MQA Accreditation: How to Check a Malaysian Degree Is Recognised

What MQA and the MQF are

The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) is the statutory body that quality-assures higher education in Malaysia. It was established under the Malaysian Qualifications Agency Act 2007 and administers the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF), the national reference for qualification levels and credits.

MQA works alongside the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), which registers and licenses institutions. Together they oversee public universities, private universities and colleges, and the Malaysian campuses of foreign universities. Understanding this system helps you tell a properly accredited programme from one that is not.

Provisional vs full accreditation

In Malaysia a programme can hold provisional accreditation (granted before or early in delivery) or full accreditation (granted after the programme meets the required standards). Both are meaningful, but they are not the same, and status can change over time.

Because the exact status of any given programme is what matters for recognition and further study, always check the current record rather than relying on a brochure or an agent's claim. The authoritative place to do this is the Malaysian Qualifications Register.

How to use the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR)

The Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR) is the official national register of accredited programmes, qualifications, and higher-education providers, maintained by MQA. You can search it to confirm that a specific programme at a specific institution is accredited.

A register entry typically shows the institution, the qualification name and field, the qualification level, credit requirements, and the validity period. Search for your exact programme and provider — not just the university name — because accreditation is granted programme by programme.

• Search the MQR for the exact programme AND institution
• Confirm the qualification level and validity period shown
• Remember accreditation is programme-specific, not university-wide

Why this matters for international students

Accreditation affects whether your qualification is recognised for further study, professional registration, or employment — in Malaysia and back home. For Indian students, recognition and equivalence in India are separate questions to confirm with the relevant Indian authority, so a Malaysian accreditation alone does not settle how a degree is treated elsewhere.

This is guidance, not legal or professional advice. Requirements change, so verify a programme's status on the MQR and confirm home-country recognition with the appropriate official body before you commit money or time.