Malaysian International Scholarship for Master and PhD, 2026/27

Candidates are invited to apply for the 2026-2027 Malaysian International Scholarship (MIS). The MIS scholarship is initiated by the Malaysian government to attract the best brains from around the world to pursue advanced academic studies or research in Malaysia. This scholarship aims to attract, motivate, and retain talented human capital from abroad.

Talented international students with excellent academic records and outstanding co-curricular backgrounds are welcome to apply for the Malaysian International Scholarship. The scholarship is tenable at selected prestigious Malaysian universities for eligible candidates willing to study at Master’s and PhD level.

Scholars must undertake full-time study for postgraduate programs at the selected universities and higher education institutes. It is the responsibility of the scholars to confirm their admission to the university. These scholarships are tenable in Malaysian universities and higher education institutes, and research must be carried out in Malaysia.

Program Details

• Host Institutions: Please find below the list of eligible Malaysian universities.
• Eligible Fields: Applicants are welcome to apply for any accredited courses; however, priority will be given to courses in the areas listed below.
• Number of Awards: Not specified.
• Duration: Candidate’s program duration.
• Eligible countries: Please see the full list below.

Malaysian International Scholarship Benefits

Winners of this Malaysian scholarship to study on the Asian continent will receive the following:

1. Full tuition fees paid directly to the university; and
2. A monthly living allowance of RM 1,500.00, paid in intervals based on progress reporting.

Eligible Countries for the Malaysian International Scholarship

Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam).

Commonwealth countries (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, British Islands & Mediterranean, Canada, the Caribbean, the Americas & the Atlantic, India and the Pacific).

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, Georgia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

Study Areas

Applicants are welcome to apply for any accredited courses with priorities given to:

1. Education
2. Arts and Humanities
3. Social Sciences, Journalism and Information
4. Business, Administration and Law
5. Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics
6. Information and Communication Technologies
7. Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction
8. Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Veterinary
9. Health and Welfare (excluding medicine, nursing, and pharmacy)

List of MIS Scholarship Partner Universities

The following is a list of potential universities in Malaysia, where candidates can study with the Malaysian International Scholarship.

Public Universites:

1. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
2. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
3. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
4. Universiti Malaya (UM)
5. Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)
6. Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM/IIUM)
7. Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)
8. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
9. Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)
10. Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTEM)
11. Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
12. Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)
13. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
14. Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
15. Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP)
16. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
17. Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP)
18. Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNISZA)
19. Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM)
20. Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)

Private Universities:

1. Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
2. Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)
3. Multimedia University (MMU)
4. INCEIF University (INCEIF)

Malaysian International Scholarship Eligibility

To apply for this Asia scholarship program, candidates must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a citizen of one of the eligible recipient countries listed above.
2. Intend to pursue full-time postgraduate studies (Master’s/PhD) in Malaysia OR currently be enrolled with at least two semesters remaining.
3. Be under 40 years old for a Master’s and under 45 years old for a PhD at the time of application.
4. For a Master’s degree, obtain a minimum CGPA of 3.00 or Second Class Upper (Honours) at Bachelor’s level.
5. For PhD applicants, obtain a minimum CGPA of 3.00 or equivalent excellent results at Master’s level in a related field.
6. Provide proof of English proficiency:
   • IELTS score of 6.0 or higher; or
   • TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper-based) or equivalent; or
   • Proof that previous studies were conducted in English.
7. Submit a research proposal of at least 1,000 words (for research-based Master’s and PhD applicants).

How to Apply for the Malaysian International Scholarship

Eligible applicants who would like to apply must complete the process online. No paper trail, no workaround:

Required Documents

1. Completed application form
2. Certified copy of passport (minimum 6 months validity)
3. Certified academic transcripts
   • Must include full course records
   • Undergraduate transcripts required (plus Master’s transcripts for PhD applicants)
   • Provide official grading system explanation if CGPA is not stated
4. A certified copy of the English Proficiency test result (IELTS / TOEFL) OR an official letter from the previous institution declaring English as the medium of instruction used for the obtained degree(s)
5. Letter of Recommendation from two (2) referees (e.g., lecturer, supervisor, immediate superior, etc.)
6. Admission letter from Malaysian university/higher education institute (if applicants are currently undertaking postgraduate studies or if applicants have secured admission to the university)
7. Curriculum Vitae; and
8. Research Proposal (for Masters by Research and PhD applicants only)

For any questions or technical assistance regarding the MIS application form, please send an e-mail with screenshot(s) to : [email protected].

The application deadline for the Malaysian International Scholarship (MIS) is 3 April, 2026. For more details, please visit the official page.