Study Civil Engineering in Malaysia: Entry Requirements

Studying civil engineering in Malaysia is a wise choice, as the Malaysian universities enjoy a strong reputation abroad. This is not to mention the increasing popularity of Malaysian education, especially that Malaysia aspires to be the sixth-largest education exporter by 2021.

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Civil Engineering in Malaysia

The civil engineers focus on designing and developing the infrastructure through computer-aided designs.

This may include the small projects from developing roads and buildings to the main transportation networks, or the water supply systems nationwide.

Usually, the students who study civil engineering are passionate about mechanics, hydraulics, geotechnics, material sciences, and statistical analysis of simple and complex systems.

The civil engineering universities in Malaysia offer the following disciplines: construction engineering, architecture, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, and hydraulic engineering.

Learn more about the higher education system in Malaysia

How Long Does It Take to Study Civil Engineering?

This depends on the level of the training course you’re registered in and the university criteria.

Some institutions allow longer study periods. The course duration may differ according to the university. Usually, the duration of the engineering study levels are as the following:

Bachelor degree: 4 years
Master degree: 1-3 years
PhD degree: 2 years.

Entry Requirements

Similar to the study duration, your qualifications will differ according to the course and educational institution. In general, the entry requirements for each study level are as the following:

Bachelor Degree Requirements

Foundations/A-levels in science (physics, maths, mathematics)
Pass 4 relevant subjects in STPM, including English
Admission into Year 2 upon completing a diploma in an engineering discipline

Master Degree Requirements

A bachelor or equivalent degree in a related field
Work experience is taken into account

PhD Degree Requirements

A master or equivalent degree in a related field
Bachelor degree with excellent CGPA of at least 3.70 (for direct bachelor to PhD students)

Which universities are best for civil engineering in Malaysia?

The following are some civil engineering programs that are offered by some Malaysian universities:

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) School of Civil Engineering

The University of Technology of Malaysia offers Civil Engineering degrees from undergraduate to postgraduate programs.

Bachelor in Civil Engineering

You can get this degree either on a full-time or a part-time basis, which duration is respectively 4 years and 6 years. For the full-time bachelor study, you will attend school at the UTM main campus in Johor Bahru. On the other hand, the part-time program takes place in various learning centers throughout Malaysia.

Entry requirements include passing the Malaysian High School Certificate (STPM) or its equivalent with a minimum of Grade C along with a CGPA of 2.80; and a minimum Grade B- (NGMP 2.67) in Mathematics and Physics. Applicants must also pass the Ministry of Education (KPM) Matriculation/ Asasi UM/ Asasi UiTM along with the Malaysian University English Test (MUET).

Master in Civil Engineering

The Master in Civil Engineering at UTM aims to help students develop their problem-solving skills and their ability in project management in the field of Civil Engineering. The degree’s duration is between 4 and 8 semesters.

To be eligible, applicants to the master’s degree must have a bachelor’s degree with good honors from UTM or any other recognized higher institution or a qualification equivalent to the bachelor degree in relevant fields.

PhD in Civil Engineering

The doctorate study is offered in full/part-time with a duration of 6 to 12 semesters. The study covers the Engineering and Engineering Trades domains. And to be admitted, applicants must provide a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering or its equivalent that is acceptable by the university.

Learn more at the UTM Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s School of Civil Engineering

Monash University Malaysia’s Bachelor of Civil Engineering

This Civil Engineering course lasts for 4 years and takes place in Monash University’s campus in Selangor, Malaysia. With RM54,915 of tuition fees, this bachelor study is a full-time program and requires for applicants to meet the Malaysian high school certificate (SPTM) equivalents. It requires a IELTS overall score of 6.5 for non-English speaking international students.

Other fees include an application fee of RM100, a registration fee of RM200 along with general amenities of RM100 per semester. The study structure is spread into 4 levels. It starts from laying the foundation in the basic sciences of mathematics, physics and chemistry to developing core professional skills in civil engineering followed by a period of specialization in the last level.

Learn more at the Monash University’s official website

Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Hons) from Manipal International University (MIU)

The Manipal International University offers a bachelor degree in civil engineering (with honors). It includes an intensive study for the various engineering courses related to this field, with an emphasis on the professional and personal development.

Entry Requirements:

Students have to pass:

STPM with 2 principal passes in mathematics and physical science, or
A-level with a minimum of 2 passes in mathematics and a physical science, or
Foundation in science in a relevant field which is recognized by the Malaysian government, or
Diploma in a relevant field from the Institute of Higher Learning as recognized by the Malaysian government, and
Other equivalent qualifications as recognized by the Malaysian government
English language requirement.

Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Hons) from the Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)

The department of civil engineering in this university offers a full-time university program that awards a bachelor degree in civil engineering (with honors).

It is designed to prepare civil engineers that are able to plan, design, construct, and maintain the civil engineering facilities, such as buildings, bridges, foundations, highways, water supply systems, sewerage schemes, and other forms of infrastructure.

Moreover, this program also aims to provide the students with the educational base to reach a “professional engineer” status.

This is in addition to undertaking a master of civil engineering and doctor of philosophy from UNITEN and other reputable higher education institutions.