Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) 2026

Overview

The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) is a fully funded postgraduate award from the Government of Malaysia, run through its Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). It brings high-potential international graduates to Malaysia for full-time Master's and Doctoral (Ph.D) study at the country's public universities and a few selected private ones. The scheme is part of Malaysia's push to become a regional study destination and to build long-term education and research links with partner countries.

MIS is open to citizens of a set list of recipient countries across ASEAN, the Commonwealth, and partner states in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. For 2026 the scholarship can only be held at named Malaysian institutions, and all research must be done inside the country. The scheme favours a set of strategic fields but stays open to other accredited postgraduate courses.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Funding body: Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Government of Malaysia
• Host country: Malaysia
• Study levels: Master's and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), full-time only
• Tuition: Paid in full for the sponsorship period, directly to the university
• Living allowance: RM 1,500 per month, paid every four months on submission of a progress report
• Age limit: Up to 40 for Master's; up to 45 for Ph.D
• English requirement: IELTS band 6.0 or TOEFL PBT 550 (or an English-medium prior degree)
• Application platform: MOHE online system (biasiswa.mohe.gov.my/INTER)

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for MIS 2026 you must:

• Be a citizen of one of the MIS 2026 recipient countries.
• Plan to start full-time postgraduate study (Master's or Ph.D), or already be enrolled full-time at a participating Malaysian university with at least two semesters left.
• Be no older than 40 at the time of application for a Master's, or 45 for a Ph.D.
• Hold strong academic results: Master's applicants need a CGPA of 3.00 / Second Class Upper (Honours) or better at bachelor's level; Ph.D applicants need a CGPA of 3.00 or excellent Master's results in a related field.
• Show good English: IELTS band 6.0 or higher, or a TOEFL paper-based score of 550 or higher (or equivalent), or a prior degree taught in English with an official declaration.
• Submit a research proposal of at least 1,000 words relevant to your field (for Master's by Research and Ph.D applicants).

Scholarship Benefits

For the sponsorship period, MIS provides:

• Tuition fees: paid in full for the whole sponsorship period, sent directly to the host university once it invoices MOHE.
• Monthly living allowance: RM 1,500 a month, released every four months once you submit your progress report to MOHE.

The scholarship can only be held at participating Malaysian institutions, and you have to carry out your research within Malaysia. Costs like international airfare and visa fees are yours to cover unless the guidelines say otherwise, so budget for them. Participating institutions include public universities such as Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), plus other public universities and a few selected private ones named in the official guidelines.

Scholars are held to the programme's terms. You must stay in full-time study, can't change your programme without written approval from both the university and MOHE, and must keep up satisfactory progress and good standing throughout. Any suspension from the university suspends the scholarship immediately, and the monthly allowance stops during a suspension. You also can't take paid work during the scholarship without prior written approval from the host university.

How to Apply

Everything is done online:

• Go to the MIS online application system at biasiswa.mohe.gov.my/INTER.
• Fill in the application form with all the required information.
• Prepare every compulsory document, scanned as a PDF in English (with certified translations where the original is in another language).
• Upload everything and submit during the open application window.
• Wait for the result. If you're selected, you handle confirming your university admission and getting the right student visa.

Required Documents

• A certified copy of your passport with at least 6 months' validity
• Certified academic transcripts (undergraduate, plus the Master's transcript for Ph.D applicants), showing all courses taken
• A document from your university explaining its grading system if the transcript doesn't show CGPA, marks or percentile
• A certified copy of an English proficiency result (IELTS/TOEFL) or an official letter confirming English as the medium of instruction
• Letters of recommendation from two (2) referees
• An admission letter to a Malaysian university (if already admitted or studying)
• A curriculum vitae
• A research proposal (for Master's by Research and Ph.D applicants)

Important Dates & Deadlines

For the 2026-2027 intake, applications opened on 4 March 2026 and closed on 3 April 2026. The window is short, so get your documents ready in advance and submit early. Check the current cycle's dates on the official MOHE MIS portal before you apply, since deadlines move year to year.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Confirm your country is on the current MIS recipient list before you put time into the application.
• Aim for one of the priority fields where your background fits, since those get preference.
• Write a focused research proposal that shows how your work could contribute to technology and human well-being, ideally with a Malaysia angle.
• Get strong, specific reference letters from two referees who know your academic work.
• Make sure all documents are in English (or certified-translated), saved as PDFs, and clearly named before you upload.
• Check that your passport validity and English-test date (within two years) meet the requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for MIS? Citizens of the MIS recipient countries who plan to start, or are already doing, full-time Master's or Ph.D study at a participating Malaysian university.

Does MIS cover undergraduate study? No. It funds postgraduate study only, Master's and Ph.D.

How much is the living allowance? RM 1,500 a month, paid every four months after you submit a progress report to MOHE.

What English scores are required? IELTS band 6.0 or higher, or TOEFL paper-based 550 or higher, or a prior degree taught in English with an official declaration.

Are airfare and visa costs covered? The award focuses on tuition and the monthly allowance. Plan to cover travel, visa and other personal costs yourself unless the official guidelines say otherwise.

Which fields are prioritised? Education; Arts and Humanities; Social Sciences, Journalism and Information; Business, Administration and Law; Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics; ICT; Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction; Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary; and Health and Welfare (excluding medicine, nursing and pharmacy).

Related Scholarships

• Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Scholarship
• India ICCR Scholarship
• Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)
• MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship
• ASEAN Scholarships and other Malaysian university-funded postgraduate awards