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Student life in Malaysia

Priscilla

Hello,

Studying in a foreign country is an exciting prospect, but at times students do not have enough information to make an informed decision. We invite you to share your own experiences about studying abroad in Malaysia.

What are the advantages of studying in Malaysia? What are the disadvantages?

Are there proper housing options for students, or do most students have to find their own accommodation?

Are living costs for students in Malaysia expensive? What is an average budget for a student per month, including rent, groceries, and social activities?

Is it easy to form a social circle in Malaysia? What are some of the preferred social activities?

Are there international student societies or community engagement programs for international students?

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Priscilla

See also

Money saving tips for international students in MalaysiaStudy in MalaysiaUniversities in Kuala LumpurStudent life in Kuala LumpurBest KL International School ADHD Child
ankamun

I was a student at the Asia Pacific university. The best part about studying in Malaysia is that you get exposed to people from multiple nationalities, background, cultures, that sounds cliche but goes a long way in building one's world view.
Getting a housing is easy, as there are so many international students. People are ready to rent out apartments to foreigners and students are willing to share the accomodation and split expenses. We have restaurants serving different cuisines and supermarkets house cooking essentials from.different cuisines. So for those who cook and those who don't,  it's actually easy to settle in. Yes, most stay in their own accommodation the trend of paying guests or hostels is not so common.
In general it is hard to fight the local pool of talent and get a job, but one can polish oneself to stand out and bag a position. It's possible.
All work no play makes Jack a dull boy. Malaysia has lots of avenues to enjoy oneself, travel, explore...the people are open to all cultures, plus almost everyone will find like minded people. Learning the language is a plus which I did.
There are social groups, as all expats are trying to connect and feel at home...I cannot say much about them as my schedule didn't allow much in this sector.
The only advice will be to stay up to date with the immigration rules as they are quite strict.

Kyle1041

International student here, studying in KDU University.

Accommodations are usually provided by the university. Mind you, you WILL NOT get a student visa without a university applying it for you. If a university or school tell you otherwise that you can come here first and get your student visa later on, be cautious. The process is strict and even the largest, most recognized universities here are as equally bounded to the rules. With that said, yes, accommodations are provided and ready for you as part of your sign-up with a university. The university itself would generally have its own hostel. Besides that, nearby houses, apartments, condominiums would generally also have units/rooms available for rent for students.

I would give out expenses in Ringgit Malaysia so convert that to your own currency. As a student, one would expect your rent to be at the minimum of RM750. Eating out, a simple meal generally will cost around RM6-7. Groceries can be purchased to make your own meals so that's about RM50-80 per week on food alone. Overall monthly expense would be around the figures of 1.5k to 1.8k. Of course not including tuition fees. 

Socializing in Malaysia is easy, usually. Malaysians themselves aren't all the same. There's Chinese, Malays, Indians, and other minorities. It's easy to mingle with them. The younger ones especially. Maybe the older ones are difficult. But it's alright, in universities, foreigners are so common it's nothing special.

There would be subjects in the university that is for international students only. Mainly referred to as MPU, these are subjects the government made compulsory for students to take. Some of these are only for foreign students while some are only for locals. Here is where one would general meet other international students. Other than these, the university may also arrange international students meetings and other social activities as well as international student support groups. One can also always just ask the universities if they have any programs, they'll be sure to guide you.

PS: I grew up here in Malaysia.