University of Malaya: Rankings, Courses, Admissions, Tuition Fee, Cost of Attendance & Scholarships

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Important Updates for University of Malaya} }

18 June 2026: QS World University Rankings 2027 has been released on 18 June 2026. Universiti Malaya (UM) is ranked #56 among 1,500+ universities. Check out QS World University Rankings 2027 trend analysis

The University of Malaya is one of the oldest and leading public universities in Malaysia with a very high research output. It has received several international awards and accolades like the AUA Scholar Awards, International Scholar exchange Fellowship Awards, and more. Over 280 UG and PG courses in the subject areas of Arts, Business, Science, and Humanities are offered by the university. It houses 24,185 students, out of which 3,618 are international seeking to study in Malaysia.

Students seeking to get admission can apply via the university’s official portal that needs an application fee of 300 RM. Indian candidates must submit a National Higher School Certificate or an advanced level equivalent with a minimum grade of 80% to get admission for any of the courses along with certified copies of IELTS scores of 5.0 for UG and 5.5 for PG. For some specific programs, an interview assessment round is also conducted. The tuition fee of the university ranges from 11,265 RM - 52,625 RM.

Also Check: Top Universities and Colleges in Malaysia

Table of Contents

University of Malaya Ranking
University of Malaya Highlights
University of Malaya Programs
University of Malaya Campus
University of Malaya Accommodation
University of Malaya Admission Process
6.1 Academic Requirement
6.2 English Language Requirement
University of Malaya Attendance Cost
University of Malaya Placement
FAQs

University of Malaya Rankings

The ranking of the University of Malaya globally as per top agencies is listed below:

As per QS, 2023:

#65 in the world
#43 for Electric and Electronics Engineering
#54 for Engineering and Technology
#76 for Business and Management Studies
#78 for Education and Training
#79 for Accounting and Finance

As per THE, 2022:

#301- 305 in the world
#101-200 for Impact Ranking
#49 in Asian Universities

As per US News, 2022:

#205 for best global universities
#26 for best global universities in Asia
#1 for best Global university in Malaysia

Highlights

College Type	Public
Establishment Year	1962
Location	Kuala Lumpur
Campus Setting	Urban
UG Application Portal	UPU (Unit Pengambilan Universiti)
Programs Offered	Undergraduate: 100+; Postgraduate: 150+
Mode of Programs	Full time; Part-time
Academic staff	2278
Student: Faculty Ratio	6:1
On-Campus Accommodation	Available
Financial Aid	Not Available for International Students
Admission Helpdesk	+603-7967 7711 \| isc@um.edu.my

University of Malaya Programs

University of Malaya offers 100+ undergraduate courses and 180 + postgraduate programs, to its 30,000 + student population in subject areas of Pharmacy, Economics Engineering, Business, Creative Arts, Computer Science, Sports Science, and others. Programs at the University of Malaya are designed with an all-encompassing approach to education in ensuring comprehensive teaching and learning experience.

Below are the top programs of the university and their annual fees:

Courses	Annual Fee (in RM)
Bachelor of Biotechnology	11,265
Bachelor of Engineering	15,000 - 20,000
Master of Business Administration	52,625
MSc. Computer Science	35,962
MSc. Data Science	33,270

University of Malaya Campus

University of Malaya campus is spread over 922 acres of land in the capital city Kuala Lumpur. The university has a plethora of amenities for the professionals and personal development of its students. One can join the various clubs for culture and sports, hunt the library to gain knowledge, relax and enjoy the campus cafes and restaurants, and more.

It has 50 research centres, 13 residential colleges, 3 libraries, botanical gardens, food courts, etc.
The library at UM holds 1.4 million titles with over 2.1 million items in different formats, 85 online databases with over 46000 E-journal, and 1,50,000 E-books.
The campus also has a student health clinic.
The sports centre at UM manages sport and recreational facilities. It offers excellent indoor, outdoor sports and recreational facilities like tennis courts, soccer and rugby fields, volleyballs & basketball fields, jogging track, badminton court, etc.
The UM cooperative book shop offers supplies of Books and stationary equipment for sale.
There are 22 buses and 16 drivers for students and staff of UM.
UM has recently started its eco-campus initiative in 2018.

University of Malaya Accommodations

The university offers on-campus residential facilities for both domestic and international students. Students are required to apply separately for the University of Malaya accommodation. It is recommended that the students must apply for the housing as early as possible, otherwise, they will have to rely on off-campus accommodation.

Compared to on-campus, off-campus housing facilities are expensive, ranging between 800 RM to 3000 RM/month.
The university has 13 on-campus residential colleges to accommodate around 11,000 students at a time.
With over 65% of housing facilities offered to first-year students, the University of Malaya tries to ensure that freshmen do not have to struggle.
Of the 13 on-campus accommodation options, international students are welcome to apply for housing in four residential colleges. The details of which are tabulated below:

Accommodation Type	Capacity	Rents/month (in RM)
Tun Ahmad Zaidi Residential College	729	600 - 1,500
Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Residential College	2990	450
Japan Apartment	N/A	350
International House	N/A	2,500

University of Malaya Admission Process

The application process at Universiti Malaysia is thoroughly systemized with two intake sessions: September and February. International students are welcome to apply for admission at UM in both sessions. The application process for UG & PG students is the same which is discussed below:

Application Portal: UM Application
Application Fee: 300 RM.

Academic Requirements

Documents required while applying for admission at the University of Malaya are:

Academic Transcripts, National High School Certificate with grades being 80% and above
Diploma with CGPA over 3.00
Financial Statement for self-financing or letter of guarantee from the sponsor
Interview in selective programs
Malaysian student Visa Approval Letter (VAL)
Minimum English Language Requirements

English Language Proficiency

Students from non-English-speaking countries need to prove their proficiency in the English language to study at the University of Malaya. Below are the tests and accepted by the university. The scores differ as per the level of degree.

Tests	UG	PG
IELTS	5.0	5.5
TOEFL- PBT	500	550
TOEFL- iBT	60	213
TOEFL- CBT	173	80
PTE	41	42

University of Malaya Cost of Attendance

The entire cost of attendance at Universiti Malaya includes tuition fees, on-campus/off-campus accommodation charges, groceries, travel & stay in Malaysia, and other miscellaneous expenses. The estimated cost of attendance for an international student is tabulated below. These costs are subject to change as per the way of living:

Particulars	Costs (in RM)
Course Fees	11,265 - 52,625
On-campus Accommodation	400 - 1,500
Off-campus Accommodation	800 -3,000
Food & Travel	1000
Miscellaneous	600

University of Malaya Placements

The career and industrial relationships and students unit is a newly established unit under the student affairs and alumni department. The main aim of the unit is to provide career-related skills to students of UM such as career decision making, job finding strategy, or any other skills that will prepare them to face the working world.

The unit also works jointly with the counselling and support unit to assist graduates in understanding their interests, abilities, and skills useful for their jobs.
Some of the activities organized by the Unit for the career development of students are annual career exposure, career training seminars, on-campus interview, guidance on jobs in Malaysia and worldwide, Part-time jobs. Employer registration, etc.
The highest-paying job after graduating from UM is of Program and Project Management with an average salary of 387,000 RM.

Below table is the salary of the University of Malaya graduates in 2023 as per programs:

Programs	Average Salary (in RM)
Executive Masters	600,000
Bachelors of Science	248,000
Masters in science	201,000
Bachelor	192,000
Bachelor of Arts	154,000
Other Degrees	97,000

Situated in Kuala Lumpur, Universiti Malaya is the capital city’s only public university. Amongst many eye-catching gardens and infrastructures across the campus, its main differentiating aspect is the UM’s focus on sustainability. In 2018, the university began its eco-campus initiative and by 2020 has turned its 75% campus area eco-friendly.

As one of the leading universities in the World (#54), in Asia (#13), and Malaysia, the University of Malaya strives to ensure that the students receive advanced knowledge and learning through quality education and research for their personal growth and for the growth of the nation and humanity.

FAQs

Ques. How prestigious is UM?

Ans. The University of Malaya is the Top leading research university in Malaysia which is ranked at #1 for best global university in Malaysia by US News and World report.

Ques. What is the application fee at UM?

Ans. The application fee at UM is 300 RM i.e 5400 Indian rupees.

Ques. Where can I apply?

Ans. Applicants can apply online at UM Application portal

Ques. Is there an on-campus accommodation facility available for international students?

Ans. UM does not guarantee accommodation to international students. However, International students can take the help of the International Student Centre (ISC) at UM which will assist them to find on-campus accommodation if available.

Ques. What is the average cost of accommodation for international students at UM?

Ans. The average cost of accommodation for international students at UM ranges from 450 RM- 1800 RM per month.

Ques. How many admission intakes take place at UM?

Ans. There are two admission intakes at UM throughout the year, semester 1 in September and semester 2 in February.

Ques. What is the minimum qualification required for PhD programs at UM?

Ans. Applicant needs to have a Bachelors degree with a minimum of 3.7 CGPA FOR PhD programs at UM

Ques. What is the minimum required CGPA for a Masters's Degree program?

Ans. A minimum OF 3.0 CGPA is required for admission to the Master's Degree program.