68% of 56,000 international students in public varsities pursuing postgrad studies

 Education Malaysia Global Services CEO Novie Tajuddin says they are not competing for undergraduate places filled through the UPU Online admission system.

Education Malaysia Global Services CEO Novie Tajuddin said international students come from more than 180 countries but account for only about 159,000 of the 1.26 million students enrolled in public and private higher education institutions in the country. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Nearly 68% of the 56,000 international students enrolled in public universities are pursuing postgraduate studies and are not competing for undergraduate places filled through the UPU Online admission system.

Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) CEO Novie Tajuddin said Malaysia encourages both local and international students to pursue postgraduate education, Bernama reported.

This explanation follows a higher education ministry statement on July 5, which described claims that international students were reducing opportunities for Malaysians as unfounded.

EMGS is an agency under the ministry that manages international student applications and visa processing for enrolment in Malaysia’s public and private higher education institutions.

Novie said public universities prioritise Malaysian students for admission, with international applicants considered only after places for local students had been filled under the ministry’s “over and above” policy.

He said the policy requires public universities to admit Malaysian students through the UPU Online admission system before opening enrolment to international applicants, ensuring that locals remain the first priority.

“When it comes to admitting local students, that is our first priority, and only after that do we open admissions to international students,” he said after attending the “Mega Ayo Kuliah di Malaysia 2026” education fair in Jakarta today.

Novie said international students come from more than 180 countries but account for only about 159,000 of the 1.26 million students enrolled in Malaysia’s public and private higher education institutions as of Dec 31, 2025.

Novie said about 12,000 students from Indonesia are currently studying in Malaysia, making it the second-largest source of international students after China.

He said applications from Indonesian students had risen by about 8% year-on-year as of July 2026 despite the strengthening ringgit.

Across Southeast Asia, he said applications increased by about 18% in 2025 compared with the previous year, with EMGS records showing that about 86% of the international students applying eventually enrolled.

Novie said international students contribute between RM15 billion and RM18 billion annually to the Malaysian economy. - FMT