Categories of Educational Institutions
In the Malaysian higher education structure, there are following categories of educational institutions:

1. Government-funded public universities, polytechnics and colleges
2. Private higher educational institu

tions which include:
- non-university status institutions such as private colleges
- university status institutions such as private universities
- foreign university branch campuses e.g. Monash University Malaysia and The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus

English is the medium of instruction in most of the private higher educational institutions.

Higher Education Institutions
Study options are abundant and flexible in Malaysia. They are readily available at both public and private educational institutions. Both the public and private education providers play equally important roles in the provision of higher education. As such, higher education in Malaysia is well covered by the public and private higher educational institutions from certificate and diploma to undergraduates as well as postgraduate programmes. Higher education providers in Malaysia can be grouped into 2 major groups:

* Public higher educational institutions which consist of:
- Public universities & university colleges
- Polytechnics
- Community colleges

* Private higher educational institutions which consist of:
- Private universities and university colleges
- Foreign branch campus universities
- Private colleges

Admission Requirements
Public universities only accept holders of the Malaysian qualification programmes for entry into their bachelor's degree courses. Polytechnics and other public-funded colleges accept SPM qualifications into their certificate or diploma courses. Some non-critical courses at Bachelor's degree level in public universities are also offered to international students (limited seats). Public universities accept all qualified international students for postgraduate studies.

Meanwhile, private universities, private colleges and foreign university branch campuses accept pre-university qualifications awarded by either the Malaysian government such as the STPM or other External Academic Qualifications or university foundation programmes such as GCE ‘A' level, SAM (Australia), CPU (Canada), SMU3 from Indonesia, etc. into their Bachelor's degree courses which are conducted in English.

1. Public (government-funded) Higher Educational Institutions
This category of government-funded higher educational institutions includes public universities, public university colleges, public colleges, polytechnics, community colleges, public college and teacher training institutes, which accept all qualified international students for postgraduate and research studies. University education in Malaysia is provided by the public sector, via the 19 public universities and one international university leading to the awards of diplomas, bachelor's Degrees and postgraduate degrees (Master's and PhD)

The entry requirement for postgraduate studies (Masters' degree) is a Bachelor's degree qualification recognised by the university's senate. List of Public Institutions of Higher Learning in Malaysia

- Universiti Malaya (UM)
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
- Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
- Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)
- Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
- Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
- Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)
- Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
- Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia (UDM)
- Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
- Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
- Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
- Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
- Universiti Malaysia Perlis
- Universiti Malaysia Pahang
- Universiti Malaysia Kelantan
- Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia
- International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

2. Private-funded Institutes of Higher Learning (PHEIs) :
Private higher education is the education provided to students by the Private Higher Educational Institutions (PHEIs), which are non-government-aided. These institutions play a significant role in fulfilling the needs of higher education for the locals as well as foreign students.

The PHEIs provide a wide range of internationally- rated internal qualification programmes, foreign-university-awarded degree programmes, professional and semi-professional courses as well as English courses. The PHEIs also offer a wide range of courses with various modes of studies for selection and assured quality education. Malaysia's private higher education is unique & renowned in the world because it offers students a wide variety of study options and the many selections of both local and foreign university qualifications to suit individual preferences. Students can also select either the conventional full-time, part-time study or the virtual study modes to obtain their qualification at reasonable costs.

PHEIs' programmes are offered to different levels of students and will lead to the award of Certificate, Diploma or Degree qualifications. There are also a number of PHEIs which have started conducting post-graduate degrees.

Categories of PHEIs:

* Non-university Status Institutions, i.e.
- Private Colleges
- Private Institutions

* University Status Institutions, i.e.
- Private Universities
- Private University Colleges
- Foreign Branch Campus Universities

Non-university Status Institutions
Non-university status institutions such as Private Colleges/Institutes have been providing a wide range of options or pathways for students to pursue their desired paper qualifications via degree programmes awarded by foreign universities (from bachelor to postgraduate degrees), franchised degree programmes, professional and semi-professional courses, English language courses, internationally rated internal certificate or diploma programmes and many more. Most of these private colleges also award their own internal certificates or Diplomas.

Malaysian private colleges are renowned internationally for their long established twinning-degree-programme arrangements with foreign renowned universities. In addition, most of these PHEIs are also providing a most unique education structure, that is, the 3+0 degree programmes. Under this arrangement, students have a choice of pursing the British, American, Australian, French, NZ or Canadian programme leading to Bachelor's Degree qualifications, without having to leave Malaysia.

University Status Institutions
There are 11 private universities, 16 private university colleges and 4 foreign branch campus universities making up the other group of PHEIs that offer additional choices of home-grown programmes at both the diploma and degree levels. Private Universities and University Colleges award their own degrees among other qualifications. They also collaborate with reputable foreign universities to jointly award degree qualifications. Foreign Branch Campus Universities located in Malaysia award degree qualifications that are identical to that of the host universities (overseas). These institutions make it possible for students to obtain degree qualifications from the branch campus by paying the cost of a Malaysian education (at affordable level)
Academic Qualification Requirements for Entering into PHEIs: The general entry requirement to pursue Diploma programmes is the GCSE'O' level with a minimum of 3 credits, whereas students with GCE ‘A' Levels, University Foundation Programme, SAM, and CPU are allowed to enter into the year 1 of their undergraduate programmes. Proficiency in the English language is another requirement by the PHEIs. Students are expected to have adequate knowledge and understanding of English, as this is the language of instruction at the private colleges and universities. Various international examinations such as the TOEFL and IELTS are acceptable for entry into the Bachelor's degree programmes.

Application Procedures to PHEIs
Students who are holders of GCE ‘O' Levels / GCE ‘A' Levels or other equivalent qualifications must APPLY DIRECTLY if they are interested in applying to these institutions. Unlike the enrolment into public universities at the Diploma and Bachelor's Degree levels, there is no centralised intake body that governs the enrolment of students into private institutions.

List of Private Higher Educational Institutions in Malaysia :
- Multimedia University (MMU), Putrajaya / Melaka
- Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Selangor / Pahang
- Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UNITAR), Selangor
- Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), Selangor
- International Medical University (IMU), Kuala Lumpur
- Universiti Industri Selangor (UNISEL), Selangor
- Open University Malaysia (OUM), Kuala Lumpur
- Malaysia University of Science & Technology (MUST), Selangor
- Asian Institute of Medicine, Science & Technology (AIMST), Kedah
- Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kuala Lumpur/Selangor
- Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Kuala Lumpur
- University College of Technology & Management Malaysia (KUTPM), Selangor
- Limkokwing University College of Creative Technology (LUCT), Putrajaya
- International University College of Technology Twintech (IUCTT), Kuala Lumpur
- Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College (KLIUC), Selangor
- University College Sedaya International (UCSI), Kuala Lumpur
- HELP University College, Kuala Lumpur
- Sunway University College
- Binary University College of Management and Entrepreneurship, Selangor
- Asia Pacifi c University College of Technology and Innovation (UCTI), Kuala Lumpur
- Selangor International Islamic University College (SIUC), Selangor
- Cyberjaya University College of Medical Science (CUCMS), Selangor
- INTI International University College, Negeri Sembilan
- Cosmopoint International University College, Kuala Lumpur
- Wawasan Open University, Pulau Pinang
- INSANIAH University College, Kedah
- Taylor's University College, Selangor
- Monash University Malaysia, Australia
- Curtin University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Malaysia, Australia
- University of Nottingham Campus Malaysia, Selangor, UK
- Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Australia

COURSES
For searching various courses available in Malaysia, the following website may be used:

http://www.studymalaysia.com/what/search.php