Kuala lumpur: The admission of international students to Malaysian public universities does not negatively affect local students' opportunities to secure placements, including those applying with qualifications such as Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), matriculation, or diploma.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) reported that as of December 31, 2025, international students made up 8.9 percent of the total enrolment at public universities, totaling 56,565 out of 634,706 students. MOHE emphasized that most international students are enrolled in postgraduate programs, allowing undergraduate programs to prioritize local students.
Overall, Malaysia's higher education institutions, both public and private, had a total enrolment of 1,264,541 students, with international students comprising 12.6 percent, or 159,138 students. The ministry clarified that the undergraduate international student admissions follow the 'over and above' principle, meaning they are accepted outside the existing quota for local students.
In a written reply uploaded to the Parliament portal, MOHE stated that admissions to master's and doctoral programs are determined by academic qualifications and the research capacity of the universities. The response was directed to a question from Chow Yu Hui (PH-Raub), who requested details on international student enrolment by university, field of study, and country of origin over the past five years, alongside the government's target for increasing such enrolments.
Breaking down the figures, MOHE highlighted that out of 520,105 undergraduate students at public universities, 96.56 percent (502,212) were Malaysians, while international students accounted for only 3.44 percent (17,893). At the postgraduate level, 66.26 percent of the 114,601 enrolments were Malaysians, with international students making up 33.74 percent (38,672).
The Ministry reiterated that Malaysia's strong academic reputation, excellence in research, teaching expertise, and competitive education costs have bolstered its appeal as a preferred destination for international students.