Why study in Malaysia?
Why study in Malaysia?
W hen students think of studying abroad, they always think of going to the US, UK, Canada, Australia, India… maybe one or two European countries. But rarely do they think of Malaysia.
Despite the fact that there are more than 450 institutions of learning in Malaysia comprising private and international schools, private colleges, private and public universities, foreign universities' branch campuses and English language centres, Malaysia is not always thought of as a choice… not a first one anyway.
Recently 15 accredited universities came together for the Third Malaysian Education Exhibition in Dubai.
Why should you consider the country for higher studies?
This is why…
Affordable quality
According to Hasibah Harun, Malaysia education promotion and recruitment consultant, there are so many reasons for you to put the country on your places-to-consider list.
“First of all, we have high-quality education at affordable prices. If you look at the MBA programmes we offer, the cost can reach up to $5,110 (Dh18,769),'' she said.
“Second, Malaysia is a safe country. Parents will not have to worry about their children's safety. Third, we have modern facilities and latest technologies.
Last, our costs of living are very affordable. They are less than the costs in Dubai.''
Twinning and transfer systems
Universities in Malaysia also offer twinning programmes that allow students to receive internationally recognised credits from universities in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and France for higher studies.
“Some of the colleges and universities offer the 3+0 system or the 2+1 system, where students can either finish their studies in Malaysia or finish two years in Malaysia then complete the remaining part of the degree in well-known universities in the UK, Australia or USA,'' she said.
International student body
According to Shushili Bin Shuib, director of the Malaysian Education Promotion Centre in the Middle East and North Africa, there are 51,000 international students in Malaysia, of which 6,000 are from the Middle East.
Bin Shuib said that Malaysian universities offer scholarships for foreign students keen to pursue their higher education in Malaysian universities within the framework of joint education exchange programmes.
He added that petroleum engineering, Islamic studies, information technology, medicine and pharmacology were the specialisations most sought after by students in the Middle East.
So where can you study in Malaysia?
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
- A private institute established in 1983 that offers graduate and undergraduate degrees.
- It is the only Islamic university that uses English as its medium of instruction and administration since its inception.
- The number of female students exceeds the number of males.
- It is home to 15,000 students from 90 countries; it has 3,000 teaching and administrative staff.
- Its colleges include: Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy, Allied Health Science, Science, Architecture and Environmental Design, Information and Communication Technology, Laws and Islamic Revealed Knowledge.
- It has three main campuses: the Kuala Lumpur campus — covers 700 acres and is located in the district of Gombak, a suburb of the capital city; the Kuantan Campus is about 250 kilometres of Kuala Lumpur. The Matriculation Centre is located in a satellite town south of the metropolis.
- For more information log on to: www.iiu.edu.my
College of Medical and Allied Health Sciences (MAHSA College)
- It was established in 2004 with the objective of providing programmes in the field of allied health sciences to train paramedic personnel needed for the health services in the public and private sector.
It is situated in the commercial district of Pusat Bandar Damansara, Damansara Heights.- The college offers various diploma and degree courses in allied health sciences such as nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, radiography, forensic medicine etc.
- The college is registered with the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, with approval from the National Accreditation Board.
- The diploma and degree programmes are offered on a twinning basis with reputable international universities. Twinning arrangements have been established with Teesside University and Northumbria University in the UK.
- For more information log on to: www.mahsa.edu.my
University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
- It is the eighth public university in Malaysia established in 1993 and the first on Sarawak Island.
- It offers an environment for teaching, learning and research.
- It houses the following colleges: Economics and Business, Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology, Applied and Creative Arts, Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Social Sciences, Resource Science and Technology and Medicine and Health Sciences.
- The university also has six academic centres and three institutes.
- For more information log on to: www.unimas.my
KDU College
- A private institute established in 1983, located in Petaling Jaya.
- It pioneered the American Universities Transfer Programme in Malaysia.
- In 1987, the British Twinning Degree Programme was introduced in KDU.
- The college offers a wide range of programmes at certificate, diploma, degree and postgraduate levels. The certificate and diploma courses were internally developed while the degree and postgraduate programmes are conducted in association with prestigious foreign universities.
- Its alumni number more than 25,000.
- It houses: the Centre for Pre-University Studies, School of American University Studies, School of Business, School of Creative and Performing Arts and Mass Communication, School of Computing and Information System, Centre for English Language, School of Engineering and School of Hotel and Tourism Management
- For more information log on to: www.kdupg.edu.my
Sunway University College
- It is a private university college located in Bandar Sunway, Selangor.
- A major teaching centre for the UK, US and Australian universities.
- It offers: pre-university programmes, an American degree transfer programme, Victoria University, Australia, programme and Victoria University graduate programme.
- It houses: School of Business, School of Computer Technology, School of Creative Arts and Communication, School of Health and Natural Sciences and the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Management.
- For more information log on to: www.sunway.edu.my
Asia Pacific University College of Technology and Innovation (UCTI)
- It was established when the Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT) was officially awarded University College status by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, in 2004. The new University College is now called UCTI for short.
- The campus is located in Kuala Lumpur within Technology Park Malaysia.
- The university offers foundation programmes, bachelor and masters degrees and diplomas.
- It has won many awards including the national and international Asia Pacific Awards.
- For more information log on to: www.ucti.edu.my
