Master Study in Malaysia: Requirements and Fees

A Master study in Malaysia will give you a chance to benefit from one of the fastest-growing economies and of the best higher education systems in the world.

Malaysia is one of the Southeast Asian countries that attained a prominent position in the world at the beginning of the 21st century. It is also a university destination for postgraduate studies, where many programs are in English in a number of different institutions.

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Types of Masters Courses

The content and assessment of the master courses and programs in Malaysia differs and diversified. Some follow the familiar international format of semesters and assessments, which usually end with an independent dissertation research.

Other courses do not include a dissertation, but instead it focuses on a wider range of educational units. They include an independent study and group project. This makes them attractive for the students who intend to pursue a number of career paths. Moreover, Malaysia offers master and PhD programs, which focus mostly on research.

As many postgraduate studies in Malaysia, you may have to choose between a Master’s degree by Coursework and a Masters by Research program. The difference is that the master by coursework focuses on a more practical application of the subject of knowledge. A master by research on the other hand involves students submitting a thesis focused on a research project.

How Many Years is a Master Study in Malaysia?

The academic year in Malaysia consists of two semesters, starting from January to May, or from June to November. This is in addition to the short vacations between the two semesters and the longer one between November and January.

The length of the Malaysian master’s degree is measured in individual semesters. But, in practice, the duration of the programs range from one to three years, depending on the study course and subject area.

As for the registered students in the part-time or distance learning programs, their study duration may last longer.

Cost of a Master’s Degree in Malaysia

The tuition fees of the master programs in Malaysia are reasonable in general, in comparison to other postgraduate study destinations. Costs differ according to the selected universities and disciplines.

As a guide, foreign students will pay around RM 27,000 ($6,470) on average in a Malaysian university. The master of business administration (MBA) would be of higher cost.

In general, the fees of international universities in Malaysia are higher than the local institutions.

Applying for Masters in Malaysia

Applying for a master study program in Malaysia will be through a direct contact with the universities. Individual institutions will have varying admission requirements for the postgraduate programs.

You will have to hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. In case, you are not holding a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, you will remain eligible if you were able to demonstrate a substantial professional experience. Moreover, there are another admission criteria for the Malaysian master programs set by the individual universities.

Most of them will want to see some evidence of your enthusiasm and readiness for the postgraduate studies. Usually, you should have to submit a personal statement that covers your current academic experience and research interests.

This in addition to providing any information on any relevant professional or work experience. In some cases, you may need to support this statement with academic transcripts and references.

You may also need to have your current certificate recognized and accredited by your prospective university in Malaysia. Usually, this process is quick and simple for the undergraduate qualifications awarded by higher education in Malaysia.

Check our article about the higher education in Malaysia.

Language Requirements to Study Master in Malaysia

If your first language is not English, you must take an academic English language exam. Usually, the Malaysian universities accept the common international language exams, such as IELTS and TOEFL.

Check our tips to succeed your IELTS

Visas for Masters Students in Malaysia

All the foreign students who pursue studying a master’s in Malaysia will need to go through an immigration procedure.

First, you will need to apply for a visa approval letter (VAL) through the Malaysian Immigration Department. Once you get this document, you can arrange for your trip to Malaysia. When you arrive in Malaysia, you will need to show your VAL in the airport.

The authorities will stamp your passport so that you can stay in the country while undertaking your second step in the visa process: the “Student Pass”. Usually, you will apply for the student pass through the Malaysian university, and then the application will be processed through the Malaysian Immigration Department.

Put into consideration that the student passes are only valid for studying in one institution. If you transfer to another master program or stop studying, you will need to apply for a new student pass or make alternative arrangements to remain in the country.