Malaysia
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Why Study in Malaysia?
Rapidly Improving Quality Higher Education
Though not at par with other Asian countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore, Malaysian universities are improving rapidly, and aren’t far behind universities that impart world-class education. Some of the universities offer courses in computer science and engineering that rank among the world’s top 100 courses, all thanks to Malaysia’s education system and its focus on international standards. The education standards are closely monitored by the Ministry of Higher Education, which has the vision to turn Malaysia into a Centre of Excellence for Higher Education.
Destination For International Degrees
A major part of Malaysia’s state investment in higher education is its growing partnerships with universities in other countries. Many foreign universities, especially Australian and British, have branch campuses in Malaysia. For example, Monash University (Australia) and the University of Nottingham (UK), both among the top 100 universities in the world, have branch campuses in Malaysia. Malaysia’s KBU International College has tied up with UK’s Anglia Ruskin, Nottingham Trent and Sheffield Hallam universities.
Malaysian city of Johor is home to EduCity Iskandar, a giant international student village and campus shared by eight leading universities. While four are operational, the others will be completed this year. They will include the universities of Reading, Southampton and Newcastle (medicine) in the UK, the Netherlands’ Maritime Institute of Technology, Singapore’s private Raffles University and the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts from the USA. This education hub aims at bringing world-class higher education to the heart of the Asean region.
Lower Costs Of Studying & Living
The cost of studying and living in Malaysia is comparatively lower than countries such as Australia, the US, the UK, France, Canada, etc. While an undergraduate course at the UK Campus of the University of Nottingham would cost £13,470, the same course at the Malaysia campus would cost MYR 39,990 (approximately £7,000). The course has the same module content, has the same evaluation criteria and the same marking scheme. Hence, the degree has the same weightage as the one from the UK campus, but at a significantly lower cost. Besides, the cost of living in Malaysia is considerably lower as well, which eases your financial burden. It’s a win-win situation for international students as they can live comfortably at a cost of about MYR 1100 a month. (This includes food, accommodation, and other daily expenses). Check out this table that compares living and studying costs in Malaysia with other countries.
Job Opportunities For Students
International students studying in Malaysia are allowed to work part-time for 20 hours per week. Students are encouraged to work in mini markets, restaurants and cafes, hotels and petrol stations. However, students are not allowed to work as a cashier, singer, masseur, musician or other such jobs.
After completion of higher education, the employment prospects widen. Based on the Critical Occupation List (COL) 2016/2017 by TalentCorp and the Institute of Labour Market Information and Analysis (ILMIA), here are a few popular courses that give a student an edge over the rest when it comes to employability.
- Engineering – Mechanical engineer, electronic engineer, telecommunications engineer, quality assurance engineer, industrial engineer and process engineer
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) – Systems analyst, software developer, database analyst, network analyst, technical helpdesk analyst and test engineer
- Business Management – Sales manager, marketing manager, management consultant and human resource manager
Finance – Research analyst, corporate finance adviser, financial planner and finance executive - Accounting – Auditor, tax consultant, financial controller, management accountant and GST specialist
- Communications – Communications manager, producer, scriptwriter and customer service manager
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management – Logistics manager, supply manager, warehouse manager, distribution manager and procurement officer
- Graphic Design and Multimedia – Web designer, graphic designer and 3D artist
- Architecture – Interior designer and architect
- Actuarial Science – Actuarial science mathematician, product actuary, data scientist and predictive analyst
Seamless Immigration Procedures
International students in Malaysia benefit from the easy and trouble-free immigration procedures as compared to other countries which have stricter student immigration procedures.
Safety is Not A Concern
Malaysia is one of the safest and politically stable countries in the world with a relatively low crime rate. The weather in Malaysia is sunny and rainy all year without extreme cold or hot weather conditions making the weather easy to adapt to. In 2011 survey ranked Malaysia the 19th most peaceful country out of 153 countries.
Unique & Diverse Culture
On the whole, Malaysians are friendly, welcoming and love to socialise. The country is a contrasting blend of people from around the world with a vast number of ideologies. This makes Malaysia more congenial for international students.
No Language Barriers
Malay and English are the most spoken languages in the country. Other languages and dialects that thrive in the country are Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil among others. A majority of the universities in Malaysia conduct their lectures in English. Hence, it is easier for international students to understand the lectures better. Furthermore, there are many language centers and higher education institutions that offer basic English courses for those who are not proficient in English.
Wanderlust For Travel Enthusiasts
In 2010, Malaysia was ranked the 9th most visited country in the world. Well, that was for a reason. Travelling in the friendly, beautiful and culturally rich country is far affordable than imagined. One gets extremely good value for money here. The stunning variety of attractions and free-time activities in the thrilling metropolitan area of Kuala Lumpur and the natural wonders such as Langkawi, Taman Negara, and Cameron Highlands ensure you will never run out of things to see and do.
Cost of studying in Malaysia
Tuition fees will vary at each institution, but will be lower at one of the many public universities. On average, an international student can expect to pay around MYR 7,000 (~US $1,700) per year for a bachelor’s degree. Masters degrees will cost an international student around MYR 11,000 (~US $2,650) per year. Private and foreign institutions may have higher tuition fees, particularly for specialist subjects such as medicine.
There are scholarships available for people undertaking postgraduate studies, which would help with funding. Your institution will be able to provide you with information about this.
The cost of living in Malaysia is low in comparison to other tourist destinations like America and the UK. It is recommended that you budget for between MYR 10,000 (~US $2,400) and MYR 15,000 (~US $3,600) per year. This includes food, travel and accommodation. If you are living in a bigger city such as Kuala Lumpur, your living costs will be higher than if you are living in a smaller city or town. You will also need to make sure you have health insurance for your time in Malaysia, your institution can give you advice on the best policies for students.
International students are not permitted to work during term-time, but you will need to prove you have sufficient funds to be able to enter Malaysia. This means that ensuring you have the required funding in place in plenty of time.
Malaysia student visa requirements
In order to be able to study in Malaysia, you will need to apply for Student Pass, which acts as a student visa. This can be applied for online before your arrival, but it is more common for your institution to apply on your behalf once you’ve accepted their offer of a place.
If you are applying for a Student Pass yourself, you will need:
- A passport sized photograph
- A copy of your passport
- A copy of your university offer letter
- Copies of academic certificates and transcripts
- A pre-arrival medical examination report
- Proof of insurance
- Proof that you have sufficient funds for course fees and living costs.
Your Student Pass will last for a year, so will need renewing if your course is longer than 12 months.
More information about the visa process and requirements, please visit the Education Malaysia website, which has been set up by the Ministry of Education to aid the application of international students.
