Public university in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Universiti Malaya Admission Requirements 2027 for International Students

Universiti Malaya is Malaysia's oldest and most internationally recognised public university, based in Kuala Lumpur. It admits international undergraduates through its Academic Services Department with a general IELTS 5.0 floor, and publishes whole-programme tuition fees that run from about RM 61,000 for humanities degrees to over RM 673,000 for its medicine and surgery programme.

Verified 7 Sep 2026 Sources Official site
Next deadline
Not listed
No verified deadline yet
Tuition
RM60,900 to RM673,200
verified figure
English test
IELTS 5
TOEFL 60, PTE 41, waiver possible
Acceptance rate
Not published
Application fee
RM300

Requirements

Bachelor's degree

Completion of at least 12 years of primary and secondary education, evidenced by one of: Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), GCE A-Level, International Baccalaureate, a high school diploma equivalent to Grade 12, or a diploma recognised by UM with a minimum CGPA of 3.00 out of 4.00. Some programmes set higher subject-specific requirements; check the individual programme page before applying.

English language

One of: IELTS Academic 5.0, TOEFL 500 (PBT) / 173 (CBT) / 60 (iBT), Malaysian University English Test (MUET) Band 3, Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE Academic) 41, or grade C or above in Cambridge O-Level, A-Level or First Certificate in English. Some programmes require a higher score than this general floor.

Postgraduate (master's and PhD)

Entry requirements are set by the relevant faculty and vary by programme; UM directs applicants to the Study@UM (study.um.edu.my) programme pages and the faculty's own graduate office rather than publishing one university-wide postgraduate standard.

Documents

  • Passport-size photograph on a blue background
  • Certified copy of passport
  • Certified academic transcripts and certificates, with an official English or Malay translation if issued in another language (certified by the school principal, a government officer, or the relevant embassy)
  • English language proficiency test result, where already available
  • Sponsor's guarantee letter, if the applicant is sponsored

How to apply

  1. Check the academic and English requirements for the intended programme on the Study@UM website.
  2. Submit the online application through UM's admission portal, selecting up to three programme choices under one RM 300 application fee.
  3. Pay the application fee by FPX, credit or debit card, or Flywire.
  4. Wait for the faculty to process the application, typically four to eight weeks from a complete submission.
  5. Receive the outcome by email; successful applicants receive a Letter of Offer.
  6. Accept the offer and provide any outstanding documents, including the English test result if not already submitted.
  7. UM applies to EMGS for the Visa Approval Letter (eVAL) on the student's behalf; the student then completes the Single Entry Visa (if required), travel, arrival medical screening and Student Pass endorsement steps set by EMGS and Immigration.

English test waiver

Malaysian University English Test (MUET) Band 3 or above is accepted in place of IELTS or TOEFL. Grade C or higher in Cambridge O-Level, A-Level or First Certificate in English (FCE) is also accepted. Some programmes set a higher score than this general minimum.

Sources, checked 7 September 2026
  1. https://aasd.um.edu.my/faq-ug-international-admission
  2. https://aasd.um.edu.my/faq-admission
  3. https://aasd.um.edu.my/
  4. https://study.um.edu.my/doc/tution-fee/Fee%20Structure,%20UG,%20International%20-%20Updated%2022%20Oct%202025.pdf