This is a list of universities in Malaysia. Universities in Malaysia are generally categorised as public and private universities.[1] [2] Private universities include locally established universities and campuses of foreign universities.
The list below is classified by the two main categories, sequentially ordered by their locations according to states. For the purpose of this list, institutions of higher education that are authorised to confer their own degrees but do not have the status of universities are included under the sub-classification of university college (including institutions not classified as educational institutions under the Education Act 1996[3]). Other institutions of higher education which do not have the authority to confer their degrees are listed in a separate article. There may be some duplication in both lists as some institutions provide both bodies regulate accredited training and education in multiple sectors.
In the case of institutions without official translations of their names in English or common used name by the local media, the translation provided by the Association of Commonwealth Universities[4] is used, barring which the most common usage is provided.
Public universities in Malaysia are funded by the Government and are governed as self-managed institutions. Apart from the University of Malaya and the MARA University of Technology which were established by two separate enabling Acts of Parliament,[5] [6] [7] the other public universities in Malaysia were created by executive order as per the provisions of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971.[8] Until recently, the Ministry of Higher Education was responsible for seven institutions bearing the title "University College". These have since been upgraded to full universities, and there are currently no public university colleges.
For polytechnics in Malaysia, it provides courses for bachelor's degree, Advanced Diploma, Diploma and Special Skills Certificate.
University of Malaya | Universiti Malaya[9] | UM | 1905 (as King Edward VII College of Medicine) 1949 (University of Malaya) 1962 (University of Malaya) | Research university | Kuala Lumpur | http://www.um.edu.my/ |
Science University of Malaysia | Universiti Sains Malaysia[10] | USM | 1969 | Research university | George Town, Penang (Main)Nibong Tebal, Penang (Engineering) Kubang Kerian, Kelantan (Medicine) | http://www.usm.my/ |
National University of Malaysia | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia[11] | UKM | 1970 | Research university | Bangi, Selangor (Main) Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (Medicine) | http://www.ukm.my/ |
International Islamic University Malaysia | Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia[12] | IIUM | 1983 | International university | Gombak, Selangor | http://www.iium.edu.my/ |
University of Malaysia Kelantan | Universiti Malaysia Kelantan | UMK | 2007 | Focused university (Entrepreneurship) | Pengkalan Chepa, KelantanJeli, KelantanBachok, Kelantan | http://www.umk.edu.my/ |
University of Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah | Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah[13] | UMP | 2002 (as UTEC) | Technical university | Pekan, Pahang | http://www.ump.edu.my/ |
University of Malaysia Perlis | Universiti Malaysia Perlis[14] | UniMAP | 2001 (as KUKUM) | Technical university | Arau, Perlis | https://www.unimap.edu.my/ |
University of Malaysia Sabah | Universiti Malaysia Sabah[15] | UMS | 1994 | Comprehensive university | Kota Kinabalu, Sabah | http://www.ums.edu.my/ |
University of Malaysia Sarawak | Universiti Malaysia Sarawak[16] | UNIMAS | 1992 | Comprehensive university | Kota Samarahan, Sarawak | http://www.unimas.my/ |
University of Malaysia Terengganu | Universiti Malaysia Terengganu[17] | UMT | 1996 (as UPM Terengganu) | Focused university (Science and Technology) | Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu | http://www.umt.edu.my/ |
Sultan Idris Education University | Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris[18] | UPSI | 1922 (as MPSI) | Focused university (Education) | Tanjung Malim, Perak | http://www.upsi.edu.my/ |
National Defence University of Malaysia | Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia[19] | UPNM | 1995 (as ATMA) | Focused university (Military) | Kuala Lumpur | http://www.upnm.edu.my/ |
University of Putra Malaysia | Universiti Putra Malaysia[20] | UPM | 1931 (as School of Agriculture) | Research university | Serdang, Selangor (main campus) Bintulu, Sarawak (branch campus) | http://www.upm.edu.my/ |
Islamic Science University of Malaysia | Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia[21] | USIM | 1997 (as KUIM) | Islamic university | Nilai, Negeri Sembilan | http://www.usim.edu.my/ |
Sultan Zainal Abidin University | Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin[22] | UniSZA | 1980 (as KUSZA) | Islamic university | Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu | https://www.unisza.edu.my/ |
Technical University of Malaysia Malacca | Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka[23] | UTeM | 2000 (as KUTKM) | Technical university | Durian Tunggal, Malacca | http://www.utem.edu.my/ |
University of Technology Malaysia | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia[24] | UTM | 1904 (as Treacher Technical School) | Research university | Skudai, JohorJalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur | http://www.utm.my/ |
MARA University of Technology | Universiti Teknologi MARA[25] | UiTM | 1956 (as RIDA Training Centre) | Comprehensive university | Shah Alam, Selangor | http://www.uitm.edu.my/ |
Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia | Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia[26] | UTHM | 1993 (as Pusat Latihan Staf Politeknik) | Technical university | Batu Pahat, Johor | http://www.uthm.edu.my/ |
Northern University of Malaysia | Universiti Utara Malaysia[27] | UUM | 1984 | Focused university (Management) | Sintok, Kedah (Main)Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur (Postgraduate) | http://www.uum.edu.my/ |
Politeknik Ungku Omar | PUO | 1969 | Premier polytechnic (university status) | Ipoh, Perak | http://www.puo.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah | POLISAS | 1976 | Conventional polytechnic | Kuantan, Pahang | http://www.polisas.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah | POLIMAS | 1984 | Conventional polytechnic | Bandar Darul Aman, Kedah | http://www.polimas.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Kota Bharu | PKB | 1985 | Conventional polytechnic | Ketereh, Kelantan | http://www.pkb.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Kuching Sarawak | PKS | 1987 | Conventional polytechnic | Kuching, Sarawak | http://www.poliku.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Port Dickson | PPD | 1990 | Conventional polytechnic | Si Rusa, Negeri Sembilan | https://web.archive.org/web/20100915115134/http://www.polipd.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Kota Kinabalu | PKK | 1996 | Conventional polytechnic | Kota Kinabalu, Sabah | http://www.polikk.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah | PSA | 1997 | Premier polytechnic (university status) | Shah Alam, Selangor | http://www.psa.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan | PIS | 1998 | Premier polytechnic (university status) | Pasir Gudang, Johor | http://www.pis.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Seberang Perai | PSP | 1998 | Conventional polytechnic | Seberang Perai, Penang | http://www.psp.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Melaka | PMK | 1999 | Conventional polytechnic | Malacca | http://www.polimelaka.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Kuala Terengganu | PKKT | 1999 | Conventional polytechnic | Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu | http://www.pkt.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin | PSMZA | 2001 | Conventional polytechnic | Dungun, Terengganu | http://www.psmza.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Merlimau | PMM | 2002 | Conventional polytechnic | Merlimau, Malacca | https://web.archive.org/web/20050313061954/http://www.pmm.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah | PSAS | 2002 | Conventional polytechnic | Behrang, Perak | http://www.psas.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah | PTSB | 2002 | Conventional polytechnic | Kulim, Kedah | http://www.ptsb.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah | PSIS | 2003 | Conventional polytechnic | Sungai Air Tawar, Selangor | http://www.psis.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin | PTSS | 2003 | Conventional polytechnic | Ulu Pauh, Perlis | http://www.ptss.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Muadzam Shah | PMS | 2003 | Conventional polytechnic | Bandar Muadzam Shah, Pahang | http://www.pms.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Mukah Sarawak | PMU | 2004 | Conventional polytechnic | Mukah, Sarawak | http://www.pmu.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Balik Pulau | PBU | 2007 | Conventional polytechnic | George Town, Penang | http://www.pbu.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Jeli | PJK | 2007 | Conventional polytechnic | Jeli, Kelantan | http://www.pjk.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Nilai | PNS | 2007 | Conventional polytechnic | Negeri Sembilan | http://www.polinilai.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Banting | PBS | 2007 | Conventional polytechnic | Kuala Langat, Selangor | http://www.polibanting.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Mersing | PMJ | 2008 | Conventional polytechnic | Mersing, Johor | https://web.archive.org/web/20160713131000/http://www.pmj.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Hulu Terengganu | PHT | 2008 | Conventional polytechnic | Kuala Berang, Terengganu | http://www.pht.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Sandakan | PSS | 2009 | Conventional polytechnic | Sandakan, Sabah | http://www.pss.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik METrO Kuala Lumpur | PMKL | 2011 | METrO polytechnic | Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur | https://web.archive.org/web/20160312232727/http://www.pmkl.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik METrO Kuantan | PMKU | 2011 | METrO polytechnic | Kuantan, Pahang | http://www.pmku.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik METrO Johor Bahru | PMJB | 2011 | METrO polytechnic | Johor Bahru, Johor | https://web.archive.org/web/20141220001703/http://www.pmjb.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik METrO Betong | PMBS | 2012 | METrO polytechnic | Betong, Sarawak | http://www.pmbs.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik METrO Tasek Gelugor | PMTG | 2012 | METrO polytechnic | Seberang Perai, Penang | http://www.pmtg.edu.my/ | |
Politeknik Tun Syed Nasir Syed Ismail | PTSN | 2013 | Conventional polytechnic | Muar, Johor | http://www.ptsn.edu.my/ |
The establishment of private universities and university colleges were made possible with the passage of the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 [Act 555].[28] Before that, private institutions of higher learning existed but were not authorised to confer their own degrees. Instead, they acted as preparatory institutions for students to undertake courses of instructions in preparation for externally conferred degrees.