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Study in Malaysia from Bangladesh 2027: Cost, Visa, Scholarships & Universities

8 November 2026

Key takeaways

• Bachelor's tuition: RM 25,000 – 55,000 a year
• Master's tuition: RM 30,000 – 75,000 a year
• Living cost: RM 1,500 – 2,500 a month
• Visa: Student Pass through EMGS, applied for by your university
• English: IELTS 5.5–6.5 (varies by university). Study without IELTS is possible at many universities.
• Intakes 2027: February/March, July and September/October
• Part-time work: up to 20 hours a week, during semester breaks only
• Flight from Dhaka: about 4 hours to Kuala Lumpur

BDT figures use roughly 1 RM ≈ BDT 27–29. Check the current exchange rate before you plan your budget.

Search and apply to Malaysian universities by voice with UnifinderAi

UnifinderAi gives Bangladeshi students an AI voice assistant that helps you search courses and submit university applications through voice chat. Just talk to it:

• "Find me Malaysian universities for BBA under BDT 8 lakh a year with a September intake." It shortlists courses that fit your budget, GPA and IELTS score.
• "Help me apply to Taylor's University." It guides you through the university application portal step by step: what to fill in, which documents to upload and when to submit.
• "What's pending?" It summarises missing documents, offers you're waiting on and upcoming deadlines.
• "What should I do next?" It tells you the next step, from offer letter to deposit to EMGS visa to flight.
• It adds tasks automatically, such as "Upload passport", "Pay deposit" and "Book medical check", so you never miss a deadline.

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Why Bangladeshi students choose Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the most popular study destinations for Bangladeshi students, and Bangladesh is among the largest groups of international students there.

• Affordable: tuition and living costs are a fraction of the UK, USA or Australia.
• English-taught degrees: most private universities and many public university programmes teach in English.
• World-ranked universities: Universiti Malaya (UM) is ranked #56 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, its best result ever.
• UK and Australian degrees at Malaysian prices: branch campuses such as Monash University Malaysia and the University of Nottingham Malaysia award the same degree as their home campus.
• Muslim-friendly: halal food everywhere, mosques on campus and a large Bangladeshi community.
• Close to home: a short, affordable flight from Dhaka or Chattogram.
• Transfer pathways: "2+1" and "3+0" programmes let you earn a UK or Australian degree in Malaysia or transfer abroad.

Best universities in Malaysia for Bangladeshi students (QS 2027)

• Universiti Malaya (UM): public, #56 in the world
• Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM): public, among Malaysia's top 5
• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM): public, among Malaysia's top 5
• Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM): public, among Malaysia's top 5
• Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM): public, among Malaysia's top 5
• Taylor's University: private, #272
• UCSI University: private, #282
• Sunway University: private, #354
• Monash University Malaysia: branch campus (Monash is #31 worldwide)
• University of Nottingham Malaysia: branch campus (Nottingham is #97 worldwide)

Compare all Malaysian universities on UnifinderAi →

Cost of studying in Malaysia from Bangladesh

Tuition fees per year

• Foundation: RM 12,000 – 35,000 (about BDT 3.3 – 10 lakh)
• Bachelor's: RM 25,000 – 55,000 (about BDT 7 – 15 lakh)
• Master's: RM 30,000 – 75,000 (about BDT 8 – 21 lakh)
• PhD: RM 18,000 – 35,000 (about BDT 5 – 10 lakh)

Public universities are usually at the lower end and private universities and branch campuses at the higher end. Engineering, medicine and pharmacy cost more.

Monthly living costs

• On-campus accommodation: RM 200 – 700
• Shared room off-campus: RM 450 – 1,400
• Food and groceries: RM 300 – 800
• Transport: RM 50 – 200
• Utilities and internet: RM 150 – 300
• Personal expenses: RM 200 – 500
• Typical total: RM 1,500 – 2,500 a month (about BDT 40,000 – 70,000)

Kuala Lumpur costs more. Penang, Johor, Ipoh and smaller cities can save you 20–30%.

Visa and other costs

• Visa and EMGS processing (first year): about RM 1,500 – 2,500 in total, including the EMGS fee, Student Pass, medical screening and insurance
• Medical insurance (compulsory): RM 400 – 1,500 a year
• Security bond: varies by nationality and is refundable when you leave Malaysia

Entry requirements for Bangladeshi students

• Foundation: SSC or O Levels with good grades (usually GPA 3.0+). IELTS 5.0–5.5 or the university's own English test.
• Diploma: SSC or O Levels. IELTS 5.0–5.5.
• Bachelor's: HSC or A Levels (usually GPA 3.0–3.5+), or a foundation programme. IELTS 5.5–6.0.
• Master's: bachelor's degree with CGPA 2.5–3.0+. IELTS 6.0–6.5.
• PhD: master's degree plus a research proposal. IELTS 6.0–6.5.

Requirements vary by university and course. Check each course page on UnifinderAi for exact scores.

Can I study in Malaysia without IELTS?

Yes, at many universities. Your options include:

• the university's own English test or an intensive English programme before your degree
• an English medium of instruction (MOI) letter from your previous institution, accepted by some universities for postgraduate study
• PTE, TOEFL or Duolingo instead of IELTS, at selected universities

How to apply for a Malaysia student visa from Bangladesh

In Malaysia, your university applies for your Student Pass for you through EMGS. Start at least 3 months before your intake.

1. Get an offer letter. Apply to an EMGS-registered Malaysian university and receive your offer.
2. Accept the offer and pay the deposit. The university can only start your visa after you confirm your place.
3. Send your documents to the university. You'll need your passport (valid 12–18 months), SSC/HSC or degree certificates and transcripts, passport photos, a health declaration and the offer letter.
4. EMGS processes your application. It checks your documents and gets Immigration approval. This usually takes a few weeks, and you can track it online.
5. Receive your eVAL. Download your electronic Visa Approval Letter. Your university will tell you if you also need an entry visa.
6. Fly to Malaysia. Carry your eVAL, offer letter, passport and accommodation details.
7. Complete your medical check-up. Do it within 7 days of arrival at an EMGS panel clinic.
8. Receive your Student Pass. Immigration puts the Student Pass sticker in your passport and you get your i-Kad student card.

Tip: UnifinderAi's AI voice assistant tracks every visa step and reminds you what to do next.

Malaysia intakes 2027

• February/March 2027: offered by most private universities
• July 2027: popular for foundation and diploma programmes
• September/October 2027: the main intake for public and private universities

Apply 3–6 months before your intake to leave time for EMGS processing.

Can Bangladeshi students work part-time in Malaysia?

Yes, with limits. International students in Malaysia can:

• work up to 20 hours per week
• work only during semester breaks or holidays longer than 7 days, not during term time
• work in approved sectors such as restaurants, cafés, mini-markets, hotels and petrol stations
• earn about RM 8–13 per hour in typical student jobs

You need approval through your university's international office. Freelancing and running your own business are not allowed on a Student Pass.

Scholarships in Malaysia for Bangladeshi students

• Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS): a Malaysian Government scholarship for full-time Master's and PhD students. It covers tuition fees plus a RM 1,500 monthly allowance, and needs a CGPA of 3.00+ and IELTS 6.0+. It's open to ASEAN and Commonwealth countries; check the current eligible-country list and the 2027 deadline on the MOHE scholarship portal.
• University merit scholarships: most private universities (Taylor's, Sunway, UCSI, APU, MMU, Monash Malaysia and others) offer 10%–100% tuition discounts based on your SSC/HSC GPA, A Level results or CGPA.
• Early-bird and sibling discounts: many universities cut fees if you pay early or have a sibling studying there.
• Research assistantships: at public universities (UM, USM, UKM, UPM, UTM), PhD and research master's students can get paid research roles through their supervisors.

See scholarships on Malaysian course pages →

Malaysia vs UK vs Australia for Bangladeshi students

• Tuition per year (bachelor's): Malaysia BDT 7–15 lakh, compared with about BDT 20–35 lakh+ in the UK and BDT 25–40 lakh+ in Australia
• Living cost per month: Malaysia BDT 40–70k, compared with BDT 1.5 lakh+ in the UK or Australia
• Flight from Dhaka: about 4 hours to Malaysia, against 11+ hours to the UK and 12+ hours to Australia
• Studying without IELTS: often possible in Malaysia, more limited in the UK and Australia
• Halal food and Muslim-friendly life: very easy in Malaysia

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to study in Malaysia from Bangladesh?

A bachelor's degree costs about RM 25,000–55,000 a year (BDT ~7–15 lakh) in tuition, plus RM 1,500–2,500 a month (BDT ~40,000–70,000) for living costs.

Is IELTS required to study in Malaysia?

Not always. Many universities accept their own English test, an English foundation programme, PTE, TOEFL, Duolingo or an English MOI letter. Most courses that do ask for IELTS require 5.5–6.5.

How long does a Malaysia student visa take from Bangladesh?

EMGS processing usually takes a few weeks after your university submits your documents. Start at least three months before your intake.

Can I work while studying in Malaysia?

Yes. You can work up to 20 hours a week, but only during semester breaks or holidays longer than seven days, and only in approved sectors such as restaurants, hotels and mini-markets.

Which is the best university in Malaysia for international students?

Universiti Malaya (UM) is Malaysia's top-ranked university, at #56 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Taylor's, UCSI and Sunway are the highest-ranked private universities.

Are there scholarships for Bangladeshi students in Malaysia?

Yes. Options include the Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) for Master's and PhD, and 10–100% merit scholarships at most private universities based on your GPA.

What are the intakes in Malaysia for 2027?

The main intakes are February/March, July and September/October 2027.

What is the best way to search and apply to Malaysian universities from Bangladesh?

UnifinderAi (unifinderai.com) lets you compare Malaysian courses by fee, intake and entry requirements in one place. Its AI voice assistant helps you search courses and submit university applications by voice chat, step by step.

Start your Malaysia application with UnifinderAi

Talk to the UnifinderAi AI voice assistant, get a shortlist that fits your GPA, IELTS score and budget, and apply step by step with expert counsellors behind you.

Find your Malaysian university →

Sources

• Education Malaysia (EMGS) — Student visa process

and other articles

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