Prime Highlights
- International students contribute nearly MYR20 billion yearly to Malaysia’s economy, spending an average of MYR10,000 per month each.
- Malaysia now ranks among the world’s top 14 higher education destinations, with student numbers up 23 percent in three years.
Key Facts
- EMGS is an agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education that promotes international education and supports foreign student management.
- Malaysia targets 500,000 international students by 2035, with China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan as top source countries.
Background
Malaysia is drawing growing economic benefits from its international student population, with around 167,000 foreign students contributing nearly MYR20 billion (US$5 billion) each year through tuition, living costs and related spending.
Every foreign student requires a minimum of MYR10,000 monthly for spending during their stay in Malaysia, as reported by a study conducted by EMGS. The organization’s Chief Executive Officer, Novie Tajuddin, shared these findings during a Malaysian culture exploration program held in the third week of August at Pantai Teluk Ketapang.
Novie said the impact of international students goes beyond universities, benefiting local communities through demand for housing, food, transport and other services. He added that this has boosted business activity for local enterprises, especially in the food and service sectors.
He noted that Malaysia is now ranked among the world’s top 14 higher education destinations, gaining ground on traditional favorites such as the U.K., the U.S., Australia and Canada. The number of international students in the country has grown by about 23 percent over the past three years.
Malaysia has three universities in the top 150 of the QS World University Rankings 2027 and three in the top 30 of the QS Asia rankings. Kuala Lumpur was also ranked the 15th best city globally for international students, second only to Singapore in Southeast Asia.
The country aims to attract 500,000 international students by 2035 under its 10-year higher education blueprint. Novie said China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan currently send the highest numbers of students to Malaysia, with most enrolled in postgraduate programs.
