Study in Malaysia for international students
You must consider the university system of Malaysia if you want to study at this country’s universities. In recent decades, Malaysia has tried to bring its education system in line with international standards. So, it has universities that are branches of world-renewed universities, such as the University of Nottingham and Monash. This country has also built a comprehensive scientific facility on a project at the southernmost tip of the Malaysian Peninsula called EduCity in Johor, just 5 km north of Singapore. This 350-hectare campus is run by eight branches of leading universities around the world. It is also very crucial not to overlook its domestic universities. The Malaysian graduate study system was ranked the 25th in the QS rankings in 2018. You can contact MIE Austria and get more information in this regard.
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Study conditions in Malaysia
Education in this country has become one of the most priorities of the government in the last decade, so they try to provide high-quality education to all students. You can apply for admission to Malaysian universities and colleges three times a year. You must submit your application and documents at least three months before the start of the course.
- To submit in April, submit your applications by February.
- To submit in Jun, submit your application by April.
- To submit in November, submit your application by September.
An applicant does not need to take an entrance exam such as SAT, GRE, IELTS, and TOEFL if one has completed one’s previous education in an English speaking country. On the other hand, the college or institution can take an English test from a student if one is from a non-English speaking country. Of course, it depends on the Malaysian university. All applicants must have a valid international English language certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL to be admitted to a Malaysian college. The minimum acceptable score for IELTS is 6 and for TOEFL Paper-based 550 or TOEFL Internet-based 213.
Study at the undergraduate level in Malaysia
Undergraduate study in Malaysia is often available in English for international students. The course commonly lasts 3 to 4 years. Since Malaysia does not have a central admissions office, you should apply for admission through direct correspondence and contact with universities. Students must complete at least 120 courses to receive a bachelor’s degree, which takes at least 3 years. In general, one of the conditions for entering the undergraduate program is having a pre-university degree. Some institutions may require an English language certificate, for example, TOEFL 550 (written), 213 (online), IELTS 6.0, or MUET Band 4. These conditions vary from university to university. Therefore, having a diploma and a language degree at the level of IELTS 6 is necessary for admission to the undergraduate level. To be eligible for an undergraduate course in Malaysia, you must have the following documents:
- NEC (National Examination Certificate)_ with an overall score of at least 75%
- STPM (Sijil Tinggi Persekolhan) Malaysia_ Malaysian High School Certificate_ with main degree
- Matrikulasi Certificate of Malaysia (maturity)
- Polytechnic Certificate
Study at the postgraduate level in Malaysia
As was presented, this country does not have a central admission office. Instead, you should apply for a Malaysian Master’s degree by directly contacting the universities. Universities will have different admission requirements for graduate courses, but in all of them, having a bachelor’s degree in a related subject is mandatory. You may be accepted even if you do not have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, only by having significant work experience in a specific field. Other requirements for entering Malaysian master’s degree programs are determined individually by the universities. Most Malaysian university officials want you to provide a research background that reflects your desire to study in that field and Malaysia. It is better to also have a teacher’s recommendation letter with you.
The official language of Malaysia is Malay. However, a large number of postgraduate courses offered in this country are in English because this country tries to attract more international students. You might have to take an English language test if you are not from an English-speaking country. International language tests such as TOEFL and IELTS are usually accepted by Malaysian universities. The minimum score required is usually around 60 for the TOEFL Internet-based test and 5.5 to 6.5 for IELTS.
The following documents are required for the postgraduate course:
- Bachelor’s degree (from a recognized public university)
- Bachelor’s degree (from a recognized private university)
- Graduation from pre master’s degree
- Required English language certificate
Study at the doctorate level in Malaysia
A doctorate in Malaysia can take between three and five years but usually lasts up to three years, especially since most scholarships are only given to the students for a short period. Some universities may expect you to publish your findings in a journal before they give you a doctorate.
The final stage of obtaining a doctoral degree in Malaysia is structurally comparable to many other countries. To earn Ph.D., you must prepare an article on the subject of your research. You also need to provide seminars on key findings of your dissertation and provide several experts in your field of study. During this seminar, you should defend these findings and show that your knowledge of the subject is sufficient to get a doctorate.
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