Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) began as a school of agriculture in 1931 and became a university in 1971. It’s still Malaysia’s leading university for agriculture, forestry, food science and veterinary medicine, and also strong in engineering, computer science and the sciences. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 138th in the world and fourth in Malaysia. Its main campus is in Serdang, about 22 km south of Kuala Lumpur, and it has a second campus in Bintulu, Sarawak.
UPM admits international students to its bachelor’s degrees twice a year, and its window for March 2027 opens on 1 November 2026. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Universiti Putra Malaysia’s own guidance and official Malaysian government information.
1. Choose your programme and campus
UPM’s bachelor’s degrees span agriculture, forestry, veterinary medicine, engineering, computer science, science, business and economics, education, human ecology, modern languages, design and architecture, and medicine and health sciences. Most take eight semesters (four years), while the Doctor of Medicine takes ten. A few agriculture and humanities programmes are taught at the Bintulu campus in Sarawak, on Borneo, so check where your programme is based.
2. Apply between 1 November and 31 December for March
For the March intake, UPM accepts applications from 1 November to 31 December. For the October intake, applications open on 15 March and close on 31 July. You apply online, then email your application form and supporting documents as a single PDF to UPM’s undergraduate admissions team, with your name, passport number and programme in the subject line. The application fee is US$65 and isn’t refundable. Universiti Putra Malaysia: international bachelor’s admission.
3. Meet the general entry requirement
You need a national higher school certificate, A Levels or the equivalent of 12 years of education with a grade of 80 per cent or above, or a matriculation or foundation certificate from a recognised institution with a CGPA of at least 3.00. UPM publishes a list of accepted qualifications from each country, so check that yours is on it.
4. Meet your programme’s specific requirements
Each programme adds its own requirements. Engineering, for example, asks for at least a B in physics and mathematics and an interview, and computer science asks for at least a B in mathematics. The Doctor of Medicine is much more demanding: a CGPA of 3.85 out of 4.00, at least an A in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, and an interview.
5. Meet the English requirement
Most programmes need IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 60, PTE Academic 43 or 154 in a Cambridge English exam (Advanced, Proficiency or Linguaskill). The Doctor of Medicine asks for IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 78, PTE 57 or MUET Band 4. UPM doesn’t accept the IELTS Indicator, Aptis, Duolingo or TOEFL ITP, and your score must be no more than five years old. You’re exempt if you studied at an international school that teaches in English or come from a country where English is a native or official language. You can apply without a score, but you’ll get a provisional offer. Practise with our free IELTS, TOEFL and PTE practice tests.
6. Prepare your documents
You’ll need a passport-size photo with a blue background, the first page of a passport that’s valid for at least two more years, your transcripts and school-leaving certificate (translated if they’re not in English) and your English test certificate. Make sure your passport will stay valid for most of your studies, as you’ll need it for your student pass.
7. Prepare for the interview
Many programmes, including engineering, medicine and the health sciences, need an interview, and some also require you to be free of certain disabilities or, for some engineering degrees, colour blindness. Be ready to explain why you chose your programme and how your studies so far have prepared you for it.
8. Understand the fees
UPM publishes per-semester tuition fees for each programme on its international admissions website, and they vary by faculty. Check the current table for your programme before you apply, and budget for your EMGS visa fees, insurance and accommodation on top. If your English isn’t strong enough yet, the ELS Certified Intensive English Programme is available on campus or online.
9. Get your student pass through EMGS
To study full-time in Malaysia you need a student pass, which is handled by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). Once you’ve accepted your offer, Universiti Putra Malaysia starts your application and you pay the fees. When it’s approved, you receive an electronic Visa Approval Letter (eVAL), which is valid for six months, and you mustn’t travel to Malaysia before you have it. If your nationality needs one, you then get a single-entry visa from a Malaysian embassy. Complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card before you fly. Within seven working days of arriving, you must have a medical screening, and then hand in your passport so the student pass can be endorsed. You can’t switch to a student pass from a tourist visa, and medical insurance is compulsory. Education Malaysia Global Services: medical screening and student visa guidelines.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
On a student pass you can work part-time for up to 20 hours a week, but only during semester breaks or holidays of more than seven days and only in restaurants, petrol kiosks, minimarkets, hotels or on campus. You need prior approval from the Immigration Department, which you apply for through Universiti Putra Malaysia, and you can’t work as a cashier. After a bachelor’s degree or higher, nationals of 32 eligible countries, including India, China, Indonesia, the UK and the US, can apply for a 12-month Graduate Pass, which lets you stay and work in permitted sectors without an employer sponsor. You’ll need a Malaysian citizen earning at least RM1,500 a month to act as your sponsor, and the scheme for Indian and Chinese nationals currently runs only until 31 December 2026, so check whether it has been extended. For longer-term work, you’ll usually need an employer to sponsor an Employment Pass. Education Malaysia: FAQs on studying and working in Malaysia and EMGS: Graduate Pass.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at UPM?
UPM’s School of Graduate Studies admits international students to master’s and doctoral programmes separately from undergraduate admissions. Research degrees usually need contact with a potential supervisor first. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
UPM’s medicine and veterinary programmes are particularly competitive, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Our guide to studying in Malaysia explains how the Malaysian system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from Universiti Putra Malaysia’s official international admission pages, including its application deadlines, how-to-apply, general and specific programme requirements, English language requirements and list of entry qualifications, Education Malaysia Global Services, and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on UPM’s international admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Universiti Putra Malaysia.