Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
拉曼大学
A not-for-profit Malaysian private university with a lakeside 1,300-acre campus in Kampar and published fees for every degree.
- Students
- 20,000
- International
- 13%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 12.9:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- MYR 22,414
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 2002
About UTAR
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman was launched on 13 August 2002 as a not-for-profit private university under the UTAR Education Foundation, set up at the invitation of the Malaysian government by a committee led by the Malaysian Chinese Association. From a first intake of 411 students in Petaling Jaya, it has grown to about 20,000 students and more than 90,000 graduates, and it describes its mission as providing affordable quality education.
UTAR has two campuses. The main campus at Kampar, Perak, is built on 1,300 acres of land donated by the state government, about 190 km (just over two hours by car) north of Kuala Lumpur, among lakes and hills; it houses faculties including Arts and Social Science, Business and Finance, Engineering and Green Technology, ICT, Science and Education. The Sungai Long campus in Kajang, Selangor, in the Klang Valley, houses accountancy, medicine and health sciences (including the MBBS), creative industries, engineering and science, and Chinese studies.
The university offers more than 140 programmes, taught in English (Chinese Studies aside), with three intakes a year and a trimester calendar. It reports a 97% graduate employability rate within six months, and it has held self-accrediting status from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency since 2017. It suits students who want an accredited Malaysian degree at a published, relatively low fee, and who are happy in a small-town campus or the suburban Klang Valley.
Why students choose UTAR
Fees are published for every programme: a three-year Computer Science degree costs an estimated RM55,100 in total for Malaysians and RM77,550 for international students.
UTAR reports that 97% of its graduates are employed within six months of graduating.
The UTAR Scholarship for Top Achievers is awarded automatically on admission to applicants who meet its results criteria, with no application needed.
The Kampar campus sits on 1,300 acres of lakes and hills and hosts most of the university's 90-plus student clubs and societies.
Admissions
2027 intakes (January, June and October 2027)
Selectivity
UTAR does not publish an acceptance rate. Admission is based on meeting each programme's minimum entry and English requirements; decisions are posted within seven working days of a complete application.
Typical entry requirements
| Accepted pre-university qualifications | STPM, UEC, A-Levels, South Australian Matriculation, Canadian Pre-University, a foundation or matriculation programme, a diploma, or other qualifications recognised by the Malaysian government; programme minimums are published by UTAR |
|---|---|
| Foundation entry (after SPM, O-Level/IGCSE or UEC) | Students can start with a UTAR Foundation programme and progress to the matching honours degree |
| English language | IELTS 5 · TOEFL iBT 40 Most undergraduate programmes: IELTS 5.0, TOEFL iBT 40, MUET Band 3.5, PTE Academic 47 or a credit in SPM/O-Level English. Biomedical Science, Dietetics, Physiotherapy and Nursing: IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 46. MBBS: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 60 or MUET Band 4.0, plus grade A in O-Level or 1119 English. Foundation applicants below the requirement may get a conditional offer with the English Enhancement Programme. |
Deadlines
- January 2027 intake Non-bindingApply 2-3 months before classes start on 25 January 2027
UTAR has no fixed closing date but advises applying 2-3 months before the intake starts.
- June 2027 intake Non-bindingApply 2-3 months before classes start on 7 June 2027
- October 2027 intake Non-bindingApply 2-3 months before classes start on 11 October 2027
Undergraduate trimester dates for the October intake exclude the MBBS, which follows its own calendar.
Class start dates are from UTAR's 2027 academic calendar and may change. Not every programme takes students in every intake (Computer Science, for example, lists February, June and November intakes).
How to apply
Apply online through the UTAR Online Application Portal (separate portals for Malaysian and international students); there is currently no application fee. International students receive an offer and a first bill covering EMGS visa charges and administrative fees; after payment, UTAR applies for the student visa, and students then apply for a single-entry visa with their eVAL.
What admissions looks for
- A pre-university qualification recognised by the Malaysian government that meets the programme's published minimum entry requirement.
- The required English level for the programme, with stricter levels for MBBS, nursing and allied health.
- For diploma holders seeking credit transfer, full transcripts, syllabi and accreditation documents submitted with the application.
Tips for applying to UTAR
- 1 Apply 2-3 months before your intake: there is no hard deadline, but popular programmes fill up.
- 2 Check the campus before applying: most business, science and ICT degrees are in Kampar, while the MBBS, nursing, physiotherapy, accountancy and many engineering degrees are in Sungai Long near Kuala Lumpur.
- 3 If you narrowly miss the English requirement for a Foundation programme, you can still receive a conditional offer by taking UTAR's English Enhancement Programme.
- 4 International students should budget for 6% SST on top of the published international fees, and for EMGS visa charges in the first bill.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in MYR
The UTAR Scholarship for Top Achievers is awarded automatically on admission based on single-sitting exam results, with separate criteria for health sciences and the MBBS. UTAR also runs sports, talent, nursing and donor-funded scholarships (such as the Tan Sri (Dr) Lim Goh Tong-UTAR Scholarship Fund), zero-interest UTAR Student Loans, and relief aid; Malaysians can use PTPTN loans. UTAR also lists externally funded awards such as the CIMB ASEAN and Maybank ASEAN scholarships (both closed when checked in September 2026).
- Waived until further notice
- Application fee
- Zero interest
- UTAR Student Loan
- RM500-900
- Estimated monthly living expenses
Academics
Academic calendar: Trimesters, with January, June and October intakes
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
A five-year medical degree at the Sungai Long campus, with the strictest English requirement (IELTS 6.0).
Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours)
A three-year degree at the Kampar campus, with February, June and November intakes.
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Actuarial Science
One of UTAR's mathematical science degrees at Sungai Long, at about RM18,000 a year for Malaysians.
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours
A four-year degree at the Sungai Long campus, listed as fully accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.
Bachelor of Chinese Medicine (Honours)
A five-year degree reflecting UTAR's strength in Chinese studies, taught at Sungai Long.
Bachelor of Accounting (Honours)
A 3.5-year accounting degree at Sungai Long, backed by a dedicated UTAR ACCA Scholarship.
Research
- UTAR reports 36 research centres and 4 research institutes, and 10 endowed chairs or professorships since 2009.
- It has more than 880 memoranda with industry partners and universities in 42 economies.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts and Social Science
- Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance
- Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology
- Faculty of Information and Communication Technology
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Accountancy and Management
- M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Creative Industries
- Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Chinese Studies
- Centre for Foundation Studies
UTAR reports a 97% graduate employability rate within six months of graduation.
Student life
Most students live off campus in private housing near the campuses; at Kampar, the Department of Student Affairs keeps a list of nearby houses, flats and condominiums, and offers free accommodation to needy students. The Kampar campus, set among lakes and hills, has football, basketball, volleyball and badminton facilities, a gym and space for jogging and cycling. UTAR has more than 90 student clubs and societies, and its students won more than 360 national and international awards in 2025.
- More than 90 student clubs and societies.
- More than 360 international and national awards won by students in 2025.
- International student services include airport meet-and-greet and student pass processing.
Housing. UTAR does not guarantee on-campus housing; its student affairs departments list private accommodation near each campus, and UTAR estimates living costs at RM500-900 a month.
Location
Kampar is a small town in Perak, about 190 km north of Kuala Lumpur off the North-South highway, known for its food (UTAR recommends the chicken curry wrapped in bread) and with bus, taxi and commuter rail links. The Sungai Long campus is in Kajang, Selangor, in the Klang Valley, close to Kuala Lumpur, with banking, housing, public transport and shops nearby.
Nearest airport: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Notable alumni
- CM Chew Mei FunFormer Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development of Malaysia; MA in Chinese Studies from UTAR
- JT Julian Tan Kok PingFormer Member of Parliament for Bandar Kuching and aerospace engineer; Master of Engineering Science (Research) from UTAR
- KK Karen KongMalaysian singer and actress; studied at UTAR
Frequently asked questions
How much are UTAR's fees for international students?
UTAR publishes estimated total fees per programme: for example RM77,550 for the three-year Computer Science degree and RM384,100 for the five-year MBBS, excluding 6% SST. That works out to roughly RM22,000-26,000 a year for most degrees.
What IELTS score does UTAR require?
Most undergraduate programmes need IELTS 5.0 (or TOEFL iBT 40); Nursing and some health sciences need 5.5, and the MBBS needs 6.0.
When are UTAR's intakes?
UTAR generally has three intakes a year. In 2027 undergraduate classes start on 25 January, 7 June and 11 October, and UTAR advises applying 2-3 months beforehand.
Is there an application fee at UTAR?
No. UTAR has waived its application processing fee until further notice.
Which UTAR campus is better, Kampar or Sungai Long?
It depends on the programme: each degree is offered on one campus. Kampar is the large lakeside main campus in Perak; Sungai Long is near Kuala Lumpur and hosts medicine, health sciences, accountancy and several engineering degrees.
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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