Universiti Malaya (UM)

The Universiti Malaya (also known as the University of Malaya or UM) is one of the oldest public universities in Malaysia. It is located in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. UM traces its origins to the merger of two institutions–King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College (founded in 1905 and 1928, respectively)–in  1949. 

Owing to its rapid growth, the university was divided into two autonomous divisions in 1959: one in Singapore and one in Kuala Lumpur. In 1960, the governments of both the territories decided that the two campuses must become autonomous and separate national universities. Following the passing of the legislation in 1961, the unit in Kuala Lampur retained its name and became the University of Malaya in 1962. The campus in Singapore eventually became the National University of Singapore (NUS) after the territory secured independence from Malaysia in 1965. 

UM has consistently been ranked among the best universities in both Asia and the world by several reputed international publications. The QS World University Rankings 2021 ranked Universiti Malaya 9th in Asia and 59th in the world. UM was also placed 26th in Asia and 211th globally by the US News & World Report 2022. The faculty of the university is over 2,300 strong and 30,568 students (17,696 undergraduates and 12,872 postgraduates) are currently enrolled at the institution. 

The University of Malaya has produced several notable leaders, particularly in the field of politics. Some of its notable alumni include several Prime Ministers of the country such as Ismail Sabri Yaakob (incumbent), Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin, among others; Benjamin Sheares and S. R. Nathan, former Presidents of Singapore; Kem Ley, Cambodian activist and political commentator; Pandelela Rinong, diver and two-time Olympic medalist; and  Faiz Khaleed, astronaut, among others. 

Let us learn more about the programmes offered by UM, its admissions process, fee structure, and more, in this article. 

Courses Offered at Universiti Malaya

UM offers over 70 undergraduate and nearly 150 graduate programmes across 13 faculties. These courses are imparted through its two academies, three institutes, and six centres. The faculties in which UM offers its courses are: 

• Arts and social sciences
• Built environment
• Business and economics
• Computer science and information technology 
• Creative arts
• Dentistry
• Education
• Engineering
• Law
• Languages and linguistics
• Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Science

Admissions at Universiti Malaya

The admission process for Universiti Malaya is undertaken online entirely. Below are the steps that aspirants (international students) must follow in order to apply to both undergraduate and graduate programmes: 

• To apply for degree programmes at the University of Malaya, applicants must submit their application form on the online admissions portal (the link to which is available on UM’s official website).
• Select the preferred programme of your choice.
• Provide essential information such as your personal details, and academic qualifications among others. 
• Upload the sought documents such as certificates (sports achievements, extracurricular achievements, academic achievements among others), academic transcripts, photos, and a copy of passport, among others.
• Finally, remit the processing fee and submit your application.
• You can check the status of your application on the application portal.

Fees and Financial Assistance

The Universiti Malaya (UM) tuition fees vary based on the course selected and the department offering it. Depending on the chosen undergraduate and graduate course, the tuition fees for international students are RM 40,100- RM 91,000 and RM 22,000-RM 80,000, respectively

There are numerous scholarships available in addition to funds and loans to assist students in paying their tuition fees (the dates for applying to them and their process of application are found on UM’s official website). Some of the scholarships are : 

• Malaysian Public Service Department (JPA) scholarship
• 2022 Organic bunny academy scholarship
• Panasonic Scholarship 2022
• Ken Foundation Scholarship 2022

So, if you wish to pursue your education at an institution counted among the best universities, not in Asia but also in the world, then the Universiti Malaya is the ideal option for you. We hope that this article has provided you with all the information you require to consider applying to this premier university. All the best!