If you want to study in Malaysia for free, now is the time to apply. Applications are open for the Malaysian International Scholarship 2024-25. This is an initiative by the Malaysian Government to attract brilliant minds from around the world to pursue postgraduate studies in Malaysia.
MIS is an excellent opportunity to stay, explore, study in world-class Malaysian universities, gain experience and exposure, and learn from brilliant professors and the higher education system. With diverse research opportunities, Malaysia is an ideal destination for students seeking a high-quality education in a multicultural environment.
However, before you start your application for the Malaysian International Scholarship, check the details below:
Eligible Countries:
ASEAN countries, Morocco, Pakistan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Australia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Antigua and Barbuda, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Zambia, Qatar, Palestine, Algeria, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, China, Senegal, Suria, South Korea, Hong Kong, Egypt, Tunisia, Georgia, Tajikistan, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Kazakhstan, Yemen, Uzbekistan
Malaysian International Scholarship Details:
- Deadline: June 30, 2024
- Scholarship Duration: Master’s Degree: maximum of 24 months (2 years) | Doctorate Degree: maximum of 36 months (3 years)
Eligibility Criteria for the Malaysia Government Scholarship 2024:
- Applicants must be graduates/citizens from the eligible countries (mentioned above) OR
- Applicants are currently pursuing full-time postgraduate studies in Malaysian public universities and selected private higher education institutions (check participating universities below) with a minimum of 2 semesters remaining before the end of the study period.
- Applicant must not be more than 40 years old for an MS degree and 45 years old for a PhD.
- Master’s applicants should possess a CGPA of 3.0 or a second-class upper honors degree.
- D. applicants should possess a CGPA of 3.0 or excellent academic results during their master’s degree.
- Applicants must submit a written proposal with a minimum of 1,000 words relevant to their field of study.
- International students must have English Language Proficiency Proof like IELTS (6.0 or higher) / TOEFL (total score of 550 or higher) / English Proficiency Certificate (issued by the university, indicating that English was used as a previous medium of instruction)
Malaysia International Scholarship Required Documents:
Below is the list of documents compulsory to upload in the scholarship application portal (scanned and saved in PDF format):
- Application form
- A certified copy of the applicant’s passport (passport should have a minimum of 6 months validity)
- A certified copy of the applicant’s academic transcript (Transcripts must represent the record of all the courses taken throughout the degree programs)
- Master’s applicants must submit their undergraduate transcripts, and PhD applicants must also submit transcripts of their master’s studies (Applicants must submit an official certifying document issued by the applicants’ university that describes the university’s grading system if an applicant’s transcript does not include information on CGPA, marks or score percentile)
- Letter of Recommendation from two referees
- A certified copy of English language proficiency proof (IELTS/TOEFL/English Proficiency Certificate)
- Research Proposal (for Masters by Research and PhD applicants only)
- CV / Resume
- Medical Report
Benefits of the Malaysia International Scholarship 2024-25:
- Full Tuition Fee Waiver
- Monthly Allowance of RM 1,500.00.
Fields of Study for Malaysia International Scholarship:
Almost all academic fields are accepted under the Malaysian International Scholarship for Master & PhD students. Applicants can apply for any accredited courses, but the following courses will be given priority:
- Education
- Arts and Humanities
- Business, Administration, and Law
- Social Sciences, Journalism and Information
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Statistics
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary
- Engineering, Manufacturing, and Construction
- Health and Welfare (excluding medicine, nursing, and pharmacy)
List of Universities for MIS 2024-25:
20 public and four private universities are participating in the Malaysian International Scholarship:
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
- Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
- Universiti Malaya (UM)
- Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM/IIUM)
- Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)
- Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)
- Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
- Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
- Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTEM)
- Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)
- Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
- Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
- Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP)
- Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP)
- Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
- Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNISA)
- Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
- Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM)
- Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
- Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)
- Multimedia University (MMU)
- INCEIF University (INCEIF)
Selection Criteria:
All applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:
- Outstanding academic and co-curricular achievement.
- The quality of the research proposal and its potential contribution towards the advancement of technology and human well-being, with a preference for Malaysia-related research topics.
- Excellent communication, writing, and reading skills in the English language.
Application Link for Malaysian International Scholarship:
Applicants have to complete and submit an online application form along with the application documents. Below is the link to the official website of the MIS Online Application System:
https://biasiswa.mohe.gov.my/INTER/index_daftar.php
Contact Information:
For further inquiries regarding MIS, please contact:
SCHOLARSHIP DIVISION
Ministry of Higher Education
Level 2, No 2, Tower 2,
Jalan P5/6, Precinct 5,
62200 PUTRAJAYA
Phone: +603-8888 1616 / +603-8870 6323 / +603-8870 6346
(9:00 am – 4:30 pm Malaysia Time / Monday – Friday)
E-mail: international@mohe.gov.my
For any technical assistance regarding MIS application form, please submit an e-mail with screenshot(s) of the issue to:
international@mohe.gov.my
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q. Do I need to apply for the university separately or is the admission to Malaysian university is automatically obtained following the successful application for MIS?
A. Yes, MIS applicants are required to independently apply for university admission separately from MIS application. Moreover, MIS applicants are considered equivalent to other students seeking for postgraduate programs and as such, must go through the same process in applying for postgraduate placement in a university.
Q. Do I need to apply to the university and obtain the admission letter first before applying for MIS?
A. Interested parties are allowed to apply for MIS without yet having secured a place
in a Malaysian public or private university. However, upon being awarded MIS, awardees are required to gain admission into a university within 90 days of MIS offer letter issuance – failure of which results in MIS offer being withdrawn without notice.
Q. What does the selection process involve?
A. Upon the closing of the online application period, the application documents will
be screened. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited for an online interview session.
Q. I applied for MIS last year but was not successful. If I reapply for this year
offer, will my application be considered?
A. All applications are treated as fresh applications. If your application meets the
requirements stated, it will be accepted for consideration.
Q. Is there any application fee for MIS?
A. No, there is no application fee for MIS as the application is fully done online
Q. What is a certified copy of a document and where can I get one?
A. A certified copy is a copy or a duplicate of an original document that is validated as a true copy by an authorised person or agency. You can have your copies of documents certified true by solicitors, commissioner for declarations, government officials, university staff, public notary, or other authorised delegate in your countries or in Malaysia.
Q. Who can be the referees for my letters of recommendation?
A. The referees for your letters of recommendation should be those who have the authority to provide information and comment on your performance in either the academic or professional setting and your potential and suitability to be awarded this scholarship. They could be your lecturers, supervisors, and immediate superiors, but not your family members, relatives, or close friends.
Q. Is there any format or template for the letters of recommendation?
A. No, MIS does not outline a specific format or template for the letters of recommendation. You may refer for the template online or utilise the templates used by your referees’ university/organization/etc.
Q. Is there any format or template for the research proposal?
A. No, MIS does not outline a specific format or template for the research proposal. However, applicants are expected to write a well-formatted research proposal according to the format generally used in academia.
Q. Can my research be about other country(s), or must it be focused on Malaysia?
A. Your research must be about or related to Malaysia.
Q. Can I carry out my research outside of Malaysia?
A. No. All research must be carried out in Malaysia.
Q. How will the tuition fees be paid?
A. The tuition fees will be paid directly to the university upon the issuance of an invoice by the university to MOHE every semester.
Q. How will the living allowance be paid?
A. The monthly living allowance will be paid directly to your Malaysian bank account every four months (in October, February and June), depending on your submission of the most recent progress report showing satisfactory results/progress to MOHE. Failure to submit your progress report on time will result in the withholding of your allowance until the report is eventually provided.
Q. Can the living allowance be paid to a bank account in my home country?
A. No, the living allowance will only be paid into a local Malaysian bank account. Your allowance will be withheld until you open a Malaysian bank account and submit your bank account information to MOHE.
Q. Do I need to open an account from a specific Malaysian bank, or can I use any bank?
A. It is preferred for MIS scholars to open an account with Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad to facilitate the payment process. However, if you encounter difficulties in opening an account with Bank Islam, you may open an account with another bank, subject to a written request submitted to MOHE and subsequent permission.
Q. Will my tuition fees and monthly allowance be paid if I study online in my home country?
A. Your tuition fees will be paid directly to the university if an invoice is issued, but your monthly allowance will be held until you return to Malaysia for your studies.
Q. Can I request a sponsorship extension if I am unable to complete my studies during the sponsorship period?
A. No, MIS does not allow for sponsorship extensions beyond the maximum sponsorship period. However, students may apply for a study extension from the university, and if the extension falls within the MIS sponsorship period, they will be eligible for MIS benefits. Furthermore, students may also apply for study deferment from the university, where MIS sponsorship will be halted during the deferment period and resumed following the resumption of study.
Q. Will MIS cover the fees or provide allowances for thesis or paper publication?
A. No. MIS does not cover the fees nor provide allowances for thesis or paper publication.
Q. What is the travel arrangement for successful applicants from their home countries to Malaysia?
A. Successful applicants are expected to arrange their own travel and lodging upon arrival in Malaysia, as these expenses are not covered by MIS. Applicants are also encouraged to research the current cost of living in Malaysia before their travel to help with financial planning and budgeting throughout their stay in Malaysia.
