Millie's Guide Public

Millie's Guide to Malaysian Scholarships

Millie's Guide to Malaysian Scholarships

Malaysia is a country rich in diversity and culture. As a multi-ethnic society, Malaysia is no stranger to inclusivity. It's a central destination in Southeast Asia, close to neighboring countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia. As an increasingly popular choice for undergraduate and graduate studies, there are many scholarship options available for international students interested in studying in Malaysia, as well as for nationals. The country boasts a multitude of reputable universities that showcase the unique experience Malaysia has to offer.

International Students

University of Nottingham Malaysia High Achievers Scholarship (HAS)

The University of Nottingham Malaysia is the country's campus of the established UK institution. Ranked #103 in the world and #18 in the UK, it offers world-class education to more than 5,000 students from 85 different countries, with branches in China and the UK.

This merit scholarship offers a 25% reduction in tuition fees for undergraduate programs.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia City Skyline

Eligibility criteria:

  • A-level: 3A’s, excluding General Studies
  • IB: 36 points and above (6, 6, 6 at HL)
  • STPM (Malaysian Higher School Certificate): 3A’s, excluding General Studies
  • UEC (The Unified Examination Certificate): 5A’s

Application process:

  • Automatically available for all academically qualified applicants
  • Students must submit their Offer Acceptance forms & pay the fee before awarded the scholarship

Monash High Achiever Award (for new students or continuing students)

Monash University Malaysia is the nation's campus of the Australian institution, Monash University. Ranked #55 in the QS 2021 World University rankings, the school is attended by more than 8,000 students from 78 different countries. Monash has campuses in Europe, Asia, and Australia, offering students the unique opportunity of international mobility as part of their studies.

This merit scholarship offers RM5,000 tuition fee waiver (approx USD1,194.60) per semester, subject to maintaining satisfactory academic achievement.

Eligibility criteria:

  • Malaysian citizens OR international students
  • For all undergraduate courses EXCEPT Bachelor of Medical Science, Doctor of Medicine, and Bachelor of Pharmacy
  • Only new students enrolling in Monash University Malaysia
  • Completed Australian Year 12 OR international senior secondary qualification accepted by Monash

Application process:

  • Applying to the university constitutes an application for the scholarship
  • If eligible, you will receive notice of the scholarship with your letter of offer
  • Accept the offer and complete all relevant forms
  • Complete Scholarship Acknowledgement Form
  • Submit forms to Admissions Office
National Students

Are you a Malaysian student who has read up to here thinking: "So… what about me?"? Rest assured - we've got you covered!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia City Skyline

If you're a Malaysian citizen and wish to pursue an undergraduate degree in Malaysia or even overseas, then you've come to the right place.

We will introduce you to two popular scholarship opportunities for Malaysian citizens in this section: the PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme and the Khazanah Global Scholarship. As they have different eligibility criteria and options for universities/courses you can pursue, we highly recommend you take a thorough look at this article to see where you fit.

PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme (PESP)

PETRONAS, a Malaysian oil and gas company, has been sponsoring more than 37,000 students since 1975 through the PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme (PESP).

The programme supports Malaysian students that decide to pursue oil- and gas- related undergraduate courses in the following universities:

  • Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS including 1-year Foundation Programme.
  • Top Universities in Malaysia including the compulsory duration of Matriculation/Foundation programme
  • Overseas Universities including up to 24 months of Pre-University Programme in Malaysia.
  1. Eligibility
    1. Malaysian citizens aged between 17-19 years old
    2. Strong leadership skills and active participation in extracurricular activities
  2. Academic qualification
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

Programmes

  • Applied chemistry
  • Chemical engineering
  • Computer science
  • Electrical & Electronic engineering
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Petroleum engineering
  • Petroleum geoscience

Academic qualification

Minimum 8A- in SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) including the following subjects:

  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Mathematics
Local universities

Programmes

  • Accounting
  • Actuarial science
  • Economics
  • Law
  • Statistics

Academic qualification

Minimum 8A- in SPM including Mathematics.

Overseas universities

Programmes 1

  • Applied chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemical engineering
  • Electrical & Electronic engineering
  • Geoscience (Geology/Geophysics)
  • Mechanical engineering

Academic qualification

Minimum 8 subjects 4A+ and 4A- in SPM including the following subjects:

  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Mathematics

Programmes 2

  • Accounting
  • Actuarial science
  • Computer science
  • Economics
  • Environmental science
  • Law
  • Mathematics
  • Marketing & Trading
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Statistics

Academic qualification

Minimum 8 subjects with 4A+ and 4A- in SPM including Mathematics.

  1. Application process
    1. The applicants will submit documents regarding their personal information, academic and co-curricular records, etc. through the online application system. No processing fee is required.
    2. The shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend the PETRONAS YoungStars Day (PYD). The candidates will go through two phases of assessments.
      1. First phase: online assessments, including the Cambridge Personal Style Questionnaire (CPSQ) and the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
      2. Second phase: interview through the Student Potential Assessment (SPA)
    3. The results will be announced at the end of July.

Khazanah Global Scholarship

Yayasan Khazanah, a scholarship provider, was established by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia. They offer a series of scholarships, including the Khazanah Global Scholarship, Khazanah Cambridge Scholarship, and Khazanah Watan Scholarship.

The Khazanah Global Scholarship provides opportunities for Malaysian students to pursue A-Levels at Kolej Yayasan UEM as preparation for further undergraduate studies at selected universities around the world. The scholarship will be provided for the full course of study as outlined in the offer of admission.

Recipients are also provided with leadership training and job attachments at leading organisations in Malaysia.

  1. Eligibility
    1. Malaysian citizens not exceeding 18 years of age at the enrolment date for the foundation studies
    2. Possess strong leadership skills and active participation in extracurricular, social and voluntary activities
    3. Consistent and outstanding academic achievement record
  2. Academic qualification
    1. Minimum of 8As (A and A+) in SPM or IGCSE
    2. A or A+ in SPM Bahasa Melayu, English, History and Mathematics
  3. Application process
    1. All applicants: applications submitted through the Yayasan Khazanah website.
    2. Stage 1: Verbal and Numerical Ability Test
    3. Stage 2: Personality & Moral Reasoning Test.
    4. Stage 3: online assessment and interview
    5. Stage 4: interview with Yayasan Khazanah Management.
    6. Final stage: interview with Yayasan Khazanah Trustees.
  4. Approved universities
US
  • California Institute of Technology
  • Stanford University
  • Harvard University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Princeton University
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of Chicago
  • Yale University
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • Columbia University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Cornell University
  • Johns Hopkins University
Malaysia
  • University Malaya
  • Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • Universiti Putra Malaysia
  • Universiti Sains Malaysia
  • Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
  • Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia
  • Universiti Tenaga Nasional
  • Universiti Multimedia
  • International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance
  • UiTM (courses under the Social Science & Management)
  • Universiti Utara Malaysia (courses offered by College of Business and College Law, Government & international Studies)
Australia
  • University of Melbourne
UK
  • University of Oxford
  • University of Cambridge
  • Imperial College London
  • University College London
  • University of Edinburgh
  • London School of Economics
  • King’s College London

V. Field of studies

Business
  • Finance
  • Accountancy
  • Law
  • International business
  • Actuarial sciences, etc.
Engineering
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Electrical engineering
  • Civil engineering, etc.
Life sciences
  • Biotechnology, etc.
Other disciplines/courses
  • Non-traditional/niche-area subjects that are critical to the development of the nation

Preferences are given to the following disciplines:

  • Accounting
  • Economics
  • Finance and investments
  • Public policy and Political science

Below are some questions you may want to think about before choosing which scholarship to apply to:

  • What course will I pursue in university?
    • Khazanah Global Scholarship accepts applicants from disciplines that would contribute to the overall development of Malaysia. There is a preference in students willing to pursue business-related courses.
    • PESP is heavily focused on students pursuing oil- and gas- related degrees. It still considers students that will pursue humanities majors like Law and Sociology.
  • Which universities have I received offers from?
    • Khazanah Global Scholarship only accepts applicants that have received offers from universities on their exhaustive list of universities (you can also see this list above).
    • As there is no strict list of universities for PESP, you may want to consider applying to PESP if the university you have received an offer from is not on the list of universities that the Khazanah Global Scholarship approves.
  • Am I ready for interviews?
    • Khazanah Global Scholarship requires applicants to attend three interviews as part of their interview process.
    • PESP requires you to attend one.

So that’s a wrap for our Guide to Malaysian Scholarships! We hope this article gave you an insight into the accessible scholarship opportunities for national and international students in Malaysia.

“The application process was an enjoyable and useful experience.”

Leo, who applied to the PESP in 2020 and 2021 and the Khazanah Global Scholarship in 2021, recalled: “I really enjoyed the application process. It was a useful experience through which I gained insight into how big corporations approach talent acquisition - the interview process was especially a great opportunity.”

If you feel that financial burden is a barrier to your education or wish to gain a unique learning experience you won't find elsewhere, applying for Malaysian scholarships is just for you! Make sure you visit the websites to find out more about these scholarships and give the applications a go!

If you need additional support during this process, sign up for a free consultation session or view our Global University Scholarship Requirements Report! As of now, good luck, and we wish you all the best!