Kuala Lumpur · Asia

Malaysia

The same Monash, Nottingham or Heriot-Watt degree at a third of the price, in a Muslim-majority, English-speaking, food-obsessed country three hours from Dubai. Living costs are the lowest of any destination we offer.

Tuition / yr: $4k – $12k
Living / mo: ~$600
Work rights: 20 h/week (holidays)
After study: Case by case
Intakes: January · May · September
Language: English

Why Malaysia

UK and Australian degrees at Asian prices.

01 Branch campuses of UK universities
02 Very affordable
03 Multicultural

The honest take

What we tell our own families about Malaysia.

Why students love it

UK and Australian branch campuses with identical degrees

Living costs of RM 2,000–3,000 a month all in

English is the campus language; Arabic and Islamic life are easy

Halal food everywhere; mosques on campus

Visa process is simple and fast through EMGS

What to plan for

Post-study work options are limited compared with Canada or the UK

Part-time work only in holidays, max 20 hours

Humidity and heat year round

Public transport thin outside Kuala Lumpur

Local degree brand matters less than the branch campus brand

Getting around

Leave the car at home.

Kuala Lumpur's LRT, MRT and monorail are cheap and air conditioned; Grab rides fill every gap for a few ringgit. Campus shuttles are free.

LRT, MRT, monorail

Touch 'n Go card; My50 pass gives unlimited rides.

RM 50 / month

Grab

Ride-hailing, safe and cheap; the student taxi.

RM 8–20 per ride

Campus shuttles

Free buses between campus, malls and housing.

Free

Add My50 unlimited pass to my budgetAbout RM50 a month

Food & groceries

What a week of eating really costs.

Nobody cooks in Malaysia; a mamak dinner costs RM 8. Groceries at Tesco Lotus and 99 Speedmart are cheap, and halal is the default.

Nasi lemak

Coconut rice, sambal, egg; breakfast for RM 3.

Roti canai

Flaky flatbread with dhal at any mamak, any hour.

Chicken rice

The RM 7 lunch.

Teh tarik

Pulled milk tea, the national drink.

Build your cart

Supermarket prices in Kuala Lumpur, MYR. Quantities per week.

Milk (1 L)RM8
0
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Bread (loaf)RM4
0
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Eggs (12)RM9
0
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Rice (1 kg)RM6
0
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Chicken breast (1 kg)RM22
0
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Pasta (500 g)RM5
0
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Apples (1 kg)RM12
0
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Bananas (1 kg)RM6
0
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Tomatoes (1 kg)RM8
0
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Cheese (500 g)RM25
0
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Coffee (250 g)RM18
0
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Yogurt (500 g)RM7
0
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Your weekly cart

RM0 ≈ $0

Per month

RM0

Eating out

Mamak dinnerRM9
Teh tarikRM3
Campus cafeteria mealRM7
Mall restaurant dinnerRM35

Where to live

Dorm, shared flat or studio: pick one and watch the budget.

On-campus rooms are cheap and air-conditioned; off campus, furnished condos with a pool and gym near campus cost less than a dorm in Europe. Sunway, Subang Jaya and Bangsar South are the student hubs.

Where students actually live

Sunway City / Subang Jaya
Monash, Sunway and Taylor's students; malls, food courts.
RM 800–1,300 room
Bangsar South
Modern condos, LRT, near UM and APU.
RM 900–1,400 room
Semenyih
Nottingham campus town; quiet, very cheap.
RM 500–800 room
Cyberjaya
Tech city, MMU and Heriot-Watt, new condos.
RM 600–1,000 room

Before you pay anyone

iBilik, Mudah and the university housing office are the reliable channels
Two months' deposit plus half a month utilities deposit is standard
Check the distance to campus in rush-hour traffic, not kilometres
Condos advertise 'fully furnished'; confirm the air conditioner and Wi-Fi

Student life as an international

Campus life is busy and multicultural: Malay, Chinese, Indian and international students, prayer rooms everywhere, night markets, and weekend trips to Penang or Langkawi for the price of a dinner in London..

Halal and Islamic life without effort

Weekend trips: Penang, Langkawi, Singapore, Bali

Big Arab, African and South Asian communities

Very low living costs leave money for travel

Work: 20 hours a week during semester breaks only, in specific sectors; not during term.
Healthcare: Medical insurance is bundled with the EMGS student pass, about RM 500 a year.
Safety: Safe; usual care with valuables in busy areas.