A degree your family can fund
Partner tuition runs from RM16,000 to RM36,000 a year, with living costs around RM1,350 to RM2,300 a month. That is a fraction of the UK, Australia or Canada for a degree taught in the same language.
Study destination
Study in Malaysia, from Bangladesh
What it costs, when the intakes are, which universities take you, how the student visa works and what you are allowed to earn. All of it in one page, with nothing to pay us.
Why Malaysia
Four reasons students choose it
Taught in English
Degree programmes are delivered in English, so there is no second language to learn before you start. Our own English assessment is accepted by our partner universities.
Degrees that travel
Malaysia hosts branch campuses of British and Australian universities alongside strong local ones. Programmes are accredited by MQA, which is what an employer or a further degree will ask for.
Close to home
Four hours from Dhaka, a large Bangladeshi community, halal food everywhere and a family visit that does not need a month of planning. For most parents this is the deciding point.
The system and the intakes
When you can start
Public universities, private universities and branch campuses of foreign universities all take international students, on different calendars.
Private universities and branch campuses
Usually three intakes a year, around January or February, May or June, and September or October. More flexible on start dates, faster on offers.
Public universities
Usually one main intake around September or October, sometimes a second early in the year. Fewer seats for international students, and the deadlines are firm.
Start six to nine months early
Assessment and offer take weeks. EMGS and the visa take longer, and a medical or a missing document can add a month. Applying early is the cheapest thing you can do.
What it costs
Tuition and living cost, in the open
Ranges below are indicative and are what our partner universities publish for international students. Your own figures are confirmed in writing before you apply.
Tuition by level, each year
| Level | Tuition per year (RM) | Roughly (BDT lakh) | Usual length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 12,000 - 18,000 | 3.4 - 5.0 | 1 year |
| Diploma | 14,000 - 24,000 | 3.9 - 6.7 | 2 to 2.5 years |
| Bachelor's degree | 16,000 - 36,000 | 4.5 - 10.1 | 3 to 4 years |
| Master's degree | 18,000 - 35,000 | 5.0 - 9.8 | 1 to 2 years |
| PhD | 20,000 - 40,000 | 5.6 - 11.2 | 3 years or more |
Living cost, each month
| What | Per month (RM) | What that buys |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 400 - 900 | Campus hostel or a shared flat off campus |
| Food | 600 - 800 | Cooking most days, eating out sometimes |
| Transport | 100 - 200 | Student pass on the LRT or MRT, or a bus |
| Phone and internet | 50 - 100 | Prepaid data, campus wifi is usually free |
| Books and personal | 200 - 300 | Materials, clothes, a little for yourself |
| Monthly total | 1,350 - 2,300 | Roughly BDT 0.4 to 0.6 lakh a month at RM1 = BDT 28 |
One-off costs on top: EMGS processing, insurance, the medical screening and the visa, commonly RM1,500 to RM2,500 in total, plus your flight and a deposit on your room. These are set by EMGS and by your university, never by us.
Where you could study
Our ten partner universities
Tuition is the published annual fee for international students. The English bar is the IELTS equivalent our own assessment is measured against.
| University | City | Strong in | Tuition (RM / year) | BDT lakh | English bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) | Johor Bahru | Engineering, AI & Digital | 16,000 | 4.5 | 6.0 |
| Limkokwing University | Cyberjaya | Creative, AI & Digital, Business | 18,000 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| Management & Science University (MSU) | Shah Alam | Healthcare, AI & Digital, Business | 20,000 | 5.6 | 5.5 |
| Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) | Kajang | Engineering, AI & Digital | 21,000 | 5.9 | 6.0 |
| INTI International University | Nilai | AI & Digital, Business, Creative | 22,000 | 6.2 | 5.5 |
| Multimedia University (MMU) | Cyberjaya | AI & Digital, Engineering, Creative | 23,000 | 6.4 | 6.0 |
| Asia Pacific University (APU) | Kuala Lumpur | AI & Digital, Creative | 26,000 | 7.3 | 6.0 |
| UCSI University | Kuala Lumpur | Healthcare, AI & Digital, Business | 28,000 | 7.8 | 6.0 |
| Taylor's University | Subang Jaya | AI & Digital, Business, Creative | 34,000 | 9.5 | 6.0 |
| Sunway University | Subang Jaya | AI & Digital, Business, Creative | 36,000 | 10.1 | 6.0 |
Entry requirements
What you need, by level
Foundation or Diploma
SSC and HSC, or an equivalent. A weaker HSC is not the end of the road: a Foundation year is the normal bridge into a degree.
Bachelor's degree
HSC or A-Level with the grade the programme asks for. Engineering, computing and health programmes look at your maths and science subjects, not only the overall result.
Master's or PhD
A relevant Bachelor's degree with the CGPA the university sets, usually around 2.75 to 3.00. A research degree also needs a proposal and a supervisor who agrees to take you.
English
IELTS is not required by our partner universities. They accept our own English assessment, which is part of the free eight-stage assessment you take online.
Scholarships
What our partners offer
Most awards are merit based and competitive, and almost all are decided by the university rather than by an agent. Anyone promising you a guaranteed scholarship is selling you something.
| University | What is available | Entry bar (GPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Asia Pacific University (APU) | Merit awards for GPA 4.5+ | 3.5 |
| Multimedia University (MMU) | Partial waivers, competitive | 3.5 |
| Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) | Engineering merit awards | 3.5 |
| UCSI University | Trust scholarships, need-based | 3.5 |
| Management & Science University (MSU) | Broad entry awards | 3.0 |
| INTI International University | Early-bird fee waivers | 3.0 |
| Taylor's University | Competitive merit only | 4.0 |
| Sunway University | Jeffrey Cheah awards, highly competitive | 4.0 |
| Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) | Public university, limited international awards | 4.0 |
| Limkokwing University | Creative portfolio awards | 3.0 |
Student visa
How the EMGS process runs
EMGS is the Malaysian government body that screens international students. Your university lodges the application, and the decision belongs to the authorities. We make sure the file that reaches them is complete.
Offer letter
You apply, the university assesses you and issues a conditional or unconditional offer. Nothing is paid to us at any point.
EMGS application
The university lodges your student pass application with EMGS, the government body that screens every international student.
Health screening
A medical check before you travel, and a second one after you arrive. A failed screening is the most common avoidable rejection.
Approval letter and visa
EMGS issues the approval letter, then you collect the single entry visa. Timelines vary by season and by how complete your file was.
Arrival and student pass
Our KL team meets you, the post-arrival medical is done, and the student pass is stamped into your passport at the university.
Work rights
What you may earn, during and after
While you study
Up to 20 hours a week during semester breaks and holidays longer than seven days, with your university and the authorities approving it. It is pocket money and experience, not a way to pay your tuition.
Where you may work
Restaurants, mini markets, hotels and petrol stations are the usual permitted jobs. Some roles are barred outright. Working outside the rules risks your student pass, so it is never worth it.
Internships count
Most degrees include an industry placement. That is the placement that turns into a job offer, and it is inside your programme rather than outside your visa.
After you graduate
A Graduate Pass gives you time to look for work, and an employer can then sponsor an Employment Pass. Our KL office helps with the search because the outcome is the only proof our matching works.
Work rules are set by the Malaysian authorities and do change. We confirm the current position with your university before you rely on it.
Student life
Living there
Where students live
Kuala Lumpur for the city, Cyberjaya for tech, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam for large campuses, Nilai and Kajang for quieter and cheaper. We help you find a room near your campus before you land.
Settling in
Halal food is the default, not a search. Prayer facilities are on campus. There is a large Bangladeshi community, and enough of everyone else that nobody is the outsider.
Day to day
Good public transport in the Klang Valley, reliable healthcare, and a cost of living your family can plan around. Keep your student pass and your enrolment in order and life is straightforward.
How we help
Everything below is free
Counselling in Dhaka, placement and aftercare in Kuala Lumpur. Agency registration no. MY121518.
- Free counselling
- Free assessment
- Free career guide
- Free visa and admission support
- Free help finding a job
- Free help finding accommodation
- Free AI course with certificate
Questions
Studying in Malaysia
How much money do I need in total for the first year?
Tuition plus living cost plus one-off government and medical fees. For most of our students that is roughly RM16,000 to RM36,000 tuition, RM16,000 to RM28,000 of living cost over the year, and RM1,500 to RM2,500 of EMGS, insurance and medical charges. We put your own numbers in writing before you apply.
Do I need IELTS to study in Malaysia?
Not with our partner universities. They accept our English assessment. If you already have IELTS it helps, and some programmes with an English or teaching focus may still ask for it.
Can my family come with me?
A dependent pass is possible for a spouse or child, with proof of funds and the university sponsoring the application. It is a separate application and it is not automatic.
How long does the visa take?
EMGS approval commonly takes several weeks once your file is complete, and a missing document or a failed medical adds to it. That is why we screen documents before anything is submitted.
Is a Malaysian degree recognised in Bangladesh?
An MQA accredited degree from a recognised university is. Check accreditation for the exact programme, not just the university, and we do that check with you before you apply.
What does SK Global Education charge for all this?
Nothing. No service charge at any stage. You pay tuition to your university and government fees to EMGS, never to us.
Find out where you actually stand
Eight stages, one sitting, a score out of 100 with ranked courses and matched universities at the end. Free, and the report is yours either way.