Malaysia Applications

How to Apply to Malaysia Universities

A step-by-step walkthrough of the university application process for Malaysia. Learn how to navigate application systems, meet deadlines, and track your applications.

Application Systems

Malaysia University Application Systems

How international students apply in Malaysia.

UPU (for Malaysians only)

UPU is the one application site for Malaysian citizens. You do not use it.

Key Features

Run by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Perfect For

Malaysian citizens only

Pro Tips for Choosing an Application System

Each university has its own fee, deadline and papers.
Keep every login and application number.

Application Process

Step-by-Step Application Process

Apply directly to each university, on its own website. International students do not use UPU.

Choose a university and course

Check that the course is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

Key Considerations

Check the marks you need from your Class 12 (India) or Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC, Pakistan).
Check the English test score you need.

Pro Tip

Check the list of approved courses, called the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR).

Take an English test

For example, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) asks for IELTS 5.5 for a bachelor's and 6.0 for a master's. Other universities may ask for different scores.

Key Considerations

UM does not accept IELTS UKVI (a special version of IELTS for UK visas).

Pro Tip

UM and UTM accept test results that are not more than 2 years old.

Prepare your papers

Passport, photo, transcripts and certificates stamped as true copies, and your English result.

Key Considerations

Official English translations of papers in other languages.

Pro Tip

Ask your school or university office to stamp your papers as true copies. An embassy can also do this.

Apply online

Use the application website of the university you chose.

Key Considerations

Pay the application fee.

Pro Tip

Apply at least 9 weeks before your course starts at Taylor's.

Accept your offer

A full offer letter lets your university apply for your Student Pass (the permit that lets you study in Malaysia; a sticker goes in your passport).

Key Considerations

Pay the first fee your university asks for, if any.

Get your Student Pass

EMGS checks your papers. The Immigration Department of Malaysia then gives you an eVAL. After that, you apply online in eVISA for a Single Entry Visa (a visa for one entry).

Key Considerations

EMGS aims to decide in about 14 working days (Monday to Friday) if your application is complete.

Important Note

Leave several weeks between your offer and your class start for the Student Pass, the Single Entry Visa and your flight.

Costs

Application Fees & Fee Waivers

Each university charges its own application fee.

Application Fee Structure

What you can expect to pay when applying to universities in Malaysia

Monash University Malaysia (Monash Malaysia)

Plus MYR 200 as a registration fee when you join.

100 Malaysian ringgit (MYR) to apply

Universiti Malaya (UM)

UM does not give the fee back, and does not let anyone skip the fee.

The fee depends on the type of course.

Multiple Applications Add Up

Check each university’s application fee before you apply.

Payment Methods

Accepted payment options for university applications

Online card payment
At Taylor's, you pay online through Taylor's Pay or Flywire (a money transfer site).

Money-Saving Tips for Applications

Apply only to courses whose entry rules you meet.
Apply to fewer universities, more carefully.

Monitoring

Tracking Your Applications

How to follow your application.

Application Tracking Methods

University portal

Check your status on the portal where you applied.

UM: MAYA Portal
Taylor's: TOPAS

Pro Tip

Save your login details.

EMGS tracker

After your offer, track your Student Pass on the EMGS website with your passport number.

Shows the stage of your Student Pass.

Email Management & Communication

Best practices for managing university communications during the application process

Email Management Tips

UM emails interview details if you are shortlisted.
At UM, if you hear nothing, they are still checking your application.

Common Email Issues

Spam filtering: Check spam/junk folders regularly

Full mailbox: Ensure you have storage space for emails

Typos in email address: Verify email address on applications

Missed emails: Check for emails from unfamiliar university addresses

UM gives no fixed decision date.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues & Solutions

Problems students often meet when they apply, and how to avoid them.

Papers

The most common reasons an application stalls.

Predicted or trial results

UM does not accept predicted, mock, trial or expected results.

Solution:

Apply with final, official results.

Applying before you finish

At UM, applications from students who have not finished their studies are cancelled.

Solution:

Wait until you finish. If your final transcript is not ready, UM accepts a temporary transcript with a letter from your university saying you have finished.

Missing English result

You may get only a conditional offer (an offer with something still missing). It cannot be used for a Student Pass.

Solution:

Send a valid English test result before the deadline in your offer.

When & How to Get Help

Who can help

Each university's admissions office
EMGS, for Student Pass questions after your offer

How to Ask for Help Effectively

Write the application number you got when you applied in every email.
Write to the university's admissions office, not EMGS (Education Malaysia Global Services, the office that handles Student Passes), about your offer.

Post-Submission