Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris
Malaysia's education university, grown from the 1922 Sultan Idris Training College in Tanjong Malim.
- Tuition
- MYR 11,000
- From · 2026
- Founded
- 1922
- QS World Ranking
- 851-900
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Rural
About UPSI
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris traces its history to the Sultan Idris Training College (SITC), opened in Tanjong Malim on 29 November 1922 to train Malay teachers, with 120 men in its first intake. Under its first principal, O. T. Dussek, and with the Malay Translation Bureau led by the linguist Za'ba based there from 1924, the college became a centre of Malay language, literature and nationalist thought. It later became Maktab Perguruan Sultan Idris and Institut Perguruan Sultan Idris, and gained university status on 1 May 1997.
UPSI now describes itself as Malaysia's leading education university, with 10 faculties spread across the original Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah Campus in Tanjong Malim and the Sultan Azlan Shah Campus at Proton City, about 8 km away. Teacher-education degrees (Bachelor of Education in subjects from mathematics and chemistry to TESL, special education and music) sit alongside non-education degrees in psychology, accountancy, communication, sports science, computing and digital design.
Graduates are traditionally called Anak Kandung Suluh Budiman, and the university keeps a strong national-service ethos. It suits students who want to become teachers or work in education, sport and the creative industries, at a public-university price, in a quiet town about an hour from Kuala Lumpur. Many programmes are taught in Malay, so international applicants should check the language of their chosen course.
Pioneer of Educational Excellence
University motto
Why students choose UPSI
UPSI offers international students 28 bachelor's programmes (17 in education and 11 outside it) as well as diplomas.
International bachelor's tuition in 2026 is RM44,000 for the whole degree, which works out at about RM11,000-14,700 a year depending on programme length.
Malaysian students on subsidised places pay from about RM1,900 a year, with the government covering most of the cost.
Tanjong Malim is a quiet, green town with direct train services, about an hour from Kuala Lumpur and its international airport.
Admissions
2027 intakes (February and September 2027)
Selectivity
UPSI does not publish an acceptance rate. International applications are checked by the academic division, evaluated by the faculty against programme-specific requirements, and may include an interview before a full offer is issued.
Typical entry requirements
| International applicants (bachelor's) | A-Level or equivalent pre-university qualification recognised by the Malaysian government and approved by the UPSI Senate, or a relevant diploma, plus the programme's specific requirements |
|---|---|
| Diploma entry (international) | High school certificate or O-Level with Grade C in five subjects, and IELTS 4.0 / TOEFL iBT 30 |
| English language | IELTS 5 · TOEFL iBT 40 General bachelor's requirement for international students: IELTS 5.0, TOEFL iBT 40, Linguaskill 154 or APTIS General B1. Business and economics education programmes need IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 46; the Bachelor of Education (TESL) needs IELTS 6.0, TOEFL PBT 550 or MUET Band 4. Applicants who do not meet the English requirement may receive a conditional offer. |
Deadlines
- February 2027 intake (international bachelor's) Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 days1 November 2026
From UPSI's undergraduate admissions guide for international students 2026 (uploaded August 2026, the newest official document): February intake, deadline 1 November of the current year. Applications are accepted all year for the next available intake.
- September 2027 intake (international bachelor's) Non-binding In ~8 months1 June 2027
Same 2026 guide: September intake, deadline 1 June of the current year.
Dates follow UPSI's undergraduate admissions guide for international students 2026 (Buku-Antarabangsa-2026.pdf, uploaded August 2026), the newest official document: bachelor's intakes in February and September with deadlines of 1 November and 1 June, and diploma intakes in June and November closing on 1 March and 1 August. An older entry-requirements PDF (uploaded November 2025) lists March and October bachelor's intakes with 30 November and 30 June deadlines; the 2026 guide supersedes it, but confirm with kemasukan.bhea@upsi.edu.my.
How to apply
Apply online through the ebitara.upsi.edu.my portal and pay the RM120 processing fee. The academic division checks your transcript, English result and passport, the faculty evaluates the application (and may interview you), and you then receive a conditional or full offer letter. After accepting, apply for the eVAL student visa, pay tuition, and arrive within the permitted window to register and complete your student pass.
What admissions looks for
- A recognised pre-university qualification meeting the programme's minimum requirements.
- The required English level (IELTS 5.0 for most bachelor's programmes, higher for TESL and business education).
- Programme-specific requirements, such as subject grades, and success in an interview where the faculty requires one.
- A complete application: incomplete applications must be resubmitted.
Tips for applying to UPSI
- 1 Check the language of instruction for your programme: UPSI's aims emphasise knowledge through the Malay language, and many education degrees are taught in Malay.
- 2 Budget beyond tuition: international fees exclude accommodation (RM1,950 listed), a refundable RM2,000 bond, convocation fees and 6% service tax.
- 3 Apply well before the deadline, since visa (eVAL) approval must come through before you travel.
- 4 If you want to teach English, the Bachelor of Education (TESL) requires IELTS 6.0, higher than other programmes.
Costs & financial aid
2026 · figures in MYR
Malaysian students on public places pay heavily subsidised fees (for an education degree the government subsidy is about RM36,000 of a RM43,900 cost) and can apply for loans and scholarships listed by the university. UPSI does not advertise university scholarships for international undergraduates on its admissions pages.
- RM120
- Application processing fee (international)
- RM2,000
- International student bond (refundable)
- RM1,950 (billed separately from tuition)
- Accommodation fee listed for international students (2026)
- RM36,440 of a RM43,912 programme cost
- Government subsidy for a Malaysian Bachelor of Education (e.g. Malay Language)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters a year
Bachelor of Education (Teaching of English as a Second Language)
UPSI's flagship teacher-training tradition, with the highest English entry bar (IELTS 6.0).
Bachelor of Education (Mathematics / Science)
Eight-semester teacher-education degrees in the Faculty of Science and Mathematics.
Bachelor of Education (Special Education)
Offered by the Faculty of Human Development, reflecting UPSI's national role in training teachers.
Bachelor of Sport Science (Coaching Science / Sports Rehabilitation)
Three-year degrees in the Faculty of Sports Science and Coaching.
Bachelor of Design (Digital Games / Animation)
Creative-technology degrees open to international students at the standard RM44,000 total fee.
Bachelor of Arts (Theatre / Dance)
Performing-arts degrees in the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts.
Research
- The Malay Translation Bureau, headed by Za'ba, was based at the college from 1924 and published educational materials and novels.
- Za'ba's influential Malay grammar series Pelita Bahasa was published at the Sultan Idris Training College in 1936.
- The university runs a Graduate Studies Institute offering master's and doctoral programmes.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Languages and Communication
- Faculty of Human Sciences
- Faculty of Human Development
- Faculty of Science and Mathematics
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty of Sports Science and Coaching
- Faculty of Music and Performing Arts
- Faculty of Arts, Sustainability and Creative Industry
Student life
UPSI runs residential colleges on campus, such as Aminuddin Baki College and Awang Had Salleh College, about 15 minutes from Tanjong Malim town centre, close to cafés, shops and recreation spots. Students share a strong identity as Anak Kandung Suluh Budiman, the name used for the institution's graduates since the SITC era. The town is surrounded by hills and greenery, and the university marked its centenary in 2022 with the Sultan of Perak officiating.
- Graduates are known as Anak Kandung Suluh Budiman, a century-old tradition.
- On-campus residential colleges including Aminuddin Baki College and Awang Had Salleh College.
- Two campuses: Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah in Tanjong Malim and Sultan Azlan Shah at Proton City.
- Centenary celebrations in 2022 marked 100 years since the Sultan Idris Training College opened.
Housing. UPSI operates residential colleges on campus; international students pay an accommodation fee (RM1,950 listed for 2026) separately from tuition.
Location
Tanjong Malim is a small town in southern Perak, about an hour from Kuala Lumpur, surrounded by rivers, hills and greenery. It is growing as an automotive hub around the Proton plant near UPSI's second campus, and has direct train services and major highways to the capital, plus local markets, cafés and food stalls.
Nearest airport: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Notable alumni
- IY Ibrahim YaacobFounder of the Malay nationalist movement Kesatuan Melayu Muda; trained as a teacher at SITC (graduated 1931)
- PM Pengiran Muhammad YusufFormer Menteri Besar of Brunei and writer of Brunei's national anthem; trained at SITC in 1940
- SM Suratman MarkasanSingaporean poet and novelist; teaching certificate from SITC
- AA Adam AdliMalaysian politician, Deputy Minister of Higher Education since December 2025; studied at UPSI
Frequently asked questions
How much are UPSI's fees for international students?
In 2026 every international bachelor's programme costs RM44,000 in total, about RM11,000-14,700 a year depending on length, plus accommodation, a refundable RM2,000 bond, a convocation fee and 6% service tax.
What IELTS score does UPSI require?
Most bachelor's programmes need IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 40; business and economics education programmes need 5.5, and TESL needs 6.0.
When are UPSI's intakes for international students?
UPSI's 2026 guide lists February and September bachelor's intakes, with application deadlines of 1 November and 1 June.
Is UPSI only for future teachers?
No. Education degrees are its core, but it also offers non-education degrees in areas such as psychology, accountancy, communication, sport science, software engineering and digital design.
Where is UPSI?
In Tanjong Malim, Perak, about an hour from Kuala Lumpur, with a second campus at Proton City about 8 km away.
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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