International Students At Higher Education Institutions Only 12.6 Per Cent – MOHE

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 159,138 or 12.6 per cent of international students from more than 180 countries are currently pursuing studies at Malaysian higher education institutions (IPT), thus proving that the country continues to be an international-standard higher education destination.

The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) said that as of 31 December 2025, the total student enrolment at public and private higher education institutions was 1.26 million.

For undergraduate programmes, local students comprised 502,212 (96.56 per cent), while international students were only 17,893 (3.44 per cent).

Meanwhile, for postgraduate programmes, local students totalled 75,929 (66.26 per cent) and international students 38,672 (33.74 per cent).

“This data clearly shows that the majority of international students are at the postgraduate level, not competing for places with SPM, STPM, matriculation, or diploma leavers applying for undergraduate programmes,” it said in a statement today.

Therefore, MOHE denied the claim that the admission of international students to public universities reduces opportunities for local students to further their studies, instead describing the statement as unfounded and misleading.

MOHE said that the claim raised by Jitra State Legislative Assemblyman (ADUN), Dr. Haim Hilman Abdullah, fails to reflect the true reality of the country’s higher education system and could damage the reputation of Malaysian higher education institutions at the international level.

According to the ministry, the internationalisation agenda of higher education has been consistently implemented for more than two decades, in line with the National Higher Education Strategic Plan (PSPTN) 2007 to make Malaysia a world-class higher education hub.

Commenting on the claim that international students at five major research universities are taking away places from local students, MOHE explained that out of 186,824 enrolments at Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 145,727 (78 per cent) were local students.

Of the 41,097 international students, 28,135 (68.5 per cent) were at the postgraduate level and 12,962 (31.5 per cent) at the undergraduate level, with admission through an open pathway implemented on an ‘over and above’ basis, meaning the mainstream quota (UPUOnline) is first filled before additional channels are opened.

“This situation is in line with the function of Research Universities which focus on research, innovation, scholarly publications, and international academic networks. The presence of international students at this level is a strategic necessity to strengthen the country’s research ecosystem,” MOHE further explained.

MOHE said that international students pay full fees without government subsidies, comply with strict academic requirements, and contribute to strengthening university finances.

They also help improve learning and research facilities, expand international research collaborations, high-impact publications, and university rankings in world rankings.

In addition, their presence creates a more conducive learning environment and provides global experience to local students without having to leave the country.

MOHE also informed that a total of 32,549 students from China are currently pursuing studies at Malaysian public universities.

According to the ministry, the large number of Chinese students is also recorded in other countries such as the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, making it a common practice in the global higher education system.

“It is a common thing for a country with a population of 1.4 billion people. China is indeed a major source of international students at the global level,” it explained.

MOHE also stressed that the interests, welfare, and educational access of local students remain the top priority of the Madani Government.

It said that Malaysia will continue to implement the internationalisation agenda of higher education strategically and responsibly to ensure that the country’s higher education institutions remain competitive at the international level, globally recognised, and become a global education destination of choice, without ever sacrificing the rights, opportunities, and future of Malaysian students.

MalaysiaGazzete