Exam update
January 30, 2026
MBBS IN MALAYSIA
A Brief Introduction About Malaysia
| Continental | ASIA |
| Capital | Kuala Lumpur |
| Currency | MYR |
| Geography | The geography of Malaysia deals with the physical and human geography of Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country. There are two major parts to this country, Peninsular Malaysia to the west and East Malaysia to the east. In addition, there are numerous smaller islands surrounding both landmasses. |
| Area | 3,29,847 km²; Population 3,19,49,777 |
| Time (India+/-) | -2:30 Hours |
| Climate | Located near the equator, Malaysia’s climate is categorised as equatorial, being hot and humid throughout the year. |
| Religions | Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism |
| Languages | Bahasa Malaysia, English, Arabic, Bengali |
| Literacy | 94.88% |
| Course | MBBS / Clinical Medicine- 5 Years + 1 Year Internship (India or Malaysia) |
| Cost | Starting from 15 Lacs, it depends on the University and eligibility |
| Total Universities | WHO-approved Total- 33 Universities |
Medical Universities in malaysia
total of 33 universities approved by WHO for the study of medicine and pharmacy in Malaysia or Study MBBS in Malaysia
About Malaysia
The MBBS program in Malaysia is WHO approved and has a duration of 5 years. This degree is an equivalent of the MBBS degree given here in India. An MBBS degree from Malaysia is certainly very much sought-after and has a very high value. That explains how so many international students end up in Malaysia for their higher studies, including that of medicine. Currently, nearly 130,110 international students from 130 foreign countries are finishing their degrees in Malaysia.
Malaysia is located in southeast Asia. This country lies among Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia, and has a very diverse ethnography. The Malaysian culture is also very unique and interesting and you will surely enjoy the people and the customs here, thoroughly. The capital city in Malaysia, known as Kuala Lumpur, is one of the most advanced and modern cities in the world with plenty of skyscrapers and buildings with unique and modern design.
Throughout the year, Malaysia has temperatures ranging between 25°C to 35°C. Hence, you can say that the temperature isn’t unbearable. Malaysia also receives sufficient rainfall from mid-October to the end of March. However, most of the time, it is too difficult to forecast the weather to absolute perfection.
Read through some fun facts about Malaysia below:
- The Sarawak Cave Chamber in Malaysia is the largest cave chamber in the world.
- It is located on the island of Borneo and a very popular tourist destination.
- The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur are the world’s tallest twin buildings with a height of 1,483 feet.
- Malaysia has four UNESCO designated world heritage sites. These are, Gunung Mulu National Park, Kinabalu Park, Melaka and George Town, and Lenggong Valley.
- This might be an interesting fact to know that Malaysia’s total highway length is greater than the earth’s circumference!
- Those who are ethnically Malay, only add up to become half of the Malaysian population. The rest of the population has people from India, China, Bangladesh, etc.
- The Malays also follow a very unique system of monarchy. They have nine state rulers, who are ethnically Malay. Every 5 years, one of them becomes the king. Hence, a rotation system is followed. And every 5 years, one among the nine gets to be the king of this region.
Study MBBS in Malaysia
Increase in Demands for Doctors in Malaysia
Just like the rest of the world, there is a demand for more doctors or healthcare professionals in Malaysia as well. According to a survey carried out by International Medical University in Malaysia, there is a need for 85,000 doctors against the complete population of Malaysia. This would be the only way to cross WHO’s target of having 1:400 doctor to population ratio. This can only be attained when more and more students decide to choose medicine as their path. Hence, there is a serious demand for doctors in Malaysia, which can be met by students like those who are reading this.
Really Low Unemployment Rate
One of the main fears that most students have is whether they will suffer from unemployment after they have graduated and finished their course. However, you will be pleased to know that Malaysia has a really low unemployment rate. Currently, the unemployment rate stands at 3.38%, which has been consistently at this value for the last decade. What you can infer from that is, they have a stable situation when it comes to jobs and employment. That is surely promising for students!
Lots of People Visit Malaysia Seeking Treatment
Believe it or not, but plenty of people visit Malaysia each year seeking essential treatments. The annual revenue that the Malaysian government makes from the healthcare sector itself is nearly 1.5 Billion MYR per year. A lot of active research into various sectors of medicine are also conducted here. Hence, students can opt for research in prestigious labs and contribute to the ever-growing field of medicine. You can be sure that you will be of importance to the common people if you decide to engage in any research work related to medicine, here.
Globally Ranking Universities
Malaysia has some of the best universities in the world for studying medicine. If you refer to QS world university rankings, plenty of Malaysian universities which offer MBBS degrees are ranked among the first 500 in the world. That is a very prestigious position to hold. The MBBS degrees provided in Malaysia are also MCI approved. This puts a seal of legitimacy to their course and degree and ensures that students can compete on a global scale. The Medical universities in Malaysia are truly one-of-a-kind and are improving every year.
Admission process in Malaysia
Apply for acceptance letter
To get admission to any Malaysia university candidate must have to apply for an acceptance letter from the professor to supervise him/her for the successful completion of MBBS.
Submit Form
Every student in a Malaysia university must need an advisor. After getting an advisor students have to submit an online admission application form along with a scanned acceptance letter of professor.
Online interview
The student has to give an online interview in front of the admission committee once he is accepted by university and professor, he will receive an admission letter and visa form.
Eligibility for Studying MBBS in Malaysia
The eligibility criteria in Malaysia is highly specific to each university. However, some common rules of eligibility apply to all universities and should be followed by the students who are planning to study there. The eligibility criteria are mentioned below:
- Indian applicants need to have a minimum score of 70% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Additionally, they can also have a GPA between 3.0 to 4.0 in related fields during their under-graduation degree.
- Valid English proficiency scores of IELTS or TOEFL. This is used by the universities to judge who efficient the applicant is with the language as the course will be taught entirely in English.
- Other entrance and standardized test scores like MCAT, BMAT, and NEET is also required. NEET is mandatory for students of Indian origin. However, there is no mention of any minimum score.
- Work experience of at least 2 years is certainly favoured. However, this is not mandatory.
- Updated resume or CV with all essential information must be produced.
- At least three letters of recommendation are also required for admission. This is a very crucial factor to maintain otherwise you will not be eligible for admission.
- Selected candidates also have to appear and sit for a personal interview. Those who clear this as well will be granted admission in the university they applied for.
- Students also need to have a medical certificate declaring their fitness. Without this, they cannot be considered eligible.
In a much more generalised manner, IELTS scores between 5.5 to 7 are usually considered enough for admission to any of the universities, depending on their own cut-off. For TOEFL, this score has to be between 73 to 100, depending on the university, again. If all this information is applicable to you, then you are certainly eligible for admission for MBBS in Malaysia.
Some of the examinations that you will have to appear for, in order to successfully get admission in Malaysia for MBBS is given below. These exams are usually mandatory and may or may not have a minimum score requirement. A lot of this information depends on the university you choose to study in. Read on to find out about the essentials examinations for studying MBBS in Malaysia:
NEET : – For students of Indian origin, NEET is a mandatory exam that has to be attended. NEET is conducted once a year, and has 3 subjects required: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. None of the universities require any minimum score in NEET from students. However, it will help your resume, if you have scored well.
MCAT : – MCAT or Medical College Admission Test is conducted in Malaysia for those who are aiming to study medicine in any of their universities. This test is conducted in Malaysia itself, and students will have to travel there as there will be no test centres here. MCAT requires considerable dedication and preparation to pass. Most universities look for a decent score in MCAT as a criteria for admission.
BMAT: – The BMAT or Biomedical Admission Test is also a computer-based standardized test which is taken to ascertain the knowledge students have in the subjects required for medicine. BMAT scores are required by some universities in Malaysia, where students want to study medicine.
IELTS/TOEFL : – As already mentioned, IELTS OR TOEFL scores are mandatory for students who want to apply to any of the universities in Malaysia. These tests are conducted to assess the level of English proficiency the students have. Each university has a designated score band, within which they accept applications for admission.
Latest Updates
Uncategorized
April 25, 2025
MBBS in Malaysia - Important FAQs
The total cost, considering education and living expenses in Malaysia adds up to about 15 lakhs to 35 lakhs per year, in Indian currency. However, personal living expenses and accommodation costs vary for everyone.
The MBBS course in Malaysia is 5 years long. The entire course is divided into two phases; pre-clinical phase and clinical phase. While the former focuses on theoretical knowledge, the latter is more concerned with a practical approach and real-life handling of situations.
In Malaysia, the minimum mark requirement varies from university to university. However, you need to consider scoring at least 70% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to 4.0, to secure your place in their university for MBBS.
There aren’t that many scholarships offered by the universities in Malaysia for international students, as their tuition fees happen to be pretty low. However, exceptional students can apply for scholarships and also get aid to cover a portion of their tuition fees.
