Malaysia is known to avid travelers as a foodie haven, an enticing melting pot of tradition, culture, and modernity, and a treasure trove of natural gems. But did you know that this Southeast Asian gem is also one of the most popular destinations in the world for international students to study abroad?
To be exact, it is currently the 11th most popular destination according to UNESCO’s International Students Mobility Survey. Statistics aside, what do I personally think of studying in Malaysia as an international student? Having done a year of exchange in Malaysia during my second year in university, I think it’s pretty great!
Here are some of the reasons to study in Malaysia and why I think it’s a good idea!
Table of Contents
Why Malaysia is good for international students
1. The quality of higher education in Malaysia is quickly improving
Why study in Malaysia? Well, when it comes to picking a destination to study abroad in, the most obvious criterion is the quality of education in that country. In recent years, Malaysian universities have experienced a boon in both international reputation and recognition.
In fact, in the QS Asia University Rankings 2022, Universiti Malaya, the country’s top local university was ranked the 9th best institution of learning in the region!
2. It offers affordable access to some of the world’s best institutions
Apart from reputable local universities, Malaysia is also home to some of the best foreign universities in the world. Well-known institutions of higher learning like Monash University and the University of Nottingham have branch campuses in Malaysia.
In other words, one of the best reasons to study in Malaysia is simply because it offers world-class education at affordable rates, especially considering the exchange rate of the Ringgit.
For example, a typical undergraduate course at the University of Nottingham in the UK costs $150,000. That same course, containing the same modules and lecturers of similar stature, costs only about $40,000 (MYR 174,000) at the Malaysia campus!
3. The cost of living (and studying) in Malaysia is relatively low
While on the subject of affordability, another benefit of studying in Malaysia is the relatively low cost of living, even for students.
While some locals may not fully agree with this, I stand by it, especially when you compare the cost of living, even in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s most expensive city, with my hometown of Hong Kong. Even compared to neighboring countries like Singapore and Thailand, the average cost of living in Malaysia is much lower.
Most international students would be able to live comfortably at a monthly cost of just MYR 2000 ($500) a month, including rent, food, and daily expenses.
4. Malaysian universities and colleges offer a wide range of programs and courses
Just because Malaysia is a wallet-friendly option to obtain tertiary education, it doesn’t skimp on the quality, quantity, and diversity of its programs and courses. This is one of the reasons why I personally think studying in Malaysia is a great option.
Traditionally, Malaysia is famous for world-class courses in engineering, law, and medicine. However, these days, the country also offers excellent courses in design, media, and much more.
Whether you’re planning on becoming a doctor or lawyer, or if you’d like nothing more than to dive into a much newer field, chances are, you’ll find exactly the course that teaches you all you need to know in Malaysia.
5. Most campuses come with top-notch facilities
Along with the high quality of education available at universities in Malaysia, most campuses also come with top-notch facilities, offering another enticing reason for international students to study abroad in Malaysia.
Most, if not all campuses in Malaysia, are fully equipped with high-speed Internet, state-of-the-art IT infrastructure, and much more.
Even facilities like gyms and libraries are well-maintained, offering international students a balanced way to study whilst maintaining their leisure time.
6. Malaysian graduates are known for their high employability
Another huge benefit of studying abroad in Malaysia is the high employability of graduates. This applies to both local and foreign students.
Not only that, but Malaysia is one of the few countries which allows international students to work part-time during semester breaks while they’re still enrolled in their courses. Many companies are also open to hiring foreign students for internships or for entry-level positions.
7. The most popular study destinations are found in or near major cities
Another major reason to study in Malaysia is where most of the most popular universities are located at. Many of the country’s top campuses are located either in or near Kuala Lumpur/Selangor, Penang, Johor Bahru, and Kota Kinabalu, all of which are major cities and financial hubs.
This means that apart from top-class facilities and courses, international students will also have quick and easy access to malls, entertainment outlets (like cinemas or activity parks), eateries, and more.
And because public transport is usually much more developed in major cities in Malaysia, getting around is a breeze for international students even if they don’t own their own cars.
8. Malaysia is a relatively safe country
Another factor to consider when choosing to study abroad in Malaysia is this: is Malaysia safe for international students? While it is always up to us to stay cautious no matter where we are, I would say that, from my year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is a relatively safe country.
In fact, according to the 2022 Global Peace Index, Malaysia ranks as the 18th most peaceful country out of 163. What’s more, while there can be occasionally heavy rain and flooding in some areas, the weather in Malaysia is generally pleasant without any extreme fluctuations. Plus, there are no earthquakes or typhoons.
9. It is one of the most popular destinations in the region to study abroad at
Given all that I’ve said so far, it’s probably not a surprise that Malaysia is one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia to study abroad at.
During my year of exchange in the country, I met plenty of students from South Korea, the Middle East, and the UK. That said, the biggest group of international students who choose to further their studies in Malaysia are Chinese students like myself.
Given how many international students head to Malaysia for tertiary education, the country is well-equipped to meet the needs of its international scholars. For one, the student visa application process is pretty smooth and not as strict as in some other countries.
What’s more, most campuses already have an established foreign student community ready to welcome newcomers so they don’t feel out of place.
10. You get to experience a country of diverse cultures
Another one of my favorite reasons why you should study in Malaysia is the opportunity to engage with people from all walks of life. Even though most countries in the world are, to some extent, cultural melting pots, I don’t think I’ve ever been to any other country that celebrates diversity like Malaysia.
From food, traditional customs, and festivals right down to the locals themselves, you really do get a little experience of the world in Malaysia. You get to witness people of different races just hanging out on a daily basis. While I was in Malaysia, I was even invited by locals to join some of their festivals like Hari Raya and Deepavali, which I never get a chance to do in Hong Kong!
Even on campus, you’ll find plenty of culture-based activities and events that will open your eyes to brand-new experiences.
11. You probably won’t have much of an issue with language barriers
Along with cultural diversity, Malaysia is also a multilingual country, and that’s another one of the reasons why Malaysia is good for international students.
From my experience, English is widely spoken on all campuses in Malaysia and in major cities, especially tourist hubs. But apart from that, most Malaysians of Chinese descent can speak Mandarin fluently, as well as dialects like Cantonese, Hokkien, and Hakka. Tamil, on the other hand, is widely spoken by ethnic Indians in Malaysia.
Essentially, no matter where you go, you’ll likely be able to communicate well even if you don’t know a word of Malay!
12. Even so, Malay is pretty easy to pick up
I once went out with a friend from Korea to a mamak (Indian-Muslim food restaurant) for a late-night supper and what caught me off-guard was her ordering food for me in fluent Malay! For context, she’d only been in the country three months longer than I had at that point.
I came to find out later that, not only is Malay an easy language to pick up, with many words borrowed from English and Mandarin but also that many universities offer free courses to help international students learn the language!
While I stand by the fact that you don’t need to learn Malay to survive in Malaysia, I also can’t deny that being able to speak the local language is definitely a big plus!
13. Malaysia offers you a chance to leave your comfort zone safely
All in all, Malaysia’s multiculturalism provides a comfortable environment for most international students to study abroad. While you will be moving overseas to study and pushing beyond your comfort zone, you won’t find yourself in an environment that’s so contrastingly alien that it makes you homesick.
What’s more, another reason to study in Malaysia is that the locals (or most of them) are so welcoming and friendly! And I say this with full honesty because back in Hong Kong, even on campuses with plenty of international students, most locals just keep to themselves.
Malaysians, conversely, have no qualms about befriending foreign students and making them feel welcome in their country!
14. There are plenty of beautiful locations to explore on your days off
Away from the campuses and dealing with exams and assignments, another benefit of studying in Malaysia that I loved was that there are so many beautiful locations you can explore on your days off.
Apart from touring the major cities like Kuala Lumpur and Penang, which are popular places in Malaysia to study, students have the chance to explore ancient rainforest reserves, hop between the most pristine islands, immense themselves in cultural performances, and even hike up the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia — Mount Kinabalu in Sabah.
Heck, if the Malaysian heat gets too hot for you, you can even escape into the chilly hills of Genting or Cameron Highlands!
15. And plenty of delectable cuisines to choose from!
And finally (also most importantly), one of the best reasons to study in Malaysia is simply the seemingly unending choice of mouthwatering local cuisine!
One of my favorite things to do on Wednesdays while I was studying in Malaysia was to visit the Taman Connaught Night Market in Kuala Lumpur and just throng the streets in search of street food.
Sometimes on weekends, I’d just hitch a ride with my friends to popular food cities like Penang or Melaka where I’d just go to town on the food! What’s more, if you miss your hometown cooking, you can pretty much find any type of cuisine in Malaysia if you looked hard enough!
One thing’s for sure, you’ll never go hungry!
Final thoughts
And there, 15 reasons to study in Malaysia that you can use to convince your parents! From personal experience, my one year in Malaysia was arguably the best time in my life as a student. I made so many friends and even more memories to last a lifetime.
You’ll find yourself surrounded by the warmest people you’ll ever meet, get to experience true racial harmony, eat some of the best food in the world, and to top it all off, at the end of it all, you’ll have graduated from some of the best universities in the world!
So if you were still having doubts about making that application to study abroad in Malaysia, I hope this article has helped you make up your mind! Alternatively, check out why you should study in Italy instead if you’re dreaming of pursuing your education in Europe!
