UCSI University
A Kuala Lumpur private university with world top-50 music and hospitality, and co-op placements in every degree.
- Students
- 15,000
- Tuition
- MYR 34,627
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1986
- QS World Ranking
- #282
- 2027 edition
About UCSI
UCSI University began in 1986, when Dato' Peter Ng founded it as a computer-training institute in Petaling Jaya; its original name was University College Sedaya International, and it is still often called Sedaya. It was one of Malaysia's first private universities and now has more than 15,000 students, over 150 programmes and students from more than 120 countries. Its main campus is in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, with further campuses at Bandar Springhill (home to medicine and the UCSI Hospital), in Kuching, Sarawak, and a branch campus in Bangladesh.
Teaching is organised in faculties and institutes covering medicine and health sciences, pharmacy, engineering and the built environment, business, hospitality and tourism, applied science, social sciences and liberal arts, computer science, creative arts and design, and music. UCSI's most distinctive strengths are in the arts: in the QS subject rankings 2026 it placed 24th in the world for both Music and Performing Arts, 29th for Art and Design, and 47th for Hospitality and Leisure Management.
A defining feature is co-operative education: UCSI says every graduate completes at least six months of practical work experience, tracked through its My Co-Op portal. Admission is by published minimum entry requirements, with three main intakes a year. UCSI suits students who want an industry-linked degree in Kuala Lumpur, and especially musicians, performers and hospitality students.
Why students choose UCSI
The Institute of Music is ranked 24th in the world for both Music and Performing Arts in the QS subject rankings 2026, according to UCSI.
Every student completes at least six months of co-operative work placements, monitored through the My Co-Op portal.
Three undergraduate intakes a year (January/February, May and September) for most bachelor's degrees.
Medicine is taught at the Bandar Springhill campus alongside the UCSI Hospital, with early hands-on clinical exposure from Year 1.
Admissions
2027 intakes (January, May and September 2027)
Selectivity
UCSI does not publish an acceptance rate. Admission is based on minimum entry requirements per programme; medicine additionally requires an interview that decides admission.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels (Doctor of Medicine) | BBB, ABC or AAC in Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Mathematics |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma (Doctor of Medicine) | 33 points with Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics at HL, at least 5 in each |
| UEC (Doctor of Medicine) | B4 in each of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Advanced Mathematics |
| A-levels (Contemporary Music) | Minimum two Ds, plus music requirements |
| STPM / foundation (Computer Science) | STPM grade C (CGPA 2.00) in two subjects, or foundation/matriculation CGPA 2.00, plus a credit in SPM Additional Mathematics or equivalent |
| English language | IELTS 5 · TOEFL iBT 42 Computer Science (international students): IELTS Academic 5.0, TOEFL iBT 42, PTE 47, Cambridge 154 or MUET Band 3.5. Doctor of Medicine: IELTS 6.0 or MUET Band 4. Students who fall short may take in-sessional English courses, and medicine can issue a conditional offer with one year to meet the English level. |
Deadlines
- January/February intake (most bachelor's degrees) Non-bindingOrientation 29 January 2026, classes 4 February 2026 (2026 dates)
2027 dates not yet published.
- May intake Non-bindingOrientation 21 May 2026, classes 25 May 2026 (2026 dates)
- September intake (and main Doctor of Medicine intake) Non-bindingOrientation 24 September 2026, classes 28 September 2026; Medicine orientation 26 August 2026 (2026 dates)
UCSI publishes intake and orientation dates rather than application deadlines; the dates shown are for 2026, as the 2027 calendar is not yet published. Some programmes differ, e.g. Pharmacy (February and September) and Architecture (February/March and September). International students should apply early to allow for visa processing.
How to apply
Apply online to UCSI, choosing a programme and campus, and submit certified academic results, passport and English test scores. UCSI's international office supports the EMGS student visa, pre-arrival and arrival steps, and an international buddy programme. Medicine applicants who meet the academic requirements are called for an interview.
What admissions looks for
- Meeting the programme's academic minimums, such as credits in mathematics for computing or strong sciences for medicine.
- Adequate English, from IELTS 5.0 for most programmes to IELTS 6.0 for medicine.
- For music degrees, meeting music requirements in addition to academic ones, or completing UCSI's Foundation in Music with at least grade C.
- For medicine, performance at interview, which decides admission among academically qualified candidates.
Tips for applying to UCSI
- 1 Check the intake list for your programme: most degrees start in January/February, May and September, but medicine starts only in September.
- 2 Musicians should look at UCSI's Foundation in Music if they do not yet meet the audition-level music requirements.
- 3 International scholarships are limited and merit-based, and shortlisted applicants are interviewed; register interest through UCSI University Trust early.
- 4 Budget for the 6% service tax charged to non-Malaysians on top of the listed fees, plus visa charges that vary by country.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in MYR
UCSI offers a limited number of competitive, merit-based scholarships for international students; shortlisted applicants are interviewed before awards are confirmed, and details are handled through UCSI University Trust. Malaysian students have a separate scholarship and financial aid scheme.
- 6% (since 1 July 2025)
- Service tax for non-Malaysians
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters of 14 weeks plus 7-week short semesters; three main intakes a year
Bachelor of Contemporary Music (Hons) / Bachelor of Classical Music (Hons)
From an Institute of Music placed 24th in the world for Music and Performing Arts (QS 2026).
Hospitality and tourism degrees
Hospitality and Leisure Management is ranked 47th in the world (QS 2026).
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
A 5-year programme at Bandar Springhill next to the UCSI Hospital, with early clinical exposure and an admissions interview.
Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours)
A 3-year degree with three co-operative placements built into the curriculum, plus variants in AI, cyber security and data science.
Art and design degrees
Art and Design is ranked 29th in the world in the QS subject rankings 2026.
Research
- Research is coordinated through UCSI's Centre of Excellence for Research, Value Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
- UCSI reports placing in the global top 50 for four subjects in the QS subject rankings 2026, the most among Malaysian universities.
- UCSI also hosts an International Institute of Science Diplomacy and Sustainability.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment
- Faculty of Business and Management
- Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Faculty of Applied Science
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts
- Institute of Computer Science and Digital Innovation
- Institute of Music
- De Institute of Creative Arts and Design
- Institute of Actuarial Science and Data Analytics
- UCSI Graduate Business School
UCSI reports a 100% employability score in the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education's Graduate Employability survey for private institutions (for programmes such as Contemporary Music and Medicine, 2022 data).
Student life
UCSI's Kuala Lumpur campus in Taman Connaught, Cheras, is an urban campus, and UCSI also runs student accommodation there and at its Bandar Springhill and Kuching campuses. International students are supported by an orientation day, a buddy programme and an international office that handles visas and insurance. The Institute of Music gives the campus a strong performing arts culture, and students run a student council, clubs and sports, alongside the university's own radio station.
- UCSI Radio, the university's own station.
- International Buddy Programme pairing newcomers with current students.
- Co-operative placements in every degree, through UCSI's network of over 4,800 industry partners.
- Mobility and exchange options, plus International Degree Pathways to finish in the UK, Australia, Switzerland or New Zealand.
Housing. UCSI offers student accommodation at its Kuala Lumpur, Springhill and Sarawak campuses, with details in each campus's accommodation guide.
Location
The main campus is in Cheras, a residential district in the south-east of Kuala Lumpur, so students have the malls, food and public transport of Malaysia's capital close at hand. Medicine students are based at Bandar Springhill in Negeri Sembilan, and the Sarawak campus is in Kuching on Borneo. Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the main gateway for international students.
Nearest airport: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Notable alumni
- AA Aina AbdulMalaysian singer, songwriter and actress; Bachelor of Contemporary Music (2021)
Frequently asked questions
How much does UCSI cost for international students?
UCSI quotes approximate whole-programme fees: RM103,881 for the 3-year Bachelor of Computer Science (about RM34,600 a year), RM167,757 for Contemporary Music (about RM55,900 a year) and RM532,524 for the 5-year Doctor of Medicine (about RM106,500 a year), plus 6% service tax and visa charges that vary by country.
What are UCSI University's intakes?
Most bachelor's degrees take students in January/February, May and September. The Doctor of Medicine has a single September intake.
What IELTS score does UCSI require?
IELTS Academic 5.0 (or TOEFL iBT 42) for programmes such as Computer Science, and IELTS 6.0 for Medicine.
Is UCSI good for music?
UCSI reports that it is ranked 24th in the world for Music and for Performing Arts in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
What are the entry requirements for UCSI Medicine?
For example, A-level BBB, ABC or AAC in Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Mathematics, or IB 33 points with Biology, Chemistry and Maths at HL (at least 5 each), plus an interview.
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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