Universiti Teknologi MARA
Malaysia's largest university by enrolment, with 31 campuses and admission open only to Bumiputera Malaysian citizens.
- Students
- 181,341
- 104,504 undergraduates
- Tuition
- MYR 1,180
- Current fee schedule (undated)
- Founded
- 1956
- QS World Ranking
- #549
- 2027 edition
About UiTM
Universiti Teknologi MARA began in 1956 as the RIDA Training Centre in Petaling Jaya, created to train rural Malays. It became MARA College in 1965, the MARA Institute of Technology (ITM) in 1967, and a university in 1999. Its purpose has always been to widen access to higher education for Bumiputera Malaysians.
UiTM is Malaysia's largest university. Its June 2026 figures show 181,341 students (163,379 full-time), 31 campuses across Malaysia, 24 faculties, 7 academic centres and 508 academic programmes. More than half of students (104,504) are on bachelor's degrees and a third (59,788) on diplomas. The main campus is in Shah Alam, Selangor, with 79,342 students across the Selangor campuses, and state campuses run from Perlis to Sabah and Sarawak.
UiTM's Student Admissions Division states in its FAQ that non-citizens and permanent residents cannot apply, and that admission is open only to Malaysian citizens of Malay, Sabah native (Anak Negeri Sabah), Sarawak native (Anak Negeri Sarawak) or Orang Asli descent. For eligible students, fees are very low, and many start with a diploma or foundation (asasi) programme before moving on to a degree.
Usaha, Taqwa, Mulia
“Endeavour, Piety, Dignity” — university motto
Why students choose UiTM
Bachelor's tuition and service fees total RM590 a semester for full-time students, among the lowest in Malaysia.
With 508 academic programmes across 24 faculties, UiTM offers everything from law and accounting to engineering and hospitality.
31 campuses across Malaysia let students study close to home, with a route from pre-diploma and diploma study to a bachelor's degree.
The university counts 1,191,238 graduates in total, a large alumni network in Malaysian government and business.
Admissions
Session 1 2027/2028 (October 2027 intake); dates not yet published
Selectivity
UiTM does not publish an acceptance rate. UiTM's Student Admissions Division states in its FAQ that non-citizens and permanent residents cannot apply, and that admission is open only to Malaysian citizens of Malay, Sabah native (Anak Negeri Sabah), Sarawak native (Anak Negeri Sarawak) or Orang Asli descent. Some programmes, marked with # in the programme list, also require an interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Eligibility | Malaysian citizen of Malay, Sabah native, Sarawak native or Orang Asli descent (per the Student Admissions Division FAQ); non-citizens and permanent residents cannot apply |
|---|---|
| STPM, matriculation, foundation or diploma | Programme-specific requirements, checked through UiTM's e-Syarat and Selangkah requirement-checking systems |
| MUET | Required for bachelor's programmes |
| English language | Bachelor's applicants must have sat the MUET, as required by UiTM Academic Circular No. 03/2014. |
Deadlines
- Session 1 (October intake), via UPU Online Non-bindingPer UPU calendar (2027 dates not yet published)
Main intake for diploma and bachelor's programmes. For Session 1 2026/2027, interviews and offer letters were issued ahead of the October 2026 intake.
- Session 2 (March intake), via UiTM Online Non-bindingPer UiTM intake calendar (2027 dates not yet published)
Applications for the March session go through UiTM Online only.
UiTM runs two main intakes, October (Session 1, via UPU) and March (Session 2, via UiTM Online). Exact 2027 dates are published on the admissions division's intake calendar.
How to apply
Apply for Session 1 (October) diploma and bachelor's entry through the government's UPU Online system. Apply for Session 2 (March) only through the UiTM Online portal. Check programme requirements on e-Syarat or Selangkah first. Offer letters are issued through UiTM Online and are final: you cannot change programme or campus.
What admissions looks for
- Eligibility as a Bumiputera Malaysian citizen (Malay, Sabah or Sarawak native, or Orang Asli).
- Meeting both the university's general requirements and each programme's special requirements; offers are cancelled if actual results do not meet them.
- A MUET result for bachelor's programmes.
- A successful interview for programmes marked with #, such as education degrees.
Tips for applying to UiTM
- 1 Use the Selangkah system to check whether your results meet a programme's requirements before you apply.
- 2 Apply for October entry through UPU and March entry through UiTM Online; the two sessions use different portals.
- 3 Choose your programme and campus carefully, because UiTM does not allow changes once an offer is made.
- 4 Take the MUET early if you are aiming for a bachelor's degree.
Costs & financial aid
Current fee schedule (undated) · figures in MYR
Most students fund their studies through PTPTN loans, and first-time entrants from low-income families can receive PTPTN's advance funding (Wang Pendahuluan Pembiayaan). Students can register before paying fees, provided they pay by the deadline in the academic calendar.
- RM590 (RM200 tuition + RM390 service fee)
- Bachelor's fee per semester (full-time)
- RM70 per credit hour (science and technology) or RM55 per credit hour (business and social sciences), plus service fee
- Extended-duration bachelor's students
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters: Session 1 from October and Session 2 from March
Law (Faculty of Law)
Home to a moot court on the Shah Alam campus; alumni include former Federal Court judge Richard Malanjum.
Accountancy
A core programme since the RIDA and MARA College years, when the centre prepared students for professional accounting examinations.
Civil Engineering
Taught in the Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah engineering complex at Shah Alam.
Diploma to degree pathway
Almost 60,000 diploma students, many of whom progress to UiTM bachelor's degrees through internal applications.
Research
- The Tun Abdul Razak Library (PTAR) at Shah Alam, opened in 1972, anchors a library network across UiTM's campuses.
- UiTM runs a Research Nexus (ReNeU) and highlights its researchers in the World's Top 2% Scientists list.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Accountancy
- Faculty of Civil Engineering
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
- Faculty of Applied Sciences
- Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management
- Faculty of Business and Management
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Music
Student life
Shah Alam is the heart of UiTM, with 13 gender-segregated residential colleges on the main campus, though rising enrolment means many students rent off-campus. Across the system there are campuses in every region, so student life ranges from the busy Klang Valley to small-town campuses in Perlis, Pahang and Sabah. Two-thirds of students are women (the male-to-female ratio is 1:2). Residential college places depend on the offer letter and basic eligibility.
- About 79,000 students at the Selangor campuses, the university's largest cluster.
- Residential colleges on the Shah Alam campus, most single-sex.
- Campuses in 13 states, from Perlis to Sabah and Sarawak.
- An alumni network of more than 1.19 million graduates.
Housing. Residential college places are allocated according to the offer letter and basic eligibility; at Shah Alam many students rent off-campus.
Location
The main campus is in Shah Alam, the state capital of Selangor, in the Klang Valley west of Kuala Lumpur. Other campuses include Puncak Alam and Puncak Perdana in Selangor and state campuses such as Arau in Perlis, Seri Iskandar in Perak, and campuses in Sabah and Sarawak, so the student experience depends heavily on where you are placed.
Nearest airport: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Notable alumni
- KM Kamarudin MeranunCo-founder and executive chairman of AirAsia
- RM Richard MalanjumFormer Chief Judge of the High Courts of Sabah and Sarawak
- AO Azalina Othman SaidPolitician and government minister
- MA Musa Aman14th Chief Minister of Sabah
- Y YunaSinger-songwriter
- SA Siti Aishah11th Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen) of Malaysia
- FJ Francisca JamesModel and Miss Universe Malaysia 2020
Frequently asked questions
Can international students or non-Bumiputera Malaysians study at UiTM?
No. UiTM's Student Admissions Division FAQ says non-citizens and permanent residents cannot apply, and that admission is open only to Malaysian citizens of Malay, Sabah native, Sarawak native or Orang Asli descent.
How much are UiTM fees?
Under the UiTM Treasury's current (undated) fee table, full-time bachelor's students pay RM200 tuition plus a RM390 service fee per semester, about RM1,180 a year, plus a one-off RM208 registration fee.
How do I apply to UiTM?
Apply for the October intake through UPU Online and for the March intake through UiTM Online. Check programme requirements on e-Syarat or Selangkah first.
Is MUET required for UiTM?
Yes. MUET is one of the requirements for UiTM bachelor's programmes.
How many students does UiTM have?
As of 30 June 2026, UiTM had 181,341 students across 31 campuses, including 104,504 bachelor's students.
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.
- UiTM Facts and Figures (30 June 2026)
- UiTM Student Admissions Division
- UiTM Student Admissions Division: FAQ (eligibility, application routes, MUET)
- UiTM Student Admissions Division: e-Syarat (entry requirements)
- UiTM Treasury: Perdana fee structure (undergraduate)
- UiTM Treasury: undergraduate fee table (image)
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