IMU University
Started in 1992 as Malaysia's first private medical college, and known for letting students start degrees in Kuala Lumpur and finish abroad.
- Students
- 3,950
- Tuition
- MYR 26,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1992
- QS World Ranking
- 951-1000
- 2027 edition
About IMU
IMU University began in 1992 as the International Medical College, Malaysia's first private medical college, set up at a time when Malaysia had an acute shortage of doctors and studying medicine abroad was beyond the means of many students. Its founding idea was a credit-transfer model: students completed the first part of their medical training in Malaysia and then transferred to a partner medical school overseas. It gained university status on 4 February 1999 as the International Medical University, and now uses the name IMU University.
IMU is a specialist, health-focused university. Its Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences has schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, and Alternative and Complementary Medicine (including Chiropractic and Chinese Medicine), and a newer Faculty of Business and Social Sciences teaches business, psychology and social sciences. The main campus is in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, with clinical campuses in the southern states of Peninsular Malaysia. It had 3,950 active students in November 2023, about three quarters of them undergraduates.
IMU suits students who are sure they want a health career and want a clear route into it, whether that is a full IMU degree in Malaysia or a transfer pathway: the university lists 49 university partners in Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US. It is expensive by Malaysian standards, especially for Medicine and Dentistry.
Why students choose IMU
Credit-transfer pathways let Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry and science students finish their degree at partner universities abroad, for example in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland or Malta for Medicine.
IMU describes its MBBS as 'Malaysia's Largest Private Medical School' (its Medicine programme page), and its curriculum includes preparation aligned with USMLE Step 1 across semesters 1 to 5.
IMU says its Dentistry programme debuted at 100th in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, and describes itself as the first private university in Malaysia to be ranked in Dentistry (IMU news item, 27 March 2026).
Alongside medicine it teaches less common health degrees such as Chiropractic, Chinese Medicine, Dietetics with Nutrition and Bioveterinary Science.
Admissions
2026-27 intakes
Selectivity
IMU does not publish an acceptance rate. Each programme sets minimum entry grades (for the MBBS, e.g. BBB at A-level or 33 IB points), and IMU states that meeting the minimum entry and English requirements does not guarantee admission.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Medicine and Dentistry: BBB or ABC in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics or Mathematics |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | Medicine: 33 points with at least 5 in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics at Higher Level |
| STPM / Malaysian Matriculation / IMU Foundation in Science | Medicine: cGPA 3.00 with BBB or ABC (STPM) or cGPA 3.00 in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics or Mathematics, plus 5 Bs at SPM/O-Level for Matriculation and Foundation |
| UEC | Medicine: B4 in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Advanced Mathematics I and II |
| Australian ATAR / Canadian Grade 12 / NCEA Level 3 | Medicine: ATAR 80 or an 80% average in the science subjects |
| Indian Pre-University | Medicine: 70% average overall and in the science subjects, plus a NEET pass |
| English language | IELTS 6 For the IMU MBBS and BDS: IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, MUET Band 4 (Malaysian students), PTE 63, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 176, or Linguaskill 180. Credit-transfer students going to partner schools need IELTS 7.0 (Dentistry: no band below 6.0). TOEFL is not listed on these programme pages. |
Deadlines
IMU admits students at several intakes a year rather than by one deadline: Medicine and Dentistry start in February and September, Pharmacy in April and September, Nursing in September, and Psychology and Business Administration in February, April, July and September. For the previous cycle, the IMU-Merit Scholarship (Malaysians only) closed on 23 January 2026 for the February intake, 27 March 2026 for April and 7 August 2026 for September; 2027 dates had not been published.
How to apply
Apply online directly to IMU (no central system for private universities). International applicants pay an RM1,000 application fee (RM300 for Malaysians); after accepting an offer, they pay a registration fee of RM3,800, an international student admin fee of RM2,500 and a refundable RM2,000 caution deposit, plus a student visa administration fee of up to RM3,500 depending on nationality.
What admissions looks for
- Minimum grades in the required sciences: for Medicine, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics or Mathematics.
- Proof of English at the programme's required level (for example IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5 for the IMU MBBS).
- For Medicine, applicants must be at least 18 at admission; Indian applicants must pass NEET.
- For scholarships, academic excellence plus extra-curricular participation and leadership, assessed with a personal statement and interview.
Tips for applying to IMU
- 1 Decide early whether you want the full IMU degree or a credit-transfer pathway: partner schools need higher English (IELTS 7.0) and charge their own fees after transfer, e.g. GBP 49,000 to 75,000 a year for Medicine in the UK.
- 2 Budget for the extra one-off fees: international students pay an application fee, registration and admin fees, a caution deposit and visa charges on top of tuition.
- 3 Malaysians aiming for Medicine or Dentistry who want the IMU-Merit Scholarship should apply for the programme first and get an offer before applying for the scholarship.
- 4 Check the 6% Sales and Service Tax note on programme pages: the listed fees are exclusive of SST, which applies to international students where applicable, and fees are also subject to annual increases and exchange rates.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in MYR
IMU-Merit and IMU-Need Scholarships cover 50% or 100% of tuition for Malaysians taking the local degree option; Foundation scholarships run up to RM20,000. A 25% Global Leadership Scholarship is listed for Business Administration, a RM10,000 bursary for eligible Nursing students, and a RM2,000 Family Loyalty Reward for siblings, spouses or children of IMU students or graduates.
- 50% or 100% of tuition for the full programme
- IMU-Merit / IMU-Need Scholarship (Malaysians)
- RM10,000 for eligible students
- Nursing bursary
- 25%
- Global Leadership Scholarship (Business Administration)
- RM1,000
- International application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (long and short semesters, with multiple intakes a year)
Medicine (MBBS)
Five-year IMU degree, or 2.5 years at IMU then transfer to one of 21 partner universities; starts February and September.
Dentistry (BDS)
Debuted at 100th in the world in QS Subjects 2026 (per IMU), with a credit-transfer option including Dalhousie University.
Pharmacy (BPharm Hons)
Pharmacy twinning with the University of Strathclyde dates from 1996; transfer options now include Otago and Tasmania.
Chiropractic
Introduced in 2010 as an evidence-based programme, a first in Southeast Asia according to IMU.
Chinese Medicine
Launched in 2011, teaching basic medical sciences alongside Chinese Medicine clinical practice.
Psychology (BSc Hons)
Three-year degree with partner routes to the University of Newcastle and the University of Strathclyde.
Research
- The Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), set up in 2012, focuses on cancer and stem cells, bioactive molecules and drug delivery, environmental and population health, and health professions education.
- IMU says it has initiated 947 research projects since starting research activities in 2000.
- IMU runs its own teaching clinics, including an oral health centre, chiropractic centre, medical clinic and Chinese medicine centre opened in 2010.
Schools & faculties
- School of Medicine
- School of Dentistry
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Health Sciences
- School of Veterinary Medicine
- School of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
- School of Business and Technology
- School of Psychology and Social Sciences
- Centre for Pre-University Studies
- Postgraduate Studies
IMU reports 108 employers present on campus in 2023 and industry advisory boards for 12 programmes; it does not publish a graduate employment rate on the pages checked.
Student life
IMU is a small, professionally focused university: most students are training for a health career, and the main Bukit Jalil campus is a compact site linked by a pedestrian bridge to Seri Petaling station. There is no on-campus hall system; IMU manages fully furnished condominium units nearby, including Park Sky Residence for international students (with a free shuttle to campus) and Savanna Bukit Jalil about 400 metres from the main campus. Community work is a big part of the culture through the IMU Cares programme and the long-running Kampung Angkat village partnership.
- IMU Cares programme, which began with a charity run at the Bukit Jalil campus in 2002.
- In 2023, 264 students went on international outbound mobility and 266 international students came to IMU.
- Aflame Student Award and a Student Representative Council.
- Free airport pick-up from KLIA for arriving international students.
Housing. IMU offers furnished off-campus condominium rooms (Park Sky Residence for international students, minimum one academic year), plus Savanna and Covillea units in Bukit Jalil open to all students.
Location
Bukit Jalil is a district in the south of Kuala Lumpur, with the Pavilion Bukit Jalil mall and Bukit Jalil Recreational Park close to the student condominiums. The main campus is linked by footbridge to Seri Petaling LRT station, giving easy rail access to central Kuala Lumpur. Clinical training takes students to hospitals and clinical campuses in the southern states of Peninsular Malaysia.
Nearest airport: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to study Medicine at IMU?
The IMU MBBS costs RM61,569 per semester for Malaysian students and RM69,268 for international students, or about RM123,138 and RM138,536 a year. The full five-year programme totals RM615,690 (Malaysian) or RM692,680 (international).
What are IMU's entry requirements for Medicine?
Minimums include BBB or ABC at A-level in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics or Mathematics, or 33 IB points with at least 5 in HL Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics, plus IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5). Applicants must be 18 at admission.
Can I transfer from IMU to a university abroad?
Yes. IMU's credit-transfer pathways let students complete part of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and other degrees at partner universities overseas; transfer students need IELTS 7.0 and pay the partner university's fees plus an RM6,000 transfer fee per semester.
When are IMU's intakes?
Medicine and Dentistry start in February and September, Pharmacy in April and September, and several other programmes in February, April, July and September.
Does IMU offer scholarships to international students?
The main IMU-Merit and IMU-Need Scholarships are for Malaysians only. International students can look at programme-specific awards such as the 25% Global Leadership Scholarship for Business Administration.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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