Top Universities in Malaysia 2025

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The number of students who wish to study abroad is increasing more and more due to desiring to study at world-class high-ranking universities.

Furthermore, since international universities have more facilities and experienced professors and lecturers, are a perfect destination for elite students who desire to study abroad.

Although there are many top international universities in the world, many students with low budgets are deprived of studying and learning due to their high tuition fees and expenses.

Therefore, affordable international universities are a proper choice for such students.

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.

Malaysia 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	60	12
UKM University	138	26
USM University	146	37
UPM University	148	20
UTM University	181	28
Taylor’s University	251	36
UCSI University	265	45
UTP University	269	53
INTI International University	516	170
Sunway University	539	74

QS Ranking for Malaysia Universities 2025

University Name	World Ranking	Asia Ranking
University Malaya (UM)	60	12
University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)	138	26
University Science Malaysia (USM)	146	37
University Putra Malaysia (UPM)	148	20
University Technology Malaysia (UTM)	181	28
Taylor’s University	251	36
UCSI University	265	45
University Technology PETRONAS (UTP)	269	53
INTI International University	516	170
Sunway University	539	74
University Utara Malaysia (UUM)	554	79
Management and Science University	580	129
University Technology MARA – UiTM	587	101
Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU)	611-620	190
University Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)	641-650	146
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)	661-670	133
University Malaysia Pahang (UMPSA)	741-750	159
University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)	801-850	131
University Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)	951-1000	165
University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)	1001-1200	195
Multimedia University (MMU)	1001-1200	207
University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)	1001-1200	226
University Malaysia Sabah (UMS)	1001-1200	243
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)	1001-1200	248
University Kuala Lumpur (UniKL)	1201-1400	400
University Malaysia Perlis	1201-1400	341

Public Universities

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 2025, University of Malaya ranked 12th in Asia and 60th 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 26th position. Meanwhile, the QS World University Rankings ranked it at 138th in 2025. 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 37th in Asia and 146th in the world by QS University Ranking 2025, 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, 20th in Asia and 148th 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 28th in Asia and 181th globally.

Private Universities

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 2025, Taylor’s university ranked 36th in Asia and 251 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 2025, Taylor’s university ranked 74th in Asia and 539 in the world. In the 2025 edition, Sunway University performed among the top 18% in the QS Asia University Rankings 2025.

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 2025, APU ranks 190th in Asia and 611-620 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 2025, it ranked 45th in Asia and 265 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.

University Technology Petronas

University Technology Petronas ranked 53rd in Asia and 269 in the world, is one of the newest universities in Malaysia, founded only 25 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.

Other Top Malaysia Universities

In summary, well ranked public and private universities in Malaysia based on QS university rankings. Among public universities, UM achieved the top rank in 2025 which is #60 in the world. Also, Taylor’s university ranked #251 which are best private universities in 2025.

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.

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