Exploring Malaysia University Admission: A Simple Guide

You are dreaming of studying in Malaysia, aren’t you? But you are fearful that studying in Malaysia will cost you a complicated admission process, aren’t you?

We know the feeling and we are here to reassure you with a simple guide for Malaysia university admission procedures.

Overview of the Malaysia University Admission Process

Malaysia university admission is designed to be straightforward and accessible for international students. 

Yet, international students should pay attention to a few important steps in the admission process. Here’s a summarized guide to the steps you need to follow for a successful application:

1. Research Your University: begin exploring your university of choice and see if the university offers something unique to your own aspirations.

2. Select your course: choose the appropriate course for you that aligns with your future career goals.

3. Check Eligibility Requirements: know if you meet the admission requirements in terms of academic qualifications.

4. Gather The Required Documents: ensure all your academic transcripts are complete and certified. You might need to translate the transcripts if they are in another language than English.

5. Submit Your Application: most universities provide an online portal for you to fill in the application. Once you upload all the required information and documents, you will be able to submit online.

6. Pay Your Application fees: while submitting your application through the online portal, you will need to pay for the application. The application fees will be stated in the portal, and the portal will directly take you to the payment site. Note that sometimes you will need to upload proof of payment together with the application form.

7. Check Your Application Status: most universities will send your application result to your personal email, but you can also access the online portal to view the status of your application from time to time.

General Requirements for Malaysia University Admission

Malaysia University Admission: Public Universities vs. Private Universities

Although most of the entry requirements for public universities are similar to private universities for international students, there are some differences that are worth noting. 

Here are the key differences that you should be aware of:

1. Application Deadlines:

• Private universities usually allow more flexible application due dates.

• Public Universities typically have fixed deadlines all year round.

2. Admission Criteria:

• Private universities are more accommodating when it comes to academic qualifications. They also offer foundation/preparatory programmes for students who do not meet the admission requirements. 

• Public Universities have more competitive applications as there are limited seats. Therefore, they are more strict with application standards. 

3. Tuition Fees:

• Private universities often cost higher tuition fees.

• Public Universities are far more affordable.

Malaysia University Admission Intakes

Public Universities

In Malaysia, public universities normally offer one main intake per year, but some may offer two

1. Main Intake: September/October

The majority of undergraduate programs' main intake is in September or October.

2. Additional Intakes: February/March

A second intake is available at many public universities in February/March, but it is less frequent and typically restricted to postgraduate studies or specific programs.

Private Universities

 To provide students more freedom, private universities frequently offer several intakes throughout the year.

1. First Intake: January/February

One of the main admissions periods for many private universities is January/February.

2. Second Intake: May/June

An additional important admission time is in May/June, especially for foundation, diploma, and certain undergraduate programs.

3. Third Intake: September/October

This is a crucial time for many program intakes, similar to in public universities.

4. Extra Intakes: March/April

For a few programs, a few private colleges provide extra intakes.

Malaysia University Admission Offer Letter

Let’s say your admission application is successful, and you receive an acceptance offer letter from the university… What do you do next? 

There are crucial steps that you need to follow in order to secure your place at the university and confirm your admission:

1. Accept the offer letter: some universities will require an acceptance declaration from you. Typically, the way to accept the offer letter is through the online portal to which you submitted the application. 

2. Start your student visa application: instructions to begin your student visa application will be given in the offer letter. Your offer letter will instruct you to visit EMGS (Education Malaysia Global Studies) website to start the visa process.

Know more about the role of EMGS for issuing your student visa in this article.

Get the Right Support

Selecting your desired university is a decision that will influence many aspects of your future, so we advise you to choose your university carefully and to not rush into it.

We at YourUni are here to support you step-by-step in selecting the right university and course for yourself. Feel free to connect with us anytime and our educational consultants will be happy to assist you.