Fees and budget · Malaysia
Tuition fees by level and subject, accommodation, food, the visa and insurance — in US dollars and ringgit. Prices are compiled from MAHSA University, City University Malaysia and the official EMGS fees. Work out the budget for the whole course.
Data as of October 2026 · USD 1 = RM 4.08
TAS
Tashkent
KUL
Kuala Lumpur
Calculator
Choose the level, subject and housing to see a range per year and for the whole course. Treat it as a guide: a consultant will work out the exact amount for a specific programme and intake.
For the whole course
Exchange rates and fees change — figures as of October 2026.
Tuition fees
Annual fees for international students at MAHSA University and City University Malaysia, the two private universities we help students get into. Neither publishes a single fee list for international students, so the ranges are compiled from individual programme fees. The university states the exact amount in the offer letter.
| Level | Business and ITaccounting, management, IT | Engineeringand architecture | Health sciencesnursing, pharmacy, biomedical | MedicineMBBS and DDS dentistry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation1 year | Business and IT$4,300–6,100RM 17,700–25,050 | Foundation in Science for engineering, health sciences and medicine$5,100–6,100RM 20,800–24,850 | ||
| Diploma2.5–3 years | Business and IT$3,300–4,200RM 13,330–17,255 | Engineering$3,400–4,200RM 13,700–17,080 | Health sciences$4,000–4,900RM 16,234–20,097 | no programmes |
| Bachelor’s3–4 years, medicine 5 | Business and IT$4,300–5,600RM 17,380–22,667 | Engineering$4,100–5,900RM 16,683–24,125 | Health sciences$3,600–8,800RM 14,688–35,875 | Medicine$20,800–21,600RM 84,750–88,290 |
| Master’s1–2 years | Business and IT$5,600–8,400RM 22,800–34,400 | Engineering$3,700–7,400RM 15,195–30,390 | Health sciences$5,600–11,900RM 22,800–48,400 | no programmes |
| PhDabout 3 years | Business and IT$3,900–5,700RM 15,990–23,417 | Engineering$4,200–4,900RM 17,317–20,084 | Health sciences$4,900–5,200RM 20,084–21,084 | no programmes |
Source: MAHSA University and City University Malaysia programme fees for international students, EasyUni course listings, October 2026. Exchange rate USD 1 = RM 4.08.
Living costs
After tuition fees, housing is the biggest expense. Everything else fits into RM 1,200–1,800 a month, according to MAHSA University. With housing, that comes to $420–810 a month.
On campus
RM 500–1,200 a month
≈ $120–290
From a bed in a twin room to an air-conditioned single. Registration is RM 500 and rent is paid a year in advance. Under MAHSA rules, students under 21 live in the on-campus residence.
Off campus
$100–300 a month
+ utilities and internet $40–65
EMGS estimate. This is how City University Malaysia students live: its hostels are for Malaysian students, and international students can ask the university for help finding housing near campus at least a month before arrival.
City University Malaysia puts housing, food and transport at about RM 15,000 a year (≈ $3,700) and advises bringing RM 500–1,000 in cash for the first 1–2 weeks.
Sources: EMGS — Plan your budget; MAHSA University — international students page and residence fees; City University Malaysia.
One-off and yearly costs
Student visas for Malaysia are handled by EMGS, the official service for international students. The fees below apply to private institutions in Peninsular Malaysia, where MAHSA University and City University Malaysia are located (EMGS schedule of 23 June 2026).
Tuition fees are transferred straight to the university’s account shown on its invoice. City University Malaysia states clearly that no fees should be paid to anyone except the university.
Fees are set in RM. If the bank deducts charges or the exchange rate moves, the student pays the shortfall.
At MAHSA, international students pay at the start of the academic year and can ask for instalments in advance. At City University Malaysia, fees are paid each semester before classes start.
| Fee | RM | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| EMGS application processing (pass up to 12 months) | RM 1,600 | ≈ $392 |
| eVAL — electronic visa approval | RM 150 | ≈ $37 |
| 8% tax on processing and eVAL | RM 140 | ≈ $34 |
| Medical check in Malaysia after arrival | RM 340 | ≈ $83 |
| Medical insurance for 12 months | RM 498–644 | ≈ $122–158 |
| iKad — international student card | RM 50 | ≈ $12 |
| Student Pass sticker | RM 60 | ≈ $15 |
| Multiple-entry visa for Uzbek citizens | RM 20 | ≈ $5 |
| Total in the first year | ≈ RM 2,858–3,004 | ≈ $700–736 |
Every following year
Student Pass renewal: EMGS fee of RM 250 + 8%, new insurance, iKad, sticker and visa — RM 898–1,044.
≈ $220–260
Worked example
A school leaver from Tashkent takes a Foundation in Business, then a three-year bachelor’s in business or IT, and lives in the MAHSA residence. We use the same data as the calculator.
| Year | Tuition | Housing and living | Visa and fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1Foundation | $4,300–6,100 | $5,000–8,800 | $1,200–1,600 | $10,500–16,500 |
| Year 2Bachelor’s | $4,300–5,600 | $5,000–8,800 | $220–260 | $9,500–14,600 |
| Year 3Bachelor’s | $4,300–5,600 | $5,000–8,800 | $220–260 | $9,500–14,600 |
| Year 4Bachelor’s | $4,300–5,600 | $5,000–8,800 | $220–260 | $9,500–14,600 |
| Total for 4 years | $39,000–60,400 | |||
Flights and textbooks are not included. Scholarships and discounts can lower tuition fees; terms depend on the university and programme.
Scholarships and tuition discountsCountry comparison
Costs for one academic year of an English-taught bachelor’s degree. For the UK and Australia we use the official minimum living funds a student must show for the visa.
MAHSA, City University
Tuition and living costs, from
$7,900
QS, gov.uk
Tuition and living costs, from
$27,300
RMIT, Home Affairs
Tuition and living costs, from
$45,300
A bachelor’s in business at a private university in Malaysia costs $4,300–5,600 a year. In the UK, fees for international students start at around £10,000 (≈ $13,300); in Australia, at about AU$36,000 (≈ $24,800).
A student in Malaysia needs $420–810 a month including housing. A UK student visa requires £1,171–1,529 for each month (≈ $1,560–2,030); an Australian one, AU$29,710 a year.
The MBBS at MAHSA University costs about $21,600 a year. In the UK, medical degrees for international students reach £38,000 (≈ $50,500) a year or more.
Sources: gov.uk (Student visa — money), Australian Department of Home Affairs (Student visa 500), RMIT University, QS TopUniversities. Bank Negara Malaysia rates on 1 October 2026: GBP 1 ≈ USD 1.33, AUD 1 ≈ USD 0.69.
Everything about studying in Malaysia →FAQ
TAS KUL
Tell us the level and subject: a consultant will request the university’s current fees and send you a budget that includes housing, the visa and flights.
