Higher Education in Malaysia  >  Universities in Malaysia  >  Public Universities

Public Universities

Malaysian Government Universities (public universities) are categorized into three groups:
A- Research Universities
B- Focussed Universities
C- Comprehensive Universities

There are 20 Public Universities (Government Universities) comprising 5 research universities, 4 comprehensive universities, and 11 focussed universities.
 

Funding of Public Universities (2007)
90% of the public universities' funding came from Malaysian Government and the balance 10% is from student fees.

 A total of 85,247 students registered for the new varsity intake at local Malaysia’s public universities for the 2012/2013 academic session.


The number included 46,698 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia school leavers and the other 38,549 with Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia qualifications or its equivalent.


Public universities (Government's Universities) produce graduates who can acquire and apply their knowledge for the benefit of the Malaysian society.
No every interested student could gain an entry into these institutions because the places for first degree programmes are limited.
The Ministry of Higher Education thus placed hope on private higher educational institutions to complement and supplement the mission.

More students in Malaysia can obtain degree level education now because of private higher educational institutions (PHEIs). Many of these institutions offer twinning degree programmes or full 3+0 and 4+0 degree programmes in collaboration with overseas universities from countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Thus, Malaysian and foreign students have a wide choice of higher education institutions and programmes.
Foreign university branch campuses have played a significant role in meeting the demand by Malaysian for Bachelor's degree programmes.
DATA SOURCES : Ministry of Education MoE, Ministry of Higher Education MoHE

There are 20 Public Universities in Malaysia
Public Universities in Malaysia are funded by the Government and are governed as self-managed institutions come under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971.

IIUM International Islamic University Malaysia لجامعة الإسلامية العالمية ماليزيا IIUM - Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia founded on 10 May 1983 to revitalize the intellectual tradition of the ummah. The university's diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in several fields equipping students with the ability to integrate Islamic learning with intellectual creativity. This international university uses English and Arabic and has a 20% of international students. Pahang and Selangor

UM Universiti Malaya (University of Malaya) www.um.edu.my (research university) WP Kuala Lumpur

UTHM Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Johor Formally Kolej Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn (KUiTTHO) upgraded on 2007 as UTHM university Kolej Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn KUiTTHO www.kuittho.edu.my Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia is a public university in Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia. It was formerly known as Institut Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn and Kolej Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn. The history of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia started off on September 16, 1993 as Pusat Latihan Staf Politeknik (PLSP). The core business of PLSP then was to train and produce polytechnics academic staff to become knowledgeable and skilful in various engineering fields. The training institute was jointly administered by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Ministry of Education.

UiTM University Technology MARA UiTM   26 August 1999, Institut Teknologi MARA was granted university status and renamed Universiti Teknologi MARA. This new university continues its initial intent to offer academic programmes as well as professional programmes in accountancy and information technology. UiTM pioneer in higher learning to producing a significant number of Bumiputera professionals skilled in a broad spectrum of industry. Selangor

USM Universiti Sains Malaysia (University of Science, Malaysia) The second university in Malaysia. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was first known as the University of Penang in 1969. (research university) Kelantan and Penang

UPM Universiti Putra Malaysia （Putra University，Malaysia) www.upm.edu.my (research university) Formally Universiti Pertanian Malaysia. Established in 4 October 1971 for the training of agricultural assistants in the government sector after the amalgamation of the College of Agriculture and the Faculty of Agriculture of Universiti Malaya in 1971. Renamed Universiti Putra Malaysia on 26 July 1997. Selangor

UKM Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia) www.ukm.my (research university) UKM - Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia was established On 18 May 1970 as the first public university to use Bahasa Malaysia as medium of instruction in higher education. Selangor and WP Kuala Lumpur

UTM Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Technological University of Malaysia) www.utm.my Established on 1 April 1975. Its history dates back to 1925 as the Public Works Department Technical School. In 1931, it became the Education Department for training apprentices for the PWD, Malayan Railways and the Survey Department. In 1946, the school was upgraded to Technical College. In 1975, it was further upgraded to a university. Johor

UUM Universiti Utara Malaysia (Northern University of Malaysia) www.uum.edu.my 16 February 1984 Universiti Utara Malaysia was established as a catalyst for the growth of the Northern region of Malaysia. UUM focus on management education. Kedah

UPSI Universiti Pendidkan Sultan Idris (UPSI)   MPSI, Malaysia oldest teacher training college (established in 1922) was bestowed institute status in 1987 as Institute Perguruan Sultan Idris (IPSI). With its new status, IPSI started to introduce new courses including a twinning programme with Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Universiti Putra Malaysia). IPSI was upgraded to university status On 24 February 1997 and renamed Universiti Pendidkan Sultan Idris (UPSI). Perak

UNiMAS Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (University of Malaysia Sarawak) www.unimas.my 24 December 1992, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak became the first university in East Malaysia. A catalyst for the development of East Malaysia and spearheading research and studies focus on sustainable management of natural resources. Sarawak

UMS Universiti Malaysia Sabah (University of Malaysia Sabah) www.ums.edu.my Universiti Malaysia Sabah was established on 24 November 1994 with the objective to train experts in various fields, particularly Marine Science. Sabah

UMP Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP)   Kolej Universiti Kejuruteraan & Teknologi Malaysia (KUKTEM) was established on 16 February 2000 as a competency-based technical university that specializes in engineering and technology with focuses on Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology Industries, Automotive Engineering, and Manufacturing Engineering. Pahang

UniSZA Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Previously : Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia (UDM) 1 January 2006, Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia was established with three campuses, each with a separate niche. The KUSZA campus focuses on teaching in Islamic studies. The campus in Kuala Terengganu offers Health Sciences while the campus in Besut specialized in Biotechnology and Agriculture programmes. Terengganu

UPNM Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM)   Malaysian Armed Forces Academy (Akademi Tentera Malaysia - ATMA) established on 1 June 1995 to provide military training for cadet officers of the Armed Forces of Malaysia (ATM) was upgraded on 10 November 2006 to Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) offering Bachelor's degree on defence science and management. WP Kuala Lumpur

USIM Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)   Kolej Universiti Islam Malaysia (KUIM) upgraded to Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) in 2007 Negeri Sembilan

UMT Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)   Formerly known as :KUSTEM - July 2001, KUT - July 1999, UPMT - June 1996 Kolej Universiti Sains & Teknologi Malaysia (KUSTEM) upgraded to Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) on Feb 1st, 2007 Terengganu

UTeM Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM)   In 2007 Kolej Universiti Teknikal Kebangsaan Malaysia (KUTKM) was upgraded to UTeM University. Malacca

UNiMAP Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) Previously known as : Kolej Universiti Kejuruteraan Utara Malaysia (KUKUM) Perlis

UMK Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)   Universiti Malaysia Kelantan was established on 14 June 2006 at the onset of the Ninth Malaysia Plan which stresses on the development of human capital with first-class minds to explore, develop and expand knowledge in the areas of agrobusiness, entrepreneurship, heritage, creative technology and natural resource sciences. Kelantan

As in 2016, Malaysia has :
 

1) 414 Private colleges
2) 37 Private universities
3) 10 Private University-colleges
4) 1 Public University-college
5) 10 Foreign branch campus
6) 20 Public universities

APPLYING FOR A PROGRAMME IN A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
(University of Malaysian Government)
All applications to study in public universities are centrally processed (except postgraduate studies) by the centralized processing agency known as :
Bahagitan Pengurusan Kemasukan Pelajar (BPKP)
The Division of Student Admission
(formerly known as Unit Pusat Universtti, UPU).
BPKP processes applications from students with SPM, STPM, STAM, diploma or matriculation qualifications. The agency is under The Department of Higher Education (Jabalan Pengajian Tinggi) of the Ministry of Higher Education and is responsible for the management of the admission of students into the 20 public universities.
The main function of BPKP (formally UPU) is to process and coordinate the intake of Malaysian students into local public universities for the following programmes of study:
• Programmes after SPM
• Programmes for Government recognized Diploma Holders
• Programmes after Matriculation programmes
• Programmes after STAM
• Programmes after STPM
• Master's degree programmes in medicine
Remarks : At postgraduate studies level, BPKP only processes the intake for Master's degree progremme in medicine and not for other postgraduate courses)
The intake into the public universities through this centralized agency is in July each year.
BPKP is not involved in managing the intake of the following categories of students into public universities and as such these groups of students are required to contact the individual public universities directly. The students involved here are:
• foreign students
• students who undertake programmes conducted via the Distance Learning Education mode or programmes being offered at Certificate level
• students of franchised programmes conducted at private higher educational institutions
Application Procedures
The 'BPKP IPT' or 'UPU' application forms are made available to:
• STPM / STAM qualification holders in January of intake year
• SPM qualification holders in February of the intake year
• Matriculation qualification holders in November prior to the intake year
• Diploma qualification holders in November / December prior to the intake year
All post-secondary school leaver applications for Bachelor's degree programmes must be mode online while application for Diploma level programmes can either be made through printed application form or online v;o the website of the Ministry of Higher Education at www.mohe.gov.my. The forms, however, must be submitted within 10 days from the date of the release of the examination result, usually in the month of March. Applicants will usually be notified of their applications' statu., in the month of May. There is only one intake a year and is usually in the middle of the year.

 

Year 2006 Students enrolment in Government's Higher Education Institution

Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) Ministry Of Higher Education Malaysia for Foreign Students

The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) is an initiative by the Malaysian Government to attract the best minds from around the world to pursue advanced academic studies in Malaysia. This scholarship aims to support The Malaysian Government's effort to attract, motivate and retain talented human capital from abroad.

Talented international students with excellent academic records and outstanding co-curricular backgrounds are welcome to apply for this scholarship and further their studies in any selected and well-established Malaysian public and private universities.

This scholarship is divided into two categories:

Postgraduate
Post-doctoral Studies

More about : Education Funding in Malaysia

Applications to study in public universities
for Malaysian Students completed SPM and STPM

Entry Qualifications to a Public University in Malaysia
The general entry requirement :
1) for Diploma level is SPM qualification
2) for undergraduate studies is STPM or equivalent qualifications such as Matriculation certificate of Ministry of Education, STAM and Diplomas which are recognized by the government.

Applicants (Malaysians or non-Malaysians) must fulfill the standard requirements as well as specific conditions like subject requirement, interview and others set by the respective public universities before they can be accepted by the public universities.
 

SPM = Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
STPM = Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia
STAM = Sijil Tinggi Agarma Malaysia

RELATED  TOPICS

Maktab Perguruan Tawau
(Tawau Teacher's Training College)

Tawau Teacher's Training College had supplemented the aspiration of the Sabah Government for more higher learning institutions to be set up in this region, thereby giving local youths a wide choice in their pursuit for educational excellence.

Government Nurses Training Colleges

Malaysia has 35 private nursing colleges and 43 public (Government) nursing institutions.

Education in Malaysia