Study Abroad in Malaysia for Pakistani Students

Malaysia is a popular destination for international students seeking quality higher education.

A lot of students these days think out of the box and plan on going abroad to study in their respective fields rather than staying in the country and proceeding their studies. It is a perfect approach, keeping in view that you are fully eligible to study abroad and do well on your own.

It may come with a lot of troubles at first, but once you get into life, it surely gets easier.

About Malaysia

Malaysia, being an Islamic country, is chosen and preferred by many Pakistanis whilst they are choosing to study abroad. It is known to be as UNESCO’s 11th best study abroad destination. This serves to be a developing country which plays its’ part in attracting international students, mainly from Asia.

Related: Study In the Hong Kong For Pakistani Students

Malaysia is a very economical, pocket-friendly country and its’ affordability and less cost of studies has made it a favourite study destination.

Famous Malaysian Universities

Malaysia has several highly reputable universities, both public and private, that offer quality higher education in various fields. Here are some of the top universities in Malaysia:

University	Location	International Ranking
University of Malaya (UM)	Kuala Lumpur	59th in QS World University Rankings 2022
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)	Johor Bahru	187th in QS World University Rankings 2022
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)	Bangi	141st in QS World University Rankings 2022
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)	Penang	133rd in QS World University Rankings 2022
Taylor’s University	Subang Jaya	379th in QS World University Rankings: Asia 2021
Monash University Malaysia	Bandar Sunway	58th in QS World University Rankings 2022

Admissions Requirements in Malaysia for Pakistani Students

Every university has a different admission requirement, and the degree you applied for varies with that too.

• You should have a minimum of 75% academic score, and that should be from well recognized and renowned institutes.
• If you are applying for medical, engineering or IT courses, then you should at least have an academic score of 80% or a grade above 80% in subjects mainly Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
• You might have to undergo an admission test for a university you applied for. That again depends entirely on the admission criteria of that specific university.
• If you are looking to apply for a post-graduate degree program, then it requires that you have some professional experience and a great research proposal for research-related programs.
• As the medium of instruction is English in Malaysia, you will be required to give an English proficiency test such as IELTS or TOEFL.
• If you wish to study in any branch of USA, UK, Australia or Malaysian Universities, then the admission requirements will be similar, but it may cost more because of the high tuition fee.

Malaysian Students Visa for Pakistani Citizens

Now, this process could be a little bit complicated.

• The initial step to getting a student visa is to get an offer letter from Malaysia. That will be sent to you by your host institution in Malaysia as your Visa Approval Letter (VAL) to Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS).
• For the visa approval process, you will need to submit the following documents:
• A transcript of your previous Academic report.
• The offer letter from the desired Institute in Malaysia
• Passport-sized, coloured, recent photographs.
• Your Passport
• The medical examination clearance letter
• A personal bond (this will be a specific amount which will be submitted by the institute hosting you in Malaysia on your behalf for security purposes to the immigration department of Malaysia.)
• Your English Proficiency test Certificate
• After you have successfully submitted all these documents, the EMGS (Education Malaysia Global Services) is going to approve your visa application and soon issue you an Electronic Visa Approval Letter (eVAL).
• Your eVAL will have your attached passport, and once you step into the country, you will be granted a 30 days special pass which will be temporary until you receive your student pass.
• To apply for the student pass of Malaysia, you will need to provide your offer letter from the hosting institute, your Passport and your eVAL.

How to Get Permanent Residency in Malaysia?

This process can prove to be a tad bit difficult and arduous.

• The thing with Permanent Residency is that after you have completed your degree and studies, you need to get employed. If you don’t have an employment contract and sponsorship citizenship, you will have to return to Pakistan and find immediate employment there.
• If you find a job, during your studies, you can apply for a Visit Pass (professional) which will be valid for 6-12 months.
• Once you get the suitable exposure and experience, your employer can apply for your Employment Pass or Permanent Residency (professional) on your behalf.
• Students can also apply for point-based immigration after completion of studies. After 65 points, you will get options to apply for whatever visa type that suits your eligibility and personal information.
• The Malaysian Employment contract should be from the contracts mentioned below:
• MINISTRY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRIES(MITI) / MALAYSIAN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (MIDA)
• MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND AGRO BASE INDUSTRY
• MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
• MINISTRY OF HIGHER LEARNING
• MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
• MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE
• MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS / MALAYSIAN SPORTS COUNCIL
• CENTRAL BANK
• SECURITY COMMISSION

Living and Study Cost in Malaysia

Not only the degrees in Malaysia have worldwide recognition, but they are super affordable too. The same Bachelors level engineering course (3 years duration) in the UK is offered in RM144, 000 (USD45, 000) whereas in Malaysia you will only spend RM51, 000 (USD16, 000) through a twinning program.

Related: Study In the China For Pakistani Students

The living cost in Malaysia is also very affordable and feasible. A student will need only RM1200 every month, but that depends upon your lifestyle and habits.

Accommodation for Students

You can find a lot of student accommodations in Malaysia, including modern residence halls, studio apartments, hostels and shared housing facilities. These too, at cheaper rates. You can also look for an on-campus hostel at your university, but you need to apply as soon as you get your offer letter.

Part-Time Jobs

You can work part-time in Malaysia 20hr/week during semester breaks, to work part-time during your semester, you need to take permission from the immigration department through your host institution. Once that gets approves, you can work.

There are a lot of options to work part-time. Some of them being:

• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Mini Markets
• Petrol Kiosk

You can even freelance if you have some skills and time for that in the following fields

• Content writing
• Graphic Designing
• Photography
• Web developing and designing.

Cashier, singing, musicians and masseur’s jobs are not allowed for students in Malaysia.