Malaysia is a vibrant country with a population of 30 million. Malaysia is located in the center of Southeast Asia. Although, to some extent Malaysia is made up of two separate countries. On the first side is the peninsula, with its tall buildings, vast tea plantations and stunning beaches. On the other side there is the area called Malaysian Bernoi, which was the home of remote tribes and forest people where you can find wild rainforests and mountains that no one has reached yet. People in Malaysia speak Malay, Chinese or Hindi, and you can talk to almost everyone in English.
Read on to learn many essential details about incomparable study destinations and why you should study in Malaysia so your application process can be breezy!
Geographically, Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia, and the territory of Malaysia consists of two parts: the first part is Peninsular Malaysia, which is located south of Thailand, north of Singapore, and east of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and the second part is East Malaysia, which is located on the island of Borneo; Malaysia shares its borders with Indonesia and Brunei.
99% of Malaysians are Muslims, Buddhism has embraced by about 19% of the country’s population, including Chinese, Indians, and others. Christianity has embraced by about 10% of the Chinese and Indians. Hinduism has embraced by the Tamils, who make up 9% of the country’s population.
The state of Malaysia depends on its main currency, which is called: the Malaysian Ringgit, which is symbolized on banknotes by the symbol (RM), and it is known by the acronym (MYR). One US dollar is equivalent to 4.9 Malaysian ringgit according to the exchange rates for 2022.
The language of study in private and international universities in Malaysia is English. As for public universities, it depends on the Malaysian language.
In terms of food in Malaysia, Malaysians naturally love to talk about their delicious food. Due to Malaysia’s rich multicultural history, Malaysian cooking has been influenced by other countries and cultures so you won’t have to search long to find a place to eat. Be sure while you are in Malaysia to try the Malaysian food Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai and durian, which they call the king of fruits.
Malaysian universities are working hard to invest in strengthening the skills and competencies of students to become the leaders of the future and work on the advancement and progress of society. This is by following international academic standards that include the use of modern teaching methods, modernization of facilities, and provision of specializations that include all fields, such as engineering, medical, technical and administrative specializations, to ensure that students obtain educational qualifications of internationally recognized standards, which push them to compete in the market Work at all levels.
Improve your English level
Malaysia offers a great opportunity for students to learn and master new languages. The cultures are diverse, the languages and dialects vary, but it is easy to communicate with the people of Malaysia in the widely used English language there, and the majority of students speak English.
Students can take English language proficiency courses before beginning university studies. There are also a number of Chinese speakers and a number of other languages and dialects that the student deals with during his studies at universities in Malaysia, which gives him the opportunity to learn new languages.
Low cost of study and living
The total cost of studying and living in Malaysia is low compared to the cost of studying and living in most European countries whose universities offer internationally recognized and world-class study programmes. Where an international student needs an average of $450 per month to cover the cost of living in terms of food and drink.
Experience cultural diversity
Malaysia has an amazing mix of the oldest civilizations in Asia (Malay, Chinese and Indian). This combination appears in celebrations, festivals, customs and traditions. There is also a range of restaurants serving diverse multicultural cuisines, such as spicy Malay food, Chinese food, Indian food, Western food and famous Malaysian dishes such as satay, nasi lemak, roti canai and chicken rice. Malaysians also celebrate a range of holidays and festivals such as the Festival of Lights, Chinese New Year, Christmas and National Day.
climate
Malaysia has a humid tropical climate, with average temperatures of 29°C throughout the year, and it is bathed in the warm tropical sun. So most sports activities can be enjoyed throughout the year.
The total cost of studying and living in Malaysia is low compared to the cost of studying and living in most European countries whose universities offer internationally recognized and world-class study programmes. Studying, whether undergraduate or graduate, costs about $5,300 per year, and expenses vary according to specialization; It decreases in literary disciplines and increases in scientific disciplines. An individual needs about $440 per month for living and the same for rent in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and the cost is lower in most other cities.
One of the most important advantages that attract international students to Malaysia is the low cost of living compared to other similar developed countries in the high quality of education. Based on our own experiences and experiences of living in Malaysia, $350 is sufficient for a student.
Personal expenses differ from person to person, as they depend on each student’s lifestyle and ability to prioritize. But it is possible to say that the personal expenses of a student in Malaysia range between 100 and 200 ringgit (25 to 50 dollars) that includes all his personal needs of hair care, clothes, entertainment such as cinema and other needs.
The student has several options, as follows:
Internal housing: This type of housing is affiliated with the university, and its cost is determined based on the services provided therein. There are single rooms, shared rooms and accommodation with meals. Depending on the choice of the student and the university system, the monthly cost or the annual cost of housing is determined.
Shared housing: The cost of this type of housing is determined based on many factors, including the location, housing space, the available furnishings and services, the area, the street, and the proximity to universities. But of course, shared housing is cheaper compared to private housing. If we talk about an approximate monthly figure for a shared housing system and the provision of a separate room for a single student in one of the apartments in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, the cost will be from 400-600 ringgit, which is approximately (100-150 US dollars).
Private housing: The factors mentioned above for shared housing are the same that determine the monthly cost of private housing in terms of the city, location, space, equipment, available furniture and quality. Adequate private housing costs approximately 1,200 ringgit per month, which is approximately $345 USD. Note that housing with this approximate amount is in the suburbs and regions close to the capital, but in the case of a desire to obtain private housing within the capital, Kuala Lumpur itself, the previous cost may double.
Food, drink, and clothing
If the student prefers to prepare the food himself, then 600 ringgit or 150 dollars is considered a very appropriate monthly amount and this amount is estimated to be enough for three meals a day and the student can spend less than this amount, as the amount varies according to the student’s personal needs and ability to manage.
As for clothing, Malaysia in general has a summer climate, and all local and international brands are available on a large scale at special prices. Approximately $150 per month is sufficient for the student to meet his average monthly clothing needs, and each student has the ability to control the level of purchase and shopping according to his needs.
Means of transportation in Malaysia
Malaysia is one of the very distinguished countries in the transportation sector, whether public or private. The service provided by the state helps you a lot to use all means of transportation without having to buy a car. For example, the train is one of the very distinctive means within Malaysia in terms of quality and connectivity between all areas within the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and neighboring cities. In addition to the presence of public buses such as the subway and cable cars in some places, and a private taxi.
We advise students to buy a discounted train ticket called touch and go for only 10 ringgit and it is sometimes distributed for free. This card will save you the trouble of waiting at the ticket counter. We also recommend using the Uber app in Malaysia as it saves a lot of money and is very affordable.
International students can choose to study either in private or public universities in Malaysia. The lively city is the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. Which includes the world-famous Petronas Twin Towers. Malaysia has many highly ranked universities, including:
University of Malaya (UM), University of Kebangsan Malaysia (UKM), University of Putra Malaysia (UPM), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Cities in the south have Johor Bahru Deh University of Technology in Malaysia (UTM), while the “Pearl of the Orient” Penang has the University of Science Malaysia (USM). Australian Curtin University and Swinburne University of Technology have found their place in exotic Sarawak, while Land Below The Wind Sabah in Sabah has University College, Tunku Abdul Rahman and University of Sabah Malaysia.
There are a few things that you have to take into consideration in order to become a student in Malaysia. To enter Malaysia as an international student, you will need to show a Student Pass. Once you are accepted into the university you wish to attend, the university on your behalf will apply for your Student Pass. The Immigration Service will consider your application and will send you an approval letter. With this letter, you are fully prepared to board the plane and head to Malaysia, but it is important that you send the details of your trip to the university you want to attend.
A representative of your university will wait for you at an airport checkpoint for immigrants in Malaysia. There you will get a visa which will be valid for six months. The Immigration Department will also issue you a temporary transit visa (Special Pass), which you will need to obtain a Student Pass. Within two weeks after your arrival, you will be given a Student Pass.
The university must submit the following documents to the Immigration Office to obtain a Student Pass.
You can apply through the official website of the Ministry of Education, and obtaining a visa often requires a university acceptance letter, university certificates, and a foreign language test, in addition to official papers such as a passport and photographs, and the application takes about 14 working days, where the result of the application can be tracked electronically from through the site.
After choosing the subject and the degree to be obtained, you can apply directly through the university’s website, and the university often requires previous academic certificates and an English language proficiency test such as TOEFL or IELTS.
After making sure that all the admission requirements for Malaysian universities are met, you can learn about the official papers required for studying in Malaysia; which is next:
There is a way that you can follow in order to obtain university admission in Malaysia in the easiest way possible, by communicating with the Easy Uni support team, which consists of experienced and qualified education consultants that enable them to advise and complete the conditions required to obtain university admission in the shortest possible time.
Scholarships in Malaysia are limited both undergraduate and governmental. The University of Malaya offers a scholarship with a 50% discount for international students, and its terms and details can be found by contacting the scholarship office at the University of Malaya.
The Malaysian government also offers a postgraduate scholarship for international students and the maximum age is 40 years for Masters and 45 years for Ph.D. The English language proficiency test is required to be passed TOEFL iBT with a minimum of 92 or IELTS with a minimum of 6.5, and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 or 4.
The available majors and universities and the rest of the conditions can be found on the official website of the Malaysian Ministry of Education. The Malaysian government states that by offering grants, it aims to bring in creative minds in the world. Therefore, the conditions for the grant are difficult and are offered only in graduate studies and for young people who can benefit the Malaysian economy.