The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) is a fully funded postgraduate scholarship initiative launched by the Malaysian Government (Ministry of Higher Education), aimed at attracting outstanding international scholars to pursue Master’s and PhD programs at select Malaysian universities. It aligns with Malaysia’s goal to become a global academic hub
Eligible Universities (24 total)
Public Universities (20):
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
- Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
- Universiti Malaya (UM)
- Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)
- International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
- Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
- Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)
- Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTEM)
- Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
- Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)
- Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
- Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
- Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP)
- Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
- Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP)
- Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNISZA)
- Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM)
- Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
Private Universities (4):
- Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
- Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)
- Multimedia University (MMU)
- International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF)
Eligible Countries
Applicants from ASEAN, Commonwealth, and various other developing nations are eligible. This includes (but is not limited to) Indonesia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, etc. .
Study Areas
Wide-ranging disciplines are supported, except medicine, nursing, and pharmacy:
- Education; Arts & Humanities
- Business, Administration, Law; Social Sciences, Journalism
- Natural Sciences, Maths, Statistics; Information & Communications Technology
- Engineering, Manufacturing, Construction; Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Veterinary
- Health & Welfare (excluding med/nursing/pharmacy)
Benefits
- Full tuition fee coverage for the entire program
- Monthly living allowance of RM 1,500 (~USD 320)
- Additional allowances may include book or thesis support
- Note: Travel costs not covered; students must arrange their own flights .
Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: Citizens of eligible countries listed above
- Academic level: Bachelor’s for Master’s; Master’s for PhD. CGPA min ~3.0/4.0 or equivalent; second class upper honors acceptable
- Age limit: ≤ 40 years for Master’s; ≤ 45 years for PhD
- Language proficiency: IELTS ≥ 6.0 or TOEFL ≥ 550 PBT required unless the previous instruction was in English
- Admission Letter: Not required at application stage; recommended to apply scholarships first
- Current enrollment: Those already enrolled must typically have at least two semesters remaining
Required Documents
- Completed online application form
- Valid passport copy (≥ 6 months validity)
- Degree certificate(s) and full academic transcripts for relevant qualifications
- English proficiency proof (IELTS/TOEFL) unless exempt
- Research proposal (1,000+ words) – mandatory for research-based programs
- 2 recommendation letters Statement of Purpose / Motivation letter & CV
- Medical report (health check) .
Deadline
Annual application window: Typically May 31 – June 30, 2025 for the 2025–26 cycle .
Application Process
- Prepare documents (transcripts, proposal, English scores, passport, etc.)
- Complete online application via official MIS portal during the June window
- Scholarship awarded by government, with tuition remitted directly to institution
- Post-award, apply separately for each university admission (no fee for scholarship holders)
🎯 Selection Criteria
- Strong academic record & CGPA
- Quality and relevance of research proposal (critical for PhDs)
- English proficiency
- Interview assessment (if applicable)
- Potential contribution to Malaysia’s development goals and applicant’s home country
🧠Summary
| Feature | Details |
| Scholarship | Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) |
| Level | Fully-funded Master’s & PhD |
| Benefits | Tuition + RM 1,500/month + potential allowances |
| Eligible 2025 countries | ASEAN, Commonwealth, many others |
| Fields of study | Wide range; excludes medicine, nursing, pharmacy |
| Eligibility | CGPA ≥ 3.0; ≤ 40 (MSc), ≤ 45 (PhD); IELTS ≥ 6.0 or TOEFL ≥ 550 |
| Deadline | ~31 May – 30 June 2025 |
| Documents | Passport, transcripts, research proposal, SOP, LORs, English certs, CV, medical report |
| Selection | Academic merit, proposal, English, interview, development potential |
💡 Tips
- Focus early on a quality research proposal for PhD applications
- Prepare English test if needed (IELTS/TOEFL) before May
- Ensure valid passport and transcripts ready
- Apply for MIS before applying to universities to avoid fees
For Further information Visit : MTCP – Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme