Study and scholarships in Malaysia
QS-ranked universities, degrees taught in English, halal food everywhere and one of the safest countries in the world. Here is what it costs, which scholarships exist and how to apply from Tashkent.
TAS
Tashkent
KUL
Kuala Lumpur
Why Malaysia
Malaysia is a modern, progressive and Muslim-friendly country where Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures live side by side. That is how EMGS, Malaysia’s government service for international students, describes it.
For a school leaver from Uzbekistan it brings the essentials together: a degree taught in English, universities in the QS world rankings and a budget well below the UK or Australia. Below are the facts, with sources, so you can compare the options calmly before you decide.
56UM in QS 2027
Universiti Malaya is 56th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the best result a Malaysian university has ever achieved. Universiti Putra Malaysia is 138th. In all, 32 Malaysian universities are ranked, five of them in the top 200.
160+institutions teach in English
According to EMGS, more than 160 higher education institutions in Malaysia teach in English. The official language is Malay, but most people speak English, so you will manage without a translator in the city and on campus.
≈ $3,700a year to live
City University Malaysia suggests budgeting about RM 15,000 a year for housing, food and transport. Tuition fees at private universities for diplomas and bachelor’s degrees in business, IT and engineering are roughly $3,300–5,900 a year.
12of 163 in the Global Peace Index
Malaysia is 12th of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index 2026, alongside Japan (10th) and Singapore (8th). For many parents this is one of the strongest arguments.
130+languages spoken
Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous cultures live side by side. Students from different countries quickly find their community, and the whole country celebrates each culture’s festivals.
No. 3economy in Southeast Asia
According to EMGS, Malaysia has the third-largest economy in Southeast Asia. Studying in an international, English-speaking environment is a good start to a career at home or abroad.
Universities
Two private universities in Selangor, near Kuala Lumpur, each with its own strengths. Their pages cover programmes, fees and entry requirements.
Private university · Selangor
Strongest in medicine and health: MBBS, dentistry (DDS), pharmacy and nursing, plus engineering, business and IT.
Private university · since 1984
Business, IT, engineering, architecture, design and nursing. Four campuses, the main one in Petaling Jaya.
We also match other Malaysian universities to your grades, English and budget — ask us at the consultation.
Education system
School in Uzbekistan lasts 11 years, while Malaysia asks for 12 years of education before a diploma or degree. That is why most school leavers start with a Foundation year.
3 months per level
An intensive course at the university’s language centre if you have no IELTS yet or your score is too low.
1 year
A preparatory year after school. It leads to the first year of a bachelor’s degree but is not a job qualification.
2–3 years
A practical programme after school. Diploma holders can often join a bachelor’s degree in year two, depending on the university.
3–4 years
Medicine (MBBS) and dentistry take 5 years. Entry is after a Foundation year, a diploma or A-Levels.
1–2 years
After a bachelor’s degree. There are both taught (coursework) and research programmes.
from 3 years
A research doctorate built around your own project and a supervisor.
Costs
Yearly guide figures for international students on MAHSA University and City University Malaysia programmes. The university states the exact amount in the offer letter.
Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy cost more — we work them out separately. Rate: 4.08 ringgit to the US dollar (Bank Negara Malaysia, 1 October 2026).
Living costs
RM 1,200–1,800 a month
Average student spending excluding housing and tuition fees, as estimated by MAHSA University (≈ $290–440).
MAHSA residence
RM 500–1,200 a month
A twin or single room, with or without air conditioning (≈ $120–290).
Visa and insurance
RM 2,858–3,004
Compulsory EMGS payments in the first year: processing, medical screening, insurance and the Student Pass (≈ $700–740).
Scholarships
Completely free study is rare. More often a scholarship covers part or all of the tuition fees, while housing, flights and the visa stay with the family. Here is what is realistically open to students from Uzbekistan.
We check which university scholarships and discounts you can apply for and submit your documents on time.
All scholarships to study abroadUniversity
Up to 100% of tuition fees for eligible students, based on academic results. Terms change from intake to intake.
University
In recent intakes, for international bachelor’s students: the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor scholarships covered up to 100% of first-year tuition fees after a Foundation year or A-Levels with top grades, and the Outstanding Student scholarship up to 80%. We confirm the terms for your intake.
Government of Malaysia
For master’s and PhD study at public and several private universities: tuition fees plus RM 1,500 a month. Uzbekistan is an eligible country; in 2026 applications ran from 4 March to 3 April.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s state foundation funds study only at universities in the QS or THE top 300, such as Universiti Malaya. MAHSA and City University are not on that list.
Intakes
There is no single national start date: each university sets its own intakes, and private universities run several a year. Miss one and you wait a few months, not a whole year.
City University Malaysia
Foundation and bachelor’s
Intake months: Jan, May, Sep
City Language Centre
Intensive English
Intake months: Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct
MAHSA University
Foundation in Science
Start preparing 4–6 months before classes begin: the visa alone takes about 6–8 weeks. We confirm the dates of your programme with the university.
Admission and visa
What you need to apply, and how the student visa works through EMGS, Malaysia’s official service for international students.
What you need to apply
Required for every programme. Malaysia asks for 12 years of education before a diploma or degree, so after grade 11 students usually start with a Foundation year.
IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, Cambridge English or MUET. No certificate yet? You can start with the university’s English programme.
Valid for at least 18 months. Ideally it should run 12 months beyond the end of your course.
Documents that are not in English are translated and notarised.
Compulsory for the whole period of study.
How to get a student visa
The university reviews your documents and sends an offer letter. Only then can the visa application start.
The student or the university uploads the documents. EMGS aims to process a complete application in 14 working days.
The electronic visa approval letter for study. Without it you cannot enter Malaysia as a student.
Citizens of Uzbekistan also need a single entry visa (SEV), through the eVISA system or the Malaysian Embassy in Tashkent.
Within 7 working days of arrival you have a medical check at an EMGS panel clinic.
The pass is endorsed in your passport, usually for up to one year, and is then renewed.
Life in Malaysia
What matters day to day: food, safety, climate, transport and part-time work.
EMGS describes Malaysia as Muslim-friendly, with easy access to halal food. Lunch at a local food stall costs about $1–3.
Malaysia is 12th of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index 2026. Universities help with accommodation, and our team in Malaysia stays in touch.
Tropical: about 28 °C in the daytime and around 80% humidity all year. You will not need winter clothes, but you will need an umbrella.
Kuala Lumpur has metro and monorail lines: a trip costs about $0.21–1.50, and a Grab ride $1.50–10.
Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous cultures, and more than 130 languages. Most people understand English.
You may work up to 20 hours a week — under EMGS rules only during breaks longer than 7 days and with Immigration approval. Allowed workplaces: restaurants, petrol stations, mini markets, hotels and the campus.
Medicine
At MAHSA University you can train as a doctor (MBBS, 5 years) or a dentist (Doctor of Dental Surgery, 5 years) in English. The MBBS has been on the Malaysian Medical Council’s list of recognised qualifications since 2014. The route starts with the Foundation in Science, and the MBBS requires IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550.
Everything about studying medicine in MalaysiaQuestions and answers
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