Malaysia
Global Scholarships for International Students in Malaysia, for students from Commonwealth countries who plan to study Masters and PhD in Malaysian universities
Scholarships for international students from top universities

Conclusion

We provided you with general information about studying in Malaysia, which explained the extent to which the quality of education in Malaysia has improved. In addition to the appropriate costs of living and studying for international students, and a group of the cheapest Malaysian universities to study in various specializations

FAQ about general information about studying in Malaysia

What are the procedures for obtaining a student visa in Malaysia?

Submission is made on the official website of the Ministry of Education.
Submitting a university acceptance letter and university certificates.
Foreign language test
Official papers such as passport and photographs.

The application takes approximately 14 working days, and the student can follow the result of the application electronically through the website.

Are there job opportunities for students in Malaysia?

The government allows international students with a student visa to work a maximum of 20 hours per week during vacations only, and the work includes only 4 areas: hotels, gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants.