Scholarships for International Students in Malaysia

Overview: where funding comes from

International students in Malaysia can look for funding from two broad sources: government scholarships and university-specific awards. Government funding is limited and competitive; university awards (including partial tuition waivers and merit scholarships) are often more numerous.

Most scholarships are aimed at specific levels — many at postgraduate (Master's/PhD) level, some at undergraduate — and each has its own eligibility, coverage and deadlines.

This guide points you to the main official routes. Amounts and terms change every cycle, so treat the details as things to verify on the official award pages, not fixed promises.

Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)

The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) is a Malaysian Government scholarship administered by the Ministry of Higher Education to attract international students, primarily for postgraduate study at Malaysian universities. Applications are made online through the official MOHE scholarship portal.

Eligibility, the fields prioritised, coverage (such as tuition and any allowance) and application windows are set by MOHE and updated each round. Read the current call carefully on the official portal before applying — do not rely on figures quoted by third-party sites.

MIS is competitive and merit-based; meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee an award. Prepare a strong academic record and a clear study or research proposal where required.

University-specific scholarships and waivers

Many Malaysian public and private universities offer their own international-student scholarships, merit awards, or tuition-fee waivers. These may reward academic excellence, apply to specific programmes, or support research students working with a supervisor.

Because each university sets its own awards, the best approach is to check the scholarships or financial-aid section of the official website for every institution on your shortlist, and to ask the international office what you qualify for.

Some awards require you to hold an admission offer first; others are decided alongside admission. Note each one's deadline, coverage and renewal conditions — they differ widely.

• Merit-based scholarships for high-achieving applicants
• Partial tuition-fee waivers or discounts
• Research assistantships or graduate funding tied to a supervisor or project
• Programme- or faculty-specific awards

How to apply well

Strong scholarship applications are complete, on time and tailored. Start early, because deadlines often fall well before the intake and some awards need you to apply for admission first.

Typical materials include academic transcripts and certificates, proof of English proficiency where required (such as IELTS or TOEFL), a CV, a statement or study/research proposal, and letters of recommendation. Follow each award's exact checklist.

• Track every deadline and apply through the official portal only
• Meet or exceed the academic and language criteria
• Tailor your statement or proposal to the scholarship's aims
• Provide accurate, verifiable documents — never fabricated records
• Keep copies and confirmation of every submission

Eligibility and what's covered

Eligibility is based on secular, academic criteria — such as your qualifications, grades, chosen level and field, and sometimes age or English proficiency. Awards are open on merit and need, and this guide states only official, secular criteria.

Coverage varies: some scholarships fund tuition plus a living allowance, others are partial waivers. Because amounts and terms are revised each cycle, we do not quote figures — verify the current coverage on the official award page.

Always read whether an award is renewable, what academic performance you must maintain, and whether any service or reporting conditions apply.

Avoiding scholarship scams

No genuine scholarship guarantees you an award, and official scholarships never ask for a 'processing fee' paid to a private agent in exchange for a guaranteed result. Be cautious of anyone promising a 'guaranteed scholarship' or admission for money.

Apply only through official government and university portals, and confirm any scholarship's existence and terms on the official source before sending documents or payments. If an offer arrives unsolicited and sounds too good to be true, verify it independently.

When in doubt, contact the university's international office or MOHE directly rather than trusting a third-party agent or website.