Universiti Sains Malaysia Admission Requirements 2027 for International Students

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is a public research university based on Penang island, admitting international undergraduates through a dedicated International Channel alongside its national UPU system. Fees are billed per semester in US dollars, from about USD 1,560 a semester for arts and humanities degrees up to USD 13,750 a semester for its Doctor of Medicine.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree

Completion of 12 years of formal education (A-Level, International Baccalaureate, AUSMAT or an equivalent recognised qualification), plus one of: IELTS (or IELTS Online) 5.0, TOEFL iBT 40, TOEFL Essentials Online 7.5, PTE Academic/Online 47, Cambridge English Advanced/Proficiency/Linguaskill Online 154, MUET Band 3.5, or ELS CIEP Level 107. Applicants from an English-medium school or country may be exempt from the test requirement, and applicants without a qualifying score can sit USM's own English placement test after arrival.

Postgraduate (master's and PhD)

A relevant bachelor's or master's degree with the CGPA the specific programme requires, plus the same range of accepted English tests; USM's postgraduate fee schedule separately lists mixed-mode, coursework and research-mode master's and doctoral programmes with their own duration and cost.

Documents

Official academic certificates, transcripts and records
English or Malay translation of any credential issued in another language
English language proficiency test result, or an authorisation letter confirming the medium of instruction was English
Passport data page (A4 copy)
Existing Student Pass, if already studying in Malaysia
Scholarship award letter, if sponsored
Processing fee payment receipt

How to apply

Register an account on USM's admission portal and choose the International Channel or apply via UPU.
Submit certificates, transcripts, an English test result (or note that one will follow), and a passport copy.
Pay the RM 100 processing fee through USM's ePayment system.
Receive a reference number and track the application online; a decision typically follows once the faculty completes its review.
Accept the Letter of Offer and pay any required deposit or first semester fee.
USM applies to EMGS for the Visa Approval Letter (eVAL); 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

Cambridge English Advanced or Proficiency 154, Cambridge Linguaskill Online 154, TOEFL Essentials Online 7.5, Malaysian University English Test (MUET) Band 3.5, or ELS CIEP Level 107 are also accepted. Applicants from an institution where English was the medium of instruction may be exempted from the test requirement.