Malaysia is rapidly positioning itself as an affordable, high-quality education hub in Southeast Asia. The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) is the government's flagship initiative designed to attract brilliant minds from around the developing world to conduct postgraduate research at Malaysian public and private universities.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.0
- Offer Degrees
- Masters, PhD
- Subjects
- Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics
- Seats Available
- Hundreds annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- Optional
- Work Experience
- Optional
- Age Range
- No Min - 45
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- Min. 6.0
- TOEFL
- Optional
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- Malay
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- See Description
- Monthly Stipend
- MYR 1500/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- No / No
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
It is an incredibly accessible, fully funded scholarship. The MIS covers your entire tuition fee, which is paid directly to your chosen university. More importantly, it deposits a monthly living allowance of RM 1,500 directly into your bank account.
Given Malaysia's low cost of living, this stipend is completely adequate to rent a comfortable room, eat well, and enjoy life in vibrant cities like Kuala Lumpur or Penang.
Application Process
You apply directly through the official Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) online portal. You must upload your transcripts, English proficiency scores, two letters of recommendation, and a highly detailed research proposal. Crucially, you must secure an official admission letter from an eligible Malaysian university (like UM, USM, or UTM) before or during the application process.
How to Win This Scholarship
The secret to winning the MIS is subject alignment. The Malaysian government does not fund abstract humanities research. They want hard science, engineering, Islamic Finance, and biotechnology.
Your research proposal must explicitly demonstrate how your work will benefit Malaysia's strategic economic interests or contribute to global technological advancement. Secure an admission letter from a top public university (Universiti Malaya or Universiti Sains Malaysia) first, as MOHE favors candidates already accepted into premier local institutions.
Benefits After Completing Study
It establishes a strong academic network within ASEAN. Malaysia's universities have deep ties with the local tech and manufacturing sectors, making it easier to transition into the regional workforce.
The MIS strictly does NOT cover your flight to Malaysia or your initial visa processing fees. You must have enough personal savings to buy your own plane ticket and survive the first month before the stipend begins to disburse.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source