Aljawaz Your guide to study abroad As an international student, you are more likely to face a number of challenges and difficulties when studying in Malaysia. These will require finding solutions to overcome them, since pursuing your studies in your home country is very different from studying in another one.
At the beginning and upon your arrival, you may face some difficulties in studying in Malaysia. But, do not worry, these may encounter any student during the university study period. We will highlight some difficulties of studying in Malaysia and try to provide you with practical solutions to overcome them and adapt quickly.
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1) Being Away from Home and Family
Maybe the most important problem that would face you during your trip to Malaysia is being away from your family and friends.
In the beginning, you will feel a longing for your homeland, but with time you will overcome this.
You can make friendships with students from Malaysia to know more about their culture. You can also make friends from several nationalities.
2) Culture
You may be encountered at the beginning by the problem of the difference in culture, customs, and traditions.
But, this will not be a problem for you if you made friendships and were open to other cultures. Malaysians are very wonderful people. They respect others and accept diversity and difference. This country includes a combination of ethnicities and religions, and they live with each other in peace.
3) Language
The Malay language is the official language in Malaysia. Most of the Malaysians speak it.
You may face communication difficulties when you travel to Malaysia to study. Communication is important in our daily life, you need to communicate with the surrounding people constantly.
Do not worry about the language. Most Malaysians speak English or at least can understand it.
So, you can communicate using the English language. In the university, you will not find any difficulty, as all the study programs will be taught in English. That is why it is always required when registering in a Malaysian university, to have a good level and high qualifications in the English language.
4) Food
Each country is distinguished by its own food and various traditions in the cooking field.
One of the difficulties you may face is the difference between the food in your country and in the hosting country.
But, one of the most interesting features about Malaysia regarding food is that it serves a varied combination that satisfies all tastes. Moreover, you will not find difficulty in finding halal food as in many foreign countries, as most of the residents are Muslims.
Try to adapt quickly, accept all the differences, and try new and different items from the Malaysian food. You can also learn to cook in your room.
5) Financial Resources
Financial resources are the most important element in your study. Affording the costs of studying is one of the most important conditions to get a study visa in Malaysia.
The cost of living in Malaysia is kind of good. This does not mean that they are very low, but when compared to other countries, there is a notable difference.
Studying in one of the higher-education institutions in Malaysia requires providing all the financial resources for it.
Moreover, living in a city such as Kuala Lumpur compels you to bear high studying costs, in comparison with other Malaysian cities.
You can work during your study period in Malaysia in tourism and restaurants on vacations, but for no more than 20 hours per week. This would help you to afford accommodation, living, and studying costs in Malaysia.
Other Challenges You May Face When Studying in Malaysia
Other than these five main difficulties, there might be other challenges students will face when studying in a foreign country.
Like the difficulty adjusting to the Malaysian climate, which is a hot but humid climate. And wherever you are planning to study abroad, inquiring about the geographical aspects of the country you are about to go study in is a very important step. Nevertheless, it will still be difficult for you to predict the weather unless you experience it. But you can prepare for some essentials (clothing and equipment) so you won’t be surprised by the change.
There is also the difficulty to get used to the currency differences. In Malaysia, you will be using the Malaysian Ringgit. To overcome this challenge, you can create a conversion system that will help you calculate mentally and quickly the prices when buying things.
When studying in Malaysia, you may also face the challenges due to the differences between your home country learning system and the country you are studying in. You, then, have to adapt with new teaching styles. The key is to find out beforehand the learning style you are going to experience for the study you have applied for.
Throughout your stay, it will certainly get better. The same is for getting used with the time zone difference. It might be difficult to adjust, but you will get accustomed to everything after a few weeks in Malaysia.
Check our articles about:
How to get a student visa in Malaysia
The costs of studying and living in Malaysia
