| Types of pre-university course | Duration of study | No. of subjects studied/ (typical exam result announcement date) | Estimated tuition fee per course (RM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge GCE A-Levels, UK | 15-18 months | 3 – 4 subjects / (August/January) | RM19,000–32,000 (US$4,750–9,500) for 3 subjects |
| SACE, Australia (formerly SAM) | 11 months | 5 subjects / (December) | RM21,500–23,500 (US$5,250–7,000) |
| AUSMAT, Australia | 10 months | 5-6 subjects / (December) | RM22,000–30,000 (US$5,550–7,500) |
| CIMP, Canada | 12 months | 6 subjects / (June/December, usually 1 month after exam) | RM37,000 (US$9,250) |
| International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), (at international schools) | 24 months | 6 subjects / (July/Jan) | RM60,000–80,000 (US$15,000–20,000) |
| Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) | 12 months | 4 or 5 subjects / (July/December, usually within 2 months after exam) | RM30,000 (US$7,500) |
| New South Wales High School Certificate (NSW HSC) | 12 months | 5 subjects (usually within 2 months after exam) | RM15,000 (US$3,750) |
| University’s Internal Programme (private) | 10-12 months | 5-6 subjects / (varies) | RM12,000–18,000 (US$3,000–4,500) |
Source: StudyMalaysia Research Team; Education Guide Malaysia (15th edition), brochures and websites of various colleges
(Estimated currency exchange rate: US$1=RM4.00; £1=RM5.00)
(Note: All figures are estimates and serve only as a guideline)
Bachelor degree programmes
Malaysia offers you many study pathways to complete an entire 3-year bachelor degree programme at a very competitive cost if you have a pre-university qualification. The estimated tuition fees for various study modes (‘3+0’, twinning, ADP, home-grown, foreign university, etc.) that lead to a bachelor degree qualification are:
Table 2: Cost comparison for a 3+0 foreign university franchised Electronic Engineering degree in Malaysia and a UK bachelor degree in Engineering (3 years)
| Item | 3+0 engineering degree in Malaysia (estimated cost) |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (for international students) | RM68,000 per course for a duration of 3 years |
| Basic living expenses | RM1,800 per month or estimated RM54,000 for 3 years (3 x 10 months) |
| Other costs | RM15,000 |
| Total tuition fees and living expenses for 3 years | Approx. RM137,000 (US$34,250) |
| Estimated savings for 3+0 degree programme | RM180,500 (US$45,125) |
(Source: HELP College of Arts & Technology; StudyMalaysia Research Team)
(Estimated currency exchange rate: US$1=RM4.00; £1=RM5.00)
(Note: All figures are estimates and serve only as a guideline)
Table 3: Estimated tuition fees per course for a home-grown bachelor degree at Malaysian private universities
| Areas of study | Business | Engineering | IT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated tuition fee | RM40,000–50,000 | RM50,000–85,000 (Average cost: RM70,000 or US$17,500) | RM40,000–60,000 (Average cost: RM55,000 or US$13,750) |
| Duration of study | 3 years | 4 years | 3 years |
(Source: StudyMalaysia Research Team; Brochures of some institutions
(Estimated currency exchange rate: US$1=RM4.00)
(Note: All figures are estimates and serve only as a guideline)
Table 4: Estimated tuition fees for an American Degree Transfer Program
| Programme | Duration | Tuition fee: Studying in Malaysia and the US |
|---|---|---|
| American Degree Transfer Program | 2 years (in Malaysia) + 2 years (in the US) | RM30,000–50,000 (US$7,500–12,500) for 2 years in Malaysia and US$25,000 (state university)–35,000 (private university) per year in the US |
Table 5: Estimated tuition fees for a 2+1 UK Degree Transfer Programme (Law)
| Degree transfer programme | Duration of study | Estimated Tuition Fee: Malaysia + Overseas |
|---|---|---|
| UK Degree Transfer Programme (Law) | 2 years (in Malaysia) + 1 year (in the UK) | Tuition fee: RM67,000 (or US$16,750) for 2 years in Malaysia + £12,500–18,000 per year in the UK depending on the choice of university Living expenses: RM20,000–25,000 per year in Malaysia; £9,500–12,000 per year in the UK |
(Source: HELP University; StudyMalaysia Research Team
(Estimated currency exchange rate: US$1=RM4.00; £1=RM5.00)
(Note: All figures are estimates and serve only as a guideline)
Table 6: Comparison of tuition fee for a foreign university branch campus Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (4 years study duration in Malaysia and the UK)
| Duration of study | Tuition fee |
|---|---|
| 4 years in Malaysia (entire course in Malaysia) | RM196,000 @RM49,800 per year |
| 4 years in the UK (entire course in the UK) | £73,920 for 4 years @£18,480 per year |
Source: Heriot-Watt University Malaysia and UK websites
(Estimated currency exchange rate: US$1=RM4.00; £1=RM5.00)
(All figures are estimates and serve only as a guideline)
Table 7: Estimated tuition fees per year for a bachelor degree in the US and other countries
| 1. USA | US$25,000 (state university)–35,000 (private university) per year in the US |
| 2. Canada | CAD$17,000–30,000 per year in Canada |
| 3. Australia | AUD$20,000–40,000 per year in Australia |
| 4. New Zealand | NZ$22,000–35,000 per year in New Zealand |
| 5. United Kingdom | £10,000–30,000 per year in the UK |
(Source: StudyMalaysia Research Team and Study in Malaysia Handbook 10th International Edition)
(Estimated currency exchange rate: US$1=RM4.00)
(Note: All figures are estimates and serve only as a guideline)
C. Postgraduate studies
Public universities and PHEIs in Malaysia offer international students postgraduate programmes at very competitive tuition fees. The estimated tuition fees are as follows:
Table 88: Estimated course fees for Master of Business Administration (MBA) awarded by Malaysian universities
| Providers | Qualification | Course fee (RM) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private universities | Master of Business Administration | RM20,000-40,000 per course | 1 to 1.5 years full-time |
| Public universities | Master of Business Administration | RM21,000-26,000 per course (US$5,250-6,500) | 1 to 1.5 years full-time |
(Source: StudyMalaysia Research Team; brochures of some institutions)
(Estimated currency exchange rate: US$1=RM4.00)
(Note: All figures are estimates and serve only as a guideline)
