Study in Malaysia
Malaysia is fast becoming a popular study abroad destination among international students and the credit goes to its rapidly improving quality of education. Malaysian universities are ranked among the top universities in the world and are almost at par with universities in Singapore and Hong Kong. Several international universities have their campuses located in Malaysia that provide high standard of education. Both the cost of education and living in Malaysia is significantly lower than those in the Western countries. Malaysia also offers a seamless immigration procedure which international students can greatly benefit from. Some of the top ranking universities in Malaysia are University of Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Universiti Putra Malaysia, etc.
Why study in Malaysia?
Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia's most lively countries. Malaysia has acquired the term "Truly Asia" for a variety of reasons, including its rich culture, wonderful food, booming metropolises, lush green tropics, amazing shopping, and dirt-cheap rates. Malaysia is gradually becoming a major study destination for students from all over the globe, placing 9th on UNESCO's list of best nations for foreign students in 2015. Studying in Malaysia can help you appreciate Asia's rising relevance in today's globalized globe. The country is also recognized for its capital city, Kuala Lumpur, which is a financial powerhouse and Southeast Asia's economic center.
University and College Rankings
There are about 100 accredited universities that offer tertiary education in 151 courses. Many international institutions, particularly those from Australia and the United Kingdom, maintain branch campuses in Malaysia. Its educational institutions are ranked among the top 200 in the world. Malaysia's KBU International College has partnered with Anglia Ruskin, Nottingham Trent, and Sheffield Hallam universities in the United Kingdom. According to QS World University Rankings, Universiti Malaya (UM) is ranked 87th in the 2019
Malaysian Institution Types:
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Private colleges
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Community Colleges.
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Polytechnics.
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University colleges
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Universities
Demography & how open is the country for alien(International) students?
Malaysians are sociable and outgoing people who like socializing. Malaysia's finest feature is its foreign students from all over the world, including India. Almost 100,000 foreign students from more than 150 countries presently study in Malaysia. Malaysia is one of the world's safest and most politically stable countries, having a low crime rate. Malaysia's weather is bright and wet all year, with no severe cold or hot weather conditions, making it simple to adjust to.
Education System & the opportunities (available course options/fields/majors)
Due to Malaysia's education system and emphasis on international standards, certain institutions offer courses in computer science and engineering that rank among the world's top 100. The Malaysian National Curriculum is followed by all primary schools, regardless of institution type. The curriculum comprises a first language (Bahasa Melayu, Chinese, or Tamil), English as a second language, Islamic education (required for Muslims), mathematics, science, civics/moral education, local studies, physical education, health education, music, and visual arts. Lower secondary (Forms 1–3) is a three-year programme in which students study a minimum of eight topics. Upper secondary education is comprised of Forms 4 and 5, and pupils normally attend one of three types of schools:
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Academic (arts or science stream)
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Vocational and Technical Training
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Religious
STEM/Non-STEM
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is an academic subject that refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Health sciences, physics, engineering, and information technology are among the majors available.
Humanities, Arts, Literature, and Management, on the other hand, are all classified as non-STEM disciplines.
Malaysian universities provide a diverse variety of STEM and non-STEM programs. Here's a table that lists some of these courses.
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STEM & Non-STEM
Medical courses
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Nursing
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Dentistry
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Optometry
Law
Internet of Things(IoT)
Entertainment Arts
Blockchain
Music
B.tech Engineering Courses
Psychology
Aircraft Maintenance
Fashion Design
Eligibility Criteria (standardized tests to be taken)
The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia is used to determine admission to three-year diploma programs (Malaysian Certificate of Education). The Diploma can lead to enhanced admission to several Bachelor Degree programmes.
A Grade C (2.00) in General Studies and two additional topics on the Malaysian Higher School Certificate is usually required for admission to Bachelor Degree programmes (STPM). Students must also have a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) pass in Bahasa Melayu and a Malaysian University English Test Band Level 1.
Admission to Master's degrees at public institutions requires an Honors Degree with a high level of academic accomplishment. A Bachelor Degree or similar, such as a professional certificate regarded to be at the Bachelor Degree level, is necessary for admission to private institutions.
A Master's degree is often necessary for admission to doctorate programmes.
Under Graduate and Post Graduate level
Pre-university
The SPM scores are used to determine admission to pre-university programmes. This cycle, often known as Sixth Form, lasts two years and is separated into Lower Sixth Form and Upper Sixth Form.
Matriculation
The matriculation cycle is just one year long (two semesters) and is intended to prepare well-qualified upper secondary graduates, as measured by SPM performance, for admission to top-ranked colleges. Students are divided into three groups: science, accounting, and technology.
Trending Courses
Here are some Top popular courses offered by Malaysian Universities to Foreign students.
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Computing & Information Technology (IT)
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Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
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Financial Services.
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Engineering.
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Accounting.
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Digital Marketing.
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Business & Management.
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Interior Designer
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Logistics management
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Dentistry
Trending job opportunities
Here are a few common courses that might help a student stand out from the crowd in terms of employability.
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Mechanical engineer.
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Telecommunications engineer,
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Systems analyst,
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Software developer,
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Technical helpdesk analyst
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Logistics manager,
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Distribution manager
Post Study Work Opportunities
During semester breaks or holidays of seven or more days, the Malaysian Immigration Department enables overseas students studying in Malaysia to work part-time for 20 hours per week. Students can work part-time at restaurants, minimarkets, and gas stations as long as their student permits are valid.
Average Tuition Fee
Malaysia has a cheaper cost of living and studying than nations such as Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. While an undergraduate Programme at the University of Nottingham's UK Campus costs £13,470, the equivalent course in the Malaysia campus costs MYR 39,990 (roughly £7,000).
Scholarship Opportunities
Here is a list of Malaysia's leading colleges that give scholarships to both local and foreign students.
University
Scholarship
Reward amount
Graduate Research Scholarship
700-1,200 RM
International Doctoral Fellowship
2,000
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
UKM Vice-Chancellor Scholarships
Tuition Fees waiver
University Trust Graduate Scholarship
Tuition Fees waiver
Developing Solution Masters
Tuition Fees waiver
Heriot-Watt University
Sharing Entrepreneurship Women Scholarship
Tuition waivers
Average Living Costs (some city wise annual living expenses)
Overall expense of staying in Malaysia is also significantly cheaper, which reduces your financial stress. For overseas students, it's a win-win situation because they can live comfortably for roughly MYR 1100 per month. (This covers food, lodging, and other day-to-day expenditures.) In Malaysia, students may have a dinner for less than $4, which helps them save money.
Part Time work opportunities & Hourly wage rates
Foreign undergraduates studying in Malaysia are permitted to work 20 hours a week part-time. Graduates are motivated to work at convenience stores, restaurants and cafés, motels, and gas stations. Students, on the other hand, are not permitted to work as a cashier, singer, masseuse, musician, or in any other occupation.
Full time work opportunities (post study) & Hourly wage rates/Annual Median Salary (some jobs/positions)
Post-graduate work options in Malaysia are possible but tough to come by. Students who wish to work after graduating from Malaysia must have a sponsor and an employment contract.
Visa types (student)
Malaysia's immigration authority grants the student pass (Student visa) as a multiple entry visa on an annual basis (MEV). The duration of your student visa will be determined by the sort of course you have registered in. The Student Pass is not the e-VAL (Electronic Visa Approval Letter) or the SEV (Single Entry Visa) (Student Visa). It is not feasible to enter Malaysia without e-VAL and SEV, or to study on a tourist visa. The usual processing time for a Malaysian student visa is 5-6 days. The annual student visa price is around RM 60 ($14).
Post Student visa: Full Time Work Visa
Graduates who want to stay and work in the nation after finishing their education have several alternatives, including the Employment Pass. There are also Temporary Employment Passes and Visitor's Passes available (Professional). The duration of each of these alternatives vary, ranging from six months to about five years, as do the terms and restrictions.
Post-study work permits (duration, type, what can you do with the help of such a visa)
In order to be allowed for a work permit as a legal immigrant, your passport must be valid for at least 18 months. Your Malaysian work permit will be different based on employment, pay, and contract.
Malaysian work permits are classified into three types:
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Employment Pass (EP): This is the most popular type of pass for people who have been offered a two-year contract with a Malaysian firm with a monthly salary of RM 5,000.
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Visitor's Pass (Temporary Employment Pass): This is typically offered to people who have a job in approved industries with a contract of less than two years or a monthly income of less than RM 5,000.
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Professional Visit Pass: The Professional Visit Pass is accessible to foreign citizens with professional credentials and abilities, such as a Researcher, Lecturer, or Technical Advisor, who are either working for a foreign firm or will be in Malaysia for less than 12 months.
Permanent Residency options
To gain permanent residency, foreign nationals must typically dwell in the country for a minimum of 5 years under legal paperwork. There are some options for obtaining permanent residency in even less time.
The Malaysian government specifies the following categories for granting permanent residency:
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Individuals with a high net worth
Must create a bank account in the nation and deposit a minimum of $2 million USD during a 5-year period. This allows you permanent residency immediately, as well as a long-stay visa for your children and spouse, which will award them permanent status after 5 years.
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Experts/Professionals
This option is only available to highly trained and experienced Employment Pass holders. You must have resided in the nation for at least 5 years. You will require government clearance, sponsorship from a citizen or permanent resident, and employer references.
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Malaysian citizens' spouses
Before applying, you must have been married to a Malaysian citizen for 5 years, have a sponsor, and have had a valid long-stay visa for 5 years.
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Those who achieve a high enough point total in the point-based system
Malaysia has a point-based system for permanent residency that requires candidates to score at least 65 out of a potential 120 and to have a sponsor. Salary, age, job experience, language competence, investment, and time spent in Malaysia are all points-earning categories.
