Affordable Education: Tuition Fees and Living Costs in Malaysia

MSM Unify
2 min readAug 1, 2024

--

Malaysia is among the countries on the rise as more and more students from around the world are seeking cheap quality education. However, the tuition fees and cost of living are fairly low compared to developed countries in the West, particularly those in Europe and North America. This blog is useful if you are thinking about where to study in Malaysia, the cost of tuition and other expenses that international students are likely to encounter are explained here.

Study in Malaysia: Tuition Fees

Tuition fees differ significantly depending on whether the university is public or private, with the former being significantly cheaper in Malaysia. For instance, the tuition fee for an engineering degree program in any public university is approximately between RM7,000 and RM15,000 ($1,700, $3,600) per annum. Medical and MBBS fees are comparatively higher at RM 20000 to RM 40000 ($4800 to $9500) annually conducted by public universities.

The fee structure of private colleges and universities differs significantly and therefore, expect to pay between RM 15000-RM 60000 ($3,500- $14,300) per annum based on the program and institution. Malaysian yearly tuition fee is 40–60% lower than what students would have to pay to attend a university in the UK, USA, and Australia.

Cost of Living

In terms of the ability to afford the cost of living, Malaysia can be said to be relatively cheap compared to many industrialized countries for students. As you mentioned rent, food, transportation and many other expenses are comparatively lower. Similarly, student dormitories such as hostels, apartments, and shared rooms are expected to cost within a range of RM300 — RM800 ($70 -$190) monthly depending on the location and amenities provided. Starting from RM5 per meal, you can get hawker stalls’ foods and restaurants’ foods from the stalls. Buses and trains, which also are under public use, are also very cheap.

As for living costs including utilities, internet, phone bills, and groceries, a student coming to study in Malaysia will be paying about 75% less than what he or she would be paying in other student-friendly study-abroad countries. However, you may spend more money on entertainment, personal clothes, and traveling as compared to your previous lifestyle. In summary, a low cost of living can enable an international student to study comfortably regardless of the financial constraints in place.

Therefore, if you want a low-cost yet quality international education, Malaysia would be a perfect place for you to consider. It is far cheaper to study in the stated universities and colleges with more or less comparable standards with those in the developed countries, and the cost of living and tuition fees are relatively cheap.

Also Read:

Essential Documents for study in Switzerland: A Comprehensive Checklist

Common Mistakes to Avoid on the CAEL Test

--

--

MSM Unify

MSM Unify is a student marketplace, linking students with educational institutions and recruitment partners across the globe. https://www.msmunify.com/