Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Admission Guide

UNIMAS: Malaysia's eighth university, Sarawak's first

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is a public university in Kota Samarahan, a township roughly half an hour from Kuching, the capital of Sarawak in East Malaysia (Borneo). UNIMAS Global, the university's official international portal, records that UNIMAS — Malaysia's eighth university — was officially incorporated on 24 December 1992 and opened its doors to a first batch of 118 students on 8 August 1993. It was the first public university established in Sarawak.

Those first students registered in just two pioneering faculties: Social Science, and Resource Science and Technology. The university is governed by Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), and its qualifications are quality-assured by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

• Type: public university, governed by MOHE
• Location: Kota Samarahan, near Kuching, Sarawak (Borneo)
• Incorporated 24 December 1992; first 118 students on 8 August 1993
• Malaysia's eighth university and the first public university in Sarawak

Faculties, and what makes UNIMAS's mix unusual

UNIMAS's official site describes more than 40 programmes across ten faculties, spanning social sciences and humanities; cognitive sciences and human development; business and economics; engineering; computer science and information technology; resource science and technology; applied and creative arts; the built environment; and medicine and health sciences.

One genuinely distinctive part of that mix is the Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, established in 1994 and one of relatively few faculties of its kind in Malaysia — it spans areas such as cognitive science, human resource development and counselling. The university's Borneo setting also shapes its resource science and environmental teaching and research.

Programme lists, entry levels (foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate) and specialisations change over time, so confirm the exact course, its duration and its structure on the official UNIMAS website before you apply.

• Around ten faculties; the official site describes 40+ programmes
• Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development (established 1994) — an unusual offering in Malaysia
• Resource science and environmental fields draw on the Borneo setting

Entry requirements and English proficiency

Entry requirements depend on the programme and the level. International applicants are generally asked for recognised secondary or prior qualifications that meet the programme's minimum, plus evidence of English-language proficiency such as IELTS, TOEFL or another accepted test.

The exact grades, subject prerequisites and minimum English scores vary by course and are updated each cycle. Do not rely on second-hand figures — check the current requirements for your specific programme on the official UNIMAS website and verify before applying.

How international students apply

Applications are made through UNIMAS's international admissions channel — its online application system and international office (UNIMAS Global). You submit your academic documents and English evidence, and if you meet the criteria you receive an offer letter.

Intakes, application deadlines and fees are set by the university and change from year to year, so treat any dates or amounts you see elsewhere as unofficial and confirm them on the official UNIMAS site.

Checking that your programme is accredited

Accreditation in Malaysia is granted per programme, not per institution, so check the exact course you want rather than the university's name.

The Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR) is where fully accredited programmes are listed. A newer programme may instead hold Provisional Accreditation, which MQA describes as meeting the minimum requirements to begin running a programme, ahead of Full Accreditation. The MQR portal itself notes that if you cannot find a programme there, you should also check MQA's separate Provisional Accreditation portal — so a programme missing from the MQR is not automatically a red flag. Check both, and verify the status with the university in writing if you are unsure.

The EMGS student pass

Every international student in Malaysia needs a Student Pass, which is coordinated through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), a company owned by the government and operating under the Ministry of Higher Education. The process typically includes academic screening, an approval-to-study letter, a health screening and endorsement of the pass in your passport.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Immigration rules and processing steps change, so follow the guidance your university's international office and EMGS give you, and verify the current requirements on the official EMGS website before you travel.

Living in Kota Samarahan and Kuching

Kota Samarahan is a quieter university township, with Kuching — known for its riverfront, food and access to Sarawak's national parks — a short drive away. The climate is tropical and warm year-round.

Living costs, accommodation options and any campus housing differ by lifestyle and change over time; use the university's official cost-of-living and accommodation information rather than estimates, and verify current figures on the official website.