Universiti Utara Malaysia
Malaysia's public management university, AACSB-accredited, on a 1,061-hectare forest campus near the Thai border.
- Students
- 21,000
- Tuition
- MYR 8,400
- From · 2025-26
- Founded
- 1984
- QS World Ranking
- #540
- 2027 edition
About UUM
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) was established in 1984 as Malaysia's sixth public university, created specifically as a university of management. Its first classes ran on a provisional campus in Jitra, and in 1990 it moved to its permanent campus in Sintok, northern Kedah: a 1,061-hectare site in a forested valley crossed by two rivers, close to the Thai border.
Since 2008 UUM has been organised into three colleges: the College of Business (UUM COB), the College of Arts and Sciences (UUM CAS) and the College of Law, Government and International Studies (UUM COLGIS), each made up of specialist schools such as the Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz School of Accountancy, the School of Computing and the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management. UUM has held institutional AACSB accreditation since 2016 and says it is the largest AACSB-accredited university in Asia, with about 21,000 students and 500 full-time faculty.
Undergraduate teaching is concentrated on business, accounting, finance, economics, public management, law, communication and computing. UUM suits students who want an affordable, business-focused degree at a public university and are happy living on a large, self-contained rural campus rather than in a city.
Ilmu, Budi, Bakti
“Knowledge, Virtue, Service” — university motto
Why students choose UUM
UUM has held institutional AACSB accreditation since 2016 and says it is the largest AACSB-accredited university in Asia.
International tuition is RM 4,200-5,000 per semester, about RM 8,400-10,000 a year, at a public university with AACSB and AMBA accreditation.
Accounting and Finance is ranked 101-150 in the QS subject rankings 2026, and Law 126-150 in THE's 2026 subject rankings.
The Sintok campus is a forest valley with its own golf course, deer farm, go-kart circuit and archery range.
Admissions
First semester 2027/2028 (2026/2027 dates shown as the latest published)
Selectivity
UUM does not publish an acceptance rate. International applicants are assessed on country-specific minimum grades; UUM notes that meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission, and some programmes (such as Law and Counselling) include an interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Senior high school / higher secondary certificate | Completion of 11-12 years of schooling at a recognised school, meeting country-specific minimum grades set by the University Senate |
|---|---|
| Cambridge A-level (e.g. Brunei and others) | At least 50% / grade C in two subjects (general programmes) |
| Bangladesh HSC | At least 75% (1st Division) or CGPA 3.00 for Accounting and Law; 60% or GPA 2.50 for other programmes |
| Mathematics and English | A credit pass in Mathematics (or equivalent) and English |
| English language | IELTS 5 · TOEFL iBT 40 Most programmes need MUET Band 3.5, which UUM treats as equal to IELTS 5.0, TOEFL iBT 40 or PTE Academic 47; Applied Linguistics and Business Administration needs Band 4.0 (IELTS 5.5). Applicants schooled in listed English-medium countries are exempt. Others take UUM's English Preparatory Course (RM 5,700) before sitting IELTS or MUET. |
Deadlines
- International undergraduate application, first semester 2026/2027 (A261) Non-binding Passed29 April - 1 September 2026 (past)
This window has closed; the 2027/2028 window has not been announced yet.
For 2026/2027, UUM accepted international undergraduate applications from 29 April to 1 September 2026. Expect the 2027/2028 window to open around April-May 2027; check the HEA announcements page.
How to apply
Apply online through UUM's international undergraduate application portal (apply.uum.edu.my) during the application window, then check your offer status online. After an offer, apply for the student visa through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) and pay the registration fee (RM 2,050) and a refundable personal bond (RM 200-2,000 depending on country) at registration.
What admissions looks for
- A recognised senior high school certificate meeting UUM's minimum grade for your country.
- Higher grades for competitive programmes such as Accounting and Law.
- A credit in Mathematics and English.
- English at the level set by your programme, usually MUET Band 3.5 or IELTS 5.0.
- For interview programmes (such as Law, Counselling and Creative Industry Management), performance at interview.
Tips for applying to UUM
- 1 Check the Requirement by Countries table on UUM's admissions page: minimum grades differ by country and are higher for Accounting and Law.
- 2 Submit a valid IELTS or equivalent score if you can; otherwise you will need the RM 5,700 English Preparatory Course before starting your degree.
- 3 Apply well before the window closes (1 September in 2026) to leave time for the EMGS student visa.
- 4 Budget for the refundable personal bond, which is RM 2,000 for applicants from some countries, such as Canada and the USA.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 · figures in MYR
UUM's financial aid page lists PTPTN loans and scholarships for Malaysian students, and the Malaysia International Scholarship for international postgraduates; it does not list scholarships for international undergraduates. International students pay a one-off registration fee and a refundable personal bond at registration.
- RM 2,050, plus RM 570 service fee and RM 720 accommodation fee per semester
- Registration fee (international, UUM Sintok)
- RM 200-2,000 depending on country
- Refundable personal bond
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (two main semesters plus short semesters)
Bachelor of Accounting (Hons)
Taught at the Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz School of Accountancy; UUM is ranked 101-150 for Accounting and Finance in the QS subject rankings 2026.
Bachelor of Law (Hons)
An interview programme ranked 126-150 for Law in THE's 2026 subject rankings; RM 5,000 per semester for international students.
Bachelor of International Affairs Management (Hons)
One of UUM's AUN-QA certified programmes.
Bachelor of Science Economics (Hons)
AUN-QA certified and offered by the School of Economics, Finance and Banking.
Bachelor of Business Administration (Golf Management) (Hons)
Run by UUM's National Golf Academy on the Sintok campus, which has its own golf course.
Research
- UUM's business programmes hold AACSB (since 2016) and AMBA (since 2015) accreditation, and the university is working towards EQUIS.
- The Research and Innovation Management Centre coordinates UUM's Centres of Excellence.
- UUM Press and UUM Journals publish the university's research.
Schools & faculties
- UUM College of Business (COB)
- UUM College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
- UUM College of Law, Government and International Studies (COLGIS)
- Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz School of Accountancy
- School of Economics, Finance and Banking
- School of Business Management
- School of Computing
- School of Multimedia Technology and Communication
- School of Law
- School of Government
- School of International Studies
- School of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
Student life
UUM calls itself the university in a green forest: the Sintok campus sits in a valley of tropical forest with the Sintok and Badak rivers running through it. Most students live on campus in 15 residential halls (INASIS), each named after a sponsoring company or bank and with its own common rooms, cafeteria, laundry and sports facilities, and campus buses link the halls. Because the campus is far from a city, social life centres on clubs, sport and campus facilities such as the Varsity Mall, the Sultan Badlishah Mosque and outdoor attractions.
- 15 residential halls (INASIS), such as Inasis MAS, Inasis Proton and Inasis Maybank.
- A campus golf course, deer farm, go-kart circuit and shooting and archery range.
- Sultanah Bahiyah Library and the Sultan Badlishah Mosque as campus landmarks.
- Clubs and associations and a sports complex on campus.
Housing. UUM's Student Accommodation Centre houses local and international students in on-campus residential halls; international students pay an accommodation fee of RM 720 per semester.
Location
Sintok is in the Kubang Pasu district of Kedah, in the far north of Peninsular Malaysia, about 48 km north of the state capital Alor Setar and near the Malaysia-Thailand border. The nearest towns are Changlun and Jitra, so daily life is campus-based; UUM also runs a campus in central Kuala Lumpur for postgraduate study.
Nearest airport: Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, Alor Setar (AOR)
Notable alumni
- T TomokSinger; first-class Creative Industries Management graduate (2023), UUM Kuala Lumpur campus
- WJ Wee Jeck SengMember of Parliament for Tanjung Piai; Doctorate in Public Management from UUM (2019)
Frequently asked questions
How much are UUM tuition fees for international students?
Under the 2025/2026 schedule, most bachelor's programmes cost RM 4,200 per semester (about RM 8,400 a year), computing and communication RM 4,700, and Accounting and Law RM 5,000 per semester, plus registration and service fees.
What English score do I need for UUM?
Most programmes require MUET Band 3.5, which UUM treats as equivalent to IELTS 5.0, TOEFL iBT 40 or PTE 47. Students from listed English-medium countries are exempt.
When can international students apply to UUM?
For the first semester of 2026/2027 the window ran from 29 April to 1 September 2026. The 2027/2028 window has not been announced yet.
Is UUM AACSB accredited?
Yes. UUM has held institutional AACSB accreditation since 2016 and also holds AMBA accreditation for its MBA.
Where is UUM located?
The main campus is in Sintok, Kedah, about 48 km north of Alor Setar near the Thai border. UUM also has a Kuala Lumpur campus, mainly for postgraduates.
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.
- UUM: Undergraduate (International) admissions
- UUM Academic Affairs (HEA): Undergraduate (International), entry, English and country requirements
- UUM: Registration and tuition fee for international bachelor's students, effective 2025/2026 (PDF)
- UUM HEA: International undergraduate application for first semester 2026/2027 (A261)
- UUM: International undergraduate online application
- UUM: History
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