Dentistry
DDS students practise in dental simulation clinics and laboratories, take clinical subjects and do attachments in the private and public sectors. The university’s own dental clinic is on campus.
Medical degrees · Malaysia
Study medicine in Malaysia: MBBS and dentistry
MBBS and Doctor of Dental Surgery at MAHSA University: taught in English, with clinical training in Malaysian government hospitals. We help school leavers from Uzbekistan get in through the Foundation in Science.
MAHSA UniversityDoctor’s route
TAS
Tashkent
KUL
Kuala Lumpur
- Foundation in Science
- 1 year
- MBBS · DDS
- 5 years
- IELTS for MBBS and DDS
- 6.0+
- MBBS, per year
- ≈ $21,600
Programmes
Medical programmes at MAHSA University
All programmes are taught in English. Durations and IELTS scores are the university’s own figures; before you apply we check them against the brochure for your intake.
| Programme | You become | Length | IELTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) | Doctor. The core medical degree before internship and specialisation | Length5 years | IELTS6.0 |
| Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) | Dentist | Length5 years | IELTS6.0 |
| Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) | Pharmacist: medicines, clinical and community pharmacy | Length4 years | IELTS6.0* |
| Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Hons) | Biomedical scientist: laboratory diagnostics and research | Length4 years | IELTS5.5 |
| Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Hons) | Radiographer: X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound | Length4 years | IELTS5.5 |
| Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons) | Physiotherapist | Length4 years | IELTS5.5 |
| Bachelor of Science (Hons) Nursing | Graduate nurse | Length4 years | IELTS5.5** |
- * At least 5.5 in each skill.
- ** For nursing, MAHSA also requires conversational Malay and a medical fitness certificate.
Need a shorter route after school? MAHSA also runs diplomas in nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, medical imaging, medical laboratory technology and dental technology.
Route to the degree
From school to a medical degree
Foundation in Science takes one year, MBBS or DDS five. Here is what happens at each stage.
- 01
Grades and English
Strong school grades in biology, chemistry, physics and maths. Meanwhile you prepare for IELTS: MBBS and DDS require 6.0.
- 02
Foundation in Science
One year, three semesters: biology, chemistry, physics, maths and academic English. It gives conditional entry to MBBS, dentistry and pharmacy.
- 03
Progress to MBBS or DDS
You need a Foundation CGPA of at least 3.0 and IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550. MBBS entry requirements are set by the Malaysian Medical Council.
- 04
Preclinical years
Years 1–2 on campus: organ systems, problem-based learning, practice with simulated patients and first hospital visits.
- 05
Clinical years
Years 3–5: rotations of 2–8 weeks in government hospitals and health clinics, ending with the final professional examination.
- 06
Degree and internship
After MBBS comes an internship (housemanship). In Malaysia it is open to citizens only, so we plan where to do it early on.
Requirements
Entry requirements for medicine and dentistry
MAHSA University’s requirements for international students. We check how your school certificate converts to the university’s scale before you apply.
Foundation in Science — after school
- School-leaving certificate (equivalent to SPM or O-Level).
- For progression to MBBS, DDS and pharmacy: at least a B in biology, chemistry, physics, maths and one other subject.
- IELTS or a similar certificate. Without one, MAHSA offers a free diagnostic test and its Intensive English Programme.
MBBS and DDS — after the Foundation
- Foundation in Science of at least one year with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher in biology, chemistry and physics or maths.
- IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550.
- Instead of the Foundation: A-Levels (for MBBS BBB, ABC or AAC in biology, chemistry and physics/maths) or the IB with 30 points or more.
Pharmacy, physiotherapy and other programmes
- Pharmacy
- Foundation CGPA of 3.0 or higher with a B in chemistry; IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each skill.
- Physiotherapy, medical imaging, biomedical sciences
- GPA of 2.33 or higher in two of biology, chemistry, physics or maths; IELTS 5.5.
- Nursing
- Foundation CGPA of 2.5 or higher, IELTS 5.5, conversational Malay and medical fitness.
Clinical training
Where future doctors learn to work with patients
MBBS students visit a hospital in their first year, and from year three they train mostly in government hospitals and health clinics that MAHSA uses as teaching sites.
MBBS teaching sites
MAHSA University campus
Bandar Saujana Putra, Selangor · years 1–2
Hospital Tanjung Karang
Community hospital · visits from year 1
Hospital Sungai Buloh
Major referral centre · years 3–5
Hospital Kuala Lumpur
Major referral centre · years 3–5
Klinik Kesihatan health clinics
AU2, Rawang Perdana, Taman Ehsan, Taman Medan · primary care
MAHSA Specialist Hospital
In the same township, Bandar Saujana Putra, MAHSA runs a hospital with 250+ beds. It describes itself as a clinical training hub and takes students for attachments and electives.
Cost
How much does it cost to study medicine in Malaysia?
Medicine and dentistry are MAHSA’s most expensive programmes. With a hostel room, living costs and the visa, a year of MBBS comes to about $26,000–30,700. The fees below are guide figures from EasyUni listings; MAHSA confirms the official amount and payment schedule in the offer letter.
MBBS, 5 years
≈ $21,600 a year
RM 88,290 a year, the rate for international students.
Dentistry (DDS), 5 years
≈ $20,800 a year
RM 84,750 a year, the rate for international students.
Foundation in Science, 1 year
≈ $5,100 a year
RM 20,800 for the year. Some applicants qualify for a Foundation scholarship — we will check whether you do.
Housing and living costs
≈ $420–810 a month
A room in MAHSA Residence costs RM 500–1,200 a month; renting off campus, $100–300 plus utilities. MAHSA puts other expenses at RM 1,200–1,800 a month; add the visa and insurance through EMGS.
Degree recognition
Is a Malaysian medical degree recognised?
In Malaysia the programme is recognised by the medical council; in Uzbekistan the degree goes through a recognition procedure. What to know before you start.
Malaysia
MQA and the Medical Council
MAHSA University’s MBBS has been on the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) list of recognised qualifications since 6 June 2014. Both MBBS and DDS are accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
Other countries
Recognition abroad
According to MAHSA, the MBBS is recognised by the medical councils of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand and is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. The university also states that the DDS is recognised by the councils of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Internship
Internship is not in Malaysia
Housemanship in Malaysia is open to Malaysian citizens only. MAHSA states plainly that international graduates do not do it there, and that the degree lets them sit entry exams to practise in certain countries.
Uzbekistan
Recognition in Uzbekistan
Foreign degrees are recognised by the Agency for Assessment of Knowledge and Qualifications via my.gov.uz. Within 10 working days an expert commission decides to recognise the degree directly, set a test, or refuse. Degrees from universities on the annual top-1000 list (QS, THE, ARWU), for example, are recognised directly — we check whether a university is on the list for your graduation year.
The rules for licensing doctors may change over six years of study. That is why we advise on degree recognition individually: when you choose the programme and again before graduation.
FAQ
Questions about studying medicine in Malaysia
How much does it cost to study medicine in Malaysia?
According to EasyUni listings, the MBBS at MAHSA University costs about RM 88,290 a year (≈ $21,600) and the DDS in dentistry about RM 84,750 (≈ $20,800). Both take five years and follow a Foundation in Science at RM 20,800 (≈ $5,100). With a hostel room, living costs and the visa, a year of medicine comes to about $26,000–30,700. MAHSA states the official amount in the offer letter. The full breakdown is in our guide to the cost of studying in Malaysia.
Is medicine in Malaysia taught in English?
All MAHSA University programmes are taught in English. MBBS and dentistry require IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550. The curriculum also includes short general modules: international students, for example, take a basic Malay language course.
Is it hard to get into medicine in Malaysia?
Grades and English are what count, and the bar is high. A Foundation that leads to medicine requires at least a B in biology, chemistry, physics and maths; the MBBS itself requires a Foundation CGPA of 3.0 or higher and IELTS 6.0. We review your school certificate early and tell you what to improve.
Is a Malaysian medical degree recognised in Uzbekistan?
The degree has to be recognised through the Agency for Assessment of Knowledge and Qualifications — the service is on my.gov.uz. Degrees from universities on the annual top-1000 list (QS, THE, ARWU) are recognised directly; otherwise the commission may set a test in the core subjects of the degree. Licensing rules for doctors change, so we advise on recognition individually — before you enrol and again before you graduate.
Which medical universities in Malaysia are recognised?
The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) publishes an official list of universities whose medical degrees it recognises. It includes public universities (University of Malaya, UKM, USM and others), private ones (among them IMU University, Taylor’s University, SEGi University and MAHSA University) and the Malaysian campuses of Monash and Newcastle. MAHSA University’s MBBS has been on the list since 2014.
Can I start medicine straight after school?
Not straight into the MBBS: MAHSA admits students to the MBBS after a Foundation in Science, A-Levels, the IB or a similar pre-university qualification. After school the route starts with the one-year Foundation in Science, which gives conditional entry to MBBS, dentistry and pharmacy. More in our guide to studying abroad after school.
How long does it take to become a doctor in Malaysia?
Foundation in Science takes one year and the MBBS five: two preclinical and three clinical years. Dentistry (DDS) also takes five years. A full licence to practise requires an internship after the MBBS; in Malaysia it lasts two years but is open to citizens only.
Can I study medicine without IELTS?
You can start: without a certificate, MAHSA gives a free English diagnostic test and offers its Intensive English Programme. To progress to MBBS or DDS you will still need IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550.
TAS KUL
Want to become a doctor? Start with a check of your grades
Leave your number: we will review your grades and English, choose the programme and estimate the budget for every year of study.