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East & Southeast Asia·Research university

Universiti Malaya (University of Malaya)

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Universiti Malaya (University of Malaya) is a public research university located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and is the country's oldest university. It offers a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across fields such as medicine, engineering, law, business and the sciences, and enrolls both Malaysian and international students. Admission requirements, tuition fees and application deadlines vary by programme and should be verified on the official university website.

Last updated

A futuristic university study commons with sweeping white curves, warm wood accents, greenery and full-height glass.
Full admissions guideUniversiti Malaya (UM) Admission Guide for International Students9 min read · verified 12 July 2026

Location

Kuala Lumpur

Established

1949

Degree levels

Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Instruction

English-taught

Rankings

Rankings are published annually by their respective organisations and change every year. Confirm the current-year position on the official ranking website before relying on it.

How to apply

Direct via university (UM online application portal)

Admission tests

Recognized pre-university qualification (A-Levels / STPM / IB / UEC / recognized foundation or matriculation)English proficiency test (IELTS / TOEFL / MUET)Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution (for postgraduate entry)

Requirements change from one intake to the next — confirm the current ones on Universiti Malaya (University of Malaya)’s official site (opens in a new tab) before you apply.

Applying to universities in East & Southeast Asia

Application platform
Direct via each university (no single regional platform; Japan via university portals/JASSO, Hong Kong undergraduate via JUPAS for local students)
Intakes
Varies by country — Japan: April & Sept/Oct; Singapore & Malaysia: Aug/Sept; South Korea & China: March & Sept
Student visa
Student visa / pass (varies by country)
Working while studying
Varies by country — many allow limited part-time work during term (for example Japan up to 28 hrs/week with permission; Singapore restricted); verify current rules on the official source before relying on them.

Official sources: Study in Japan — Government of Japan · Study in Korea — Government of Korea · Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore. Visa and work rules change — verify on the official source before relying on them.

Popular fields of study

MedicineEngineeringLawBusiness and EconomicsComputer Science and Information TechnologyArts and Social Sciences
Visit official website

Source: Universiti Malaya (University of Malaya) official website. Details here are for guidance only — tuition, deadlines, rankings and eligibility change every academic year, so confirm on the official university site before applying.

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