Think about the biggest companies in the world for a moment, and their leaders - Steve Jobs with Apple, Jack Ma with Alibaba, Mark Zuckerberg with Facebook and the wealthiest man of all time, Jeff Bezos of Amazon. All visionaries in their own respective fields. There is one trait that all these masters of the universe have in common - a brilliant business mind. This one trait has helped each of them overcome and obliterate any obstacles in their pursuit to see their respective companies reach the pinnacle of the highly competitive and unforgiving world of business. It’s no surprise then that courses related to business, or business studies, is hugely popular, which leaves a very important question that budding business students must answer - what are the top universities for Business Studies in Malaysia? With that mind, here is a list compiling the top universities for business studies to help you make your first choice that’ll shape the rest of your life.

Curtin University Sarawak

 Curtin University Sarawak, located in Miri, has been open for more than a decade, and since then, has continually improved and strived for excellence. The first shred of evidence comes in the form of Curtin University rankings:

•             Curtin University is ranked the top 1% of universities worldwide (ARWU)

•             Curtin University is ranked #262 in the QS World University Rankings 2017/18

•             Curtin University has been awarded 5-stars by QS

•             Curtin University Sarawak was awarded 5-stars by SETARA in 2017 (4th consecutive time)

Curtin University Intake Jan 2018

While Curtin University Sarawak’s rankings are impressive, they only paint half the picture. The Business department of Curtin University Sarawak offers a range of courses, broken down into two main categories, with a range of courses under each branch:

Bachelor’s Degree:

•             Business Administration

Bachelor of Commerce (Single major):

•             Accounting

•             Finance

Bachelor of Commerce (Double Major):

•             Accounting and Banking 

•             Accounting and Entrepreneurship

•             Accounting and Finance Banking and Finance

•             Entrepreneurship and Marketing

•             Finance and Management

•             Finance and Marketing

•             Management and Marketing

•             Marketing and Public Relations

•             Public Relations and Management

•             Tourism, Hospitality and Marketing

The sheer volume of options at a student’s disposal at Curtin University Sarawak in staggering, and ensures that a lot of thought is put into choosing a course before proceeding, stifling any future regrets having chosen the wrong course. The syllabus being taught at Curtin University gives emphasis on general management, preparing students for any future managerial positions they make take up, supplemented by exposure to international business practices along the way. Curtin University Sarawak scholarships are also extensive in nature, with four internal and four external scholarships up for grabs.

Taylor’s University

Taylor’s University is one the most widely known private universities in Malaysia, and there’s a good reason for that. Their sprawling Lakeside campus is the first thing that comes to mind, littered with amenities and conveniences that allow a student to focus solely on their studies. But there’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to Taylor’s University. For one, their performance in different rankings has been truly remarkable.

•             Taylor’s University was ranked in the top 150 of the QS Asia University Rankings.

•             Taylor’s University is in the top 1% of universities in Asia

•             Taylor’s University received the prestigious 5-stars from QS.

•             Taylor’s University received 5-stars from SETARA in the 2017 rankings.

When it comes to business studies specifically, Taylor’s University offers a comprehensive package that any budding business student will jump at. With numerous options including the option of a double major, their 3-year programme moulds students into business-savvy graduates ready to take on the real world. Just recently, two Taylor’s Business School students - Raymond Sim Yu Xin and Stanley Sim Yu Chin, came out victorious in the CIMB ASEAN Stock Challenge 2016 (Regionals), winning a hefty USD 12,000.00 in the process. With a flexible pathway that focuses on everything and anything business-related, Taylor’s University scholarships are the final pieces of the jigsaw to ease any worries that are fee-related.

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Image via UPM Instagram

An institution that needs no introduction is Universiti Putra Malaysia, better known as UPM. One of the fabled big 5 public universities in Malaysia, UPM has gone from strength to strength in recent years, shooting up multiple university rankings and further cementing its already burgeoning reputation. Recent Universiti Putra Malaysia rankings:

• Awarded 6-stars by SETARA in 2017

• #15 in QS Top 50 Under 50 World University Rankings (2017)

• #36 in the QS Asian University Rankings.

• #262 in the QS World University Rankings.

One thing to note about UPM’s Business School courses, however, is that only postgraduate level programmes are offered. Catering for business students who want to take that next step, Universiti Putra Malaysia’s business programmes have picked up a multitude of accreditations from different governmental bodies and private entities as well. One of these accreditations comes from AACSB, or Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. While many of you may not have heard of this accreditation, this is all you need to know about - Less than 5% of the world’s business schools have such an accreditation, and Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Business School is the only one in Malaysia with it, and one of only 6 in the region. Furthermore, UPM’s Business School also offers financial aid to assist students who may be facing financial constraints.

Curtin University Sarawak, Taylor’s University and Universiti Putra Malaysia (Putra Business School) are some of the top universities for business studies in Malaysia, choosing either of the trio would see students provided with a quality education. With such comprehensive courses on offer, it is, then, up to the students themselves to put in the time and effort, because the end results will be worth it. Do you have any questions business-related? Don’t hesitate to drop us your query on our Q&A section by clicking here.