Malaysia is a well-known Southeast Asian country that has numerous landmarks such as the Petronas Towers and Kota Kinabalu, nevertheless, it houses a large number of world-class universities that foreign students may want to consider enrolling in.
Furthermore, according to QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Ranking, the University of Malaya has earned a spot in the top 100 colleges and universities in the world. Therefore, if you are considering studying abroad, you may want to take a look at this list of cheap universities in Malaysia.
What is the cost of studying in Malaysia?
For a foreign student studying for a three-year bachelor’s degree in Malaysia, the total cost of studying, including tuition and living expenses is RM 140,000 or approximately 33,000 USD.
Are there free Malaysian Universities?
Presently, the Ministry of Education of Malaysia is concluding the method that will be employed in providing free university education for domestic students or Malaysian citizens, nevertheless, citizens of Malaysia are enjoying highly-subsidized university education because the Malaysian government aims at having half of its workforce obtain a university education.
What language do they use as a medium of instruction in Malaysian universities?
Bahasa Malaysia is the language usually used as a medium of instruction in many bachelor’s degree courses in public universities, nevertheless, English is used as the basic language of instruction for most private Malaysian universities, while for postgraduate degree courses, English is used also as the language of instruction.
What are the affordable Universities in Malaysia for foreign students?
1. University of Malaysia, Kelantan
- The school fees for undergraduate programs ranges from RM 2,895 ($700 USD) to RM 8,615 ($2,000 USD)
The University of Malaysia, Kelantan situated in Kelantan was founded in the year 2006, and it is a university, sponsored by the state. There are four faculties in the university offering undergraduate and post-graduate degrees for its students.
Entrepreneurship and Business, Veterinary Medicine, and Agro-Industry and Natural Resources, among others, are the degrees offered by the university, and the school fees are approximately $700 to $2,000 a year, making it one of the most affordable for international students in Malaysia.
There are about three campuses in the institution which are the major campus in Bachok, the City Campus in Pengkalan Chepa, and the second campus Forest Park Campus in a rural area in Jeli. As an international student intending to school here, you can look forward to having a hostel, a library, sports, and cultural facilities, including a cafeteria.
2. National Defense University of Malaysia
- The school fees for Graduate Programs are approximately RM 5,050 (USD 1,200) for the first semester and RM 3,550 (USD 800) for other semesters.
The main aim of establishing the National Defense University of Malaysia is to meet the educational requirements of the armed forces of Malaysia. This is known to be the only option of higher education institutions that can heighten the status of the armed forces of Malaysia.
Interestingly, the majority of the lecturers at the university are members of the armed forces, nevertheless, some are employed to render quality education to the students.
The university offers master’s and Ph.D. degrees to international students aside from offering bachelor’s degree programs for the uniform men and women.
3. University of Malaya
- School fees for undergraduate programs ranges from RM 5,400 ($1,300 USD) to RM 11,330 ($2,600 USD).
This university is a public research university, based in Kuala Lumpur and was founded in 1905. Being the only Malaysian university to be rated among the top 100 higher education institutions across the globe, it offers numerous undergraduate and graduate courses both to local and international students.
Even though it is an affordable university in Malaysia, they have partnered with numerous foreign universities in the UK, France, Japan, and Australia including the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, Osaka University, École Polytechnique, and the University of Nottingham.
Furthermore, prominent personalities in the areas of business, cultural, and political landscape of Malaysia, including three prime ministers were nurtured by this great institution.
4. Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia
- The school fees for an undergraduate student is RM 6750 ($1,600 USD) for each semester and RM 5,810 ($1,400 USD) for subsequent semesters.
- For graduate programs, the school fee is RM 16,841 (USD 3,900) for both coursework and research
The Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia also known as the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn was founded in the year 1993 and mainly concentrates on training the academic staff of a polytechnic, after which it later became an institute of technology to recognize the fact that it presents a good number of technical education staff that is well-trained.
Furthermore, the Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia in 2007, attained its full university status, presently offering eight programs in various faculties, such as civil and environmental engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, technology management and business, and applied science and technology among others.
Students aside from learning, can also relax and visit the sports and recreation facilities of the university thereby permitting them to explore their passions alongside other like-minded individuals.
5. Universiti Malaysia Sabah
- The school fees for undergraduate programs ranges from RM 7,050 ($1,600 USD) to RM 8,708 ($2,000 USD).
This is yet another affordable Malaysian university. Established in Kota Kinabalu in 1994 with about 205 students as her first batch of admitted students, it is rated the ninth Malaysian higher learning institution funded by the government.
Currently, there are three campuses of the university in Malaysia and ten facilities with different fields of study, such as computing and informatics, psychology and education, and international finance, and so on.
Moreover, the university is under the supervision of a Board of Directors that comprises a chairman and ten members on a three-year term and the minister of education is responsible for appointing the members of the board.
6. Universiti Malaysia Pahang
- The school fees for Graduate Programs for the initial semester is RM 10,685 (USD 2,300) and RM4,610 (USD 1,100) for the subsequent semesters
Formerly, the Universiti Malaysia Pahang was known as either the Kolej Universiti Kejuruteraan dan Teknologi Malaysia or the University College of Engineering & Technology Malaysia and was founded in 2002 thereby receiving its autonomy in 2015.
Offering various engineering and technology-based programs, it is one of the most reputable universities as regards research and innovation.
The central campus of the institution is situated in Pekan and it harbors four faculties of engineering. The Gambang campus of the university is situated in the East Coast Industrial Belt, interestingly, numerous multinational companies are located there.
7. University of Science Malaysia
- The school fees for undergraduate program ranges from RM 11,790(2,700 USD) to RM 117,900 (27,500 USD) while
- he school fees for graduate programs ranges from RM 1,250 (300 USD) to RM 63,000 (14,700 USD)
This institution is notably one of the earliest institutions of higher learning in northern Malaysia which was founded in 1969 as a statutory body and the second university in the country.
Having three campuses with the central campus in Penang, the Health Campus in Kelantan, and the Engineering Campus, which is located in Nibong Tebal, it is one of the largest universities in Malaysia when it comes to enrollment.
8. Technical University of Malaysia, Malacca
- For the initial year at the university, the school fees for the undergraduate programs are RM 14,038 (3,300 USD).
The institution was the first to employ the “Practice and Application Oriented” method of teaching and learning at the university level, and it is the first technical university to be funded by the government.
The Technical University of Malaysia was established in the year 2000 and is currently the 14th public university in the country offering various programs in eight different faculties, including manufacturing engineering, electrical engineering, and information and communication technology, electronics, and lastly, computer engineering.
Finally, studying in Malaysia is highly advantageous, but a lot of foreign and local students shy away from that due to lack of funds, but we have brought good news your way. You can now school in any of the aforementioned Malaysian universities and note that the fact that it is affordable does not in any measure affect the standard of education. This is evident in the fact that a wide range of them was rated highly by reputable rankings.