Universities in Malaysia ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 88 Universities in Malaysia

The Federation of Malaysia consists of 13 states (Malay: Negeri) and 3 federal territories (Malay: Wilayah Persekutuan). The majority of higher education institutions meeting the uniRank selection criteria are located in the state of Selangor and the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur, which hosts the capital and largest city, Kuala Lumpur. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables take into account all states and territories that include at least one Malaysian higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Johor (7)  
Kedah (4)  
Kelantan (1)  
Kuala Lumpur (18)  
Malacca (2)  
Negeri Sembilan (5)  
Pahang (4)  
Penang (2)  
Perak (4)  
Perlis (3)  
Sabah (1)  
Sarawak (4)  
Selangor (30)  
Terengganu (2)  

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Overview of Malaysia Universities

Malaysia's higher education system features a blend of public and private universities accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education. Public universities receive government funding and emphasize research across comprehensive disciplines, while private institutions often specialize in professional fields like technology and business. The system offers undergraduate to doctoral programs, with English widely used as the medium of instruction. Islamic universities uniquely integrate religious studies with conventional academic disciplines. Malaysia aims to be an international education hub, attracting global students with affordable tuition and diverse programs.

Top 10 Malaysia Universities

1. Universiti Malaya (UM)
   Country Rank #1, World Rank #791. Established 1905 in Kuala Lumpur. Public comprehensive research university. Offers sciences, humanities, engineering, medicine and business programs from bachelor's to PhD levels.
2. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
   Country Rank #2, World Rank #1036. Founded 1969 in George Town, Penang. Public research university specializing in science and technology. Features multidisciplinary programs including medical sciences and industrial technology.
3. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
   Country Rank #3, World Rank #1037. Established 1973 in Seri Kembangan, Selangor. Public research university. Originally agriculture-focused, now comprehensive with strengths in biosciences, forestry and engineering.
4. Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
   Country Rank #4, World Rank #1057. Founded 1956 in Shah Alam, Selangor. Public specialized university focusing on technology, business and applied arts. Offers vocational to doctoral programs.
5. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
   Country Rank #5, World Rank #1076. Established 1904 in Skudai, Johor. Public research university specializing in engineering and technology. Features industry-linked programs and technical innovation.
6. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
   Country Rank #6, World Rank #1133. Founded 1970 in Bangi, Selangor. Public comprehensive research university. Strong in Malay studies, social sciences and health sciences across all degree levels.
7. International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
   Country Rank #7, World Rank #1405. Established 1983 in Kuala Lumpur. Public specialized university integrating Islamic principles with law, economics, engineering and medicine.
8. Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)
   Country Rank #8, World Rank #2275. Founded 1984 in Sintok, Kedah. Public specialized university focusing on management, accounting and economics. Known for business administration programs.
9. Multimedia University (MMU)
   Country Rank #9, World Rank #2361. Established 1996 in Cyberjaya, Selangor. Private for-profit specialized university. Focuses on IT, multimedia and creative industries with industry-aligned curriculum.
10. Tun Hussein Onn University (UTHM)
    Country Rank #10, World Rank #2577. Founded 2000 in Batu Pahat, Johor. Public specialized university emphasizing technical education, engineering technology and vocational training.

Analysis of University Types

Malaysia hosts 88 universities: 20 public (22.7%) and 67 private (76.1%). Public universities dominate research and comprehensive education while private institutions specialize in market-driven fields like technology and business management. The distribution reflects Malaysia's strategy to expand access through private education while maintaining public universities as research anchors.

Global Ranking and Standing

Malaysian universities show moderate global representation with no institutions in the top 200 worldwide. Only 1 university (1.1% of total) ranks within the top 1,000 globally, highlighting opportunities for enhanced international competitiveness among Malaysia's higher education institutions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How many universities are in Malaysia? - There are 88 universities: 20 public and 67 private institutions.
• What is Malaysia's top-ranked university? - Universiti Malaya consistently ranks #1 nationally and #791 globally.
• Are there English-taught programs? - Yes, most universities offer English-medium programs, especially at postgraduate levels.
• Do Malaysian universities appear in global rankings? - Currently, only one university ranks within the world's top 1000.
• What are the oldest universities? - Universiti Malaya (1905) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (1904) are the oldest.
• Are Islamic universities only for Muslims? - No, institutions like IIUM and USIM accept all students while incorporating Islamic values.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Malaysian universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Malaysia
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Malaysian post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Malaysia
  Search for Malaysian higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Malaysian Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Malaysian town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Malaysia
  Discover Malaysian public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Malaysia
  Find out about Malaysian private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Malaysia
  Explore Malaysian not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Malaysia
  Look for Malaysian for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Malaysian Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Malaysia have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Malaysian Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Malaysia that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Malaysian Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Malaysia are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Malaysian Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Malaysia with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.