SharifStudy Best way to Study in Malaysia
Malaysia university Ranking 2026 has changed orders and Ranks of Malaysian universities. UM (Universiti Malaya) #58 has saved it’s place as Malaysia’s leading University, followed by UKM , USM , UPM and UTM all ranking under #200 while showing continues improvements.
In 2026 Rankings published recently, Universiti Malaya (UM) holds the #1 position in Malaysia at #58 in the QS World University Rankings, followed closely by UKM, USM, UPM and UTM, all ranked inside the global top 200. Below you’ll find a complete Malaysia university ranking table, Shown as separated lists for QS, THE and SJR so you can choose the best university for your goals.
Malaysia University Ranking 2026 – Overview
QS, THE and SJR Rankings provide valuable insights into academic quality, student outcomes, and institutional prestige. Comparing Rankings guide students in choosing the institutions that align best to their goals.
QS Malaysia University Ranking 2026 (World & Asia)
| # | University | QS World 2026 | QS World 2025 | QS Asia 2026 | QS Asia 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Malaya (UM) | 58 | 60 | 15 | 11 |
| 2 | University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) | 126 | 138 | 24 | 28 |
| 3 | University Science Malaysia (USM) | 134 | 146 | 34 | 35 |
| 4 | University Putra Malaysia (UPM) | 134 | 148 | 22 | 25 |
| 5 | University Technology Malaysia (UTM) | 153 | 181 | 25 | 37 |
| 6 | University Technology PETRONAS (UTP) | 251 | 269 | 44 | 69 |
| 7 | Taylor’s University | 253 | 251 | 27 | 41 |
| 8 | UCSI University | 269 | 265 | 30 | 61 |
| 9 | Sunway University | 410 | 539 | 55 | 103 |
| 10 | University Utara Malaysia (UUM) | 491 | 554 | 65 | 101 |
| 11 | INTI International University | 509 | 516 | 122 | 222 |
| 12 | University Technology MARA – UiTM | 542 | 587 | 116 | 98 |
| 13 | University Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) | 551 | 641-650 | 136 | 164 |
| 14 | Management and Science University | 597 | 580 | 125 | 155 |
| 15 | Asia Pacific University (APU) | 597 | 611-620 | 147 | 213 |
| 16 | University Malaysia Pahang (UMPSA) | 609 | 741-750 | 153 | 153 |
| 17 | International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) | 613 | 661-670 | 142 | 131 |
| 18 | Lincoln University College | 638 | — | 196 | 185 |
| 19 | SEGi University | 731–740 | — | 350 | — |
| 20 | University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) | 791–800 | 801–850 | 109 | 160 |
| 21 | University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) | 801–850 | 1001–1200 | 160 | 197 |
| 22 | University Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) | 851–900 | 951–1000 | 156 | 171 |
| 23 | Multimedia University (MMU) | 851–900 | 1001–1200 | 148 | 233 |
| 24 | University of Cyberjaya | 951–1000 | — | 434 | — |
| 25 | University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | 197 | 261–270 |
| 26 | University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | 214 | 271–280 |
| 27 | Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | 243 | — |
| 28 | University Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) | 1001–1200 | 1201–1400 | 268 | 351–400 |
| 29 | University Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) | 1201–1400 | 1201–1400 | 396 | 401–450 |
Source : https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings
Overall, the 2026 QS Malaysia university ranking confirms UM as the Malaysia’s top institution, while UKM, USM, UPM and UTM all kept their positions inside the global top 200. The meaningful rise of Private universities like UTP, Taylor’s and UCSI shows how competitive Malaysia’s private sector has become. For many students, the key point from this Malaysia university ranking is that you now have several world class options across public and private universities, depending on your budget and study field.
Malaysia University Ranking 2025
Top Malaysia’s University on QS Malaysia rankings was UM (#60th) and best university of Malaysia based on THE 2025 was UTP (#201-250th) following by UM(#251-300th).
Malaysian top universities showed a great improvement on this year’s QS world ranking. QS Malaysia Ranking granted UM, Taylors University and Sunway University way better ranks, but the upward trend continued even on 2026 rankings.
THE & SJR Malaysia University Rankings 2026
The Times Higher Education (THE) provides a global perspective on academic excellence. Unlike QS ranking, which focus on academic and employer reputation, THE evaluates teaching, research influence, citations, and international outlook. This approach favors universities with strong research and global collaborations.
For instance, the University of Malaya (UM) performs better in THE ranking due to its strong research network and high citation rates. On the other hand, Taylor’s University excels in QS ranking for its focus on employer engagement and innovative teaching but ranks lower in THE because of less emphasis on research.
SJR ranking, on the other hand, offer insights primarily into the research performance, highlighting how prolific a university is in terms of high-quality publications. For example, universities like the University Science Malaysia (USM) and University Putra Malaysia (UPM) have better SJR ranking owing to their robust contributions to research journals and academic publications.
Understanding these ranking systems helps students and academics choose top universities Malaysia that align with their priorities.
The THE Malaysia University Ranking of 2026 is provided as below:
THE Malaysia Top Universities 2026
| University | (THE) Ranking | |
| 1 | Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) | 201–250 |
| 2 | University of Malaya (UM) | 251–300 |
| 3 | Sunway University | 301-350 |
| 4 | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) | 301-350 |
| 5 | Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) | 401–500 |
| 6 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) | 401–500 |
| 7 | Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) | 401–500 |
| 8 | Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) | 501–600 |
| 9 | Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) | 601–800 |
| 10 | Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) | 601-600 |
| 11 | Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) | 601–800 |
| 12 | Management & Science University (MSU) | 801–1000 |
| 13 | Multimedia University (MMU) | 1001–1200 |
| 14 | Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) | 1001–1200 |
| 15 | Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) | 1001–1200 |
| 16 | Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) | 1001–1200 |
| 17 | Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) | 1001-1200 |
| 18 | Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) | 1501+ |
| 19 | Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) | 1501+ |
| 20 | Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) | 1501+ |
| 21 | Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP) | 1501+ |
| 22 | Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) | 1501+ |
| 23 | Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) | 1501+ |
Source: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/latest/world-ranking
Lists of the top universities in Malaysia provide valuable information for students, parents, and politicians who are interested to Study in Malaysia.
There are several organizations that produce university Malaysia ranking, including the Times Higher Education World University Ranking, QS World University Ranking, and the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities.
SJR Ranking of Malaysia’s Top Universities 2025
| University / Institution | (SJR) Ranking 2025 | |
| 1 | University of Science, Malaysia (USM) | 339 |
| 2 | University Putra Malaysia (UPM) | 413 |
| 3 | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) | 438 |
| 4 | University of Malaya (UM) | 621 |
| 5 | University of Technology, Malaysia (UTM) | 916 |
| 6 | Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) | 1618 |
| 7 | International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) | 2349 |
| 8 | Petronas University of Technology (UTP) | 2604 |
| 9 | Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia (UTHM) | 3556 |
| 10 | University of Malaysia, Pahang (UMP) | 3598 |
| 11 | Monash University Malaysia | 3602 |
| 12 | Taylor’s University | 3688 |
| 13 | Ministry of Health Malaysia | 3760 |
| 14 | University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS) | 3779 |
| 15 | University of Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) | 4215 |
| 16 | University of Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) | 4256 |
| 17 | Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM | 4291 |
| 18 | Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI) | 4321 |
| 19 | University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) | 4388 |
| 20 | Tenaga National University (UNITEN) | 4681 |
Source: https://www.scimagoir.com/rankings.php?ranking=Research
University ranking in Malaysia 2025 and 2026 and lists of the top universities in Malaysia provide valuable information for students, parents, and everybody who is interested to Study in Malaysia.
Public vs Private Universities in Malaysia
According to 2026 QS World University Ranking, the University of Malaya (UM) continues to be the top ranking university in Malaysia, holding this prestigious position for six consecutive years. In the latest rankings, UM is now standing proudly at (#58th) as #1st best Public Malaysian University.
Close behind is UTP (#251st) has #1 among private universities in Malaysia by QS ranking while based on THE Malaysia University Ranking, Sunway University (#301-350th) is best private university in Malaysia.
Top Public Universities in Malaysia
University MalayaUM |
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World Ranking : 58 | Asia Ranking : 15 |
| Located in the center of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s busy capital, the University of Malaya (UM) is the country’s top university and a leader in education. Founded in 1949 after merging several schools from Singapore, UM has become known for providing high-quality education in Malaysia. At Sep-2025, UM had more than 17,300 undergraduate students and over 17,300 postgraduate students studying a wide range of programs. With its diverse course offerings, the University of Malaya continues to attract many local and international students who are looking for a quality education in one of Asia’s most exciting cities. | ||
University Kebangsan MalaysiaUKM |
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World Ranking: 126 | Asia Ranking: 24 |
| The National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM) stands proudly as the 4th best university in Malaysia. As a publicly funded research institution, UKM is recognized for its active involvement in cutting-edge research across various fields. Located in Bangi, Selangor, just south of Kuala Lumpur, UKM attracts a large and diverse student population, offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The university’s strategic location provides students with a vibrant academic environment while remaining close to Malaysia’s capital city. | ||
University Science MalaysiaUSM |
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World Ranking: 134 | Asia Ranking: 34 |
| Established in 1969, University Science Malaysia (USM) is widely regarded as one of Malaysia’s top educational institutions. USM offers a wide variety of programs in the natural and applied sciences, medicine and health, pharmacology, construction technology, social sciences, humanities, and education while almost 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students take use of these at the university’s 17 Academic Schools on the Penang main campus. They include 6 Schools at the Engineering Campus in Nibong Tebal (about 50 km from the main campus), and 3 Schools at the Health Campus in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan (approximately 300km from the main campus). | ||
University Putra MalaysiaUPM |
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World Ranking : 134 | Asia Ranking : 22 |
| Located in Serdang, just to the south of Kuala Lumpur, University Putra Malaysia is a public research institution. QS has UPM rated as the 22nd best institution in Asia and the 134th beside USM as another top university in the world. University Putra Malaysia began as an agricultural college and maintains a strong emphasis on agricultural and forestry research and education. | ||
University Technology MalaysiaUTM |
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World Ranking : 153 | Asia Ranking : 25 |
| University Technology Malaysia (UTM) is a well-known public university with campuses in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. UTM specializes in engineering and technology and offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs. The university’s primary focus is on engineering and technology, but it also excels in fields like science, biosciences, and medical engineering. As a testament to its excellence, QS University Rankings places UTM at #153 in the world and #25 in Asia, making it one of the top universities in Malaysia for students looking to pursue careers in technology and science. | ||
Top Private Universities in Malaysia
University Technology PETRONASUTP |
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World Ranking : 251 | Asia Ranking : 44 |
| Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS is announced as Malaysia’s best university for engineering and technology. It ranks 251st in the QS World University Rankings 2026, close to Taylor’s University which is another great University in Malaysia ranking 253rd. Based in Seri Iskandar, Perak, UTP combines industry focused teaching, impactful research, and strong PETRONAS links for outstanding student outcomes. UTP is also ranked 44th in Asia according to 2026 QS Asia University Ranking. | ||
Taylor’s UniversityÂTaylor’s |
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World Ranking : 253 | Asia Ranking : 27 |
| Taylor’s University is almost the best private university in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Most of it is located in Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Taylor’s university is ranked #253 (close to UTP=251st) in the world and #27 in Asia by QS in 2026. This Asian college received five stars for online education. Taylor’s University has kept the top global rank for the past five years due to its expertise in hotel and leisure management. | ||
UCSI UniversityÂUCSI |
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World Ranking : 269 | Asia Ranking : 30 |
| The Universal Commercial Services Institute (UCSI) was established in 1986 as a private university in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A 2025 QS ranking of universities places it at #269 globally and #30 in Asia. This university is well-known as first private school in Malaysia by the prestigious Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA). More than 12,000 students from 110 countries are enrolled in its 131 courses. | ||
Sunway UniversitySun-U |
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World Ranking : 410 | Asia Ranking : 55 |
| Sunway University is a non-profit organization that values academic freedom and an awareness of pressing global issues. Sunway University is in the top 10% of all Asian universities in the QS Asia University Ranking 2026 sitting on 55th position. Sunway is also the world’s 410th best university. There are over 8,000 students enrolled in the university’s 67 programs, with about 1,000 coming from outside of Malaysia. | ||
APU UniversityAPU |
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World Ranking : 597 | Asia Ranking : 147 |
| APU is a leading private university in Malaysia, combining technology, creativity, and innovation to prepare students for global business and societal roles. APU earned the prestigious “Five Stars Plus” QS rating on November 1, 2021, becoming the first Malaysian university to receive this distinction and placing it in the top 20 universities worldwide. In the QS World University Ranking 2026, APU ranks 597th globally and 147th in Asia, making it Malaysia’s top choice for international students. APU is 16th worldwide for its international student body and among the top 200 for international faculty. | ||
Lincoln University College, Malaysia |
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World Ranking : 638 | Asia Ranking : 196 |
| Lincoln University College (LUC) is a private Malaysian institution known for practical, industry connected programs and a strongly international community. In QS World University Rankings 2026, LUC is ranked 638th globally, and in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026 it stands at 196th, with a regional position of 47 in Southeast Asia. LUC’s international outlook is reflected in Times Higher Education metrics, which score LUC highly for global engagement. Together, these recognitions underscore LUC’s mission to equip students with great skills and cross cultural perspectives in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. |
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QS University Ranking vs THE University Ranking
THE University Ranking and QS University Ranking are two major global assessments of higher education institutions. QS emphasizes academic and employer reputation, faculty ratios, and international diversity, while THE considers teaching, research, citations, and industry collaboration.
Both rankings offer insights, but differences in methodology can lead to varied outcomes for universities. Many institutions consider both rankings for a comprehensive view of their global standing.
How Malaysia’s Universities Rank on the World Stage
Malaysian universities consistently secure top positions in global rankings, such as the QS World University Ranking and Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking. These accolades highlight the exceptional quality, innovative research, and robust student support systems offered by leading institutions like Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
The impressive standings of these universities are due to several factors, including faculty expertise, research impact, and graduate employability. These elements provide international students with a reliable guide to the academic excellence and global competitiveness of Malaysian universities.
Additionally, Malaysia’s diverse climate, strategic location in Asia, and the availability of English-taught programs further enhance its appeal as a premier study destination. Students who choose to study at Malaysia’s top-ranked universities benefit from a world-class education and the experience of living in a vibrant, cosmopolitan society that prepares them for international careers.
Malaysia university ranking and university ranking in Malaysia are key factors for students choosing where to study in this diverse and vibrant country. Malaysia’s top-ranked universities offer world class education, whether you prefer a public or private institution. These rankings serve as a reliable guide to finding the best university in Malaysia for your academic and career goals.
Malaysia University Ranking – FAQs
What is the rank 1 university in Malaysia?
What is the best private university in Malaysia 2026?
Are Malaysian universities Recognized worldwide?
Which universities are best for studying architecture in Malaysia?
- Universiti Malaya (UM)
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
- Taylor’s University
- International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
What are the best medical schools in Malaysia?
- University of Malaya (UM)
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
- International Medical University (IMU)
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Which universities are known for engineering programs?
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
- Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
- Universiti Malaya (UM)
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
- Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
Which are the top universities for business and management studies?
- Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)
- Taylor’s University
- Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)
What are the best universities for IT programs?
- Universiti Malaya (UM)
- Sunway University
- Multimedia University (MMU)
Which universities are best for humanities and social sciences?
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
- Universiti Malaya (UM)
Which Malaysian university has the most international students?
The University Putra Malaysia (UPM) . It is Malaysia’s third-best institution. Almost half of its 16,000 students were from outside the country.
What factors contribute to the ranking of Malaysian universities?
Factors like academic excellence, research productivity, teaching quality, internationalization, industry partnerships, faculty qualifications, influence the ranking of Malaysian universities globally.
I’m interested in knowing which Malaysian universities are ranked highest in the 2024 rankings, specifically in the fields of engineering and technology. How do these institutions compare in terms of academic reputation, research opportunities, and international student support?
We are glad to hear about your interest in studying in Malaysia! Our website lists the top-ranked universities for 2024, especially in engineering and technology. Please reach out to our agents for detailed information on academic quality, research chances, and support for international students.
How does this ranking determine whether universities are good for jobs?
Our ranking looks at if graduates get jobs and how closely universities work with businesses. This helps show which universities are best at getting students ready for work. contact our agent for more information (+60147148070).
Are all this ranking data updated and reliable?
I mean the asian rankings for private universities.
Hi, The data provided is directly extracted from trustable sources and it is updated many times during each year, So, yes, All this ranking data is updated and 100% reliable.