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Universiti Malaya

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Universiti Malaya is a university in Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ranked QS #56 in QS World University Rankings 2027 (No. 1 in Malaysia). 117 courses listed. Intakes: March and October.

Universiti Malaya (UM), also called the University of Malaya, is Malaysia's oldest and highest-ranked public research university. Founded in 1905 and based on a green 750-acre campus in Kuala Lumpur, UM is ranked #56 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and #194 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027. International students can study full-time, on campus, in about 80 bachelor's programmes and many master's courses, from engineering, computer science and medicine to law, business, arts and Islamic studies. Applications for international students open twice a year for the October and March intakes and are made online through the MAYA portal. Students from Bangladesh can apply with an HSC or A-Level qualification for bachelor's degrees, or a bachelor's degree with a CGPA of 3.00 for master's study. Tuition at UM is far lower than in the UK or Australia, which makes it a strong value choice for students who want a top-100 world university degree in Asia.

  • Ranked #56 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the highest of any Malaysian university
  • Ranked #194 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027
  • Malaysia's oldest university, founded in 1905
  • Large green campus in Kuala Lumpur with 12 residential colleges and a teaching hospital
  • Two intakes a year for international students: October and March
  • About 80 bachelor's programmes and many master's programmes open to international students
  • Accepts HSC, A-Level, IB and recognised diplomas for bachelor's entry
  • IELTS 5.0 is enough for most bachelor's programmes and IELTS 5.5 for most master's programmes
  • Postgraduate applicants from English-medium degrees can ask for an English test exemption
  • Affordable tuition and living costs compared with the UK, Australia and Canada

Courses (117)

Frequently asked questions

Where is Universiti Malaya located?

Universiti Malaya is in Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

What courses does Universiti Malaya offer?

Universiti Malaya lists 117 courses on UnifinderAi, such as Bachelor of Accounting, Bachelor of Actuarial Science, Bachelor of Al-Quran and Al-Hadith, Bachelor of Arabic Language and Linguistics and Bachelor of Arts Anthropology and Sociology. You can filter them by level, intake and fee.

What are the tuition fees at Universiti Malaya?

Published fees at Universiti Malaya: International application fee per application (non-refundable) RM500; Bachelor of Arts and language programmes, total (from) RM59,400; Bachelor of Business, Economics and Computer Science programmes, total (approx.) RM89,200; Bachelor of Engineering programmes, total RM132,100; Master programmes, total (typical) RM45,100. The exact annual fee depends on the course — check each course's page.

What English language score do I need for Universiti Malaya?

The minimum is an IELTS overall score of 5. Accepted English tests include IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and MUET.

When are the intakes at Universiti Malaya?

Universiti Malaya runs intakes in March and October. The intake currently open for applications is March 2027.

How do I apply to Universiti Malaya?

The steps are: 1. Apply only through UnifinderAi — our counsellors check your eligibility, shortlist the right Universiti Malaya programme and submit your application to the university for you through its official MAYA application portal 2. Please do not apply directly to the university or through any other agent, portal or platform — duplicate applications can be delayed or withdrawn, and UnifinderAi can only support applications it submits 3. Upload your passport, SSC & HSC certificates and transcripts (plus Bachelor's certificate/transcript for Master's), IELTS/English proof, CV, Statement of Purpose and two references to your UnifinderAi dashboard 4. Receive your offer — UnifinderAi helps you meet any conditions and accept the offer 5. Prepare for any programme interview, portfolio test or faculty assessment (required for some programmes) with UnifinderAi mock interviews 6. Accept your offer and pay the first semester fees as instructed in your offer letter (the RM 500 application fee is non-refundable). Pay only through the university's official payment method, as guided by UnifinderAi 7. Receive your eVAL (electronic Visa Approval Letter) arranged by the university with EMGS, check whether you need a Single Entry Visa (SEV) and apply for it with UnifinderAi visa support 8. Arrange accommodation and flights, submit your MDAC before arrival, travel to Malaysia and complete registration at Universiti Malaya