Universiti Malaya
Malaysia's oldest and top-ranked university, on a 922-acre Kuala Lumpur campus, 56th in QS 2027 (its best ever).
- Students
- 39,885
- International
- 32%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 9.7:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- MYR 16,971
- From · 2025-26 (international fee schedule published December 2025)
- Founded
- 1905
About UM
Universiti Malaya traces its roots to the King Edward VII College of Medicine, founded in Singapore on 28 September 1905. It became the University of Malaya in 1949 through a merger with Raffles College, and was established in Kuala Lumpur in 1962. Today it is Malaysia's oldest and highest-ranked university, on a 922-acre (373 ha) campus in the south-west of Kuala Lumpur, next to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
Teaching is organised in three streams (Science and Health, Science and Technology, and Social Sciences) across faculties including Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Engineering, Science, Computer Science and Information Technology, Built Environment, Business and Economics, Law, Arts and Social Sciences, Languages and Linguistics, Education, Creative Arts, and Sports and Exercise Science, plus the Academies of Malay Studies and Islamic Studies.
UM suits students who want a research-intensive university with deep national roots: five of Malaysia's prime ministers studied here. For international students it offers well-regarded degrees at a fraction of Western prices. Malaysians apply mainly through the government's UPU system, with UM's own SATU channel as an alternative. UM is also a regional draw: its international booklet lists alumni in government and academia across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Ilmu Puncha Kemajuan
“Knowledge is the Source of Progress” — university motto
Why students choose UM
Ranked 56th in the world by QS 2027 and 56th globally for Academic Reputation, the best standing of any Malaysian university.
International tuition for a full bachelor's starts around MYR 59,400 for the whole programme (humanities) and MYR 132,100 for engineering.
Residential colleges (Kolej Kediaman) on campus cost from about MYR 450 a month at international rates, in a green campus close to central Kuala Lumpur.
Faculty of Medicine students train next to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, and UM's medical roots go back to 1905.
Admissions
Academic Session 2027/2028 (Semester I, October 2027 intake)
Selectivity
No overall admit rate is published. Malaysians are selected through UPU, the Ministry of Higher Education's central, merit-based system, or through UM's own SATU Open Channel. International applicants apply directly to UM and are assessed programme by programme; Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Architecture and Education also use interviews and/or entrance tests.
Typical entry requirements
| Malaysian applicants (UPU) | STPM, Matriculation, Foundation, STAM, Diploma, A-Level, IB, AUSMAT or equivalent, via UPUOnline (merit-based) |
|---|---|
| Malaysian applicants (SATU Open Channel) | Direct application to UM with various academic backgrounds; MYR 300 application fee |
| International applicants | Pre-university qualification such as A-Level, IB or equivalent with final results, plus programme-specific requirements; MYR 500 application fee |
| English language | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, MUET or Cambridge English results are accepted and must be valid (2 years, Cambridge indefinitely). Minimum scores vary by programme. IELTS Indicator, TOEFL Home Edition and TOEFL ITP are not accepted; IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted. |
Deadlines
- International undergraduates, Semester II (March 2027 intake) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 months30 January 2027
Window opened 7 September 2026
- International undergraduates, Semester I (October intake) Non-binding30 August (2026 cycle)
For October 2026 the window ran 9 February to 30 August 2026; Medicine closed 9 June 2026. October 2027 dates not yet published.
- Malaysian undergraduates, SATU Open Channel (October intake) Non-binding30 September (2026 cycle)
2026 window 16 March to 30 September 2026; Medicine 21 Aug, Dentistry 16 Aug, Law/Pharmacy/Architecture 14 Sept 2026
UM had published only the AY2026/2027 windows at the time of checking; the October 2027 windows are likely to follow a similar pattern (opening around February 2027) but are not yet confirmed. UPU deadlines are set by Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education.
How to apply
International applicants apply online at apply.um.edu.my (MAYA portal) and pay the MYR 500 fee. After an offer, they accept in MAYA and complete the EMGS visa approval (eVAL) process, with a service fee of about MYR 5,391 covering insurance, student pass and medical check. Malaysians apply via UPUOnline or UM's SATU Open Channel.
What admissions looks for
- Final, verified pre-university results; predicted or provisional grades are not accepted.
- Programme-specific subject requirements and minimum English scores.
- For Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Architecture and Education, performance in interviews and/or entrance tests.
- For Malaysians through UPU, a competitive merit score in the central selection.
Tips for applying to UM
- 1 Apply only once you have final results: UM rejects predicted, provisional and AS-level grades.
- 2 Use a full IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE, MUET or Cambridge test; home editions and indicator tests are not accepted.
- 3 Budget for the one-time eVAL service fee (about MYR 5,391) and admission fee on top of tuition.
- 4 Malaysians should apply through both UPU and SATU if eligible; full SATU offers come only after UPU appeal results.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 (international fee schedule published December 2025) · figures in MYR
UM lists scholarships and financial aid for undergraduates through its student affairs division. Malaysian citizens study at government-subsidised rates, though UM's international booklet does not list local fees. No application-fee waivers are available.
- MYR 500 / MYR 300
- Application fee (international / Malaysian SATU)
- From MYR 450 per month (about MYR 15 per day)
- Residential college rate (international)
- MYR 800 to 2,200 per month
- Off-campus rent nearby
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (Semester I from October, Semester II from March)
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
UM's founding discipline since 1905, recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council and taught alongside the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
Bachelor of Computer Science (AI, Software Engineering and other tracks)
Five specialisations over 3.5 years at a total international fee of MYR 89,200.
Engineering (Civil, Biomedical, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical)
Four-year degrees in the Faculty of Engineering at MYR 132,100 in total for international students.
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK).
Bachelor of English Language and Linguistics
AUN-QA assessed, within one of Malaysia's broadest language faculties.
Research
- 56th in the world for Academic Reputation and 125th for International Research Network in QS 2027.
- Host of a UNESCO Chair on Manuscript Heritage of the Silk Road (2026).
- Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, a teaching hospital on campus.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology
- Faculty of Built Environment
- Faculty of Business and Economics
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Languages and Linguistics
- Academy of Malay Studies
UM is ranked 1st in Malaysia for Employment Outcomes and 184th globally on that QS 2027 indicator.
Student life
UM is a residential campus built around its Kolej Kediaman (residential colleges), each with its own community and activities. The large, hilly, green campus has its own museum of Asian art, sports facilities including an archery field, and a feeder bus link to the MRT. Student clubs, cultural showcases and leadership programmes are central to campus life. Kuala Lumpur's malls, food scene and landmarks such as KL Sentral, Mid Valley and the Petronas Towers are a short ride away.
- Residential colleges (Kolej Kediaman) as the base of campus life
- Museum of Asian Art on campus
- Universiti Malaya Medical Centre next to campus
- MRT feeder buses linking campus to Kuala Lumpur's rail network
Housing. Residential college rooms cost from about MYR 450 a month (MYR 15 a day) at international rates, subject to availability; off-campus rooms nearby average MYR 800 to 2,200 a month.
Location
UM sits between Petaling Jaya and the Bangsar/Pantai area of south-west Kuala Lumpur. KL is a multicultural, English-friendly Southeast Asian capital with cheap, excellent food, good rail links and a hot, humid climate with frequent rain. Living costs are low by global standards, and the city is a regional hub for budget travel.
Nearest airport: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Notable alumni
- MM Mahathir Mohamad4th and 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia (studied medicine, 1953)
- AI Anwar Ibrahim10th Prime Minister of Malaysia
- AA Abdullah Ahmad Badawi5th Prime Minister of Malaysia
- MY Muhyiddin Yassin8th Prime Minister of Malaysia
- IS Ismail Sabri Yaakob9th Prime Minister of Malaysia
- ZA Zeti Akhtar Aziz7th Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia
- ZH Zurinah HassanPoet, first female Malaysian National Laureate (Sasterawan Negara); PhD from UM
Frequently asked questions
What is Universiti Malaya's QS ranking in 2027?
UM is 56th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, its highest ever, up from 58th, and the top university in Malaysia.
How much does Universiti Malaya cost for international students?
Total programme fees for international bachelor's students range from about MYR 59,400 (some humanities) to MYR 132,100 for engineering, and MYR 673,200 for Medicine, for the whole degree.
How do Malaysian students apply to UM?
Mainly through UPU, the Ministry of Higher Education's central system for SPM/STPM, Matriculation, Foundation, A-Level, IB and similar holders. UM's own SATU Open Channel is an alternative.
When can international students apply to Universiti Malaya?
For the March 2027 intake, applications run from 7 September 2026 to 30 January 2027. For October intakes the 2026 window ran from February to 30 August (9 June for Medicine).
Does UM accept predicted A-level or IB grades?
No. UM does not accept AS-level, predicted, provisional, mock, trial or expected results, so apply once final results are available.
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.
- Universiti Malaya - QS WUR 2027 press release (18 June 2026)
- Universiti Malaya - History
- Universiti Malaya - How to Apply (application periods)
- Universiti Malaya - FAQs and Info (UPU, SATU, fees, English)
- Universiti Malaya - International Student arrival guide
- Universiti Malaya - International Booklet (programmes and tuition fees, Dec 2025, PDF)
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