Malaysia Student Education News

Applications are open for the Commonwealth Scholarships

Students from 44 countries in the Commonwealth of Nations can now apply for the UK's Commonwealth Master's Scholarships. Successful applicants will receive a fully funded postgraduate education in the country in 2026-27, and must not be able to afford it by other means.

Eligible countries include:

• Bangladesh
• Ghana
• India
• Kenya
• Malaysia
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka

Additionally, students from 19 countries are eligible to apply for the 2026-27 Commonwealth PhD Scholarships. These include Bangladesh, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Applications for both scholarships must be made by October 14, at 16:00 (UK time).

Find out more about fully funded scholarships around the world.

Chevening Scholars celebrated at pre-departure ceremonies

Students around the world have gathered to receive their Chevening Scholarships from British ambassadors at official receptions. Approximately 1,500 awardees from more than 150 countries are currently preparing to begin a fully funded master's degree in the UK. This year, 46 are from Pakistan, while 32 come from both Nigeria and Malaysia.

Applications are now open for the 2025/26 academic year. Find out how you can make yours with our guide to applying for Chevening.

International students compete at the Paralympics

International students from around the world are competing at the Paralympic Games in Paris.

Malaysian long jumper Jonathan Wong Kar Gee will go for gold in his event on Monday. The vision impaired athlete studied in Australia, and has a degree in engineering management from the USA's Inter American University.

Palesha Goverdhan will compete for Nepal in taekwondo. Outside of sport, she is currently studying for a degree in architecture engineering at Tongji University in China.

Other study abroad sporting stars at the Games include:

• Icelandic swimmer Már Gunnarsson (student at the Royal Northern College of Music, UK)
• Japan's ten-time swimming medallist Taka Suzuki (sports management PhD student at Northumbria University, UK)
• Cameroonian sprinters Guillaume Junior Atangana and Donard Nyamjua (students at Bradford College, UK)

For more inspirational stories of international student athletes on the international stage, check out these Olympians who studied abroad.

Malaysia plans to extend visa route to international graduates

International graduates in Malaysia will be able to apply for a Long-Term Social Visit Pass, under plans announced in the country's latest budget. The visa, which is currently available to groups including spouses of citizens, allows holders to stay for up to five years. At present, an offer of employment is required in most cases to obtain permission to remain in the country after leaving education. No timescale has been announced for the extension of eligibility for the pass.

Former international student wins Oscar for Best Actress

Michelle Yeoh has won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, forty years after studying in the UK. The Malaysian star attended the Royal Academy of Dance in London before receiving a BA in Creative Arts from Crewe & Alsager College. In the years since, she has received international acclaim for her work across Hong Kong and Hollywood.

Malaysian students can now return to China