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Scholarships to Study in Malaysia 2026 — Complete Guide

One of the most common questions we receive from students and parents is simple: are there scholarships available for studying in Malaysia?

The answer is yes — and there are more options than most people realise. Here is a complete breakdown of what is available in 2026.

1. Malaysian Government Scholarships

Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)

MIS is the flagship scholarship from Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and one of the most sought-after by international students.

Coverage:

• Full tuition fees paid directly to the university
• Monthly living allowance of RM 1,500, disbursed every four months

Requirements:

• Applicant must be from a country on the MIS eligible list — Indonesia is included
• Minimum CGPA 3.00 or Second Class Upper Honours
• IELTS minimum 6.0, or TOEFL PBT 550, or TOEFL iBT 80
• Maximum age 40 for Master's applicants, 45 for PhD applicants
• PhD and Master's by Research applicants must submit a research proposal of at least 1,000 words

Level: Master's and PhD, full-time study only. Application period for 2026/2027: 4 March 2026 to 3 April 2026. Apply at: scholarship.mohe.gov.my

Note: MIS does not typically cover flight costs — recipients usually cover travel independently.

Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP)

MTCP is a Master's-level scholarship for citizens of developing countries, including Indonesia.

Coverage:

• Full tuition fees
• Monthly living allowance
• Book and equipment allowance
• Return economy flight ticket from home country
• Health insurance

Requirements:

• Maximum age 45
• Minimum CGPA 3.00 or Second Class Upper Honours at Bachelor's level
• IELTS minimum 6.0 or TOEFL iBT minimum 60, or a prior degree taught in English
• Good health, evidenced by medical report

Important condition: MTCP recipients are prohibited from working part-time without written approval from both the university and the MTCP secretariat. Funded duration: 24 to 36 months.

2. University Scholarships

INTI International University & Colleges

• 15% to 45% scholarship for international students at the Nilai campus
• Up to 15% at the Subang campus
• Merit-based on academic results — no essay or interview required

MAHSA University

• Merit scholarships of up to 50% for high-achieving students
• Available across most programmes including health sciences and business

UniRazak

• Madani Scheme Rebate: up to RM 1,500 for new undergraduate students
• Tuition fee waiver: up to RM 7,000 for selected programmes
• APEL Credit Transfer: fee reduction of up to 60%

University of Cyberjaya (UoC)

• UoC Foundation Scholarship: 100% tuition coverage for students progressing from foundation to undergraduate studies
• UoC Merit Scholarship: 20% to 50% off tuition based on prior academic performance
• UoC International Student Scholarship: up to 25% off tuition
• UoC Sports Scholarship: up to 50% off tuition

Taylor's University

• Merit, talent, sports, and community scholarships
• ACCA and Young Accountant scholarships for accounting programmes
• Post Graduate High Achiever scholarship

UUM (Universiti Utara Malaysia)

• UUM International Scholarships
• UUM Tunku Abdul Rahman Scholarship
• Eligible for Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)

MSU

• Merit-based scholarships for high-achieving students
• Early bird registration discounts

IIUM

• Scholarships based on academic merit, leadership potential, financial need, and research contribution
• May include tuition discounts, full waivers, or monthly living allowances

3. ASEAN-Maybank Scholarship

One of the most prestigious fully funded scholarships for high school graduates in Southeast Asia, focused on undergraduate study at listed Malaysian universities.

4. APEL Credit Transfer — Not a Scholarship, But Similar Impact

APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) recognises credits earned through previous study, professional training, or relevant work experience.

At UniRazak, eligible students can receive tuition fee reductions of up to 60% through APEL. MSU and UoC also offer APEL pathways.

This is not a scholarship in the traditional sense, but the financial effect is comparable — particularly for working professionals returning to study.

5. Tips for Securing a Scholarship

• Apply early — many university scholarships operate on a first-come, first-served basis
• Maintain strong academic results — most Malaysian scholarships are merit-based
• Prepare IELTS in advance — nearly all government scholarships require a minimum band of 6.0
• Ask during consultation — some university scholarships are not widely advertised but can be discussed through official agents
• Do not focus only on fully funded options — partial scholarships and fee waivers are easier to obtain and add up significantly

How Scholvia Can Help

As an official recruitment partner for SEGi, INTI, UniRazak, MSU, MAHSA, IIUM, UUM, UoC, AeU, and Nilai University, Scholvia can help you identify scholarships that match your academic profile and guide your scholarship application alongside your university application.