SharifStudy Best way to Study in Malaysia
Knowing the Top Universities in Malaysia is important while number of students who wish to study abroad is increasing more and more due to desiring to study at high ranking universities.
2026 rankings are recently published on Malaysia University Rankings 2026.
Malaysia is a perfect choice for international students since it is one of the developing regional and international centers, and has become a motivating goal of attracting 250,000 international students by 2025.
Malaysian Universities have a powerful presence in both regional and world rankings, and indigenous institutions in the country are also linked by growing options in international branch campuses, many are based on the new EduCity development. The most popular Universities in Malaysia are listed in the table below.
Top 10 University in Malaysia
| University Name | World Ranking | Asia Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| UM University | 58 | 15 |
| UKM University | 126 | 24 |
| USM University | =134 | 34 |
| UPM University | =134 | 22 |
| UTM University | 153 | 25 |
| UTP University | 251 | 44 |
| Taylor’s University | 253 | 27 |
| UCSI University | 269 | 30 |
| Sunway University | 410 | 55 |
| University Utara Malaysia (UUM) | 491 | 65 |
Top 5 Public Universities of Malaysia 2026
University of Malaya (UM)
UM (University Malaysia) is the highest ranking Malaysian university and a public research university based in the largest city and the federal capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. As the oldest university in Malaysia, UM was founded in 1949, by merging several colleges have existed in Singapore. It offers a large range of subjects in which more than 14,000 undergraduate students and more than 13,000 postgraduate have enrolled.
According to the latest update of QS University Rankings in 2026, University of Malaya ranked 15th in Asia and 58th in the world. UM also ranked 3rd in south east Asia rankings.
UM is a well-known choice among international students, mainly for postgraduate subjects. About 20 percent of students in Malaysia are from outside of the country.
University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
People often refer to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) as the National University of Malaysia (NUM).
UKM operates as a publicly funded institution. It has a large undergraduate and graduate student body and offers a wide range of courses with an emphasis on research. Bangi, a tiny town in the Selangor region south of Kuala Lumpur, is home to the university’s main campus.
In the QS Asia University Rankings, University Kebangsaan Malaysia secured the 24th position. Meanwhile, the QS World University Rankings ranked it at 126th in 2026. Although founded in 1970, UKM also appears in the QS Best 50 Under 50, which ranks the top 50 global universities less than 50 years old.
University Science Malaysia (USM)
USM, established in 1969 as Universiti Pulau Pinang, is one of Malaysia’s top universities. In 1971, it relocated to its current campus in Minden, about 10 kilometers from Georgetown.
USM offers programs in natural sciences, applied sciences, medical sciences, technology, social sciences, humanities, and education. These are available to 30,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students across 17 Academic Schools on its Penang campus, six Schools at the Engineering Campus in Nibong Tebal, and three Schools at the Health Campus in Kelantan.
Ranked 34th in Asia and 134th in the world by QS University Ranking 2026, USM is a leading public research university covering a wide range of disciplines. Its main campus is in Georgetown, with specialized campuses for engineering and healthcare on the mainland.
University Putra Malaysia (UPM)
In 1931, they founded University Putra Malaysia as the School of Agriculture on a 22-acre plot of land in Serdang. It offered two programs: a three-year diploma and a one-year certificate. They established UPM as a university in 1971.
University Putra Malaysia is a public research university located in Serdang, south of Kuala Lumpur. According to QS university ranking, UPM is ranked 4th in south-east Asia, 22nd in Asia and 134th worldwide.
University Technology Malaysia (UTM)
University Technology Malaysia is a public engineering and technology institution with two main campuses: one in the federal capital Kuala Lumpur and the other in Johor Bahru, a city on the Malaysian mainland southern tip. “Universiti Teknologi Malaysia offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various subjects.
While most of these programs focus on engineering and technology, it also has faculties for science, biosciences and medical engineering, management, and human resources. In the latest QS University Rankings, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia stands at 25th in Asia and 153rd globally.
Top 5 Private Universities of Malaysia 2026
University Technology Petronas
University Technology Petronas ranked 44th in Asia and 251st in the world, is one of the newest universities in Malaysia, founded only 28 years ago in 1997.
Petronas, the national oil and gas business of Malaysia, owns the institution, which offers a wide range of industry-focused engineering, scientific, and technology programs at all levels of study.
In the QS Stars grading system, it receives five stars overall, with five stars for teaching, facilities, employability, and internationalization.
Taylor’s University
Taylor’s university ranked as the top private university in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, placing it among the world best universities. It is mainly located in Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
According to the QS ranking in 2026, Taylor’s university ranked 27th in Asia and 253rd in the world. This university also holds a 5-Star rating for Online Learning, making it one of the few in Asia.
Sunway University
As one of the leading private universities in Malaysia, Sunway university is a not-for-profit institution that supports enterprise, focuses on the quality of education, and considers key global problems.
According to the QS world ranking in 2026, Taylor’s university ranked 55th in Asia and 410th in the world.
UCSI university
UCSI (Universal Commercial Services, Inc) is a private university in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia founded in 1986. According to QS university ranking in 2026, it ranked 30th in Asia and 269th in the world.
This university is famous as the first private institution in Malaysia recognized by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), UKd. It offers 131 courses and more than 12000 students from 110 different countries.
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)
APU (The Asia Pacific University of Technology) is a private university in Malaysia that formed in 1993 as the Asia Pacific university college of technology and innovation after that university college status in Asia Pacific improved. According to QS world ranking in 2026, APU ranks 147th in Asia and 597th in the world.
Other Top Malaysia Universities
- University Technology MARA (UiTM)
- International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
- Multimedia University (MMU)
- Management and Science University
- Limkokwing University of Creative Technology
- University Malaysia Perlis, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
- University Tenaga National (UNITEN)
- and Universitiy Malaysia Sarawak (UMS)
In summary, well ranked public and private universities in Malaysia based on QS university rankings. Among public universities, UM achieved the top rank in 2026 which is #58th in the world. Also, UTP university ranked #251 which are best private universities in 2026.
Furthermore, in terms of presence, the University of Malaya, established in 1949, is the oldest university in Malaysia, and USM and UPM are in second and third positions, respectively.
FAQs
What is the number 1 university in Malaysia?
What is the number 1 private university in Malaysia?
Are Malaysian universities well-known in the world?
Which university has the biggest campus in Malaysia?
How many university students are there in Malaysia?
Some of the top local universities include University Malaya, University Teknologi Malaysia, University of Science Malaysia, University Putra Malaysia, International Islamic University of Malaysia, University of Petronas, University of Tenaga, University of Multimedia, Sunway University, and National University of Malaysia.
As a Malaysian, there is no question that state universities like the University of Malaya are the least expensive in the country.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, Southern University College, and New Era University College are a few examples of reasonably priced private universities you can choose if you are unable to get accepted into public universities.
Of course, there are better private university such as Sunway University, although we restricted the disucssion on this, as issue itself focus on cheaper universities.
What are English requirements to study in Malaysia?
Dear Isabella
It depends on the program you plan to study in Malaysia. However, it is band 5.0-6.0 for IELTS and 450 to 580 for TOEFL PBT. for more information, please visit the following link.
https://sharifstudy.com/en/english-requirements-malaysia