Chasing dreams in distant lands
MALAYSIA is promoting itself as an international education hub. With a relatively stable socio-economic environment, cultural diversity, located strategically between east and west, state-of-the-art infrastructure, cost-effective courses and five dedicated research universities, Malaysia is in a position to attract students from around the world.
The presence of 10 foreign university branch campuses further adds to the attraction of Malaysia as the country of choice for higher education in the region.
So, what is it like to pursue higher education in Malaysia? Postgraduate speaks to three foreign students to learn of their postgraduate experience in Malaysia and their views about studying in this beautiful country.
Kuheli Mondal, India, PHD student at Malaysia Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
“I started my journey in Malaysia as a student of M.phil at MJIIT, UTM. I then worked for a while before returning to pursue my PHD at the same institute.
“Being from India, I was exempted from taking the English language exam for foreign students when I applied for my M.phil in Malaysia. So, it was a rather smooth journey in getting accepted to pursue my higher education in UTM to applying for student visa,” says Kuheli.
The only difficulty Kuheli faced was obtaining her visa in time for her intake as the visa application process had changed.
“However, I received a lot of help from the university officials through the entire process,” she mentions.
As for her experiences of being a student in Malaysia, Kuheli only has good things to say.
“For my M.phil, I was fortunate to get a wonderful Malaysian associate professor as my supervisor and a Japanese professor as my co-supervisor. Through their supervision, I was able to produce a high-impact publication and complete my course successfully.
“The university campus provided the right environment for higher studies and the international student community had a vibrant atmosphere, too. The foreign students with their different festivals and house parties made my stay a memorable one, making the campus truly a home away from home.”
According to her, the M.phil course was worth all her effort because it helped her land a job in an information technology company in Malaysia. However, after working for a year she left her job to pursue her doctorate.
“I would recommend students to come to Malaysia for higher studies because of the high standard of the Malaysian higher education system. The universities not only help foreign students every step of the way but depending on the student’s profile, scholarships are offered as well,” she adds.
Akij Ahmad, Bangladesh, Master of Philosophy student, Department of Mechatronics Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
Akij decided to follow in the footsteps of his sister and brotherin-law, who were pursuing their master’s and doctorate in Malaysia, and pursue his higher education here as well.
“The process of getting my visa was very smooth and university officials extended a helping hand along the way. The higher education system of Malaysia is also quite systematic. The research environment is conducive to higher studies,” he shares.
Akij is still pursuing his master’s but he believes there is room for improvement in terms of opportunities for scholarships as well as part-time and on- or offcampus jobs for international postgraduate students.
“So, I suggest foreign students take financials into account before they apply to study here,” he advises.
Because the official language of Malaysia is Bahasa Malaysia, foreign students sometimes face difficulty in finding jobs possibly due to the language barrier.
Mohamed Ibrahim Elnaeim, Sudan, PHD in Engineering Management student, UTM
“My course is research-based and I have two very supportive supervisors guiding me. The facilities and learning environment are also great in Malaysia,” Ibrahim says, voicing his admiration for the country’s higher education system.
Having also completed his MSC in Engineering Management from the same institute, Ibrahim emphasises that the university has a great faculty and top-notch facilities, and the courses remain cost-effective.
“Because I have a residence pass now, I did not face any issues getting into the university to pursue my PHD, but I needed support the first time around when I enrolled in my master’s degree programme in Malaysia. However, I received all kinds of guidance as well as help from university officials.”
In between pursuing his two courses, he has also worked in Malaysia and believes that his master’s degree helped him climb the career ladder faster.
“I would wholeheartedly recommend foreign students come to Malaysia to pursue higher education, since everything from the environment to faculty, facilities and processes are ideal for learning,” he exclaims.
The experiences of these international students in Malaysia prove that the country has come a long way in providing quality higher education and has put in effort in attracting foreign students by providing optimum facilities and infrastructure. Some improvements, such as providing more funding for foreign students, and Malaysia will definitely be the best choice in the region for pursuing quality higher education.
With a relatively stable socio-economic environment, cultural diversity, located strategically between east and west, state-ofthe-art infrastructure, cost-effective courses and five dedicated research universities, Malaysia is in a position to attract students from around the world.