Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
PETRONAS's own engineering university, on a Foster + Partners campus in Perak with three intakes a year.
- Tuition
- MYR 33,000
- From · 2026-27 (fees effective May 2026)
- Founded
- 1997
- QS World Ranking
- #261
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Suburban
- 400 hectares (about 1,000 acres)
About UTP
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) was established on 10 January 1997 and is wholly owned by PETRONAS, Malaysia's national oil and gas company. It sits on a large campus in the new township of Seri Iskandar in Perak, where the academic complex, designed by Foster + Partners and laid out as five linked semicircles under sweeping canopy roofs, won an Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2007.
UTP is a focused engineering and technology university rather than a comprehensive one. It has about 6,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students plus around 1,000 foundation students, taught in a Faculty of Engineering and a Faculty of Science, Management and Computing, with a Centre for Foundation Studies feeding many undergraduates. Its best-known strength is petroleum engineering, ranked 16th in the world in the QS subject rankings 2025, alongside chemical, electrical and electronic, mechanical, civil and computer engineering, geoscience, computer science, IT and business.
The PETRONAS connection shapes research in energy security and carbon dioxide management, and gives a strong industry flavour to teaching. Admission is by minimum entry requirements in mathematics and science plus competition for places, with three intakes each year. UTP suits students who want a residential, campus-based engineering education away from Kuala Lumpur, and who are drawn to energy, process and technology careers.
Energising Futures
University motto
Why students choose UTP
Petroleum Engineering is ranked 16th in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, according to UTP.
Three intakes a year (January, May and September), with application deadlines of 31 October 2026, 28 February 2027 and 30 June 2027 for the 2027 intakes.
Clear minimum entry requirements: for engineering, grade C or 60% in A-level Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, or IB with 24 points and at least 4 in each.
A Foster + Partners-designed residential campus that won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2007.
Admissions
2027 intakes (January, May and September 2027)
Selectivity
UTP does not publish an acceptance rate. It states that meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee a place: admission is competitive and considers academic merit, places available in each programme and any additional assessments.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels (engineering) | Minimum grade C or 60% in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma (engineering) | Pass with at least 24 points, including at least 4 in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry |
| A-levels (Computer Science) | Minimum grade C or 60% in Mathematics and two science, technology or engineering subjects |
| A-levels (Business Management) | Minimum grade B or 65% in Mathematics or a business/science subject and two other non-language subjects, plus grade B in SPM (or equivalent) Mathematics |
| Australian Year 12 (e.g. HSC, VCE, WACE) | Minimum grade C or 60% in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry (engineering) |
| English language | IELTS 5 · TOEFL iBT 40 IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 40 for engineering, sciences, technology and computer science; IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 46 for Business Management. An official English-medium-of-instruction letter from your previous institution is also accepted. |
Deadlines
- January 2027 intake Non-binding Next deadline · In 25 days31 October 2026
Applications opened 25 August 2026.
- May 2027 intake Non-binding In ~5 months28 February 2027
Applications open 23 December 2026.
- September 2027 intake Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027
Applications open 23 April 2027.
Dates are from UTP's international undergraduate How to Apply page for the 2027 intakes. Applications are open throughout the year, and a place in the next intake depends on availability.
How to apply
Apply online directly to UTP. International applicants upload a passport scan, photo, certified academic certificates (with English translations), an IELTS or TOEFL certificate and proof of a USD 50 non-refundable processing fee. Applications are processed only when complete, and places in each intake are subject to availability.
What admissions looks for
- Meeting the subject minimums for your programme, especially mathematics, physics and chemistry for engineering.
- Academic merit relative to other applicants, since places in each programme are limited.
- Adequate English: IELTS 5.0 (5.5 for Business Management), TOEFL iBT 40 (46), or an English-medium-of-instruction letter.
- A complete, properly certified application, since incomplete files are not processed.
Tips for applying to UTP
- 1 Get certificates certified by your school principal, registrar or a government official before uploading; UTP only processes applications with certified documents.
- 2 Apply well before the deadline for the intake you want: places in each intake are allocated subject to availability.
- 3 If your A-level or IB subject grades are borderline for engineering, consider entering via UTP's one-year foundation programme.
- 4 Budget for a one-time registration fee of RM11,000 and annual immigration (EMGS) fees on top of tuition as an international student.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 (fees effective May 2026) · figures in MYR
UTP helps students apply for sponsorships and loans from government agencies, state foundations, companies and the university. University-run aid includes the Yayasan UTP (YUTP) fund and a zakat fund for Malaysian Muslim students, open every semester; most published schemes are for Malaysians, and the international scholarships listed are for postgraduates.
- RM11,000 (Malaysians: RM1,300)
- International registration fee (one-time)
- RM280 to RM1,000 per month, depending on room type
- Hostel fee
- Estimated RM3,500 per year
- Immigration (EMGS) fee for international students
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters, with January, May and September intakes
Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering with Honours
UTP's flagship, covering exploration, reservoir, production and drilling engineering; 16th in the world for the subject (QS 2025).
Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with Honours
Ranked in the 101-150 band for chemical engineering in the QS subject rankings 2025.
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Geoscience
Linked to UTP's top-100 standing in mineral and mining engineering and its oil and gas focus.
Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering with Honours
Ranked in the 151-200 band for electrical and electronic engineering (QS subject rankings 2025).
Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons)
A 3 year 4 month degree with a lower international total fee (RM123,700) than engineering.
Research
- Research is organised with PETRONAS around energy security, sustainable living and regenerative futures.
- The R&D building houses 65 laboratories, with mission-oriented research on carbon dioxide management and enhanced oil recovery.
- The Foster + Partners academic complex, completed in its first phase in 2004, won the 2007 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Science, Management and Computing
- Centre for Foundation Studies
- Centre for Graduate Studies
Student life
UTP is a residential campus university in a small town, so most student life happens on site. Students live in hostel villages on campus, with rents from RM280 to RM1,000 a month depending on room type. The academic buildings sit under the large canopy roofs of the Foster + Partners design, laid out in a star-shaped plan. There is a dedicated sports complex, an on-campus clinic, a lake and the An-Nur Mosque, known as the floating mosque, completed in 2005.
- The canopy-roofed Foster + Partners academic complex, laid out as five linked semicircles.
- A dedicated sports and recreation complex open to all students.
- The An-Nur Mosque, completed in 2005 beside the campus lake.
- A network of more than 25,000 alumni worldwide.
Housing. Students live in on-campus hostel villages, with fees from RM280 to RM1,000 a month depending on room type and availability.
Location
Seri Iskandar is a planned township in Perak, in the north-west of Peninsular Malaysia, built around the university. It is quiet and green, and living costs are low compared with Kuala Lumpur. The state capital, Ipoh, is the nearest large city, and Kuala Lumpur is a few hours away by road.
Nearest airport: Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, Ipoh (IPH)
Notable alumni
- YB Yeo Bee YinMalaysian Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (2018-2020); first-class chemical engineering graduate
- WA Wan Ahmad FayhsalFormer Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports; chemical engineering graduate
- JM Jessica Minh AnhModel and catwalk producer; information technology graduate
Frequently asked questions
How much does UTP cost for international students?
Tuition is charged as a whole-degree total: RM165,000 (about RM41,250 a year, plus 6% SST) for a four-year engineering degree such as Petroleum or Chemical Engineering, and RM123,700 (about RM37,110 a year) for the 3 year 4 month Computer Science degree. Add a one-time RM11,000 registration fee, around RM3,500 a year in EMGS fees and hostel costs.
When are UTP's intakes and deadlines for 2027?
January 2027 (deadline 31 October 2026), May 2027 (28 February 2027) and September 2027 (30 June 2027).
What IELTS score does UTP require?
IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 40 for engineering, science and computing, and IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 46 for Business Management; an English-medium-of-instruction letter is also accepted.
What A-level grades do I need for UTP engineering?
At least grade C or 60% in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. With the IB you need 24 points and at least 4 in each of those subjects.
Is UTP good for petroleum engineering?
UTP reports that its Petroleum Engineering was ranked 16th in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, and the university is owned by PETRONAS.
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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