Previously, expatriate and even local parents steered their children towards overseas universities owing to the belief that by attending institutions in places like the UK, their children were getting a ‘better deal’ and receiving a much higher standard of education there than if they had been in Malaysia.

Whether this was true in the past is debatable, but it has been becoming clear, in recent years, that the benefits of pursuing an education in Malaysia are great, and growing. From the perfect weather to the beautiful landscape and the excellent facilities, the advantages of studying in Malaysia, are many.

The Setting

“Besides being a food haven and melting cultural pot, there are very few countries in this region as safe as Malaysia,” remarked Dr. Chong Beng Keok, the principal of Kolej Damansara Utama (KDU) Penang. “It is a country that is not only blessed with protection from natural disasters but also a country where a society of all races can co-exist harmoniously together.”

Malaysia’s diverse population comprises three main races and the yearly increase in international students studying in Malaysia has resulted in an even larger range of variety in the country. A further progression in already developed attitudes towards acceptance and integration. Nottingham University’s Malaysian campus in Selangor has a strong international student population that makes up 40% of the community. In KDU Penang, the student body consists of 49 different nationalities, “Active in studies and cocurricular activities, the variety of international students in the college also serves as a useful sociological education tool in the diffusion of culture amongst KDU Penang’s 2,300 strong student population number,” said Dr. Chong, describing some of the benefits of the international mix in his school.

Some people believe that harmony entails monotony, but in no way is the Malaysian melody dull. With well-situated private schools, the university/college experience is as complete as ever, providing hundreds of venues to socialise in; students will never find themselves out of options. The urban backdrop also makes it convenient for students to find and obtain internships which provide valuable work experience; English being a widely spoken language only makes this easier. With generally
warm people to top it all off, the Malaysian scene and company is just as good as, or even better than, what any other country has to offer.

The Substance

It’s true that when it comes to league table comparisons, Malaysia simply cannot compete with universities in the UK and the US. But that does not mean that the education in Malaysia is not progressing at a positively rapid pace. With increasing numbers of overseas schools setting up branches in Malaysia (e.g. Nottingham University which gives graduates certificates identical to those given to students in the UK campus, Johns Hopkins opening up a medical and teaching branch in September), it is clear that education in Malaysia is bursting with unmistakable potential that even foreign institutions cannot ignore.

Educational achievement is and always will be the major focus of all private Malaysian schools. Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Abu Bakar Suleiman, president of the International Medical University (IMU), stresses the huge part this plays in admissions, “We accept students on academic grades and because they show a caring attitude towards the society they will serve.”

In addition to high results, it’s good to know that local universities/colleges still aim to achieve what seems to be totally forgotten at tertiary level by many institutions – the development of the individual outside of the classroom. Colleges like Kolej Bandar Utama (KBU), located in Petaling Jaya, seek to promote a sense of community in their campus by organising various student clubs. In some foreign institutions in urban areas, like the London universities, many societies cannot be formed as campuses in cities like London tend to be small and lack facilities.

Malaysian campuses, however, are generally spacious and full of amenities. Besides their impressive research department, the IMU campus offers a range of other facilities such as a gymnasium, dance studio and student café. Accommodation can also be arranged by IMU at a nearby condominium, with special offers made by the university to international students.

KBU College also has convenient accommodation for their students who are usually housed in guarded college-managed hostels and student houses while Nottingham University provides on-campus, as well as off-campus housing options.
The Malaysian setting has everything to offer, but if students ever require a change of scenery, many of the institutions here offer various twinning programmes with numerous universities overseas. KBU College has several foreign partners from UK, Australia, Germany and New Zealand and IMU, in addition to those countries (except Germany), has connections that spread to the US, Ireland, Scotland and China.

If students are caught between comfort and variation, twinning programmes provide an even wider range of options and should be able to solve any indecision.

The Sum

Probably the greatest advantage there is to the Malaysian tertiary education is that it’s economical. It’s a popular belief that anything inexpensive can’t be good, but whatever else Malaysian education may be, it is definitely value for money.

Compare the cost of a Malaysian university education to any school in the UK, whether or not it’s ever been on the QS Top 200 list, the prices here will be cheaper and, with the rising quality of education, worth every cent. “The competitiveness of the private education industry in Malaysia has also directly increased the quality of the educational offerings with a variety of international programmes being made available at very reasonable fees.” said Dr. Chong, explaining the development of Malaysian private education.

Most Malaysian private schools charge fees similar to those of Nottingham University, with course prices ranging from RM15,000 to RM33,500. The BBC list of 2011 university tuition fees show that most universities in the UK are charging approximately £9,000 a year, so for most three-year courses, tuition fees would amount to approximately RM130,000 nearly four times the cost of a Malaysian education.

And those are fees alone; we haven’t even taken into consideration the high cost of living elsewhere; the cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is roughly 50 percent cheaper than it is in London. A calculation by the University of Nottingham show that reasonable living expenses in their university will cost RM1,200 to RM1,700 (£242 to £343) per month including transport, books, meals, pocket money and boarding, whereas an estimated amount that an average student spends in the UK for a month is approximately RM3,500 (£720), not including one-off costs like visa fees, insurance bills and flight prices.

To sum it all up, there is no debate when it comes to costs, no place can compete with Malaysia. It’s not that you’re spending less on your university experience; you’re receiving the most out of it given what you’ve paid for and getting the ‘better deal’.

The potential and promise Malaysian education has becomes clearer and clearer each year as more and more international students choose to study here. Malaysia is an up-andcoming nation with its progressing educational institutions leading the charge and paving the way. So, get on board.