Study in Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the best options for Bangladeshi students because of its quality of education, reasonable fees, & high-ranked educational institute

Benefits of Studying in Malaysia from Bangladesh

International students can easily study in Malaysia from Bangladesh and pursue higher education at the world’s top-ranked universities. Malaysia is one of those popular study destinations that never ceases to amaze international students. Some of the greatest benefits of studying in Malaysia are:

Malaysia offers a highly affordable cost of living and overall tuition fees that make it the best study destination for international students who have a certain budget to meet their monthly expenses.

Since most of the world’s top-ranked universities have their international campuses in Malaysia, you can get a world-class quality of education from both public and private universities.

Many international companies provide employment and internship opportunities to international students after the completion of their studies in Malaysia. Malaysia’s economy is constantly growing and the government is giving multiple entrepreneurial chances to students. As an international student, you can get many venture capital.

Population in Malaysia

The current population in Malaysia is estimated at 34.4 million people, which was almost 32.7 million last year. It means the country has seen a growth of 2.1% in its population. However, it is expected that the population will grow to 35.9 by the end of 2030. The immigrant population in Malaysia is almost 1.3 million Indonesians, 500,000 Bangladeshi, 400,000 Nepali, 300,000 Indian and 200,000 from Myanmar. Malaysia is a religion-tolerant country. The percentage of religions in Malaysia is as 63.5% of the population follows Islam, 19.8% follow Buddhism, 9.2% follow Christianity and 6.3% follow Hinduism. However, 1.3% of the population prefers not to share their affiliation with any religion, accounting for other religions.

Official Language in Malaysia

The official language in Malaysia is Bahasa Melayu, also locally known as Malay. 80% of Malaysia’s population speaks Malay as their first language. Besides that, English is another most commonly spoken language among the business community and education sector, whereas Tamil and Chinese are mostly spoken by their respective communities. Although English is not an official language, but the Malaysian government has recognized it as an international language. It is also the de facto official language in the two states of Sabah and Sarawak. The government is implementing many measures to signify the importance of learning English as a second language.

Bahasa Melayu is the standard language in Malaysia for every sort of official correspondence and government-issued document. The said language has more than ten different accents, and it is not only limited to Malaysia but many other Southeast Asian countries.

Top 10 Cities in Malaysia for International Students

The capital city in Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, which is globally known for providing the perfect environment for international students to stay and pursue their education. So, here are the top 10 richest cities in Malaysia for international students:

 

  1. Kuala Lumpur: It is the capital city and one of Malaysia’s federal cities. The city has Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, International Islamic University Malaysia and MAHSA University College.
  2. Penang: It is one of Malaysia’s third largest cities with many great heritage sites. The city is home to Universiti Sains Malaysia.
  3. Johor Bahru: It is a modern metropolitan that offers international students with its top-ranked universities such as Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Southern University College Johor Bahru.
  4. Kuching: It is known for its traditional house and natural beauty. The city is affordable and the local community openly welcomes international students. Swinburne University of Technology and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) are located in Kuching.
  5. Malacca City: It is the oldest Malaysian city locally recognized for its historical and cultural values. The city has Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM),  Multimedia University (MMU), and Stamford College Malacca.
  6. Kota Kinabalu: The city is great for international students with its affordable yet pleasant lifestyle and great scenic views. Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Universiti Teknologi MARA Sabah are in Kota Kinabalu.
  7. Shah Alam: It is the capital city of Selangor province. The city has one of the best universities such as Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, and Open University Malaysia (Shah Alam Learning Centre).
  8. Kuala Terengganu: It is the royale capital of Malaysia that is popular for its quiet and peaceful life. The city has Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin.
  9. Ipoh: It is known to attract international students with its culinary scene and cultural attractions. The city has Royal College of Medicine Perak, and Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Ipoh.
  10. Alor Setar: It is the capital of Kedah province. The city has a quieter lifestyle with much peaceful environment, and has top universities such as Albukhary International University, and Kolej Universiti Sains.

Malaysian Economy

Malaysia’s economy is one of the strongest growing in the Southeast Asian countries. The country has a relatively stronger economy with consistent contribution from private industries and the government sector. The country’s economy mainly depends on exporting products and commodities such as petrol, palm oil and natural gas, and also receives a great part of the economy from tourism and finance. Every year, Malaysia’s currency sees a stabilized and positive improvement when compared to the US Dollar. One US Dollar is equal to 4.67 Ringgits, and 1 Ringgit is equal to 23 Bangladeshi Taka. Again, the country’s currency is very strong when compared to other southeast Asian countries.

In 2023, Malaysia’s per capita income is $13,034 in nominal terms and $37,083 in purchasing power parity, which means that an average citizen of Malaysia earns $1086 per month (13,064 yearly).

Lower Living and Tuition Costs

The living cost in Malaysia makes it a cheaper study abroad destination for international students when it comes to accommodation and tuition fees. The exact number of international students studying in the country is estimated to range from 130,000 to 170,000. The monthly cost of living in Malaysia for an international student ranges from RM 1,500 to RM 3,000 ($350 to $680 per month), which includes accommodation, food, transportation, and utility bills. The breakdown of living cost is as:
  • One-bedroom apartment: RM 1,200 to RM 1,800 ($ 275 to $ 410) 
  • Food: RM 400 to RM 800 ($90 to $180)
  • Groceries: RM 250 to RM 400 ($55 to $90)
  • Transportation: RM 100 to RM 200 ($23 to $45)
  • Utilities: RM 100 to RM 200 ($23 to $45)
  • Personal care: RM 50 to RM 100 ($11 to $23)
  • Clothing: RM 200 to RM 400 ($45 to $90)

The average tuition fees in Malaysia for international students depend on institution, program level, and chosen field of study:

  • Undergraduate programs: RM 12,000 to RM 45,000 per year
  • Postgraduate programs: RM 1,500 to RM 3,000 per year

Part-Time Jobs in Malaysia for International Students

You can apply to part-time jobs in Malaysia for international students. Malaysia allows international students to work part-time for up to 20 hours/week during the semester breaks, festive holidays or during the vacations if they are longer than seven days. It is very easy to get a part-time job as an international student in Malaysia. After completion of studies, you can also get many full-time jobs in Malaysia. However, there are certain job industries where international students can work. International students can only work in restaurants, petrol/gas stations, small markets/departmental stores and motels. Some of the best part-time jobs are waiter, food service, salesperson, storekeeper, room attendant and retail store assistant.

The average salary of a part-time job for international students in Malaysia depends on the number of hours worked and the industry. But, generally, you can expect to have a salary of RM 200 to RM 300 per month, which can greatly contribute in meeting the study expenses. 

Time Difference With Bangladesh

If you are moving to study in Malaysia from Bangladesh, your main concern would be communicating with friends and family or coming back to meet them in semester break or vacations. Interestingly, Malaysia is not that far from Bangladesh either its distance or time. If you fly from Dhaka International Airport (DAC) to KL International Airport (KUL), the traveling time of airplane flight would be around 3 hours and 56 minutes to reach Malaysia from Bangladesh.

Since Malaysia is situated in the southeast region of Asia, the time difference between Malaysia and Bangladesh is not much. It’s only 2 hours difference between both countries, which means if it’s 12pm in Bangladesh, then it would be 2:00 pm in Malaysia. In layman’s language, Malaysian time is 2 hours ahead of Bangladesh time.

Want to Study in Malaysia From Bangladesh? Know More About Malaysia!

There’s a lot to know before you plan to study in Malaysia from Bangladesh. The country is full of diversity, opportunities and hilal foods options for international students.

Want to Study in Malaysia From Bangladesh? Know More About Malaysia!

There’s a lot to know before you plan to study in Malaysia from Bangladesh. The country is full of diversity, opportunities and hilal foods options for international students.