Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
A coastal public university in Terengganu built around marine science, fisheries and maritime studies, with low public tuition fees.
- Students
- 8,317
- International
- 20%
- of students
- Tuition
- MYR 7,427
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 2001
About UMT
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) grew out of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia's fisheries and marine science centre on the Terengganu coast. It became an autonomous university college, KUSTEM, in 2001 and a full university in 2007. Today it is a public university in Kuala Nerus, on the northern Terengganu coastline facing the South China Sea and its islands, and it describes marine science, aquatic resources and the environment as its core strengths.
UMT has seven faculties (fisheries and aquaculture; food science and agrotechnology; science and marine environment; computer science and mathematics; ocean engineering technology; maritime studies; and business, economics and social development) plus a STEM Foundation Centre. Degrees range from marine biology, marine geoscience and aquaculture to naval architecture, nautical science, renewable energy, data analytics and accounting. Research runs through institutes such as the Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS) and the Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), and field stations on Bidong and Redang islands, in the Setiu Wetlands and at Lake Kenyir.
QS's profile lists about 8,300 students, around 90% of them undergraduates, and 656 academic staff. UMT suits students who want to study the ocean, fisheries or maritime industries hands-on, at public-university fees, in a quiet coastal setting rather than a big city. Most undergraduate information and the prospectus are in Malay, and admission of Malaysians runs through the national UPU system.
Terokaan Seluas Lautan Demi Kelestarian Sejagat
“Ocean of Discoveries for Global Sustainability” — university motto
Why students choose UMT
Four natural research stations, including a marine station on Bidong Island and a turtle research station at Chagar Hutang on Redang Island, give marine and biodiversity students field experience.
Low public-university fees: undergraduate tuition is RM920-1,820 per semester for Malaysians and USD 910-1,210 per semester for international students (2026 fee list).
Specialist maritime degrees that few Malaysian universities offer, such as Nautical Science and Maritime Transport, Naval Architecture and Maritime Technology.
UMT reports a 94.8% graduate employment rate for its Malaysian graduates in 2025.
Admissions
2027/2028 session (starts September/October 2027)
Selectivity
UMT does not publish an acceptance rate. Malaysian applicants are selected centrally through UPU Online against general and programme-specific minimum requirements; international applicants are assessed by the Centre for Academic Development and Management and the faculty.
Typical entry requirements
| International: school leaving certificate or A-levels | Senior high school or senior secondary certificate after 11-12 years of schooling, or GCE A-levels obtained at one sitting, or an equivalent recognised by the University Senate; plus programme-specific requirements |
|---|---|
| International STEM Foundation (O-level) | Minimum grade C in 5 subjects including Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry |
| STPM (Malaysian applicants) | CGPA 2.00 with at least grade C in 3 subjects including Pengajian Am, plus an SPM credit in Bahasa Melayu and a pass in Sejarah, and programme-specific requirements |
| Matriculation / Asasi (Malaysian applicants) | Ministry matriculation or a recognised Asasi with CGPA 2.00, plus SPM Bahasa Melayu credit and Sejarah pass |
| English language | IELTS 5 · TOEFL iBT 40 International undergraduate minimums: MUET Band 3.5, IELTS 5.0, TOEFL iBT 40, TOEFL Essentials 7.5, PTE Academic 47, Cambridge English 154 or Linguaskill/OET 200, or CEFR high B1. The International STEM Foundation asks for MUET Band 3.5 or IELTS band 5. |
Deadlines
- UPU Online (Malaysian applicants) Non-bindingPer the national UPU calendar for the 2027/2028 intake
UMT does not set its own deadline for Malaysian undergraduates; dates are set by the Ministry's UPU system.
- International undergraduate application Non-bindingNo published deadline
Paper application by post to UMT; the main intake follows the academic year, which began with new-student registration on 27 September-3 October in 2026.
UMT's academic year runs two main semesters from late September/October plus an optional short semester in July-September. New undergraduates for 2026/2027 registered on 27 September-3 October 2026; the 2027/2028 dates had not been published when checked.
How to apply
Malaysian applicants apply for the Asasi STEM foundation and bachelor's degrees through UPU Online, the Ministry of Higher Education's central admissions system for public universities. International applicants download UMT's undergraduate application form and post it with certified certificates and transcripts, an English test result, proof of financial support, passport copies, five photos and a USD 25 processing fee by bank draft to the Centre for Academic Development and Management.
What admissions looks for
- The general university requirements (for Malaysians, SPM Bahasa Melayu credit and Sejarah pass, then STPM, matriculation, Asasi, STAM or a diploma at the minimum grade).
- Programme-specific subject grades, such as science and mathematics for marine, engineering technology and computing degrees.
- English at or above the published minimum (MUET Band 3.5 or IELTS 5.0 for international applicants).
- For international applicants, evidence of financial support such as a bank statement, sponsor letter or scholarship offer.
Tips for applying to UMT
- 1 International applicants must post a paper application with a USD 25 bank draft; cash and cheques are not accepted and forms without the fee are not processed.
- 2 Your passport must be valid for at least one more year when you apply, and documents not in English or Malay need certified translations.
- 3 Contact the relevant faculty dean's office for programme-specific requirements, which the international guidelines do not list.
- 4 If your school grades fall short of direct degree entry, UMT's International STEM Foundation is a route into its science and technology degrees.
- 5 Check the language of instruction for your programme: the prospectus is written in Malay and several degrees are designed for Malaysian applicants.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in MYR
As a public university, UMT charges government-subsidised fees. Its fee list does not include tuition waivers; Malaysian students typically fund study through national schemes, and international applicants must show financial support (bank statement, sponsor guarantee or scholarship letter) when they apply.
- Double room RM665 (USD 300 international); triple RM532 (USD 240); quad RM399 (USD 180)
- Residential college rent (per semester)
- RM830 (Malaysian) / USD 190 (international)
- One-time registration fee
- USD 4,000 (RM10,000 for Malaysians) as listed on the 2026 fee schedule
- International STEM Foundation
Academics
Academic calendar: Two regular semesters starting in late September/October, plus an optional short semester in July-September
Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) with Honours
Taught in the Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, with access to UMT's island and wetland research stations.
Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture with Honours
Linked to AKUATROP, UMT's Higher Institution Centre of Excellence for tropical aquaculture and fisheries.
Bachelor of Science (Nautical Science and Maritime Transport) with Honours
One of UMT's specialist maritime degrees, offered by the Faculty of Maritime Studies.
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Technology (Naval Architecture) with Honours
Ship design and marine engineering in the Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology.
Bachelor of Science (Marine Geosciences) with Honours
Earth and ocean science degree tied to the Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS).
Bachelor of Technology (Renewable Energy) with Honours
Supported by UMT's Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy (CEFORE).
Research
- Three Higher Institution Centres of Excellence (HICoE): the Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS), the Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP) and the Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology (ICAMB).
- Field stations include the Bidong Island marine research station, the Chagar Hutang turtle research station on Redang Island, the Setiu Wetlands station and the Kenyir Lake research centre.
- UMT reports ranking first in Malaysia for Marine and Freshwater Biology in US News Best Global Universities 2025/2026.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Fisheries Sciences and Aquaculture
- Faculty of Food Sciences and Agrotechnology
- Faculty of Science and Marine Environment
- Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics
- Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology
- Faculty of Maritime Studies
- Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development
- Centre for STEM Foundation
UMT reports a 94.8% graduate employment rate and a 93.9% graduate marketability rate among its Malaysian graduates in 2025 (94.0% and 93.2% in 2024).
Student life
UMT's campus runs along the northern Terengganu coastline, facing a stretch of islands, in a growing education hub in Kuala Nerus. The university's residential colleges have their own elected student committees and activities. The Tengku Muhammad Ismail sports complex has a stadium, swimming pool, indoor sports hall, archery range, lawn bowls and a squash high-performance centre, and the campus has a health centre offering outpatient, dental and physiotherapy services. The Sultan Mahmud Islamic Centre is one of the campus landmarks.
- Coastal campus facing the islands off Terengganu.
- Kompleks Sukan Tengku Muhammad Ismail with a stadium, pool, archery range and squash high-performance centre.
- Residential colleges with elected student committees (JPKK) and an off-campus residents' committee.
- Health centre with outpatient, dental, pharmacy and physiotherapy services.
Housing. Residential college rooms cost RM399-665 per semester for Malaysians (USD 180-300 for international students), depending on whether the room is a quad, triple or double.
Location
Kuala Nerus is a fast-growing district just north of Kuala Terengganu, the capital of Terengganu on Malaysia's east coast. It is a much smaller, quieter place than the Kuala Lumpur area, and the campus sits right on the coast. Sultan Mahmud Airport, also in Kuala Nerus, serves Kuala Terengganu, about 8 km away.
Nearest airport: Sultan Mahmud Airport, Kuala Terengganu (TGG)
Frequently asked questions
How much are UMT's tuition fees?
For bachelor's degrees UMT charges RM920-1,820 per semester for Malaysians and USD 910-1,210 per semester for international students, with two regular semesters a year. There is also a one-time registration fee (RM830 or USD 190) and residential college rent.
What IELTS score does UMT require?
International undergraduates need at least IELTS 5.0, or MUET Band 3.5, TOEFL iBT 40 or PTE Academic 47, plus any programme-specific requirement.
How do international students apply to UMT?
Download the undergraduate application form, then post it with certified transcripts, English results, financial support documents, passport copies, photos and a USD 25 bank draft to UMT's Centre for Academic Development and Management.
What is UMT known for?
Marine science, fisheries, aquaculture and maritime studies. It has three Higher Institution Centres of Excellence in oceanography, tropical aquaculture and marine biotechnology, and field stations on Bidong and Redang islands.
What is UMT's QS ranking?
UMT is in the 701-710 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 801-850 in 2026. It is in the 1001-1200 band of the THE World University Rankings 2026.
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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