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University of Malaya: Rankings, Popular Courses, Fees
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Last updated on 9 Jun '26UMWhat's new?
- Application deadline for UG courses for international students is Aug 30, 2026.
- The University of Malaya has announced a scholarship - PTE x Universiti Malaya Scholarship 2026 for international students of worth £3,000 (Around INR 4 L).
About University of Malaya
The University of Malaya was founded as a Malaysian-based public university in Kuala, Lumpur, in 1949. It is the oldest Malaysian institution of higher education. In the context of rankings, the University of Malaya is one of the Top 100 Universities world in the QS 2026 rankings.
As per web sources, the University of Malaya acceptance rate is around 34% making it somewhat selective for admissions. There are 27,000+ students at UM. The total no. of UG international students at UM is 1,600+ and PG international students is 8,700+.
University of Malaya Facts
The University of Malaya is a premier research university. At this university, there are 17 faculties and research centres, in the academic disciplines like Arts, Humanities, and Sciences. Given below are some of the facts about UM-
| Stats | |
|---|---|
| Type of university | Public research university |
| University of Malaya acceptance rate | Around 34% |
| Academic affiliation | ACU, AUN, APUCEN, FUIW |
|
Popular programs |
Computer Sciences, Business, Management, Medicine |
|
Total no. of students |
27,000+ |
|
Location |
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
University of Malaya History
First founded in 1949 and re-established in 1962, University of Malaya is a public research university and is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After a legislation being passed by the Straits Legislative Council in June 1905, a medical school was established to fulfil the demand for medical assistants in government hospitals. In 2012, the University of Malaya was granted autonomy by the Ministry of Higher Education.
Check out the below video of University of Malaya for more Information:
Commonly asked questions On Highlights
The reasonably priced tuition fee and the excellent academics are some of the top reasons for Indian students to choose the University of Malaya. Reasons to study at UM are-
- Top ranked university (Among Top 100 in QS rankings for 2026)
- Located in a thriving city - Kuala Lumpur. The city is famous for its affordability for food, housing, and transportation
- A multicultural university with students from 80+ countries
The Uni of Malaya acceptance rate for Indian students is around 34%. This acceptance rate suggests that UM is very selective. Indian students must have a great academic record for admission to UM.
On top of this, the students have to meet the minimum academic requirements. The students are required to have a Bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.0 for admission to UM Master's courses.
The Uni of Malaya is a top research university in Malaysia. There are 27,000+ students at UM. Students at this university hail from 80+ countries. India is one of the countries from where students come to study at UM.
- No. of UG international students: 1,600+
- No. of PG international students: 8,700+
University of Malaya Ranking 2026
As per Shiksha Popularity Ranking, the University of Malaya ranking stands at #1 in 2026 at national level. Also, the university is ranked #205 in the world by Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026. Moreover, a few of the University of Malaya courses are also ranked by Shiksha Popularity Ranking as mentioned below-
| Courses | Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026 (Country) |
|---|---|
| MS | #1 |
| LL.M. | #2 |
| MBA/PGDM | #3 |
| MA | #1 |
By Other Ranking Bodies
Apart from Shiksha Popularity ranking, QS has also ranked the university globally. The University of Malaya QS ranking is #58 in 2026. The University of Malaya ranking stood at #201-250 by THE in 2026, globally.
#205
#1
Commonly asked questions On Rankings
The University of Malaya is a top public university in Malaysia. In 2026, the University of Malaya QS ranking is #58. In Times Higher Education rankings, this university ranks at #201-250 in 2026. In the Global Universities rank, the University of Malaya rank is #331 in 2025.
Given below are some of the subject rankings for University of Malaya-
- Petroleum Engineering: #34
- Marketing: #51-100
- English Language & Literature: #53
- Engineering & Technology: #82
- Business & Management Studies: #104
University of Malaya Courses
University of Malaya offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses for international students every year. The University of Malaya teaches all programmes in English language, unless specified. In general, the Uni of Malaya offers 150+ Master's courses and 80+ UG courses. Study areas at this university are Law, Engineering, Science, Medicine, etc.
University of Malaya Popular Programs
Some of the popular programs of the University of Malaya include MBA, Master of Management, Master of Mechanical Engineering, etc. The duration of the PG courses is 1 - 2 years.
14.7K+ students got admitted through us.
14.7K+ students got admitted through us.
14.7K+ students got admitted through us.
Commonly asked questions On Popular Programs
Home to various Indian students, the University of Malaya is a well-known research-based public university which is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaya University offers courses at UG and PG levels across many fields such as engineering, management, arts, languages and others. The top picked course of the Uni of Malaya by Indian students is MBA. The duration of MBA course is 1.5 years.
Malaya University offers a diverse range of courses at postgraduate levels across areas of management, engineering and others. Typically, a postgraduate course has a duaration of 12 months - 24 months. The duration of the courses at the Uni of Malaya are-
| Courses | Duration |
|---|---|
| 18-24 months | |
| 18-24 months | |
| 18-24 months |
University of Malaya Admission Process for Indian students
Indian applicants can take part in the University of Malaya admissions by applying via the official portal of the university. To complete the admission process, Indian students have to pay the application fee of MYR 300 (Around INR 7k).
University of Malaya Application Deadlines 2026
There are 2 intakes of the University of Malaya - October and June intake. These intakes varies as per the course levels. Here are some of the application deadlines for the University of Malaya for international students enrolled in UG and PG courses-
| Particulars | Application Deadlines |
|---|---|
| UG | Aug 30, 2026 |
| PG | Nov 22, 2026 |
University of Malaya Eligibility
Students must provide their results for IELTS, TOEFL and PTE. Some of the documents required to apply to the Uni of Malaya are-
- Passport
- Transcripts of previous studies
- National id card
- English language proficiency certificate
- Research proposal (if required)
Postgraduate Admission Requirements
For admission to the PG courses of the Uni of Malaya, Indian students should have a Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (exceptions applicable). Also, students have to submit English language score report.
Note: The UG admission requirements may be subject to course available at the University of Malaya.
- Application fees :MYR 300
- Type of deadline :Regular
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
Applying to the University of Malaya may be different than applying to other universities. The application fee required to apply at the University of Malaya which is MYR 300 may differ from the required application fee for other universities. The difference can also be in the course-specific eligibility criteria at the University of Malaya in comparison to other universities. Furthermore, some universities require prior work experience to apply to certain courses. Other universities may require the students to appear for the interviews.
Indian students have to submit the IELTS or equivalent test scores for admission to UM. Minimum score required in IELTS for UM admission is-
| Test | Minimum Scores |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.5 |
| TOEFL | 80 on iBT |
| PTE | 42 and above |
For Indian students, the application fee for UM admission is MYR 300 or INR 7k. To apply to this university, the students have to apply via the official portal of this university. The documents required to apply to this university are-
- Transcripts of the previous studies
- Copy of passport
- Passport size photograph
- National id
- IELTS / TOEFL / PTE score repprt
UMMalaya University Scholarships
For UG students, UM does not offer any scholarship. A PTE x Universiti Malaya 2026 Scholarship has been announced for international students at the Uni of Malaya of GBP 3,000 or INR 4 L. Check below some of the scholarships offered by the University of Malaya for international students.
| Scholarship | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| PTE x Universiti Malaya 2026 Scholarship |
|
| Malaysian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship |
|
UM Popular Courses
18 monthsUniversity of Malaya Placements
University of Malaya has a Career Development Center that provides career skills to the future graduate students of University of Malaya such as making career decisions, work finding process, and training or skills that are able to aid future graduate students in the preparatory process to face the professional world. Some of the career services and activities at the university are given as follows:
University of Malaya Fees
Indian students who want to study Graduate courses, the first-year University of Malaya tuition fee is between INR 8 L - INR 14 L. UM fees for MBA course is between INR 11 L - INR 14 L. Whereas, for UG international students, it may range between RM 65,100 - RM 130,100 (Around INR 15.3 L - INR 30 L) , with Bachelor of Dentistry course being very expensive RM 655,000 (Around INR 1.5 Cr).
Cost of Living
As per Numbeo 2024 Cost of Living Index, Malaysia has one of the lowest cost of living indexes in Southeast Asia, just 34.4. The rent on campus at UM may range between RM 700 - RM 1,500 per month (Around INR 16.4k - INR 35.2k). The total cost of living for an Indian student in Malaysia could be around INR 39k per month (inclusive of all the expenses.).
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Duration & Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
MBA/PGDM(2 courses) | INR 11 L - 14 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 18-24 months Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6 & Above, TOEFL: 60 - 80, PTE: 55 & Above |
MS(1 course) | INR 8 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 18-24 months Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, PTE |
MIM(1 course) | INR 11 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 18-24 months Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6 & Above, TOEFL: 60 & Above, PTE |
MEng(1 course) | INR 13 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 1 year Exam Accepted: IELTS: 5.5 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, PTE: 42 & Above |
Commonly asked questions On Fees and Eligibility
The tuition cost vary from course to course and depend on the type of course and level of study. Therefore, international students must ensure tuition fee before applying to Malaya University. The average tuition fee for various courses at the University of Malaya in Indian rupees is given in the table below:
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
| MEng | INR 2 Lakh |
| MBA | INR 8 Lakh |
| MS | INR 2 Lakh |
| MIM | INR 4 Lakh |
Apart form the tuition fee, the application fee for admission at the Univrsity of Malaya is MYR 300. Living expenses depends on the preferences of an individual, hence may vary.
Is a university expensive to live or not, may vary as per the needs, preferences, goals and personal expenditure. However, braodly taking in account all the expenses required to live comfortably while studying at University of Malaya, it will cost an international student around REM 18,000 yearly. Besides, the living expenses, the first-year tuition fee for various courses at University of Malaya is given in the table below:
| Courses | First-year tuition fee |
|---|---|
| MEng | INR 2 Lakh |
| MBA | INR 8 Lakh |
| MS | INR 2 Lakh |
| MIM | INR 4 Lakh |
University of Malaya Notable Alumni
University of Malaya has a strong global alumni network of more than 115,000 alumni members coming from around the world and have shown contribution in their respective fields. Some of the notable alumni members at the university are given as follows:
| Name | Profession | Photograph |
|---|---|---|
| Mahathir bin Mohamad | Malaysian Politician |  |
| Anwar bin Ibrahim | Malaysian politician |  |
|
Rosmah Mansor |
Second wife of former Prime Minister of Malaysia |  |
| Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah binti Haji Mohamad Ali | Malaysian doctor and former chancellor of the Multimedia University |  |
| Mahiaddin bin Md. Yasin | Malaysian politician who served as the eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia |  |
| Sellapan Ramanathan DUT PJG | Singaporean politician and civil servant |  |
| Ungku Zeti Akhtar binti Ungku Abdul Aziz | 7th Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia |  |
Commonly asked questions On Alumni
The names included the alumni list of the Uni of Malaya are-
| Names | Designation |
|---|---|
| Mahathir Mohamad | Author, Politician |
| Anwar Ibrahim | Politician |
| Teresa Kok Suh Sim | Maysian Politician |
| Rynn Lim | Singer and Actor |
| Abdul Razak bin Hussein | Lawyer and Politician |
College comparison
Compare UM with other similar colleges
| College | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| INR 11.38 L - 13.81 L | #58 QS, 2026 | |
| INR 7.71 L - 7.96 L | #134 QS, 2026 | |
| INR 7.14 L - 13.08 L | -/- | |
| INR 5.74 L | #601 THE, 2026 | |
| INR 3.62 L - 7.82 L | #153 QS, 2026 | |
| INR 9.44 L - 10.64 L | #269 QS, 2026 |
CompareUMStudying in Malaysia
University of Malaya Campus
University of Malaya has a single campus. The main campus of University of Malaya spans 750 acres. Malaya Uni is known to have a vibrant and diverse student life for international students by offering facilities such as career advising, dining, residential facilities and recreational activities.
Campus Life
Students can check the food outlets at the University of Malaya. There are many eateries within the Faculty of Medicine and University Malaya Medical Centre such as MediCafe, Cardio Brew, O'Briens Cafe, UMMC Food Court, etc. The university also offers housing options, mostly for UG students. The room types include single room, twin sharing room, quadraple sharing room, etc. The housing prices at the University of Malaya for UG students can range between per semester RM 915 - RM 1,960 (INR 21k - INR 46k). There are sports facilities too at the Uni of Malaya such as-
- Tennis court
- Swimming pool
- Basketball courts
- Jogging track
- Gym
Commonly asked questions On Others
The Uni of Malaya campus size is 750 acres. The campus of this university is situated within the heart of Kuala Lumpur city. Students can also check out the sports facilities offered by Malaya University. This includes tennis court, gym, swimming pool, etc. Also, there are a number of food outlets on campus for students.
UM
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a year ago
For the majority of undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Malaya (UM), a score of 5.5 on the IELTS may not be sufficient to achieve the minimal English language proficiency criterion for admission. Depending on the degree, colleges such as UM usually demand an IELTS score of 6.0 o
N
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 years ago
For the 2024/2025 academic year, the tuition fee for the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English Language and Literature programme at Universiti Malaya is RM29,700 per year. The university rounds up tuition fees to the nearest hundred.
A
Beginner-Level 2
Answered 2 years ago
Uni Teknologi Malaysia as well as the University of Malaya are two well-known universities in Malaysia and great study abroad options for students. Listed below is a comparison of the rankings of both the universities, as awarded by the top ranking bodies:
| Ranking Body, Category & Year | University of Teknologi Malaysia | University of Malaya |
|---|---|---|
| QS Rankings - Best Global Universities 2024 | #188 | #65 |
| THE - World University Rankings 2024 | #401-500 | #251-300 |
| US News & World Report - Best Global University 2023 | #379 | #226 |
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 years ago
The University of Malaya’s application is currently open for UG programs. For mix- mode programs, the application deadline is Oct 8, 2026. It’s necessary for the deadlines. Below are the University of Malaya application deadlines.
Application Type | Deadline |
Undergraduate (UG) | Oct 8, 2026 |
Postgraduate (PG) | N/A |
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 years ago
Below is the application process for University of Malaya:
Step 1: You can apply through apply.um.edu.my. application portal.
Step 2: Check your requirements thoroughly, and see if your current qualifications are recognised.
Step 3: You should meet the entry requirements checklist before applying:
Tr
Contributor-Level 10
About the author
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UMLocation
| University City | Kuala Lumpur, Other - Malaysia, Malaysia |
UMCampuses
Jalan Universiti, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Visit official siteUMContact Information
Jalan Universiti, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur ( Other - Malaysia)
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