QS World University Rankings 2021 - Top Universities in Malaysia
Rank | University |
1 | University of Malaya |
2 | National University of Malaysia |
3 | University of Science, Malaysia |
4 | Putra Malaysia University |
5 | University of Technology Malaysia |
6 | MARA University of Technology |
7 | International Islamic University Malaysia |
8 | Northern University of Malaysia |
9 | University of Malaysia Sabah |
10 | University of Malaysia, Pahang |
1. University of Malaya
It is the oldest and highest ranking university in Malaysia and also the only university in newly independent Malaya. This university is a public research university in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia established in 1905. The motto of the university is “Knowledge is the Source of Progress”. The University was established by the merging of two universities King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College and later after the independence of Singapore from Malaysia the legislation was passed on and University of Malaya was established in 1962. This university is the 3rd in SOutheast Asia and the highest ranking institution in Malaysia.
Courses offered:
- Foundation programs
- Undergraduate programs
- Graduate programs
- Research programs
2. National University of Malaysia (UKM)
This university is a public research university located in Bandar Baru Bangi, Malaysia. Its teaching hospital is Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre located in Cheras. The motto of the university is Knowledge, Quality and Virtue, Malay language is the medium of instruction from the day of establishment.
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate programs
- Postgraduate programs
- Research programs
3. University of Science, Malaysia
This university is a public research university founded in June 1969, it is considered as the oldest university in Northern Malaysia and the university’s motto is “we lead”. The university has three campuses, the main campus is on the Island of Penang, health campus in Kelantan and engineering campus in Nibong. USM is the only government funded autonomous university in Malaysia and this university uses English as the medium of instruction.
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate programs
- Postgraduate programs
- Research programs
4. Putra Malaysia University (UPM)
It is a Malaysian public research university located in Selangor established in 1931 with the motto of “With Knowledge We Serve”. The university was earlier focused on agricultural science and its related fields and the university name was Agricultural University of Malaysia. After the 1990s the university has expanded the fields of study which includes human ecology, languages, medicine and computer science. UPM got the research university status in 2006 and self accreditation status in 2010.
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate programs
- Postgraduate programs
- Research programs
5. University of Technology Malaysia
UTM is a premier Malaysian public research intensive university established in 1904 with the motto of “In the name of God for mankind and the motto is also written in the university logo. This university was ranked 188th in the world university ranking. The university’s medium of instruction is in English. UTM has three campuses and the main campus is in Skudai, it is the first university in the state of Johor and largest public university.
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate programs
- Postgraduate programs
- Diploma programs
- Research programs
6. MARA University of Technology
This university is a public research university located in Shah Alam, Selangor which was established in 1956 to help the rural Malays. The university’s motto is “Endeavour, Religious, Dignified” and the university has grown into a large institution in Malaysia. The university has only one main campus and 34 satellite campuses, most of the programmes are taught in English.
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate programs
- Postgraduate programs
- Diploma programs
- Research programs
7. International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
This is a public university founded in 1983 with the motto of “Garden of knowledge and virtue”. The main campus is located in Selangor and it has other six campuses all over Malaysia. This university was established upon the Islamic principles and islamic values are instructed in the teaching as well. The medium of instruction is not only in Malay, but also in English and Arabic.
Courses offered:
- Bachelors programs
- Masters programs
- Doctoral programs
8. Northern University of Malaysia
This university is a public management university in Sintok, Malaysia founded in 1984. The university has other branches in Kuala Lumpur and the University has a rural campus which is known as The university in Green Forest. The motto of the university is “Knowledge, Virtue, Service”. Sintok campus is the main campus, this campus is in the valley of tropical forest, two rivers that flow along the middle of the campus.
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate programs
- Postgraduate programs
- Research programs
9. University of Malaysia Sabah
It is a public research university in Malaysia officially established in 1994 with the motto of “Strive to Excel”. This university is the ninth public university in the Malaysia and considered as the most beautiful campus in southeast Asia with Mount Kinabalu and South China Sea as the university’s background.
Courses offered:
- Diploma courses
- Undergraduate programs
- Postgraduate programs
- Masters
- PhD programs
10. University of Malaysia, Pahang
This university is a public technical university founded as university college of engineering and technology Malaysia in 2002 in Pahang, Malaysia and the university got autonomous status in 2015. This university was established by the prime minister Mahathir Mohamad’s cabinet in 2002 which was mainly focused in engineering and technology. The university operates on a temporary campus in Pahang and the campus was owned by an industrial complex and its permanent campus is under construction in Pekan, Malaysia. The motto of the university is “Engineering, Technology, Creativity”.
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate programs
- Postgraduate programs
- Research programs
