Studying in Malaysia

What a year costs

Fees depend heavily on the type of institution: public universities, private universities, and foreign branch campuses. No national figure is published.

As a benchmark for a leading public university, Universiti Malaya's fee schedule for international undergraduates entering from the 2025/2026 session lists tuition of:

• Bachelor of Arts: RM 60,900-75,900
• Bachelor of Business Administration: RM 77,100
• Bachelor of Computer Science: RM 89,200
• Bachelor of Accounting: RM 99,100
• Bachelor of Civil Engineering: RM 132,100
• Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery: RM 673,200

UM states that these figures are based on the minimum or common period of study. The schedule does not say whether they are annual or for the whole degree; the amounts are consistent with whole-programme totals. Ask UM to confirm before you plan your budget. Accommodation is not included, and UM charges an RM 300 application fee.

Private universities and branch campuses charge more, and set their own fees. Get the full fee schedule, including every annual increase, in writing.

Living costs. Education Malaysia, the government's official study portal, cites an average cost of living of about USD 582 a month (a figure it takes from LivingCost.org), with accommodation at USD 50-150 a month on campus or USD 100-300 off campus. Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley cost more than Penang, Johor or East Malaysia.

Visa costs are a real line in the budget. One university, TAR UMT, estimates first-year EMGS and immigration charges at RM 3,000-4,800, and annual renewals at RM 880-910.

The visa

International students need a Student Pass. For universities and private higher education institutions, the application goes through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), the government's student visa agency. Your institution submits it, and EMGS and the Immigration Department process it.

The process runs in three stages:

1. Your institution submits the application through EMGS, and you pay the processing fee. 2. You receive an eVAL (electronic visa approval letter), which lets you travel. If your nationality needs a visa, you also apply for a Single Entry Visa through the official eVISA portal. 3. After arrival, you complete medical screening and your Student Pass is endorsed in your passport. You receive an i-Kad student card.

Fees. The EMGS calculator lists a processing fee of RM 1,728 for a new application to a public or private university: the RM 1,600 fee in the EMGS schedule (for a pass of more than 6 and up to 12 months) plus 8% service tax, which has applied since 1 March 2024. EMGS's schedule was last updated on 13 November 2025; it does not state when the current processing fee took effect. On top of that:

• Student Pass: RM 60
• eVAL: RM 159 on the calculator
• i-Kad: RM 50-60.60
• Medical screening: RM 250-350
• Health insurance: RM 498-644 on the calculator, depending on plan
• Multiple entry visa: RM 6-50, depending on nationality
• A personal bond, stamped, whose amount depends on your nationality

The money. The Immigration Department asks for proof of financial capability: your latest three months' bank statements, or a scholarship or embassy sponsorship letter. It does not publish a minimum amount. Ask your institution what balance it expects, and make sure the statements show a stable balance, not a recent lump sum.

Working while you study

The Immigration Department allows students at public universities and private higher education institutions to work up to 20 hours a week, only in approved sectors: restaurants, petrol stations, mini markets, hotels, and work inside the university or college. Front desk work in these places is not allowed, and neither is work as a recruitment agent.

You need permission first. The application goes through your institution, with a job offer letter and a letter from the institution setting out your semester schedule.

Students at language centres, training or skills centres and accredited centres cannot work.

The Immigration Department's page now describes 20 hours a week during the study period. Many older guides, and some institution pages, still describe work as limited to semester breaks. Confirm the current rule with your institution's international office before you accept a job.

After you graduate

Malaysia's Graduate Pass is a social visit pass that lets eligible graduates stay for 12 months after completing their studies.

• Bachelor's degree or higher, with a valid Student Pass when you apply
• A passport valid for at least 18 months and a year of local health insurance
• A Malaysian citizen sponsor earning at least RM 1,500 a month, with a declaration certified by a commissioner for oaths or similar
• Part-time work in permitted job sectors only
• Available to listed nationalities only. Seven ASEAN countries were added on 9 June 2025. For China and India, eligibility runs until 31 December 2026 and is decided case by case.

The EMGS schedule lists a Graduate Pass processing fee of RM 900 and a pass fee of RM 600.

For full-time work you need an employment pass sponsored by an employer, which is a separate application with its own salary and job requirements.

Language

Degree programmes at universities and branch campuses are commonly taught in English. Universiti Malaya's published minimums for undergraduate entry are IELTS Academic 5.0, TOEFL iBT 60 or PTE Academic 41, with higher requirements for some science, engineering and professional programmes. Private universities and branch campuses set their own, often higher. Check the programme page.

Malay is the national language and is used in government offices. International students at many institutions take a compulsory Malay language course as part of their degree.

When to apply

Intakes vary by institution. Universiti Malaya has two: September (Semester I), with an application deadline of 17 June, and February (Semester II), with a deadline of 11 November. Many private universities and branch campuses run additional intakes during the year.

Allow for the Student Pass. Your institution cannot apply until you have accepted your offer and paid what it requires, and you cannot travel until you hold your eVAL. Apply to the institution at least four months before the intake.

What to watch out for

Check that your institution can sponsor you. Only institutions approved to recruit international students can apply for your Student Pass through EMGS. Language centres and training centres carry no work rights. Confirm the institution's status with EMGS before paying fees.

The Graduate Pass depends on your nationality. If your country is not on the list, there is no post-study pass for you. For Chinese and Indian nationals, the current eligibility ends on 31 December 2026.

Budget for annual renewals. The Student Pass is renewed every year, with fees and insurance each time. Apply for renewal well before expiry: staying on an expired pass is an immigration offence.

Branch campus degrees. A degree from a foreign university's Malaysian campus is awarded by that university. Check that it carries the same title and transcript as the home campus, and that the programme is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.

Be careful with agents. Pay EMGS fees through the official EMGS system or your institution, not in cash to a third party, and ignore anyone who promises work beyond the 20-hour, approved-sector rule.

Where these numbers come from

Rules change, sometimes at short notice. Every figure above carries the date we checked it. Check the official source before you rely on it. Malaysia publishes no proof-of-funds minimum and no national tuition figure: ask your institution.