One of the main attractions Malaysia holds for foreign students is ‘affordability’. The major cost considerations when it comes to a foreign education are course fees and living expenses.
Once they calculate the cost of education and living in Malaysia, many international students discover that studying in Malaysia offers them real value for money. The affordable cost of quality tertiary education is one of many good reasons why international students choose Malaysia.
For example, you can acquire a UK engineering degree (3 years) in Malaysia through a franchised degree programme at an estimated RM51,000 (USD16,000), whereas the tuition fee of the same degree programme at the host university in the UK is about RM144,000 (USD45,000).
Estimated Cost of Education in Malaysia
1. Preparatory Courses for English Proficiency Tests
| Type of Programme | Estimated Tuition Fees in USD | Duration |
|
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) |
129 –229 |
2 months |
|
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) |
143 –229 |
2 months |
2. Pre-University Programmes
| Type of Programme | Estimated Tuition Fees in USD | Duration |
| GCE ‘A’ level, UK | 3,100 – 4,800 | 18 months |
| Western Australian Matriculation | 2,600 – 3,100 | 1 year |
| South Australian Matriculation | 2,600 – 3,900 | 1 year |
| Canadian Pre-University | 3,400 – 4,400 | 1 year |
| International Baccalaureate Diploma | 8,000 – 16,400 | 2 years |
| Malaysian Pre-University | 2,300 – 3,200 | I year |
3. Bachelor’s Degree Programmes
| Area of Study |
Paths of Study |
||
| Cost in USD for Private College 3+0 Foreign Degree Programme (3 years) | Cost in USD for Foreign Branch Campus University Degree Programme (3 years) | Cost in USD for Malaysian Private University Degree Programme (3 years) | |
| Business | 11,100 –14,300 | 13,700 – 24,000 | 8,600 – 11,400 |
| Engineering | 13,000 – 15,000 (3 yrs., UK; 4yrs., Aust) |
21,100 – 40,000 (3 yrs., UK; 4yrs., Aust) |
12,900 – 14,300 (4 yrs.) |
| IT | 9,700 – 12,900 | 13,400 – 25,100 | 9,400 -12,300 |
| Hospitality & Tourism | 13,700 – 18,600 |
– |
12,000 -14,300 |
| Medicine | – | 114,300 (5 yrs.) | 62,900 -108,600 |
4. Preparation for External Professional Examinations
| Type of Programme | Estimated Tuition Fees in USD |
| Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA) | 3,300 – 4,300 |
| Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) | 3,700 – 4,500 |
| Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administration (ICSA) | 2,900 – 3,400 |