MalayMail-Dec 18
Malaysian universities continue to draw thousands of foreign students each year, with Chinese nationals leading the pack. Data from Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) obtained by Malay Mail shows 29,388 students from China enrolled in public and private universities from January to November 30 this year, far ahead of Bangladesh (8,957) and India (3,410). The interest from Chinese nationals has been noticeably rising in recent years. In 2020, Malaysian universities received 8,876 applications from China, which nearly doubled the following year to 19,202 and continued to rise in 2023 with 26,627 applications. The demand for studying in Malaysia is driven by various factors. One notable factor is the affordability of education here compared to destinations like the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia. “Malaysia hosts reputable foreign branch campuses, allowing students to obtain UK-, Australia-, Ireland-, Japan-, and China-accredited qualifications at significantly lower costs while studying locally,” Novie said. Another factor is EMGS’s promotional efforts in China and the Indian subcontinent. According to a study by EMGS, each international student spends approximately RM9,600 per month in Malaysia, encompassing expenses for tuition fees, accommodation, food, and more. “With a current international student population of approximately 150,000, this translates to a total monthly economic contribution of RM1.44 billion and an annual impact of RM17.28 billion on the Malaysian economy,” Novie added. Read more at: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/18/why-malaysian-campuses-are-a-hit-with-students-from-china-bangladesh-and-india/201793
