Malaysian International Scholarships for Indian Students

Malaysia is an attractive destination for students seeking a high-quality yet affordable education. In 2022, around 4000 Indians pursued their higher studies in Malaysia. This number is expected to rise with the ever-increasing benefits of several scholarships in Malaysia, such as the Malaysian International Scholarship. Read this article to learn more about scholarships in Malaysia for Indian students and their benefits. 

Scholarships for International Students in Malaysia 

 Listed below are some of the scholarships for international students in Malaysia.

Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) 

Under the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, the prestigious Malaysian International Scholarship (MIS) program serves new overseas students wishing to pursue postgraduate or post-doctoral studies at Malaysian public universities. The Malaysian government launched the MIS to lure top talent worldwide to Malaysia for advanced academic programs. 

Eligibility Criteria 

To qualify for the MIS, applicants must: 

1. Be under 45 years old during application. 
2. Hold a minimum Second Class Upper (Honors) or a CGPA of 3.5/4.0 for master’s degree applicants and PhD candidates or an excellent result at a master’s degree level. 
3. Provide English Language Proficiency Test scores, such as IELTS (minimum 6.5) or TOEFL (minimum 580 paper-based, 230 computer-based, or 92 internet-based). 

Benefits 

1. Recipients receive plane travel tickets from their home countries to Malaysia.
2. The approved tuition prices are covered by the Malaysian International Scholarship, alleviating students of the financial burden related to their academic program. 
3. Students can concentrate on their studies without worrying about their daily expenses as they receive a monthly stipend. 
4. Students will receive medical/health insurance.
5. They will also be granted an annual grant for managing internal travel and book expenses. 

Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Scholarship 

Established in 1980, the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) reflects Malaysia's commitment to South-South Cooperation by sharing developmental experiences and expertise with other developing countries. Emphasizing the role of human capital in national development, MTCP focuses on human resources development through training and capacity-building courses. This includes short-term programs at Malaysian training institutions and fully funded scholarships in Malaysia. 

Eligibility Criteria 

1. Age should be at most 45 years while applying. 
2. Second Class Upper (Honors) or CGPA 3.50 at the undergraduate level. 
3. IELTS overall score of 6.0 or TOEFL iBT total score of 60 and above, or a previous degree(s) with English as the medium of instruction. 

Benefits 

1. Complete coverage of tuition expenses. 
2. RM 3,500 per month to cover living expenses.  

University of Technology Malaysia International Doctoral Fellowship (IDF)

The University of Technology Malaysia's International Doctoral Fellowship (IDF) is a funding initiative to provide partial tuition waivers to international doctoral students who are registered for full-time PhDs at the University of Technology, Malaysia. 

Eligibility Criteria

1. Open to international students as full-time PhD students at the University.
2. Priority to applicants in the 5th and 6th Semester.
3. Applicants should be unemployed and get no financial aid from others.
4. Applicants must be in Malaysia within two months of the application period.
5. Publications must have the name of the Main Supervisor and UTM affiliation to be considered.

Benefits

1. The IDF offers a partial tuition waiver of RM 2,000 during the sponsored semester. 
2. The fellowship gives financial assistance to students who are unemployed or not receiving financial aid from others.  

Malaysian Commonwealth and Scholarship Plan

The Malaysian Government awards Malaysian Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships to nominated students from Commonwealth countries for postgraduate study in Malaysia. As a government-to-government scheme, there is no bond imposed by Malaysia. The master’s degree awards range from 12 to 24 months, depending on the course, whereas PhD scholarships are awarded for three years.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must be pursuing a full-time degree program in Malaysia to be eligible for the awards.
• Candidates must have a second-class upper (Honors) or a CGPA of 3.5/4.0 at the bachelor's degree level to be considered.
• PhD applicants must have obtained a CGPA of 3.5/4.0 at the master’s level in a related field of study.
• An IELTS Academic test score of at least 6.5 is required.

Benefits 

• Tickets to Malaysia from the recipient's capital.
• Monthly maintenance allowance.
• Annual grant for books and internal travel.
• Medical / health insurance is provided.
• Installation and termination grant.

Universiti Putra Malaysia-International Graduate Student Scholarship (IGSS)

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) offers the International Graduate Student Scholarship (IGSS) to academically excellent students who are interested in pursuing their PhD studies at UPM. This scholarship is open to students from countries in South Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and Central Asia. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must have completed their master’s with a minimum CGPA of 3.500.
• Applicants must be interested in conducting research in areas that are important to Malaysia/UPM.
• Preference will be given to students from institutions in developing regions that have signed a MoU/MoAs with UPM. 
• Applicants must not be recipients of any other scholarships.
• Applicants must have a copy of their research proposals approved by their supervisors.
• They should have published at least one research paper in a reputed academic journal.

Benefits

• Students receive a tuition fee waiver of around 30–50%.
• It covers up to 3 years of study, subject to an annual review of the student’s performance.

Conclusion

Malaysia offers numerous scholarship options to international students studying various courses and programs. With the financial assistance these scholarships provide, students can focus on their studies without worrying about money. Students must stay updated about the eligibility requirements and the application process for various scholarships to enjoy their benefits and embark on their academic journey with ease.