Admission at a glance
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) is a public university in Serdang, Selangor, built from an agricultural college founded in 1931 and now one of Malaysia's larger research universities. International bachelor's applicants apply online through UPM's e-SMP system (smp.upm.edu.my) rather than the domestic UPU channel, submitting a completed application together with certified transcripts and identity documents as a single PDF to the Division of Admission and Academic Governance. UPM's general academic bar is a recognised senior high school or pre-university qualification with results the relevant faculty considers sufficient; agriculture, veterinary medicine, food science, biotechnology, engineering and science programmes expect a science-subject background. The general English floor is IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 500 PBT / 60 iBT / 176 CBT, or MUET Band 3, though some programmes ask for more. UPM's main international undergraduate entry point is the First Semester intake, which starts in October; a Foundation year is also open to international applicants who need it before a degree. Tuition is billed annually rather than as one flat programme total and depends heavily on faculty, from around RM 10,000 a year for many science, agriculture, forestry and computer science degrees up to RM 40,000 a year for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine programme. The application fee is a flat USD 100 regardless of programme. Once an applicant accepts an offer, UPM's own visa office (i-PUTRA, the Putra International Centre) applies to Education Malaysia Global Services for the student's Visa Approval Letter before travel.
Deadlines
All rounds| Level | Intake | Round | Closes | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor | First Semester (October) 2027 | Regular | TBC | Tbc | 7 Sep 2026 |
Requirements
Bachelor's degree
A recognised Senior High School or Secondary School certificate covering 11 to 12 years of study (results valid for 5 years), or an equivalent qualification the UPM Senate recognises. Programmes in agriculture, veterinary medicine, food science, biotechnology, engineering and science expect science subjects in the prior qualification. Applicants from some countries must also submit results from a national entrance exam where UPM requires one.
English language
One of: IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL 500 (PBT) / 60 (iBT) / 176 (CBT), Malaysian University English Test (MUET) Band 3, or Certificate in English Proficiency (CIEP/ELS UPM) Level 109. Some programmes, including several in the School of Business and Economics, set a higher band. IELTS Indicator, Aptis, Duolingo and TOEFL ITP scores are not accepted, and test results expire after five years.
Postgraduate (master's and PhD)
A relevant bachelor's degree (for master's) or master's degree (for PhD) recognised by the UPM Senate, applied for through the School of Graduate Studies rather than the undergraduate e-SMP system. Specific CGPA and programme requirements are set by the receiving faculty or institute.
What changed
Full log- Toefl Min: none to 60
- Ielts Min: none to 5.5
- Application Fee Currency: none to USD
- Application Fee Amount: none to 100
- Tuition Currency: none to MYR
- https://akademik.upm.edu.my/international_student_admission-3955
- https://akademik.upm.edu.my/international_student_admission/bachelor/application_deadline-68267
- https://akademik.upm.edu.my/international_student_admission/bachelor/english_language_proficiency-66331
- https://akademik.upm.edu.my/dokumen/BGAKA1_English.pdf
- https://eng.upm.edu.my/dokumen/FKJUR1_FEES_FOR_INTER_STD.pdf
- https://intl.upm.edu.my/visa_pass/new_student/val_application_emgs-62154
- https://intl.upm.edu.my/faq
- https://smp.upm.edu.my/