Universiti Putra Malaysia
Malaysia's agricultural university turned all-rounder, with roots in a 1931 school of agriculture at Serdang.
- Students
- 29,445
- 19,718 undergraduates
- Tuition
- MYR 16,000
- From · 2025-26
- Founded
- 1971
- QS World Ranking
- #138
- 2027 edition
About UPM
Universiti Putra Malaysia traces its history to a School of Agriculture founded at Serdang in 1931, which became the College of Agriculture Malaya in 1947 and then Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Agricultural University of Malaysia) in 1971. It took its current name in 1997 as its teaching broadened into medicine, engineering, computer science, architecture, languages and more.
UPM now has 15 faculties, 11 institutes and 2 schools, including the Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Faculty of Forestry and Environment and the School of Business and Economics, plus a branch campus in Bintulu, Sarawak. Its 2026 Facts and Figures report 19,718 undergraduate-level and 9,727 postgraduate students from more than 80 countries, 1,711 academic staff and 81 bachelor's programmes. UPM became a Malaysian research university in 2006.
Agriculture, food and life sciences remain its signature strengths, and its business school holds AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accreditation. International students apply directly to UPM for October intake, with most bachelor's degrees on the main campus costing RM 16,000 to 28,000 a year in tuition. UPM suits students who want an applied, science-led university on a large green campus next to Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Berilmu Berbakti
“With Knowledge We Serve” — university motto
Why students choose UPM
Agriculture and life sciences depth: UPM reports 55th in the world for Agricultural Sciences in U.S. News Best Global Universities 2026-2027.
The School of Business and Economics is AACSB-, EQUIS- and AMBA-accredited, the first in Malaysia to earn AACSB.
Engineering degrees such as Aerospace, Civil, Chemical and Mechanical Engineering are accredited under the International Engineering Alliance framework.
International tuition for most bachelor's programmes on the main campus is RM 8,000 to 14,000 per semester, with Veterinary Medicine and Medicine higher.
Admissions
October 2026 and 2027 intakes (fees from the October 2025 registration guidelines)
Selectivity
UPM does not publish an acceptance rate. International applicants are assessed on their qualifications against programme requirements, and programmes marked # require an interview before approval.
Typical entry requirements
| Pre-university qualifications (A-levels, IB Diploma and national equivalents) | Qualifications at Level 6 of the Malaysian Qualifications Framework list, such as Cambridge GCE A Level or the IB Diploma, plus programme-specific requirements |
|---|---|
| O-level and similar secondary certificates | Accepted for UPM's Foundation Studies for Agricultural Science rather than direct bachelor's entry |
| English language | You can apply without an English certificate; successful applicants without one receive a provisional offer and take UPM's Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP) before starting their degree. |
Deadlines
UPM's bachelor's intake for international students is in October (Semester 1). The application deadline page did not publish dates in a readable form, so check akademik.upm.edu.my before applying.
How to apply
Apply online through UPM's international candidate portal (SIMS/SMP) with a non-refundable USD 100 application fee. Additional documents are required for applicants from some countries, such as Nigeria and China. Successful applicants receive a full or provisional offer letter and then apply for a visa approval letter (e-VAL) through UPM.
What admissions looks for
- A pre-university qualification recognised at bachelor's-entry level (MQF Level 6).
- The subject background your programme requires, as set out in UPM's specific programme requirements.
- Success at interview for programmes marked #, including Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Nursing.
Tips for applying to UPM
- 1 Don't wait for an English test result: UPM accepts applications without one and can place you on its intensive English programme.
- 2 Budget beyond tuition: the RM 800 registration fee, the RM 400 medical check-up, RM 500 to 800 insurance and the RM 1,400 to 2,000 visa approval letter are charged separately.
- 3 Pay attention to the # symbol on the programme list: it means an interview is part of selection.
- 4 If you hold O-levels only, look at UPM's Foundation Studies for Agricultural Science as a route into a degree.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 · figures in MYR
UPM's international fee guidelines list tuition and other charges but no automatic scholarships for international undergraduates. Tuition excludes housing, the medical check-up, insurance and visa processing.
- RM 800
- Registration fee (first semester, bachelor's)
- RM 400
- Medical check-up
- RM 1,400 to 2,000
- Visa approval letter (e-VAL)
- RM 500 to 800
- Insurance
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (October intake for international bachelor's students)
Bachelor of Agricultural Science
UPM's founding discipline, taught by a faculty that dates back to the 1931 School of Agriculture; RM 24,000 a year for international students.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
A five-year, interview-based programme from one of UPM's best-known faculties.
Bachelor of Food Science and Technology
Accredited by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering
Accredited under the International Engineering Alliance framework.
Bachelor of Accounting
One of four AACSB-accredited undergraduate programmes in the School of Business and Economics.
Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Chemistry
Accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Research
- 11 research institutes, including the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, the Halal Products Research Institute and the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.
- More than 2,166 intellectual property filings and 292 commercialised IPs with gross sales above RM 82.78 million (UPM Facts and Figures 2026).
- About RM 23.8 million in research grants for 443 projects financed by public agencies (as of December 2025).
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Forestry and Environment
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Food Science and Technology
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences
- Faculty of Design and Architecture
- Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication
- School of Business and Economics
Student life
UPM's Serdang campus is large and green, with lakes and farms alongside faculty buildings, and students live in residential colleges such as Kolej Empat Belas. The eDU-PARK visitor attractions on campus include a Human Anatomy Museum, an Integrated Farm, an Equine Centre, a Deer Farm and a Malay Heritage Museum. UPM hosted 3,486 inbound exchange students and sent 1,846 abroad, and it has a strong sporting record: its alumni include para-badminton player Cheah Liek Hou and diver Cheong Jun Hoong.
- eDU-PARK: 10 on-campus attractions from a Human Anatomy Museum to a Deer Farm and Equine Centre.
- 3,486 inbound and 1,846 outbound exchange students (Facts and Figures 2026).
- Students from more than 80 countries.
- A branch campus in Bintulu, Sarawak.
Housing. Students live in on-campus residential colleges; housing is charged separately from tuition.
Location
UPM's main campus is in Serdang, Selangor, between Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya in the fast-growing Klang Valley. Students can reach central Kuala Lumpur by road or rail, while the campus itself has a quieter, green feel with lakes and farmland. A second campus is in Bintulu, Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, home to UPM's two Sarawak faculties.
Nearest airport: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Notable alumni
- AZ Ahmad Zahid HamidiDeputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; PhD in communication (2008)
- AS Amirudin ShariMenteri Besar of Selangor; bachelor's in social science
- IP Irwan PrayitnoFormer Governor of West Sumatra, Indonesia; doctoral studies at UPM
- RA Refaat AlareerPalestinian writer and professor of literature; PhD (2017)
- CL Cheah Liek HouPara-badminton player; corporate communications graduate
- MM Moi Meng LingVirologist and professor at the University of Tokyo
- MA Mahaletchumy ArujananBiotechnologist and Global Coordinator of ISAAA
Frequently asked questions
How much does UPM cost for international students?
Under the October 2025 registration guidelines, most bachelor's degrees on the main campus cost RM 16,000 to RM 28,000 a year in tuition, with Veterinary Medicine at RM 69,000 and Medicine at RM 104,000 a year. The registration fee (RM 800), medical check-up, insurance and visa costs are extra.
Do I need IELTS to apply to UPM?
No. You can apply without an English certificate; if accepted you receive a provisional offer and complete UPM's Certified Intensive English Programme before your degree.
Does UPM interview applicants?
Yes, for programmes marked # on the fee and programme list, such as Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and several science degrees.
When does UPM admit international undergraduates?
International bachelor's students start in October (Semester 1). Check UPM's admission division website for the current application deadline.
What is UPM's QS ranking?
UPM is 138th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and reports 22nd place in the QS Asia 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.
- UPM: Facts and Figures 2026 (July update, PDF)
- UPM Division of Admission: International student admission
- UPM Division of Admission: How to apply (international bachelor's)
- UPM: Programmes offered and tuition fees, October intake (Registration Guidelines 2025, PDF)
- UPM: List of entry qualifications for international students, December 2025 (PDF)
- UPM: How to apply (admission channels)
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