Study in Malaysia: Costs, Visa, Universities and Scholarships for Pakistani Students

Malaysia is one of the most affordable places for Pakistani students to earn an English-taught degree. Public universities such as Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) rank well internationally, and their postgraduate fees are among the lowest in Asia. Halal food is everywhere, the flight from Pakistan is short, and the student pass process through EMGS is usually quick.

All conversions in this guide use RM 1 (MYR) ≈ PKR 68 (October 2026). Exchange rates move, so treat PKR figures as approximate.

Quick facts	Malaysia
Language of teaching	English for almost all international programmes (some public university undergraduate courses also use Malay)
Academic year and intakes	Public universities: September/October (main) and February/March. Private universities: usually January, May and September. Research degrees often accept applications all year
Typical tuition	Public: bachelor's approx. RM 12,000 to 20,000 a year; master's approx. RM 15,000 to 37,000 for the whole programme; PhD approx. RM 30,000 to 60,000 in total. Private: approx. RM 20,000 to 60,000 a year
Monthly living cost	Approx. RM 1,200 to 2,500 (PKR 82,000 to 170,000)
Part-time work	Up to 20 hours a week, only during semester breaks or holidays longer than 7 days, with immigration approval
Post-study work	Graduate Pass: 12 extra months to stay and work in permitted sectors after a bachelor's or higher degree

Budget options: what you can do on every budget

Budget	Route	What it looks like
Fully funded	Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) for master's and PhD; Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) posts funded by a supervisor's research grant	MIS pays tuition plus RM 1,500 a month (approx. PKR 102,000). A GRA usually gives a monthly allowance (approx. RM 1,500 to 2,500) and sometimes a fee waiver, in return for research work
Low-fee public university + partial support	Research master's or PhD at UTM, UPM, USM, UKM or UM; university fee waivers or fellowships	Total PhD tuition can be as low as approx. RM 30,000 to 45,000 for the whole degree (PKR 2m to 3.1m). With a partial waiver or part-time research assistant work, a family budget of around PKR 150,000 to 200,000 a month can cover living costs
Self-funded, mid-range	Public university bachelor's or taught master's, or a lower-cost private university (for example APU, UCSI, MSU, SEGi)	Tuition approx. RM 15,000 to 30,000 a year plus living approx. RM 18,000 to 24,000 a year. First-year total approx. RM 35,000 to 55,000 (PKR 2.4m to 3.7m)
Self-funded, premium	Top private universities (Taylor's, Sunway) or foreign branch campuses (Monash Malaysia, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Heriot-Watt Malaysia, Xiamen University Malaysia)	Tuition approx. RM 35,000 to 60,000 or more a year plus living in Kuala Lumpur or Selangor. First-year total approx. RM 60,000 to 90,000 (PKR 4.1m to 6.1m). Many offer merit scholarships of 10% to 50%

For many Pakistani families Malaysia is the most realistic self-funded option in this guide series. A public university master's can cost less in total than one semester in Australia or the UK.

University costs

Public universities set separate (higher) fees for international students, but these remain low by global standards. Examples from published fee schedules (approx., check the current schedule for your intake):

• UTM: bachelor's approx. RM 45,800 to 76,000 in total; master's approx. RM 25,400 to 37,200 in total; PhD approx. RM 46,000 to 60,200 in total.
• UM: a one-year Master of Computer Science is approx. RM 21,700 in total; a PhD in Science approx. RM 32,500 in total. Professional programmes such as dentistry or medicine cost far more.
• USM: research-mode master's and PhD fees are charged per semester, approx. USD 1,400 to 2,850 a semester (approx. RM 5,500 to 11,200).

Private universities and branch campuses charge more but often have more intakes, smaller classes and stronger industry links. Lower-cost private universities charge roughly RM 20,000 to 30,000 a year for a bachelor's; Taylor's, Sunway and branch campuses can charge RM 35,000 to 60,000 or more.

Other first-year costs:

• Application fee: approx. RM 100 to 300 (UM charges international applicants RM 300). Some private universities waive it.
• EMGS student pass costs: approx. RM 2,800 to 3,000 (PKR 190,000 to 204,000) in the first year. See the visa section below.
• Many universities also charge a one-off registration, security deposit or international student fee. Ask for the full first-year invoice before you accept.

Living costs

Malaysia is cheaper than most study destinations, especially outside Kuala Lumpur. The figures below are approximate monthly costs for a single student in a shared room or university hostel.

City	Rent (shared room/hostel)	Food	Transport	Total per month
Kuala Lumpur	RM 500 to 1,000	RM 600 to 900	RM 100 to 200	RM 1,500 to 2,500 (PKR 102,000 to 170,000)
Selangor (Serdang, Bangi, Subang, Cyberjaya)	RM 400 to 800	RM 550 to 800	RM 100 to 200	RM 1,300 to 2,100 (PKR 88,000 to 143,000)
Penang	RM 400 to 800	RM 500 to 800	RM 80 to 150	RM 1,200 to 2,000 (PKR 82,000 to 136,000)
Johor Bahru (Skudai, near UTM)	RM 350 to 700	RM 500 to 750	RM 80 to 150	RM 1,100 to 1,900 (PKR 75,000 to 129,000)

University hostels at public universities are often the cheapest choice in the first year. Add around RM 100 to 200 a month for phone, internet and personal costs.

Scholarships and need-based funding

Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS). The Malaysian Government's flagship scholarship for international postgraduate students, run by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). Key points from the official MIS 2026 guidelines:

• Levels: master's (coursework or research) and PhD, full-time, at Malaysian public universities and selected private institutions
• Eligible countries: ASEAN and Commonwealth countries listed by region (Pakistan is a Commonwealth member in the CPA Asia region), plus selected other countries. Confirm your eligibility with MOHE if in doubt
• Age: 40 or under for master's, 45 or under for PhD
• Academic: CGPA 3.00 or second class upper at bachelor's level (master's applicants); CGPA 3.00 or excellent results at master's level (PhD applicants)
• English: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL PBT 550 or equivalent, or a degree taught in English with an official declaration
• Research proposal: at least 1,000 words for research master's and PhD applicants
• Covers: full tuition paid to the university, and a living allowance of RM 1,500 a month
• Priority fields: education, humanities, social sciences, business and law, natural sciences, ICT, engineering, agriculture, and health and welfare (medicine, nursing and pharmacy excluded)

The 2026/2027 round opened on 4 March 2026 and closed on 3 April 2026; applicants can check their status until 31 December 2026. The next round is expected around March 2027, with a very short window, so prepare your offer letter and proposal early. Apply only through https://biasiswa.mohe.gov.my/INTER/.

University scholarships and fellowships. Public universities offer fee waivers, graduate research fellowships and GRA posts, mostly for research students. For example, UTM's International Doctoral Fellowship has offered a partial tuition waiver to international PhD students. The fastest route to funding is usually a supervisor with a funded project, so email potential supervisors with your CV and a short research idea.

Private university scholarships. Taylor's, Sunway, APU, UCSI and branch campuses offer merit scholarships, usually 10% to 50% off tuition, based on your grades. Some are automatic at the offer stage.

For more options, see /scholarships?country=Malaysia.

Student visa: steps, documents and fees

In Malaysia you do not apply for the student pass yourself. Your university applies on your behalf through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS).

1. Get an offer letter from an EMGS-approved institution.
2. Your university submits your application to EMGS. You upload scans of your passport (valid at least 18 months), photos, academic certificates and transcripts, offer letter, and pay the fees.
3. EMGS screens your application and issues an electronic Visa Approval Letter (eVAL). The client charter is 14 working days for a complete application. The eVAL is valid for six months.
4. Single Entry Visa (SEV). Pakistani passport holders apply for the SEV through Malaysia's official eVISA system before travel. The details must match your eVAL exactly.
5. Arrive and complete post-arrival medical screening at an EMGS panel clinic or your university clinic, usually within seven working days.
6. Passport endorsement. Your university sends your passport to immigration for the student pass sticker, and you receive a student iKad.

EMGS fees (new student, study over 6 months), from the official EMGS fee schedule:

Item	Fee
Processing fee (per 12 months)	RM 1,600
eVAL processing fee	RM 150
Service tax (8% on the two fees above)	approx. RM 140
Medical screening	RM 340
Medical insurance (12 months)	RM 498 to 644
Student pass sticker	RM 60
Visa fee	RM 0 to 50 depending on nationality
Approximate total	RM 2,800 to 3,000 (PKR 190,000 to 204,000)

These fees change from time to time, and your university may add courier or administration charges. EMGS does not normally ask for a large bank balance the way Australia does, but your university may ask for evidence that you can pay fees and living costs.

Documents to prepare in Pakistan: passport, photos, Matric/FSc certificates attested by IBCC, degrees and transcripts attested by HEC (see /library/guides/hec-degree-attestation-guide), English test results if required by the programme (IELTS, TOEFL or similar; see /library/guides/ielts-toefl-duolingo-guide), and a police character certificate if your university asks. Full list: /library/guides/document-checklist-pakistan.

Working while studying and after graduating

• During study: international students may work up to 20 hours a week only during semester breaks or holidays longer than seven days, with prior approval from the Immigration Department, arranged through your university. Allowed workplaces include restaurants, petrol kiosks, mini markets, hotels and on campus. Working without approval can lead to cancellation of your pass. MIS scholars also need written approval from their university before taking paid work.
• Research assistant work: postgraduate students funded as GRAs work on their supervisor's project as part of their studies. This is the most common way Pakistani PhD students support themselves.
• After graduating: the Graduate Pass, issued through EMGS, gives graduates with a bachelor's degree or higher an extra 12 months in Malaysia. It allows work in permitted sectors without employer sponsorship. You need a letter of completion, a valid student pass when you apply, local health insurance and a personal bond with a Malaysian sponsor. After that, staying on usually means an employer sponsoring an Employment Pass.

Month-by-month timeline (February/March 2027 or September 2027 intake)

When	What to do
October to November 2026	Shortlist universities and supervisors, start HEC/IBCC attestation, take IELTS if needed
November 2026 to January 2027	Apply for February/March 2027 intake (public) or January/May (private). Research applicants: send proposals to supervisors
January to February 2027	Accept offer; university lodges EMGS application. Prepare MIS documents (offer letter, proposal, references)
March to April 2027	MIS round expected (short window). Apply for September 2027 intake at public universities
April to July 2027	EMGS processing, eVAL, then SEV through eVISA
August to September 2027	Travel, medical screening, registration and passport endorsement

Common mistakes Pakistani applicants make

• Choosing an institution that is not EMGS-approved or a programme not accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). Check both before paying.
• Paying agents for "guaranteed" admission or visas. Public university applications are online and the student pass is lodged by the university. See /library/guides/avoiding-scholarship-scams.
• Missing the MIS window. It is open for only about a month, and you usually need an offer letter or proposal ready.
• Assuming you can work during term. Part-time work is allowed only in breaks and only with approval.
• Travelling on the eVAL without an SEV, or with details that do not match your passport.
• Not checking the full fee schedule. Some programmes quote per-semester fees, others a total; add registration, EMGS and hostel costs before comparing.

Official links

• Education Malaysia (EMGS): https://educationmalaysia.gov.my
• EMGS visa portal and Graduate Pass: https://visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my/graduate-pass
• EMGS fee schedule: https://visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my/media/cms_upload/Schedule_fees_-_v1.8_2_.pdf
• EMGS FAQ (work rules, eVAL, SEV, medical screening): https://educationmalaysia.gov.my/get-in-touch/faq
• Malaysia International Scholarship (MOHE): https://biasiswa.mohe.gov.my/INTER/index.php
• MIS 2026 guidelines: https://biasiswa.mohe.gov.my/INTER/doc/MIS/Guidelines%20MIS%202026.pdf
• Malaysia eVISA: https://malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my
• Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQA): https://www2.mqa.gov.my/mqr/
• UTM School of Graduate Studies: https://sps.utm.my
• Universiti Malaya admissions: https://study.um.edu.my

Figures checked on 10 October 2026. Always confirm on the official sites before applying.