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UM university Malaysia

Universiti Malaya (UM)

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About the University

University of Malaya (Universiti Malaya in Malaya and informally Malayan University) as a public university in Malaysia is the oldest university in Malaysia (1928). It is abbreviation of UM, and located on a campus that spans 922 acres (373.12 hectares) southwest of Kuala Lumpur, the country capital.

It was founded on 28 September 1905 in Singapore as the King Edward VII College of Medicine and on 8th October 1949, it became the University of Malaya with the merger of the King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College (founded in 1928).

The title “Malaya,” as the nation was then known, serves as the inspiration for the name of the University of Malaya.

The establishment of the university was suggested by the Carr-Saunders Commission on University Education in Malaya, which noted the following in its Report in 1948: “For the first time, the University of Malaya would serve as a focal point where people of different racial, religious, and economic backgrounds could interact and work together. Because the University of Malaya will eventually realize that it is an institution for Malaya.”

Wondering where to find the best of academia in Malaysia? Checkout “Top Universities in Malaysia” for a comprehensive guide.

University of Malaya History

The University expanded very quickly during the first ten years of its existence, and as a result, on January 15, 1959, two independent Divisions were established, one in Singapore and the other in Kuala Lumpur.

The two territories’ governments expressed a desire to elevate the Divisions to the status of a national university in 1960. The University of Malaya was created on January 1st, 1962 after legislation was passed in 1961.

On June 16, 1962, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, who served as the country’s first prime minister, was sworn in as the University of Malaya’s first chancellor. Mathematician Professor Oppenheim served as the first vice-chancellor.

Currently, His Royal Highness The Chancellor of UM is Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the Sultan of Perak Darul Ridzuan.

Today, UM is made up of thirteen faculties, two academies, five institutes, and six academic centers, with a total of more than 2,300 faculty members.

According to the most recent QS World University Rankings, UM is now the top-ranked educational institution in Malaysia and is placed 70th overall, 8th in Asia, and 3rd in Southeast Asia.

On December 1, 2020, the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation was given to the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics’ Japanese Language and Linguistic Course for their contributions to the promotion of Japanese language education in Malaysia.

The Student and Alumni Affairs Division of the University of Malaya oversees the operation of its own radio station, UMalaya Radio.

Vision

UM vision

A globally influential university.

Mission

Improving their knowledge and developing nurturing aspiring leaders.

Information about Malaysia University (UM):

university(um)
Name University Malaya
QS Global World Ranking #65
Asian Ranking #9
Motto Knowledge is the Source of Progress
University public
Total Students 17,192
Academic Faculty Staff 2,485
Undergraduates 14,291
Postgraduates 8,134
very high
Established 28 May 1905
Location Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Lembah Pantai
Website www.um.my

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Faculties, Academies, Institutes & Centers

UM Faculties

Faculties

  • Faculty of Education
  • Faculty of Dentistry
  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Medicine
  • Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
  • Faculty of Business and Economics
  • Faculty of Language and Linguistics
  • Faculty of Built Environment
  • Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FCSIT)
  • Faculty of Pharmacy
  • Faculty of Creative Arts (formerly Cultural Center)

Academies

  • Academy of Islamic Studies
  • Academy of Malay Studies

Institutes

  • Institute for Advances Studies
  • Asia-Europe Institute
  • Institute of China Studies
  • Institute of Educational Leadership
  • International Institute of Public Policy & Management (INPUMA)
  • Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES)
  • Institute of Research Management and Monitoring

Centers

  • Sports & Exercise Sciences Center
  • Center for Foundation Studies
  • Center for Civilization Dialogue
  • Center for Continuing Education (UMCCed)
  • Center of Democracy and Election Studies (UMcedel)
  • Center of Excellence (UMCoE)
  • Center of Addiction Sciences (UMCAS)
  • Academic Enhancement & Leadership Development Centre
  • Maritime Research Center (UMMReC)
  • Center for Innovation & Enterprise (UMCIE)
  • Center for Initiation of Talent and Industrial Training (CITra)
  • Center for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR)
  • Halal Research Center
  • Community & Sustainability Center (UMCares)

UM QS Ranking 2024

One of Malaysia’s leading public universities is University Malaya (UM), which is located in Kuala Lumpur. In the 2024 QS World University Rankings, it holds the #65 position. It also has #9 ranking in Asia.

UM Top Subjects

The University of Malaya (UM) maintained its performance among the world’s leading universities in this year’s QS World University Rankings (WUR) by Subject 2020, with three of its academic programs rated within the Top 50 in the world.

Library and Information Science (38th), Electrical and Electronic Engineering (46th), and Development Studies (49th) are among them. Furthermore, three academic fields rose to the Top 100: Architecture/Built Environment, Modern Languages, and Accounting and Finance. This year, UM has retained 50 percent (50%) of its ranked academic specialties within the international Top 100.

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Requirement for university of Malaya is different from faculty to other faculties. However, minimum English requirements are in the ranges below:

for undergraduate students

  • Band of 5.0 and above in IELTS (Academic); or
  • A score of 500 (PBT), 173 (CBT) or 60 (IBT) and above in TOEFL; or
  • Band of 3 and above in Malaysian University English Test (MUET); or
  • Score 41 and above on the Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE Academic); or
  • Grade C and above in English for General Certificate of Education (A Level), University of Cambridge
  • Grade C and above in English for General Certificate of Secondary Education (O Level), University of Cambridge; or
  • Grade C and above in Cambridge Assessment English: First (FCE)

and for postgraduate students

  • IELTS Academic Band 5.5-6.5
  • TOEFL PBT Score 550 to 600
  • TOEFL iBT Score 80 to 100
  • TOEFL CBT Score 213 to 250
  • PTE Academic Score 42 to 62

Partner Universities and Institutions 2024

University Location
Australian National University Australia
University of Melbourne Australia
University of New South Wales Australia
Monash University Australia
University of Adelaide Australia
University of Sydney Australia
University of Western Australia Australia
McGill University Canada
University of Waterloo Canada
University of Ottawa Canada
York University Canada
KU Leuven Belgium
University of Antwerp Belgium
École Polytechnique France
University of Rennes 2 France
University of Paris-Sud France
University College Dublin Ireland
University of Limerick Ireland
Kyoto University Japan
Waseda University Japan
Osaka University Japan
Nara Institute of Science and Technology Japan
Higher School of Economics Russia
Moscow State University, Faculty of Soil Sciences Russia
Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Russia
University of Seoul South Korea
Busan University of Foreign Studies South Korea
Seoul National University South Korea
University of Birmingham United Kingdom
University of Edinburgh United Kingdom
University of Leeds United Kingdom
University of Nottingham United Kingdom
King’s College London United Kingdom
University of Cambridge United Kingdom
University of Glasgow United Kingdom
University of Liverpool United Kingdom
University of Wales United Kingdom
Queen’s University Belfast United Kingdom
University of Florida United States
The Johns Hopkins University United States
University of Michigan United States
Yale University United States

Facilities and Services

The university has 13 residential colleges (11 on-campus and 2 off-campus), an Olympic-sized pool, the Rimba Ilmu Botanical Gardens, the UM Arena, which has a full course running track, several museums of different fields, and numerous sports facilities (gymnasiums, courts, and fields) on the campus.

University of Malaya Medical Center (UMMC), the teaching hospital for the institution, is situated next to the Petaling Jaya gate, on the university grounds.

Residential Colleges

Colleges at the University of Malaya do not serve as residence halls or institutions, in contrast to other international universities. All they are are dorms for students.

All colleges were shuttered during the epidemic or operated at a reduced capacity.

They were being reopened in September 2021 in accordance with the government’s relaxation of pandemic precautions. A restaurant is one of the many essential amenities that many institutions have on-site.

He and She Coffee is a well-known hipster coffeehouse located in the 12th college (UM identifies its residential colleges by name and designated number).

  1. Tuanku Abdul Rahman Residential College
  2. Tuanku Bahiyah Residential College (Engineering Hostel)
  3. Tuanku Kurshiah Residential College
  4. Bestari Residential College
  5. Dayasari Residential College
  6. Ibnu Sina Residential College (Clinical Students Hostel)
  7. Za’ba Residential College
  8. Kinabalu Residential College
  9. Tun Syed Zahiruddin Residential College (off-campus limits)
  10. Tun Ahmad Zaidi Residential College
  11. Ungku Aziz Residential College
  12. Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Residential College
  13. 13th Residential College (formerly International Islamic University of Malaysia Petaling Jaya foundation campus)

Museums and Galleries

  • Museum of Asian Art
  • Museum of Zoology @ Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science
  • Museum of Geology
  • Malay Studies Museum @ Academy of Malay Studies
  • Malaya Art Gallery @ Chancellery Building

Libraries

  • Main Library
  • T.J. Danaraj Medical Library
  • Ahmad Ibrahim Law Library
  • Za’ba Memorial Library
  • Dental Library
  • Built Environment Library
  • East Asian Studies Library
  • Education Library
  • Engineering Library
  • Indian Studies Library
  • Islamic Studies Library
  • Languages and Linguistics Library
  • Malay Studies Library

Achievements and Awards

  • The top Malaysia university ranking (#65) based on QS world ranking 2024
  • Third Prize Winner for Best Team Public Sector (Federal) Category at Annual Productivity & Innovation Conference and Exposition (Apic) 2019
  • The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between university of Malaya Medical Center and the National Cancer Society of Malaysia
  • The signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between University Malaya Medical Center and Renji Hospital
  • Congratulatory Message on Gold Award and The Best Young Team Excellence Award at Mini Convention Team Excellence (MTEx) 2019 Central Region
  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signing Ceremony Between UMMC and Novotech (Malaysia)

UM university ranking 2022

FAQs

Where is the University of Malaya located?

The University of Malaya is located on a 922-acre campus southwest of Kuala Lumpur.

When was the University of Malaya founded?

The University of Malaya was founded on September 28, 1905, in Singapore as the King Edward VII College of Medicine and became the University of Malaya on October 8, 1949, after merging with Raffles College.

Who was the first chancellor of the University of Malaya?

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the country’s first prime minister, was sworn in as the University of Malaya’s first chancellor on June 16, 1962.

What is ranking of the University of Malaya?

According to the most recent QS World University Rankings, the University of Malaya is now the top-ranked educational institution in Malaysia and is placed 70th overall, 8th in Asia, and 3rd in Southeast Asia.

What is the ranking of the University of Malaya’s Library and Information Science program in the QS World University Rankings by Subject?

The Library and Information Science program of the University of Malaya is ranked 38th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

How many residential colleges are there at the University of Malaya?

There are 13 residential colleges at the University of Malaya, 11 of which are on-campus and 2 off-campus.

How can visitors reach the University of Malaya campus?

The University of Malaya campus is reachable by car, bus, and the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System’s LRT Kelana Jaya Line, MRT Kajang Line, and KTM Port Klang Line.

Does the University of Malaya offer transportation services for its students?

Yes, the University of Malaya offers a free shuttle bus service for students on five different routes during the week.

Transportation Accessibility

The University of Malaya campus is reachable by car, bus, and the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System’s LRT Kelana Jaya Line (Line 5), MRT Kajang Line (Line 9) and KTM Port Klang Line (Line 2).
The campus is big enough to make walking awkward even though it is walkable.

Students and staff may encounter high everyday temperatures and humidity because UM is located in Kuala Lumpur. Due to the few crosswalks and absence of sidewalks on some routes, people with impairments may encounter difficulties.

MRT and Bus

After getting off the LRT Kelana Jaya Line at KJ19 University, visitors can walk 15 minutes to the campus’ entrance in Kuala Lumpur (KL).
The next two closest stations are KG12 Phileo Damansara MRT station or KD02 Angkasapuri station on the Port Klang Komuter Line.

The former connects to the GoKL Pink Line bus line, and the latter stops at the neighborhood mosque, which is a 5- to 10-minute walk from the KL entrance.

With the T815 MRT Feeder Bus service, the latter is 3 kilometers from the campus’ Petaling Jaya (PJ) main entrance. T815 and T789 are two bus routes run by RapidKL that have connections to the Phileo Damansara and University stations, respectively.

The free PJ City Bus route services the University Malaya Medical Center (PPUM) which is accessible from the PJ gate. At PPUM, other rapidKL bus services might make a stop.

Along the campus’s streets, you can see signs pointing to certain buildings and other locations.

The institution also offers free shuttle bus service for students on five distinct routes, AB, BA, C, D, and E, during the week.
While some pathways connect external lodging or buildings with the main campus area, others serve specific university sections.

UM Location

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Call us for a free consultation!

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3 comments

  1. My son’s Masters degree graduation took place five years ago.
    I appreciate university of Malaya for the wonderful ceremony.

  2. Dear sir or madam;
    My name is Hilal I am from Afghanistan
    As you know Malaysia announced mctp scholarship for international therefore I would like to apply to mention scholarship, it need some ducoments like admission letter so how can i get admission letter from your university If you don’t mind please send me an admission letter looking forward to hearing from you
    Best regard,

    • Hello Hilal, congratulations on deciding to apply for the MCTP scholarship! Our agents can guide you on getting the admission letter. Reach out to them for detailed help. Best wishes!

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