Scholarships in Malaysia – The 2027 Guide for International Students
Malaysia is rapidly emerging as a popular study destination, with its government and universities offering a range of scholarships, such as the Malaysia International Scholarship and MTCP Scholarship, covering full tuition and allowances for international students. This comprehensive 2027 guide outlines eligibility, financial coverage, and application deadlines for prospective students aiming to study in Malaysia.
Malaysia is one of the fastest-growing study destinations in Asia. International student applications have risen 26% over the past two years, according to Education Malaysia Global Services.
In this guide, you will find scholarships in Malaysia for international students, some funded by the Malaysian government for master's and PhD study, and many by individual universities for bachelor's degrees, where most undergraduate funding comes from.
Find out more about studying in Malaysia
How much are scholarships in Malaysia worth?
It depends on your level of study.
For bachelor's degrees, the awards are mostly partial tuition waivers, typically between 15% and 50% of your fees, with some universities offering more for exceptional results.
For master's and PhD students, the government scholarships go much further: the Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) pays full tuition plus RM1,500 per month (about USD 370), and the MTCP Scholarship covers tuition plus allowances worth RM3,500 per month (about USD 860) and a return flight.
Government-funded Malaysia scholarships for international students
These are the most generous scholarships in Malaysia, and both only cover full-time postgraduate study.
- Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) – The Malaysian government's flagship scholarship for international students, funded by the Ministry of Higher Education for full-time master's and PhD study at 20 public universities and four private institutions. It pays full tuition directly to the university plus a RM1,500 monthly allowance, and you need a CGPA of 3.00, IELTS 6.0 or equivalent, and to be 40 or younger for a master's or 45 for a PhD. The full eligibility rules, including the recipient country list and the 1,000-word research proposal requirement, are in the official MIS guidelines.
- Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Scholarship – Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for students from developing countries pursuing a master's degree at a Malaysian public university. It covers tuition plus allowances worth RM3,500 per month and a return economy flight for 24 to 36 months of study, and you need a valid full offer letter before you apply, since conditional offers are not accepted.
University-specific Malaysia scholarships for international students
Most scholarships for bachelor's degrees in Malaysia are offered by the universities themselves, based on your entry results or your grades during the program, and several are granted automatically when you meet the criteria.
- Asia School of Business in collaboration with MIT Sloan - ASB funds several awards for MBA program, including merit-based ASB Fellowships decided together with your admission, GMAT and GRE merit scholarships, and the Bangkok Bank MBA Scholarship covering full tuition. All are open to applicants of all nationalities, you can learn more about ASB here.
- University of Nottingham Malaysia Scholarships - A UK degree from the Malaysia campus, with the most transparent undergraduate awards in this list. The High Achiever's Scholarship gives new students a 25%, 20%, or 15% reduction on first-year tuition automatically based on entry results, and students from ASEAN countries (except Malaysia) get a stackable 15% annual reduction through the ASEAN International Student Bursary.
- MMU Merit (International) Scholarship - Multimedia University rewards performance after you arrive: self-funded international students get a 25% tuition waiver for a CGPA of 3.50 to 3.74 after the first long trimester, or 50% for 3.75 and above, kept by maintaining a GPA of 3.33. Strong first-year grades can cut your remaining tuition in half even if you arrive without a scholarship.
- APU International Students Scholarships & Merit Awards - Asia Pacific University awards tuition fee reductions for pre-university, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs based on your O-Level, A-Level, IB, or bachelor's results. Awards are first come, first served with a cycle deadline (May 31, 2026 for the current cycle), and you keep them by maintaining a CGPA of 2.50.
- UCSI University Trust Scholarship - A partial tuition waiver that runs for your full study duration, not first year only, for foundation, diploma, and degree students at UCSI University or UCSI College. New applicants need at least 6 A*/As including English at IGCSE or O-Levels, and shortlisted candidates attend a selection interview.
- Sunway University Scholarships - Funded through the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, which had awarded more than RM402 million in scholarships as of 2018, with the Jeffery Cheah Entrance Scholarship, Sunway Bursary and International Scholarships, and Sunway Sports Scholarships open to international students. Not every award is listed online, so check the Sunway scholarship portal and contact the university directly.
MBA program scholarships
We have a complete list of MBA programs with scholarships: 7 MBA in Malaysia with Scholarship for 2026 Intake
There are 7 total MBAs with dozens of scholarship opportunities for you.
5 tips to apply for a scholarship in Malaysia
1) Secure your admission first - The MTCP Scholarship requires a full offer letter from a Malaysian public university before you apply, and MIS asks for your admission letter if you have one. Sort out the university application before the scholarship application.
2) Apply early - Most university gives priority consideration to Round 1 and Round 2 applicants, and government scholarship windows close quickly once announced. Early applications also leave enough time for visa processing, which matters because the scholarship offer does not guarantee the visa.
3) Match the priority fields - MIS gives priority to areas like education, engineering, ICT, natural sciences, business, and agriculture. If your intended program fits one of these, say so clearly in your application.
4) Prepare documents properly - MIS requires certified copies of your passport, transcripts, English test results, two recommendation letters, a CV, and certified English translations of anything not in English. Incomplete or uncertified documents are an easy way to get filtered out before anyone reads your proposal.
5) Get high grades and a good CV - Scholarships are often given to the most academically advanced students, high-achieving, ambitious, and exemplary students with good work experience, high scores, or unique project experience. Focus on keeping your grades up and being an involved student leader to increase your chances.
Scholarship agents and guaranteed scholarships
There are agents around the world selling "guaranteed scholarships" for fees in the hundreds or thousands of US dollars, usually on Facebook, WhatsApp, and similar channels. Some of these services are not genuine, so be very cautious.
The scholarships in this guide are free to apply for through the official university and government portals, and no agent can guarantee you an award, because the universities and committees make those decisions. We believe it is better to be transparent and share all the information, so you understand the process and apply by yourself.
We can help you apply to universities as part of our application services here, but you cannot buy a scholarship with us, and we do not recommend scholarship agents.
Student visa and working part-time
Once you have an offer, your Student Pass application goes through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) via the official student visa portal. Plan for this early, since both MOHE and ASB point to visa processing timelines as a reason to apply ahead of final deadlines.
On working while you study, the rules are stricter than in countries like Australia or the UK. According to the EMGS guidelines, international students may work a maximum of 20 hours per week, and only during semester breaks or holidays longer than seven days, in approved places such as restaurants, petrol kiosks, mini markets, and hotels. Applications must go through your institution with approval from the Immigration Department.
Plus, if you hold the MIS, you need written approval from your host university before taking any paid work at all, so budget around your allowance rather than expected income.
Scholarships around the world
You can also explore scholarships open for international students around the world here and also check out 57 universities that have ZERO tuition fee here.
Questions about scholarships in Malaysia
Are there fully funded scholarships in Malaysia for bachelor's students?
Honestly, they are rare. Undergraduate funding in Malaysia comes from the universities, and the verified awards are partial tuition waivers, like 15% to 25% at Nottingham Malaysia, 25% to 50% at MMU, and partial waivers for the full study duration at UCSI. The good news is tuition in Malaysia is already low by international standards, so a 25% to 50% waiver on top makes a degree far cheaper than in the UK, the US, or Australia.
Can international students get a full scholarship in Malaysia?
Yes. The Malaysia International Scholarship covers full tuition plus a RM1,500 monthly allowance for master's and PhD students, the MTCP Scholarship covers tuition with RM3,500 per month in allowances and return airfare for master's students, and the Bangkok Bank MBA Scholarship covers the full RM150,000 tuition at Asia School of Business. All three are competitive, so apply to more than one option and keep self-funded admission as a backup.
Are there scholarships in Malaysia for bachelor's students?
The government scholarships (MIS and MTCP) only cover postgraduate study, so undergraduate funding comes from the universities themselves. Sunway University awards entrance and merit scholarships to international students through the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, and many other private universities run similar schemes. The official Education Malaysia scholarship listing is the best place to check what is open for your intake.
Next steps
Scholarships in Malaysia reward students who organize early: admission first, then the scholarship application, then the visa. You can browse programs in Malaysia here, or book a call with our student advisor here.
Angel is from the Philippines and is responsible for a wide range of tasks at Global Admissions to help students achieve their dreams. She is focused on boosting the company's growth presence, writing articles, and assisting with applicant screening.
