Malaysia is one of the best places in Asia to go to university, with over 150,000 students from 160 different countries studying there. The country has great schools that teach in English and cost much less than schools in America or Europe.
Malaysian universities are getting better every year, with many schools now ranked in the world’s top universities list for 2026. Students can get degrees that are accepted all over the world while enjoying Malaysia’s warm weather and friendly people.
This guide will show you the 10 best universities in Malaysia for 2026, what makes each one special, how much they cost, and what programs they offer to help you choose the right school for your future.
🏆 Top 10 Malaysian Universities Rankings 2025-2026
| Rank | University Name | QS World Ranking 2026 | Type | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Universiti Malaya (UM) | #58 | Public | Medicine & Research |
| 2 | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) | #126 | Public | Science & Medicine |
| 3 | Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) | #134 | Public | Agriculture & Life Sciences |
| 4 | Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) | #134 | Public | Green Technology |
| 5 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) | #153 | Public | Engineering |
| 6 | Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) | #251 | Private | Oil & Gas Engineering |
| 7 | Taylor’s University | #253 | Private | Hotel & Tourism |
| 8 | UCSI University | #265 | Private | Music & Business |
| 9 | Sunway University | #410 | Private | Business & Health |
| 10 | Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) | #491 | Public | Business & Management |
#58 – #491
150,000+
$2,000-35,000
$450-800
📑 What This Guide Covers
- Universiti Malaya (UM): The Best School in Malaysia
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM): Great for Science
- Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM): Best for Farming and Nature
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM): Green and Clean
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM): Top for Engineering
- Taylor’s University: Best Private School
- UCSI University: Music and Business Star
- Sunway University: Fastest Growing School
- Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS: Oil and Energy Expert
- Universiti Utara Malaysia: Business School Leader
- FAQs: Your Questions Answered
Universiti Malaya (UM): The Best School in Malaysia
Universiti Malaya is Malaysia’s number one school, ranked #58 in the world for 2026. It is the only Malaysian school in the world’s top 100 universities. The school has 17,000 students, with about 3,000 of them coming from different countries around the world.
UM has roots dating back to 1905 when a medical college was founded, but the university itself was established in 1949, making it Malaysia’s oldest university. The school sits on a huge campus in Kuala Lumpur that is as big as 700 football fields. Students can choose from 79 different bachelor’s degrees and 115 master’s programs in 13 different study areas.
💡 Money Help: UM gives free money to smart students from other countries. They pay all your school fees and give you RM 1,500 every month to help with living costs.
What Makes UM Special
The school has 16 special labs where teachers and students work on new ideas. They study things like tiny robots, new medicines, and ways to save energy. The university receives substantial research funding every year to support these important research projects.
According to the QS World Rankings, UM is really good at 35 different subjects. They are especially great at library studies (#29 in the world) and development studies (#41 in the world).
Help for Students from Other Countries
UM has a special office just to help students from other countries. They help you get your visa, find a place to live, and make friends. The school works with 600 other schools around the world, so you might be able to study in another country for a while too.
What You Need to Apply to UM
- Good grades from your old school (at least 3.0 out of 4.0)
- English test score (IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550)
- Your school report cards (must be translated to English)
- Two letters from teachers saying you’re a good student
- A plan for what you want to study (for research programs)
- A passport that won’t expire for at least 18 months
- A doctor’s note saying you’re healthy
- Proof you have enough money (about $18,000 per year)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM): Great for Science
UKM is Malaysia’s second-best public school, ranked #126 in the world for 2026. That’s 12 spots better than last year! The school has about 42,000 students, and 4,900 of them come from 66 different countries.
The school is in a town called Bangi, near Kuala Lumpur. UKM has 13 different study areas where you can learn about medicine, building things, helping people, and religious studies. Every year, the school’s teachers write more than 2,500 research papers.
💡 Money Tip: UKM gives really smart students from other countries free school! They can pay for all your classes if you have great grades.
Cool Things UKM Studies
UKM has 17 special research centers. They study climate change (how the weather is changing) and new types of batteries. Their solar energy center is the best in Southeast Asia for studying power from the sun.
The school works with big companies like PETRONAS (Malaysia’s oil company) and Telekom Malaysia. This means students can get real job experience while still in school.
Life at UKM
The campus is huge – about 1,100 hectares! That’s like 1,500 football fields. There are 13 places where students can live on campus, with room for 20,000 students. The school also has the biggest university hospital in Southeast Asia.
| What You Study | Cost Per Year (USD) | How Long | When to Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | $3,500 – 6,000 | 3-4 years | September or February |
| Master’s Degree | $2,800 – 5,500 | 1-2 years | September or February |
| PhD | $3,000 – 6,000 | 3-5 years | Any time |
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM): Best for Farming and Nature
UPM is ranked #134 in the world for 2026, going up 14 spots from last year. It’s a leading school in Asia for studying farming and nature. The school has about 25,000 students, with international students coming from many different countries.
The main campus in Serdang is really big – about 1,200 hectares. UPM has 16 study areas and 9 research centers that focus on farming, nature, and taking care of the environment. The teachers here write more than 3,000 research papers every year.
💡 Cool Fact: UPM has the only animal hospital in Malaysia where students learn to be animal doctors. They also have a huge forest (15,000 hectares) just for studying nature!
What UPM Teaches Best
UPM has 96 bachelor’s programs and 323 master’s programs. They are really good at farming (#34 in the world), forests (#42), and animal medicine (#54). Their food science program is one of the best 10 in Asia.
The school works with the World Bank and other big groups to help farmers grow better food. UPM has created over 200 new types of plants that grow well in hot weather.
Learning with Other Countries
UPM works with 450 schools in other countries. Students can spend time studying in other countries or get two degrees – one from UPM and one from a school in the UK, Australia, or Japan. They have 15 of these special two-degree programs.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM): Green and Clean
USM is ranked #134 in the world for 2026, going up 12 spots. This school really cares about keeping the earth clean and healthy. They have 34,000 students, with international students from other countries, studying at three different campuses.
USM is different because it has three campuses for different things. The main campus in Penang teaches science and technology. The health campus in Kelantan teaches medicine. The engineering campus in Nibong Tebal teaches how to build things. Together, they write 2,800 research papers every year.
💡 Green Champion: USM is ranked #14 in the world in THE Impact Rankings for sustainability. They use less energy and create less waste than most other schools.
Special Research at USM
USM is Malaysia’s only “APEX” university, which means the government gives them extra money to do really important research. They have special centers that make new medicines and study diseases that happen in hot countries.
USM works with the World Health Organization to study tropical diseases. They have created 89 new inventions and sold 45 research products to companies.
New Ways of Teaching
USM teaches in a special way where students solve real problems instead of just reading books. They were the first in Southeast Asia to offer complete master’s degrees online. Their teacher training school is one of the best 20 in Asia.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM): Top for Engineering
UTM has its best ranking ever at #153 in the world for 2026, jumping up 28 spots! This is Malaysia’s best school for engineering and technology. They have 30,000 students, including 4,492 PhD students – one of the highest in Southeast Asia.
UTM has two campuses – one in Johor Bahru (near Singapore) and one in Kuala Lumpur. They have 19 different study areas, and more than half their students are doing master’s or PhD degrees. The school writes 3,000 research papers every year.
💡 Engineering Star: UTM’s petroleum engineering program is #46 in the world. Their computer and robot programs are in the world’s top 100.
Working with Big Companies
UTM works with 28 big companies like Microsoft, Intel, and Huawei. These companies give the school RM 450 million every year for research. The school has a special area where 50 companies have offices, so students can easily get internships and jobs.
According to Times Higher Education, UTM is one of Asia’s best schools for getting money from companies. About 89% of their students get jobs within six months after graduating.
Help for International Students
UTM helps 3,000 students from 60 countries. They have special houses just for international students and help with visas. Students from other countries can work 20 hours per week on campus to earn extra money.
UTM’s Best Programs for International Students
- Petroleum Engineering (#46 in the world)
- Computers and Robots (Top 100)
- Building Design (Top 100)
- Building Bridges and Roads (Top 100)
- Chemical Engineering (Top 150)
- Electronics (Top 150)
- Computer Science (Top 200)
- Machines and Motors (Top 200)
Taylor’s University: Best Private School
Taylor’s is ranked #253 in the world for 2026. It has been Malaysia’s best private school for six years in a row. The school has 12,000 students, with 3,000 from 80 different countries, all studying at their beautiful Lakeside Campus.
Taylor’s started in 1969 and now has 9 different study areas. They are really good at hotel management, business, and design. Almost all their students (99.7%) get jobs within six months after they finish school – that’s the best rate in Malaysia!
💡 Hotel Expert: Taylor’s hotel and tourism program is #17 in the world. Every student gets to work at a fancy 5-star hotel!
Learning by Doing
Taylor’s believes students learn best by doing real work, not just reading books. They work with 150 companies so students can do real projects while studying. This helps students get jobs easily after they graduate.
The school works with universities in other countries like the University of Toulouse in France. Students can get two degrees – one from Taylor’s and one from the partner school. Their business school has a special badge (AACSB) that only 5% of business schools in the world have.
Amazing Campus
Taylor’s Lakeside Campus is special because it has real restaurants, design studios, and shops where students can practice what they learn. The library is the biggest university library in Southeast Asia with 500,000 books and resources.
| Study Area | Popular Programs | Cost Per Year (USD) | Special Things |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel School | Cooking, Tourism, Events | $8,500 – 9,500 | #17 in the world |
| Business School | MBA, Money, Marketing | $7,500 – 8,500 | Special AACSB badge |
| Design School | Fashion, Rooms, Art | $7,000 – 8,000 | Work with real companies |
| Engineering | Chemicals, Electric, Machines | $8,000 – 9,000 | Approved by engineers group |
UCSI University: Music and Business Star
UCSI is ranked #265 in the world for 2026, going up 4 spots. It’s Malaysia’s second-best private school. They have approximately 10,000 students at three campuses, with international students coming from many different countries!
UCSI started in 1986 and now has 140 different programs in 10 study areas. They are really famous for music, medicine, and hotel programs. Their music school is ranked #32 globally for performing arts and works with Berklee College of Music in America.
💡 Job Promise: Every UCSI student must do a 4-month paid internship. Almost all students (98%) get jobs right after they finish school!
Research and New Ideas
UCSI has 15 research centers where teachers and students work on new ideas. They write over 1,000 research papers every year about medicines, clean energy, and business. The school got RM 45 million for research in 2024.
UCSI works with famous places like Harvard Medical School for medical research and Mayo Clinic for doctor training. This gives students chances to learn from the best in the world.
Help with School Fees
UCSI gives lots of scholarships to smart students. They can pay up to 100% of your school fees if you have really good grades. Their special scholarship for master’s and PhD students pays all fees and gives money every month for living costs.
Sunway University: Fastest Growing School
Sunway jumped to #410 in the world for 2026 – they went up 129 spots! That’s the biggest jump of any Malaysian school. They have approximately 16,000 students, with international students from other countries, all living and studying in Sunway City.
Sunway started in 1987 and has 10 study areas. They’re great at business, hotels, and health studies. The cool thing about Sunway is that the whole campus is part of a city with hospitals, shops, and fun places all within walking distance.
💡 Rising Star: Sunway improved more than any other Malaysian school this year – jumping up 129 spots because they do more research and work with more international schools now.
Lots of Free Money for Students
The Jeffrey Cheah Foundation has given over RM 892 million in scholarships – that’s almost $200 million! This makes Sunway one of the most generous schools in Malaysia. Smart international students can get all their school fees paid for free.
Sunway works with Lancaster University from England and Le Cordon Bleu cooking school from France. Students can get degrees from both schools. Their medical program works with Cambridge University in England.
Green Campus
Sunway’s campus uses solar power (energy from the sun) to make 10% of its electricity. This helps save money and protect the environment. The school got a special 5-star rating for having great facilities, teaching, jobs for graduates, and helping the community.
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS: Oil and Energy Expert
UTP is ranked #251 in the world for 2026, going up 18 spots. It’s the best private technical school in Malaysia. They have 7,500 students, with 1,200 from other countries, all studying at their special campus in Seri Iskandar.
PETRONAS, Malaysia’s big oil company, started UTP in 1997. The school focuses on engineering, technology, and science. Every single student who graduates gets a job, and they earn 20% more money than graduates from other schools!
💡 Company Support: PETRONAS pays for everything at UTP – all the research, buildings, and equipment. Every student gets to work at PETRONAS or other big companies during their studies.
Energy Research
UTP has seven research centers that study energy and how to keep it clean. PETRONAS gives them significant funding every year for research. They lead Southeast Asia in studying how to clean up oil spills in the ocean. Their petroleum engineering program is ranked #16 globally.
The school works with big oil companies like Shell, ExxonMobil, and Schlumberger. Students get to work on real projects with these companies and learn from their experts.
Great Student Benefits
Every UTP student gets an 8-month paid internship with money every month. The school gives free health insurance and helps students get jobs at PETRONAS offices around the world. All students get a place to live on campus for their whole time at UTP.
UTP’s Best Programs
- Petroleum Engineering (#16 globally) – Everyone gets a job!
- Chemical Engineering – Work at PETRONAS after graduating
- Computers – Learn about big data
- Mechanical Engineering – Train on oil platforms
- Science – Study tiny technology
- Business – Focus on energy companies
Universiti Utara Malaysia: Business School Leader
UUM is ranked #491 in the world for 2026. It’s Malaysia’s leading university for business and management studies. They have 15,000 students, with international students from other countries, on a huge forest campus in Sintok, Kedah.
The government started UUM in 1984 to focus on business and management education. They now have three colleges: one for business, one for arts and science, and one for law and government. While business remains the main focus, they also offer programs in social work, education, and other fields.
💡 Business Focus: UUM is Malaysia’s leading university for business education, with every program including business and leadership components.
Top Business School
UUM’s business school has the special AACSB badge, which means it’s in the top 5% of business schools in the world. Their Islamic finance program (banking without interest) is one of the world’s best 10.
UUM works with famous business schools like INSEAD and IMD in Switzerland. They bring in Nobel Prize winners and big company bosses to teach special classes.
Fun Campus Life
UUM’s campus is in a forest and has cool things you won’t find at other universities. They have Malaysia’s biggest university golf course, a place to ride horses, and a go-kart track! They also have 15 places where students can live, with room for many students.
| College | Main Programs | Cost Per Year (USD) | Special Things |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business | MBA, Money, Banking | $2,800 – 4,500 | AACSB Badge |
| Arts & Science | Computers, Media, Tourism | $2,500 – 3,800 | Job certificates |
| Law & Government | World Relations, Government Work | $2,200 – 3,500 | Work with government |
Questions Students Often Ask About Malaysian Universities
You need to finish high school (12 years of school) with good grades – at least 3.0 out of 4.0. You also need to speak English well – IELTS score of 6.0 or TOEFL 550. If your English isn’t good enough yet, many schools offer English classes first. For master’s programs, you need a bachelor’s degree with good grades and a plan for what you want to study.
School fees cost between $2,000 to $35,000 per year depending on the program. Public schools are cheaper than private schools. You’ll need about $450 to $800 every month for food, a place to live, and getting around. Medical school costs more – about $15,000 to $35,000 per year. All together, you’ll need about $8,000 to $40,000 per year, which is much less than studying in America or England!
UTM (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia) is the best for engineering – it’s ranked #153 in the world. Their petroleum engineering program is #46 in the world! Universiti Malaya is also great for electrical and mechanical engineering. UPM is best for farming and environment engineering. UTP is perfect if you want to work in oil and gas companies because PETRONAS owns the school, and their petroleum engineering is ranked #16 globally.
Yes! International students can work up to 20 hours per week during school holidays. You can work at restaurants, gas stations, small shops, and hotels. You need to ask permission from the Immigration Department through your university first. Many schools also let you work on campus as a research helper or teaching assistant.
Yes! The Malaysia International Scholarship gives full school fees plus RM 1,500 every month for master’s and PhD students. Many universities give scholarships that pay 20% to 100% of your school fees if you have good grades. UCSI, Taylor’s, and Sunway give the most scholarships. You need at least 3.5 out of 4.0 grades and should apply early because many students want these scholarships.
It takes about 4 to 6 weeks to get your student visa. First, you get a letter saying your visa is approved (this takes 2-4 weeks). Then you come to Malaysia with this letter and finish getting your visa in 7 days. You’ll need to see a doctor for a health check too. Your university will help you with all the visa papers.
Not really! About 60-70% of students who apply and have the right grades get accepted. Top schools like Universiti Malaya accept about 40-50% of students for popular programs. Private schools accept more students – about 70-80%. If you have the minimum grades and English scores, you have a good chance. Apply early to have an even better chance!
Yes! Malaysian degrees are accepted all over the world. The Malaysian government makes sure all programs meet world standards. Many programs have special badges like AACSB for business or Washington Accord for engineering that are accepted everywhere. Graduates work and study further in America, England, Australia, and many other countries. Some programs give you degrees from both Malaysian and foreign universities.
Kuala Lumpur is the most exciting city with trains, buses, lots of food choices, and fun things to do. UM and UCSI are there. Penang is cheaper and has lots of culture and history – USM is there. Areas like Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya have Taylor’s and Sunway with everything nearby. Johor Bahru is close to Singapore and has UTM’s main campus.
Malaysian universities really care about international students! They have special offices just to help you with visas, pick you up from the airport, and help you settle in. Most schools promise you a room on campus, give you health insurance, and have counselors if you need to talk. They have clubs for students from different countries, halal food, prayer rooms, and guards 24 hours a day to keep you safe.
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