Studying in Malaysia means studying in an international hotspot for business, culture and education. The country's universities welcome thousands of students from across the world each year, with around 150,000 enrolled in total. The backgrounds and experience each bring are fascinatingly diverse, but one thing most share is a lack of familiarity with their new education system. If that's something on your mind, you're in the right place. Our guide to higher education in Malaysia will help you understand what to expect.
Who runs higher education in Malaysia?
All higher education institutions in Malaysia are overseen by the country's Ministry of Higher Education, whether they are owned publicly or privately. However, each have a general freedom to run themselves as they would like, within the boundaries of the law.
Types of institution
There are two main types of institution where you can earn a degree in Malaysia: universities and university colleges.
Universities are typically larger, and award students a number of different qualifications at undergraduate and postgraduate level. These institutions can be run either publicly or privately, with most of the highest-ranked falling into the former category. Notable examples include Universiti Malaya (UM), which places 65th in the QS World University Rankings.
Nonetheless, there are still many great privately run options, including branch campuses of top universities based in other countries. These institutions link Malaysia with the UK, Australia and elsewhere, and offer students a cost-saving way to study in the country while gaining an international qualification.
University colleges, meanwhile, are all privately run. In general, they have smaller campuses and lower student numbers, but still offer fully accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. In some cases, these are offered in conjunction with established universities.
A common benefit of university colleges is specialism. Some place their focus on particular subjects, and are well-regarded within their field. So, if you have a specific area of interest, one of these institutions could be right for you.
Keen to know more? Check out our guide to the top universities in Malaysia.
Malaysian academic year
In Malaysia, most universities' academic years run from around September to June, and are divided into either two or three semesters. However, some begin their years in January or February, with an end around October. In some cases, you may even have a choice of which you would prefer, as your course may have two separate intakes.
What languages do Malaysian universities use?
The languages used at Malaysian universities vary. If you study at a private institution, your programme will most likely be taught in English, but there are exceptions. Some universities teach in the local Malay language, and this is more often the case at public institutions. As a general rule, though, you can expect maths and science courses to be delivered in English, wherever you study.
Undergraduate degrees
Undergraduate degrees in Malaysia typically take either three or four years to complete for full-time students. In most cases, they cover a specific subject, but some universities do offer more general courses in fields such as the arts and sciences. These provide you with greater control over the composition of your degree.
Postgraduate degrees
Postgraduate degrees in Malaysia usually take between one and two years to complete, when studied full-time. At this point, you can expect to focus on a more specific area of study, and at a more advanced level.
As in many other countries, master's courses in Malaysia can comprise any combination of classroom-led coursework, a long-form dissertation or research project, and a thesis. Taught courses make up the majority of programmes at this level, and are structured in a similar way to those in the UK and Australia. Students will attend lectures, seminars, tutorials or workshops, and complete assessments in a similar format as in undergraduate study.
After completing a master's degree, students in Malaysia can go on to study at doctoral level. On a full-time basis, this typically takes between three and four years of increasingly independent work. Upon successful completion, students leave with a PhD that will be recognised around the world.
Twinning programmes
Universities in Malaysia also offer students the opportunity to complete their undergraduate degree across two partner institutions: one based inside the country, and one based elsewhere. This provides a more affordable way to study abroad in countries such as the UK, USA, Australia and Canada.
The amount of time you spend at your non-Malaysian university will depend on the terms of your particular twinning programme. To reflect this, each one is referred to numerically. So, if you study a 1+2 programme, you will spend one year in Malaysia, and two in another country. On a 3+1 programme, you will study for three years in Malaysia, and one elsewhere.
The programmes available to you depend on your preferred additional country of study, but in each case, it will be cheaper to spend the majority of your time in Malaysia. To maximise savings, you can even enrol on a 3+0 programme, through which you will earn a degree awarded by an international university while studying solely in Malaysia.
Find out more with our full guide to twinning programmes in Malaysia.
Academic culture
Higher education in Malaysia is highly international. Students in the country therefore get the benefit of teaching styles and academic environments influenced by a number of different cultures. In particular, though, Malaysian academic culture bears similarity to that of the UK. Students are expected to follow coursework independently, and manage their own progress.
Malaysian communication is subtle, and relies on extreme politeness and diplomacy. While some international students may be used to expressing their opinions openly in class as a way of demonstrating their engagement with course content, this may be seen as abrupt or even rude in Malaysia. Of course, cultural expectations are not always inflexible, but it is wise to consider those that you might encounter in advance.
Now that you have a better idea of how higher education in Malaysia works, you might want to think more about studying there. Begin with our guides to student living costs in Malaysia and applying for a Malaysian student visa, or simply start browsing courses in Malaysia today.
Chat with Couru
