Getting your student visa is possibly the most stressful thing to go through when studying abroad. Even thinking about the process of applying for it, waiting for it to be approved; all this can cause unnecessary stress, especially when the whole idea of studying abroad is meant to be a fun experience! But don&rsquo;t fret just yet&mdash;while the process of getting your student visa seems impossible, it is very doable indeed and you&rsquo;ll get it in no time!<h2>Introduction</h2>What you should know first before is that all international students require a Student Pass and a student visa to study in Malaysia.You must first apply for a Student Pass through <a href="https://educationmalaysia.gov.my/visa-new-application/">Education Malaysia Global Services</a>. As soon as you receive an approved provisional Student Pass, a student visa will be issued to you when you enter Malaysia. You will receive a full Student Pass once in the country.<hr /><h2>Before you leave</h2>Below are the requirements you must meet:<ul><li>Once you have been accepted by a Malaysian university, they will then apply for a Student Pass on your behalf. If your application is successful, the Malaysian Immigration Department will issue a Letter of Approval for a Student Pass to your host university.</li><li>Your host university will then send the completed letter to you whilst you are in your home country, along with a signed Personal Bond document that serves as a sort of endorsement of your good character.</li><li>The Letter of Approval will act as a provisional Student Pass that enables you to enter the country as a student.</li><li>When you book your flight, you must inform your host university of all of your arrival details.</li></ul><hr /><h2>When you arrive</h2><ul><li>You will need to have your Student Pass approval letter on hand when you reach immigration in Malaysia.</li><li>When you arrive, a representative from your host university will meet you at customs and help you with the process.</li><li>You will then be issued a Special Pass that will enable you to enter the country which is valid for two weeks.</li><li>You will need to go to your nearest State Immigration Department before these two weeks are up to get your full Student Pass.</li><li>You will also be issued a visa upon your arrival in Malaysia, which will be in the form of an endorsement on your passport that is valid for at least six months.</li><li>Your host institution will submit your passport to the Immigration Department within two weeks of your arrival in Malaysia so that you can get a full Student Pass.</li><li>This may take from four-six weeks. When you get your passport back, there will be a Student Pass sticker inside it that you will need to renew yearly.</li></ul><hr /><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/77167/9449764845b0b60a181eab (1).jpg" /><h2>Documents required to apply for a Student Pass and visa</h2>To apply for a Student Pass, you will need to provide all of the documents below. Your institution will then submit these to the Malaysian Immigration department on your behalf:<ul><li>An official letter of acceptance from your host institution</li><li>A completed Student Pass application form</li><li>Academic certificates/transcripts</li><li>A copy of your passport data page (name/age/face etc)</li><li>1 passport-sized photo</li><li>Proof of purchase of Malaysian Health Insurance</li><li>A photocopy of your medical health examination report</li><li>Proof of English language proficiency</li><li>Proof you&rsquo;re able to financially support yourself for the duration of your study programme</li><li>A Personal Bond document that has been signed by your host institution</li></ul><hr /><h2>Using your Malaysian Student Pass and visa</h2>Your Student Pass is valid for a year and may not be renewed if you have not met class attendance requirements or have no proven course selection for the following semester. You will need to renew your pass at least one and a half months before its date of expiry. This can be done through your host university, each of which has a separate renewal process that is retrievable on their website. For example, Monash University Malaysia requires submission of specific documents as well as a fee of RM 1000 (US$ 305) that also covers health insurance costs.<hr />Need more information about your study options in Malaysia? We're always ready to help. <a href="https://afterschool.my/tele-contact-us?utm_source=AFS&amp;utm_medium=Article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CLICK HERE</a> to talk to one of our counsellors today!

Learn how to apply for a Malaysian student visa—step-by-step guidance on obtaining a Visa Approval Letter (VAL), medical screening, and entry procedures.

What You Need to Know About Applying for a Malaysian Student Visa

Doesn&rsquo;t the sentence &lsquo;the total cost you will incur will vary based on our country of origin and chosen institution&rsquo; seem familiar? The thought of studying in a foreign country is already daunting, what more if you aren&rsquo;t certain just how much you&rsquo;ll have to pay? &nbsp;Well, the total cost can be summed up with a very simple equation:&nbsp;Personal Bond + Student Pass + Visa Fees +Application Fee + Insurance package selected = TOTAL<img class="fr-fic fr-dii" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/75703/5995684fb6811.jpg" width="602" height="602" name="Picture 2" align="bottom" border="0" /><h4>Personal Bond </h4>When applying for a student pass for the student, the respective higher educational institutions are required to sign a Personal Bond* prescribed under Regulation 18 of the Immigration Regulations 1963 so as to guarantee that the person (student) to whom such a pass is issued will comply with the provisions of the ordinance and any regulations made there-after.<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="7"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#70ad47" width="29%">Country</td><td bgcolor="#70ad47" width="36%">Fee (in RM)</td><td bgcolor="#70ad47" width="35%">Fee (USD)</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">Arab Saudi</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">1,500</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Africa</td><td width="36%">1,500</td><td width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">British C.I.</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">1,500</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Australia</td><td width="36%">1,500</td><td width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">Bangladesh</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">750</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">175</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Brunei</td><td width="36%">1,500</td><td width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">China</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">1,500</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Canada</td><td width="36%">2,000</td><td width="35%">470</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">Europe</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">1,500</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Philippines</td><td width="36%">750</td><td width="35%">175</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">Germany</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">1,500</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Hong Kong</td><td width="36%">1,000</td><td width="35%">233</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">India</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">750</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">175</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Indonesia</td><td width="36%">500</td><td width="35%">117</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">Iran/Iraq</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">1,500</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Japan</td><td width="36%">1,000</td><td width="35%">233</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">Macao</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">1,000</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">233</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Myanmar</td><td width="36%">750</td><td width="35%">175</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">Nepal</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">750</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">175</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Pakistan</td><td width="36%">750</td><td width="35%">175</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">Portugal C.I.</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">1,500</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Singapore</td><td width="36%">200</td><td width="35%">47</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">S.Korea</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">1,000</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">233</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Sri Lanka</td><td width="36%">750</td><td width="35%">175</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">Taiwan</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">750</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">175</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Tunisia</td><td width="36%">1,500</td><td width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">UK</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">1,500</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">USA</td><td width="36%">2,000</td><td width="35%">467</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="29%">Vietnam</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="36%">1,500</td><td bgcolor="#e2efd9" width="35%">350</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="29%">Thailand</td><td width="36%">300</td><td width="35%">70</td></tr></tbody></table><blockquote>(*Note : The bond fee for other countries which are not stated above is RM1,500.00. Students are required to pay this personal bond fee to the educational institution and it is refundable upon completion of studies.)</blockquote><h4>Student Pass</h4>You will receive the student pass approval upon submission off all documentation prior to coming to Malaysia. The process will take 1-2 weeks. A prospective international student must have an approved student pass before entering the country. The fee for a student pass is RM60.00 (USD 14.00) a year (or part of a year)<h4>Visa Fees</h4>&nbsp;The visa fees will of course differ based on your country of origin. Please note that this can range from RM6 (USD 1.4) to RM30 (USD 7.00). Most countries however will be charged a fee of RM20 (USD 4.6).&nbsp;<h4>Application Fee</h4><h4>&nbsp;</h4>Some universities will charge students an application fee if they select them. This varies as well, depending on the university. Examples include:Nottingham University: USD46Universiti Teknologi Petronas: USD30Insurance Package SelectedThe insurance package can vary, based on company and coverage. Some options include:<ul><li>AXA: RM450+</li><li>AIA &nbsp;<ul><li>Silver: RM400+ (USD 93)</li><li>Gold: RM 750+ (USD 175)</li><li>Platinum: RM1000 (USD 233)</li></ul></li></ul>Remember, it&rsquo;s&nbsp;Personal Bond + Student Pass + Visa Fees + Application Fee + Insurance package selected = TOTALWhat&rsquo;s your total? &nbsp;

Understand the total documentation costs for international students applying to study in Malaysia—covering visa fees, medical screening, insurance, and other essential expenses.

Total Cost of Documentation Required to Study in Malaysia

It&rsquo;s set! You&rsquo;ve looked through a couple of websites, had serious conversations with your parents and you&rsquo;ve decided that you want to study in Malaysia. But wait&hellip; before packing your bags and booking a one way ticket away from home, there&rsquo;s a bunch of paperwork and preparation that you have to go through before getting here.Not quite sure what to do? We&rsquo;ve got you covered. Here&rsquo;s the lowdown on how exactly to enrol yourself into a Malaysian college or university.<h2>1. Via EMGS</h2><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/77100/5c492e1abb9d5.png" />Image via EMGSEducation Malaysia Global Services (<a href="https://educationmalaysia.gov.my/">EMGS</a>) is a platform that acts as the middleman between a student and the school that they&rsquo;re applying to. EMGS helps a student process their application in terms of getting them a student visa and provides services from the moment they apply until they touch down on Malaysian soil.At current, not many students use EMGS, as told by Alaa Mousa, who&rsquo;s in MAHSA&rsquo;s business development department. &ldquo;Students don&rsquo;t really use EMGS, but the university does. We are the ones who send the student&rsquo;s application through to EMGS.&rdquo; Either way, a student&rsquo;s application has to go through the EMGS, whether it&rsquo;s the student submitting it or if it&rsquo;s submitted through the university.So you may not be using the EMGS system, or maybe you&rsquo;ve never heard of it! It&rsquo;s okay. Alaa tells us that most international applicants process their paperwork&hellip;<hr /><h2>2. Through an agent</h2>Agents are basically people who figure out the nitty-gritty for you. They report straight to your university of choice as they work with them to bring students in, earning a commission from the university for every student they bring in. You can find them either at agencies in your country or at education fairs in your high school or local embassy.<img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/77100/5c492e1d7ec06.jpg" />Of late, agents have earned themselves a <a href="https://www.rage.com.my/student-trafficking-trade/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bad reputation</a> because of how some of them bring in students just for personal gain. Alicia* told us about how her university and the agents strike a deal to bring in students as workers.&ldquo;I heard that some agents bring in &lsquo;students&rsquo; who are actually just here to work. The agents are paid, and the workers came over for a few years to work on our university&rsquo;s new building. These workers were here on a student visa.&rdquo;However, most students that we spoke to all used agents and said that they were pretty trustworthy, as long as you knew how to look for the right ones. These could be found mainly by speaking with seniors who&rsquo;d already known and used these agents, through education fairs or just by going to the ones that were popular.<img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/77100/5c492e1d90a6c.jpg" />Ali, who's doing an American degree programme here in Malaysia&ldquo;I found out about my college through an education fair at Saudi Arabia's Malaysian embassy,&rdquo; said Ali Qureshi who&rsquo;s from Pakistan. &ldquo;I found a programme I wanted to do, so I contacted the education agency. It was so much better dealing with the agency rather than directly with the university. It's not that the university representatives aren't doing a good job, but it&rsquo;s just much harder to get answers back and forth promptly from them. I had a lot of questions, and the agent would answer them instantly.&rdquo;Besides going through an agent, Ali also recommended our next tip:<hr /><h2>3. Doing your own research</h2><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/77100/5c492e1da04ee.gif" />Work that Google! - GIF from <a href="https://www.mollysbooknook.com/research-gif/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Molly's Book Nook</a>Alicia told us about how doing her own research was very important to her, to the point where she even came to Malaysia just to figure out where she wanted to study.&ldquo;My father used to work in Malaysia Airlines, so Malaysia wasn&rsquo;t foreign to me. Before I started studying, I basically came to Malaysia and walked around, scouting a few universities. Only after that did I go back to [my home country] and talked to an agent.&rdquo;Many people that we spoke to did a lot of research, from the agents they should look for, to the universities they should study in. Some even skip the agents and come straight to the universities to process their forms, or submit their forms to the university&rsquo;s website if that option is available. Whatever way you choose to apply for college or university in Malaysia, always do your research; Google is thy friend, and the world is literally at your fingertips! Speak to people who&rsquo;ve done it before, or speak to us by filling in <a href="https://afterschool-my.typeform.com/to/r6YlHq">this form</a>. Until then, good luck in applying for a Malaysian school!<img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/77100/5c492e206c39f.jpg" />

Step-by-step guide for international students applying to study in Malaysia—covering course selection, university options, entry requirements, application processes, and visa procedures.

How to Get Into a Malaysian University

<img class="fr-dib" style="width: 300px;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/75698/59a3febf3e8fb.jpg" alt="Fee" />Image via Santa Ana CollegeTuition fees are probably the bulk of what you&rsquo;ll be spending most on. We&rsquo;ve broken down the costs for each level of study together with the currency rates in USD so it&rsquo;s easier for you. &nbsp;<h4>Pre-University Programmes</h4><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 689px;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/75698/59a3febf450ee.png" alt="Pre-University Programme Tuition Fees" /><h4>Undergraduate</h4><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 689px;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/75698/59a3febf49059.png" alt="Undergraduate Programme Tuition Fees" /><h4>Masters</h4><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 688px;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/75698/59a3febf50097.png" alt="Masters Programme Tuition Fees" /><h4>PhD</h4><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 694px;" src="https://img.afterschool.my/storage/uploads/images/getadvice/75698/59a3febf53c4e.png" alt="PhD Programme Tuition Fees" />

Understand the breakdown of tuition fees for international students in Malaysia—covering foundation, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs across public and private universities.

Breakdown of Tuition Fees Required to Study in Malaysia

Learn about the mandatory medical screening for international students in Malaysia—requirements, procedures, and clinic locations to ensure a smooth visa application process.

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What You Need to Know About Applying for a Malaysian Student Visa

Total Cost of Documentation Required to Study in Malaysia

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Breakdown of Tuition Fees Required to Study in Malaysia

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