Universities in Malaysia

Malaysia is widely recognized as one of the most dynamic and rapidly developing education hubs in Asia. With strong government investment in higher education, a well-established national qualifications framework, and partnerships with leading universities worldwide, Malaysia offers an attractive study environment for both local and international students.

Higher education in Malaysia operates under the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF), a standardized system that ensures consistency, quality, and recognition of qualifications across diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels. Most public institutions receive substantial government funding, while private and international universities provide globally integrated programs with flexible study pathways.

Public Universities in Malaysia

Students who wish to enter public universities typically complete Form 6 and obtain the Malaysian Higher School Certificate, or they must hold an equivalent pre-university qualification such as A-Level, STPM, Foundation, or Diploma.

Public universities mainly teach in Bahasa Malaysia, although selected programs, especially in science, engineering, business, and international studies are taught in English. Degrees are awarded directly by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education.

Public universities are known for strong academic reputation, affordable fees, and robust research activities across various disciplines. They play an important role in shaping national development and preparing graduates for the regional labor market.

Private Universities in Malaysia

Private universities and colleges in Malaysia operate under a different model, often in collaboration with reputable foreign universities. These institutions offer programs taught primarily in English and provide flexible study options such as:

Completing the full degree in Malaysia
Transferring to partner universities abroad under 1+2, 2+1, or 3+0 arrangements
Earning dual degrees jointly awarded with international partners

Private universities attract many international students due to their modern facilities, strong industry connections, and globally recognized academic pathways.

International University Branch Campuses

Malaysia is one of the few countries in Asia that hosts numerous international branch campuses from top-ranking universities around the world. These campuses deliver the exact curriculum of the home institution, using the same academic standards, assessment methods, and teaching quality. Students may choose to complete their studies entirely in Malaysia or transfer to the home campus later in their program.

These institutions offer world-class education at significantly lower tuition fees compared to studying at the home campuses abroad, making them an attractive option for international students seeking high-quality yet affordable education.

They are:

a. United Kingdom

Heriot-Watt University Malaysia – Putrajaya
Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) – Johor
University of Nottingham Malaysia – Semenyih, Selangor
University of Reading Malaysia – Johor
University of Southampton Malaysia – Johor
Exeter University Offshore Programmes – Kuala Lumpur (collaborative)
Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) – offered via selected Malaysian partners
University of London International Programmes – via several private colleges

b. Australia

Curtin University Malaysia – Sarawak
Monash University Malaysia – Selangor
Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak – Sarawak
UOW Malaysia KDU – Selangor & Penang (owned by University of Wollongong)
SAE Institute Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur (Australian creative media school)
RMIT pathways – via partnerships (not a branch campus)

c. China

Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) – Sepang, Selangor
Guangxi University of Finance and Economics Malaysia Campus (planned / in-progress)

d. Ireland

RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC) – Penang

e. Singapore

Raffles University Iskandar – Johor
Raffles College of Higher Education – Kuala Lumpur
MDIS Malaysia (planned previously) – not active now, but historically relevant
FTMS College (Singapore-linked) – Kuala Lumpur

f. France

Malaysia-France Institute (MFI) – via Universiti Kuala Lumpur
UTBM – Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard programs
ENIT (Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tarbes) collaborations

g. Japan

Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) – under UTM, Kuala Lumpur
Diploma and engineering programmes via Japan-Malaysia partnerships

h. Germany

German-Malaysian Institute (GMI) – Selangor
German dual-education collaborations through UniKL & private universities

Below is the list of reference universities in Malaysia, including both public and private universities.

1. Public Universities

No	University (EN)	University (Malay)	Year Established	Location(s)
1	University of Malaya	Universiti Malaya	1905	Kuala Lumpur; Nilam Puri (Kelantan)
2	International Islamic University Malaysia	Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia	1983	Gombak, Selangor
3	National University of Malaysia	Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia	1970	Bangi, Selangor
4	University of Malaysia Kelantan	Universiti Malaysia Kelantan	2007	Pengkalan Chepa; Jeli; Bachok (Kelantan)
5	University of Malaysia Pahang	Universiti Malaysia Pahang	2002 (as KUKTEM)	Pekan, Pahang
6	University of Malaysia Perlis	Universiti Malaysia Perlis	2001 (as KUKUM)	Arau, Perlis
7	University of Malaysia Sabah	Universiti Malaysia Sabah	1994	Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
8	University of Malaysia Sarawak	Universiti Malaysia Sarawak	1992	Kota Samarahan, Sarawak
9	University of Malaysia Terengganu	Universiti Malaysia Terengganu	1996 (as UPM Terengganu)	Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
10	Sultan Idris Education University	Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris	1922 (as MPSI)	Tanjung Malim, Perak
11	National Defence University of Malaysia	Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia	1995 (as ATMA)	Kuala Lumpur
12	Putra University, Malaysia	Universiti Putra Malaysia	1931 (as School of Agriculture)	Serdang (Selangor); Bintulu (Sarawak)
13	Islamic Science University of Malaysia	Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia	1997 (as KUIM)	Nilai, Negeri Sembilan
14	University of Science, Malaysia	Universiti Sains Malaysia	1969	George Town, Penang
15	Sultan Zainal Abidin University	Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin	1980 (as KUSZA)	Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
16	Technical University of Malaysia Malacca	Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka	2000 (as KUTKM)	Durian Tunggal, Malacca
17	University of Technology Malaysia	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia	1904 (as Treacher Technical School)	Skudai (Johor); Jalan Semarak (Kuala Lumpur)
18	MARA University of Technology	Universiti Teknologi MARA	1956 (as RIDA Training Centre)	Shah Alam, Selangor
19	Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia	Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia	1993 (as Pusat Latihan Staf Politeknik)	Batu Pahat, Johor
20	Northern University of Malaysia	Universiti Utara Malaysia	1984	Sintok, Kedah

2. Private Universities

No	University (EN)	University (Malay)	Year Established	Location(s)
1	Al-Madinah International University	Universiti Antarabangsa Al-Madinah	2006	Shah Alam
2	Asia e University	Universiti Asia e	2007	Jalan Sultan Sulaiman
3	Asia Metropolitan University	Universiti Metropolitan Asia	1997	Cheras
4	Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation	Universiti Teknologi & Inovasi Asia Pasifik	1993	Bukit Jalil
5	Binary University	Universiti Binary	1984	Puchong
6	City University, Malaysia	Universiti City	1984	Petaling Jaya
7	Curtin University, Malaysia	Universiti Curtin Malaysia	1999	Miri
8	DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia	Universti Automotif DRB-HICOM Malaysia	–	Pekan
9	GlobalNxt University	Universiti GlobalNxt	2012	Kuala Lumpur
10	Jelebu University Of Technology & Computer Institute Malaysia	Universiti Jelebu Teknologi & Komputer Institut Malaysia	1992	Jelebu District
11	Heriot-Watt University Malaysia	Universiti Heriot-Watt Malaysia	2013	Putrajaya
12	Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur	Universiti Infrastruktur Kuala Lumpur	1973	Kajang
13	International Medical University	Universiti Perubatan Antarabangsa	1992	Bukit Jalil
14	INTI International University	Universiti Antarabangsa INTI	1986	Nilai
15	INTI International University	Universiti Antarabangsa INTI	1986	Subang Jaya Kuala Lumpur George Town Sabah
16	Limkokwing University of Creative Technology	Universiti Teknologi Kreatif Limkokwing	1992	Cyberjaya
17	MAHSA University	Universiti MAHSA	2005	Petaling Jaya
18	MAHSA University	Universiti MAHSA	2005	Pusat Bandar Damansara
19	Malaysia University of Science and Technology	Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia	2000	Petaling Jaya
20	Management & Science University	Universiti Sains & Pengurusan	2001	Shah Alam
21	Manipal International University	Universiti Antarabangsa Manipal	2011	Nilai
22	Monash University Malaysia Campus	Universiti Monash Kampus Malaysia	1998	Subang Jaya
23	Multimedia University	Universiti Multimedia	1994	Cyberjaya
24	Multimedia University	Universiti Multimedia	1994	Malacca Johor
25	Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia	Universiti Perubatan Newcastle Malaysia	2009	Johor Bahru
26	Nilai University	Universiti Nilai	1997	Nilai
27	Open University Malaysia	Universiti Terbuka Malaysia	2000	Jalan Tun Ismail
28	Perdana University	Universiti Perdana	2011	Serdang
29	Quest International University Perak	Universiti Antarabangsa Quest Perak	2008	Ipoh
30	Raffles University Iskandar	Universiti Raffles Iskandar	2012	Johor Bahru
31	Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and University College Dublin Malaysia Campus	Royal College of Surgeons di Ireland dan Kolej Universiti Dublin Kampus Malaysia	1996	George Town
32	SEGi University	Universiti SEGi	1977	Kota Damansara
33				Subang Jaya
34				Kuala Lumpur
35				George Town
36				Kuching
37	Sunway University	Universiti Sunway	1987	Subang Jaya
38	Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus	Universiti Teknologi Swinburne Kampus Sarawak	2000	Kuching
39	Taylor’s University	Universiti Taylor’s	1969	Subang Jaya
40	Tun Abdul Razak University	Universiti Tun Abdul Razak	1998	Petaling Jaya
41	UCSI University	Universiti UCSI	1986	Cheras
42	UCSI University	Universiti UCSI	1986	Kuching Kuala Terengganu
43	UNITAR International University	Universiti Antarabangsa UNITAR	2011	Petaling Jaya
44	Islamic University of Malaysia	Universiti Islam Malaysia	1955	Cyberjaya
45	University of Kuala Lumpur	Universiti Kuala Lumpur	2002	Jalan Sultan Ismail
46	University of Selangor	Universiti Selangor	1999	Bestari Jaya
47	University of Selangor	Universiti Selangor	1999	Shah Alam
48	Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah International Islamic University	Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah	1995	Kuala Ketil
49	Sultan Azlan Shah University	Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah	1999	Kuala Kangsar
50	Petronas University of Technology	Universiti Teknologi Petronas	1995	Tronoh
51	National Energy University	Universiti Tenaga Nasional	1976	Putrajaya
52	University Tunku Abdul Rahman	Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman	2002	Kampar
53	University Tunku Abdul Rahman	Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman	2002	Sungai Long
54	University Malaysia of Computer Science & Engineering	Universiti Malaysia Sains Komputer & Kejuruteraan	2013	Cyberjaya
55	University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus	Universiti Nottingham Kampus Malaysia	2000	Semenyih
56	University of Reading Malaysia Campus	Universiti Reading Kampus Malaysia	2013	Johor Bahru
57	University of Southampton Malaysia Campus	Universiti Southampton Kampus Malaysia	2012	Johor Bahru
57	Wawasan Open University	Universiti Terbuka Wawasan	2006	George Town
59	Xiamen University Malaysia	Universiti Xiamen Malaysia	2015	Salak Tinggi

Interested in Studying in Malaysia?

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Date: Mar 26, 2026