Study in Malaysia: Education system
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Malaysia is gradually becoming a popular study abroad destination and is attracting students around the globe due to its affordability, quality of life, top-notch education, and more. However, students often wonder 'Is malaysia education system good?' In this article, we will discuss the Education system in Malaysia to help you understand the country better and make an informed decision about studying in Malaysia.
With its international flavour, low crime rate, and of course, five of its universities appearing in the QS World University Rankings, Malaysia is becoming a popular study abroad destination.
The affordable cost of education and low tuition fees has made it one of the most popular international destinations for students. Education cost comprises of course fees which include tuition fees and other study fees payable to the institution, depending on what you are studying and the duration of your course/study program. Other components include the living expenses which will depend on which location you are staying in, your type of accommodation and your lifestyle. Malaysia has experienced a steady economic progression and rapid infrastructural development.
Malaysia boasts more than 700 private higher educational institutions and universities. Several American and British Universities have set up their campuses in Malaysia for Malaysian as well as international students. Such universities have been set up for students who wish to study at a lower cost. All these universities and courses are approved by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia. Courses approved by a country's Ministry of Higher Education stand approved by any other country's Ministry of Higher Education worldwide.
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Also Read: Cost of Living for International Students in Malaysia
Malaysia Education System
In Malaysia, you get the opportunity of three intakes in a year. The tuition fees is comparatively low than in other countries like the UK. One can also obtain a twining degree at most of the institutes and students can transfer their credits to another country where the institute has a campus.
Malaysian students can choose to study 3 types of programmes:
- Locally run programmes
- Twining academic programmes
- Vocational, technical or skills training
Two authorities oversee the operations of public or private higher educational Institutions in Malaysia:
- Ministry of Education (MOE) looks after the pre-school to secondary education
- Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) takes care of the tertiary or higher education
The long-term plan of the Malaysian government is to make Malaysia a center of educational excellence.
Various Levels of Education in Malaysia
1. Primary and Secondary Education: It makes up to 11 years of free education. Primary education (a period of 6 years) and secondary education (5 years which encompasses 3 years of lower secondary and 2 years of upper secondary). For primary education, the admission age is 7 years. Primary schooling is obligatory or all children between the ages of 7 and 12. At the end of the primary, lower secondary and upper secondary levels, students sit for common public examinations.
2. Post-secondary Education: After the completion of secondary education, students can opt to pursue 1 to 2 years of post-secondary education. It is the university entrance preparatory course. As an end result, the total 12 years of school education serves as the basic entry requirement into Year One of a bachelor's degree programme in higher education institutions.
3. Tertiary Education: At the tertiary level, higher learning institutions offer courses which lead to the awards of a certificate, diploma, first degree and higher degree qualifications (at academic and professional fields). The duration of study for a basic bachelor's degree programme is 3 years and the courses of study at this level are provided by both the public and private education sectors. Malaysia offers excellent MBA programmes as well.
It is further divided into two major groups:
- Public (government-funded) institutions of higher learning, for example, public universities, polytechnics, community colleges, and teacher training institutes.
- Private (private-funded) higher educational institutions (PHEIs), for example, private universities, private university colleges, foreign branch campus universities and private colleges.
4. Government-funded Educational Institutions: Through this, one can pursue more than 95% of primary and secondary education as well as about 60% of the tertiary education, with the private sector providing the balance.
5. Private-funded Educational Institutions: It is divided into two categories depending on the levels of education offered, ranging from pre-school to tertiary education.
They are mentioned below:
- Private Educational Institutions (PEIs) which provide education at pre-school, primary and secondary levels. They comprise private schools and foreign system schools.
- Private Higher Educational Institutions (PHEIs) which provide tertiary education leading to the award of certificate, diploma and degree qualifications.
Know more about studying in Malaysia:
Q: What is the cost of studying in Malaysia?
Q: Is education free in Malaysia?
The Malaysia education system comprises of three levels of education and they are - Primary and Secondary Education, Post-secondary Education, Tertiary Education. For all the Malaysian students, the government provides free education for six years at primary level and five years at secondary level. However, all the private as well as international institutions do charge the tuition fees. Malaysia as compared to all the other study abroad destinations is very affordable for Indian students as the annual tuition fee is less than INR 10 L. Also, the cost of living is very cheap.
Q: Is Malaysia a good choice for studying?
Yes, Malaysia is an emerging study abroad destination and offers world-class education for students around the globe. Some of the best reasons to pursue your higher education in Malaysia are affordable tuition fees, low cost of living, top-notch education, post-study work permit, scholarship opportunities, part-time job opportunities, and more. Also, there are a variety of streams for you to choose between. Some of them are: Computer Science, Medicine, Business, Agriculture and Veterinary, Graphic Design, and many more.
Q: Which field of study is best in Malaysia?
Malaysia is known for offering quality education at very affordable prices. Some of the best fields of study in Malaysia are listed in the table below:
Architecture | Computer Science | Medicine |
Engineering | Accounting | Business |
Education | Humanities | Agriculture and Veterinary |
Business Administration | Graphic Design | Hospitality Management Studies |
Law | Marketing | Social Sciences |
Applied and Pure Sciences | Manufacturing and Processing | Mathematics |
Broadcasting | Culinary Arts | Economics |
Environmental Science | Languages | Advertising |
Q: Is Malaysian degree recognised in India?
Yes, a degree from a Malaysian university is recognised in India. If you have pursued Medicine in Malaysia, then in order to obtain a valid license to practice in India, you will have to pass the FMGE exam. The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination is a mandatory examination required to be undertaken by all Indian citizens or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders who have pursued their medical education abroad and plan to practice in India by obtaining a provisional or permanent registration with National Medical Commission (NMC) or any State Medical Council.
Q: Is Malaysian education system good?
Yes, the Malaysian curriculum system is impressive as it allows students to obtain a twining degree, transfer their credits to another country where their institute has a campus and offers quality education at very affordable prices. Also, the education of Malaysia is bifurcated into three types:
Primary and secondary education - 11 years of mandatory schooling
Post-secondary education - 1-2 of higher education (optional)
Tertiary education - 3 years of bachelor's degree education
This curriculum is very systematic and beneficial for students.
Q: Is it hard to get into Uni Teknologi Malaysia?
University of Teknologi Malaysia is a moderately competitive university to get into, as its acceptance rate stands at 60%. This figure tells us that almost 60 out of every 100 applicants manage to get enrolled in the university, which is more than half of all the applicants. Therefore, once an applicant fulfills University Teknologi Malaysia Johor admission requirements i.e.; competitive grades, standardized test scores, English language requirements as well as relevant documents, they are most likely to secure an admission to the university. However, students must not take this lightly and apply to the university within the deadlines in order to get enrolled as a student.
Q: How much does it cost to study at UTM Malaysia?
UTM Malaysia cost for international students can be checked from the table given below:
Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
MS (5 courses) | INR 38 K - 5 L |
MBA/PGDM (1 course) | INR 5 L |
BE / BTech (4 courses) | INR 4 L |
MIM (3 courses) | INR 3 L - 5 L |
BE7 PG (1 course) | INR 3 L |
Executive MBA/PGDM (1 course) | INR 4 L |
BBA (2 courses) | INR 1 L - 4 L |
Living Cost
The cost of living for international students studying at UTM is low compared to international students. The living cost will vary from USD 200 – USD 400 a month depending on individual needs and lifestyle. The accommodation for on-campus students is around USD 120 – 250 per month. On the other hand, the off-campus accommodation cost can vary from USD 100 – USD 500 per month.
Also Read: BBA4 of Living for International Students in Malaysia
Raushan Kumar is a skilled writer and a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. He oversees various aspects of studying abroad, including educational opportunities, entrance exams, colleges, latest new... Read Full Bio
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The cost of education in Malaysia is very affordable for international students. On an average, the annual tuition fee for bachelor's courses is in the range of INR 2 L - INR 9 L. Whereas, pursuing a master's degree course will cost you around INR 2 L - 13 L per academic year.