When does university start in Malaysia? Intakes and application calendar

In short

• There is no single start date for university in Malaysia. Each university sets its own intakes, and private universities take new students several times a year.
• City University Malaysia's intakes for international students are January, May and September. At MAHSA University, the Foundation in Science takes students every semester, while other programmes have their own dates.
• Families rarely miss an intake because of the university's deadline. They miss it because of documents, English and the student visa. Start preparing 4–6 months before classes begin.

What an intake is, and why Malaysia has several

An intake is the point in the year when a university admits a new group of students. In Uzbekistan the university year usually starts in September, and many families expect Malaysia to work the same way. It does not: every university runs its own academic calendar, and private universities admit new students several times a year.

For an applicant from Uzbekistan, that is mostly good news. If you miss September, you do not have to lose a year: the next intake may open as early as January.

To plan properly, keep three dates apart:

• the intake date: when orientation and classes begin;
• the application deadline: the last day the university accepts applications for that intake;
• the visa timeline: how long the EMGS student visa takes once you hold an offer letter.

Malaysia intakes for international students at a glance

We checked these dates against the universities' official websites on 1 October 2026. Universities adjust their calendars from year to year, so we re-check the dates for your specific programme before you apply.

MAHSA University intake dates

MAHSA University is in Selangor, near Kuala Lumpur. For programmes, campus and entry routes, see our MAHSA University guide.

Foundation in Science: a start every semester

The Foundation in Science lasts one year and is split into three semesters. According to the university, it takes students on a rolling semester basis, so a school leaver does not have to wait for a single intake a year. With the required grades, the Foundation in Science leads into MAHSA's medicine (MBBS), dentistry and pharmacy degrees.

Bachelor's, diploma and medicine

For bachelor's and diploma programmes, the intake month depends on the programme. We could not find a single calendar for every programme on MAHSA's website, so we check the start date for the programme you choose, and the final date appears in your offer letter.

If you are aiming for medicine, start earlier than everyone else. Entry requirements for the MBBS are set by the Malaysian Medical Council, and international applicants need IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550. Preparing for the English test often takes longer than collecting the documents.

City University Malaysia intake dates

City University Malaysia's application form for international students lists three intakes: January, May and September. The bachelor's programme pages give wider windows (January/February, May/June, September/October), and the exact first day of classes depends on the faculty. The Foundation lasts 12 months and starts in January, May and September.

If your English is not yet at the required level, you can start at the university's City Language Centre. It runs an intensive course by level, 3 months per level, starting in January, April, July and October. For example: English from October, then the Foundation from January or May.

One condition matters at City University. If you defer or withdraw, you must give notice at least 60 days before the semester starts, and the registration, application, annual student and EMGS fees are neither refundable nor transferable. So choose your intake deliberately, not "just in case". Programmes and entry requirements are on our City University Malaysia page.

Public universities: fixed application windows

Public universities usually run a stricter calendar. Take Universiti Malaya: international undergraduates are admitted in October (Semester I) and March (Semester II).

• For the October intake of the 2026/2027 session, applications ran from 9 February to 30 August 2026, and only until 9 June 2026 for the MBBS.
• For the March intake, applications are open from 7 September 2026 to 30 January 2027.

Once the deadline passes, an application waits for the next cycle. Private universities are more flexible, but places on popular programmes and the visa timeline still set the pace.

How long it takes: from documents to the first class

You can apply for the student visa only after the university has issued an offer letter. The whole route looks like this:

1. Choose the programme and the intake. We check the grade and English requirements.
2. Documents. School certificate and transcript with a notarised English translation, passport, photo on a white background, English certificate. EMGS requires a passport valid for at least 18 months.
3. University application and offer letter. Processing times differ from one university to another.
4. EMGS application. EMGS's client charter is 14 working days for a complete application; mistakes or missing documents add time. City University estimates the whole visa process at about 6–8 weeks.
5. eVAL and entry visa. You can enter Malaysia only with an eVAL, which is valid for 6 months. Citizens of Uzbekistan also need a Single Entry Visa (SEV), issued through the eVISA system.
6. Arrival. Within 7 working days of arrival you take a medical screening at an EMGS panel clinic, after which the Student Pass is endorsed in your passport.

Hence our rule of thumb: start 4–6 months before the intake. That leaves room to retake IELTS, fix a document and book flights. The full process is in our guide on how to apply to a university in Malaysia.

Example: a plan for the September intake

This is an indicative plan. For a January or May intake, shift it by the same number of months.

If you are finishing school this year

School leavers in Uzbekistan receive their certificate in the summer, which leaves little time before September. If the certificate is not issued yet, we ask the university in advance which documents it accepts for the application. There are three realistic options:

• September or October, if you prepare English and documents during your final school year;
• January, the calm option: summer and autumn go into IELTS and paperwork;
• an English course from October, then the Foundation from January or May, if your English is not yet at the required level.

To choose between a Foundation and going straight into a degree, read our guide on studying abroad after school.

How to choose your intake

• English. If you do not have a certificate yet, count from the test date, not from today.
• Programme. Different programmes at the same university can start on different dates.
• Scholarships and discounts. Terms are often tied to a particular intake and change from one intake to the next.
• Family budget. EMGS fees, the first tuition payment and flights are due before classes start, not after.
• Buffer. Pick the intake you can make with a month to spare, not on the last day.

For an overview of universities, programmes and scholarships for students from Uzbekistan, see study in Malaysia.

Frequently asked questions

When does university start in Malaysia?

There is no single academic year. Each university sets its own intakes. Private universities usually admit students two or three times a year or more; public universities less often and within fixed application windows. Universiti Malaya, for example, has two intakes: October and March.

What are the MAHSA University intake dates?

The Foundation in Science takes students every semester. For bachelor's and diploma programmes, the intake month depends on the programme, and the exact date is stated in the offer letter. We confirm it for your programme before you apply.

When is the next City University Malaysia intake?

The international application form lists January, May and September. The bachelor's programme pages describe the windows as January/February, May/June and September/October.

Can I start in September straight after school?

Yes, if you prepare your English and documents while still at school. If you do not have an English certificate by the summer, a January intake or an English course followed by the Foundation is more realistic.

What happens if I miss the intake?

Usually you move to the next intake. Agree on this with the university in advance: City University asks for notice at least 60 days before the semester starts. If your visa was already issued for the original date, the next steps are agreed with the university.

How long does a Malaysian student visa take?

EMGS's client charter is 14 working days for a complete application. In practice the whole process from application to visa takes longer: City University estimates 6–8 weeks. You can apply for the visa only once you have an offer letter.

Let us match an intake to your timeline

If you want to know which intake you can realistically make, book a consultation. We will look at your documents and English level, check the dates for your chosen programme and draw up a month-by-month admission plan.