Best universities in Malaysia 2022

Malaysia is a country in South East Asia known for its stunning natural beauty and diverse population.

Made up of two main land masses, the Malaysian Peninsula and Malaysian Borneo, the country is known equally for its cosmopolitan capital and its wildlife-rich rainforests. The jungles of Borneo are home to over 1,000 species of animals, many of which are endangered. These include orangutans, clouded leopards and pygmy elephants.

By contrast, Kuala Lumpur – the nation’s capital – is a bustling metropolis, often used as a stepping stone to many other major South Asian destinations. Featuring the iconic Petronas Towers, the city’s impressive skyline is just one of KL’s many attractions. ​

Others include a canopy walkway 100ft in the air in the heart of the city, as well as the Batu Cave Temple, the stunning National Mosque and a host of museums.

Street food is incredibly popular and you can expect a varied cuisine with Indian, Chinese and Malay influences.

Among all of this are some outstanding universities, which we have listed below, based on data collected for the THE World University Rankings 2022. 

1. University of Malaya​

The University of Malaya, a public research university in Kuala Lumpur, is Malaysia’s oldest university, founded in 1905.

Initially established to cover the shortage of doctors in the country, the university has maintained its position as a leading medical school.

It also offers bachelors degrees right through to doctoral qualifications across a range of other disciplines including economics, law, engineering, accountancy, linguistics and education.  

The university also partners with several institutions across the globe, with links to Australia, France, Japan and the UK.

2. Universiti Teknologi Petronas

The Universiti Teknologi Petronas is a private research university that was established in 1997. It is owned by Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), a Malaysian oil and gas company.

The university works alongside PETRONAS to conduct research in six key areas: self-sustainable building, transport infrastructure, health analytics, hydrocarbon recovery, contaminant management, and autonomous system.

The university is located in Seri Iskandar, a town in Western Malaysia.

There are two undergraduate faculties within the university: the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Science and Information Technology. There is also the Centre for Foundation Studies, as well as the Centre for Graduate Studies.

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You can also choose from a range of other universities in Malaysia.

Institutions with a focus on energy include Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN).

Away from Kuala Lumpur, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is located on the northwest coast of stunning Borneo.

The Universiti Teknologi MARA (UITM) is the best of both worlds, with campuses in each part of Malaysia. ​

The top universities in Malaysia 2022

Click on each institution to see its full World University Rankings 2022 results