Why study in Malaysia
Malaysia has become a popular, budget-friendly destination for Indian students, offering globally recognised degrees at a fraction of Western costs. Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang and Johor host both public universities (Universiti Malaya, USM, UPM) and private institutions such as Taylor's, Sunway, Monash University Malaysia, Nottingham Malaysia and APU. Many private universities run "twinning" or branch-campus programmes where you earn a UK or Australian degree while paying local fees.
English is the medium of instruction for most international programmes, and the large Indian-origin community makes settling in easier. A bachelor's degree typically takes 3–4 years and a master's 1–2 years.
- Tuition is far lower than the UK/US, and living costs in Kuala Lumpur are modest.
- Popular fields: engineering, computing/IT, business, medicine, hospitality and biotechnology.
- Intakes are flexible, with several entry points per year at private universities.
Work rights are more restricted than in the UK or Canada: paid part-time work is allowed only during semester breaks exceeding seven days, not during regular term. Graduates from India secure post-study work through the Employment Pass once they have a job offer, since Malaysia's one-year Graduate Pass currently covers only a fixed list of 23 countries that does not include India.
Very affordable
Low tuition and one of the lowest costs of living for study abroad.
Branch campuses
Monash and other international campuses awarding home-country degrees.
English-medium
Widely spoken English and a large international student community.
Key facts for Indian students
Postgrad tuition / yr
MYR 10,000–40,000/yr (approx ₹2–7.5 lakh)
MBA/specialist programmes higher
Undergrad tuition / yr
MYR 15,000–45,000/yr (approx ₹3–8.5 lakh) at private universities
Living cost / month
MYR 1,500–3,000/month (approx ₹28,000–56,000), higher in Kuala Lumpur
Work while studying
Up to 20 hrs/week, ONLY during semester breaks/holidays longer than 7 days — not during term (prior Immigration approval required)
Post-study work
No general post-study work visa for Indians (Malaysia's 1-year Graduate Pass excludes India)
graduates stay via an Employment Pass once they secure a qualifying job offer
Main intakes
Main intakes February and September
many private universities also offer January, May and July starts
English (typical)
IELTS 5.5 (undergraduate) to 6.0–6.5 (postgraduate), or institution's English test
Indicative ranges from official sources — your counsellor confirms exact costs, scholarships and entry requirements for your profile, free.
Top scholarships for Malaysia
- Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) government-funded Master's/PhD scheme for international students
- Taylor's University International Merit Scholarships
- Sunway University Scholarships merit-based, international students
- Asia Pacific University (APU) Merit Scholarships
9 universities in Malaysia, grouped by how competitive admission is. A balanced shortlist mixes all three — your counsellor builds yours with you, free.
Moderate universities in Malaysia
Well-regarded universities where a solid academic record gives you a realistic chance of an offer.
University of Malaya
RM 15,000–RM 25,000/yrTuition · indicative Feb, SepIntakes View university SM
Universiti Sains Malaysia
USD8,000–USD9,600/yrTuition · verified Feb, SepIntakes View university KM
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
MYR32,000–MYR41,160/yrTuition · sourced Feb, SepIntakes View university PM
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Universiti Putra Malaysia is a large public research university near Kuala Lumpur, historically strong in agriculture, engineering, science and… Feb, SepIntakes View university SU
Sunway University
USD9,430–USD10,058/yrTuition · verified Feb, SepIntakes View university
Monash University Malaysia
MYR51,840–MYR64,800/yrTuition · sourced Feb, SepIntakes View university
Taylor's University
MYR40,532–MYR44,060/yrTuition · sourced Feb, SepIntakes View universitySafe / Budget universities in Malaysia
Broader entry requirements — the dependable base of a balanced shortlist.
Campus photos on this page: Wiki Farazi (CC0) · Dnydegger at en.wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) · پوویا (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Wee Hong (CC BY-SA 4.0) · SunnyYew (Public domain) · Chongkian (CC BY-SA 4.0) · WPSamson (Public domain) · Cmglee (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Yewvie (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons.
Popular courses in Malaysia
BSc Computer Science
3–4 yrs IELTS 6.0 5Universities offering this View course
MBA — Master of Business Administration
1–2 yrs IELTS 6.5 3Universities offering this View course
MSc Management
1 yr IELTS 6.5 3Universities offering this View course
MSc Data Science
1–2 yrs IELTS 6.5 3Universities offering this View course
BEng Mechanical Engineering
3–4 yrs IELTS 6.0 2Universities offering this View course
BA Hospitality Management
3 yrs IELTS 6.0 2Universities offering this View courseIntakes
Feb, Sep
Tuition & scholarships
Confirmed for your profile — free
Studying in Malaysia — FAQs
6 questions
Private-university tuition runs roughly MYR 15,000–45,000/yr for undergraduate and MYR 10,000–40,000/yr for postgraduate programmes, with living costs of about MYR 1,500–3,000/month. Total yearly outlay is typically far lower than the UK, US or Australia.
You apply for a Student Pass through EMGS (Education Malaysia Global Services) via your university, not directly at an embassy. You'll need an offer letter, passport, health check and evidence of funds to cover tuition and living costs (commonly around MYR 40,000 in bank statements or a sponsor letter).
Only during semester breaks or holidays longer than seven days, up to 20 hours per week — not during regular term time. You need prior approval from the Immigration Department, applied for through your institution, and roles like cashier are not permitted.
There is no automatic post-study work visa for Indians. Malaysia's one-year Graduate Pass covers only 23 listed countries and India is not among them, so graduates typically stay by obtaining an Employment Pass after securing a qualifying job offer.
Engineering, computing/IT, business/MBA, medicine, hospitality and biotechnology are popular. Well-known choices include Universiti Malaya, Taylor's, Sunway, Asia Pacific University (APU), and branch campuses of Monash and the University of Nottingham.
The main intakes are February and September, and many private universities also offer January, May and July starts. Apply 3–6 months ahead to allow time for the offer letter and the EMGS Student Pass process, which can take several weeks.
Get your free Malaysia study plan
A counsellor calls you back during office hours — 9am to 8pm IST, Mon to Sat. We are open now.