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.”
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
A globally influential university.
Mission
Improving their knowledge and developing nurturing aspiring leaders.
Information about Malaysia 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 |
Call us for a free consultation!
Faculties, Academies, Institutes & Centers
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).
- Tuanku Abdul Rahman Residential College
- Tuanku Bahiyah Residential College (Engineering Hostel)
- Tuanku Kurshiah Residential College
- Bestari Residential College
- Dayasari Residential College
- Ibnu Sina Residential College (Clinical Students Hostel)
- Za’ba Residential College
- Kinabalu Residential College
- Tun Syed Zahiruddin Residential College (off-campus limits)
- Tun Ahmad Zaidi Residential College
- Ungku Aziz Residential College
- Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Residential College
- 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)
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.
My son’s Masters degree graduation took place five years ago.
I appreciate university of Malaya for the wonderful ceremony.
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!