Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) traces its roots to a technical school founded in 1904 and is Malaysia’s leading university for engineering and technology. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 158th in the world and fifth in Malaysia. Its main campus is in Skudai, Johor Bahru, close to Singapore, and it also has a campus in Kuala Lumpur.
UTM’s bachelor’s degrees for international students start in September, and from 2026–27 you need to meet the entry requirements directly. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s own guidance and official Malaysian government information.
1. Choose your programme
UTM is best known for engineering, but it also offers computing and artificial intelligence, science, architecture and the built environment, management and social sciences. Most degrees take four years, and architecture and some management degrees take three. International students can’t change programme or university after enrolling because of immigration rules, so choose carefully.
2. Apply in Phase 1 or Phase 2
For the September 2026 intake, UTM’s international undergraduate applications ran in two phases: Phase 1 from 1 April to 15 May 2026, and Phase 2 from 23 June to 17 July 2026. Expect similar windows for September 2027, and apply in Phase 1 if you can. You apply through UTM’s online application system, SMARt. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia: apply now.
3. Meet the entry requirements directly
From the 2026–27 session, UTM no longer offers its Bridging Programme for international undergraduates, so you must meet the standard entry requirements for direct admission. You need a senior high school certificate or an equivalent pre-university qualification, and UTM lists the grades it expects from each country’s qualifications.
4. Check the grades for your qualification
Requirements depend on your qualification and field. With A Levels, for example, you need at least a C in mathematics and physics, plus chemistry or biology, for most engineering degrees, and at least a B for electrical engineering. Indian students with a Class XII certificate need at least B-1 or B+ in mathematics and physics, plus chemistry or biology, for engineering. Computer science needs mathematics plus two other relevant subjects, and the Bachelor of Science in Architecture requires mathematics. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia: entry requirements by country.
5. Meet the English requirement
Most programmes need MUET Band 4.0, IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 46, PTE Academic 51, 160 in a Cambridge English exam or level 108 of the ELS Certified Intensive English Programme, while Teaching English as a Second Language needs IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. Results are valid for two years. You’re exempt if you studied at an international school or have A Levels or the IB. If you don’t meet the requirement, you can join UTM’s Intensive English Programme or the ELS programme first. Practise with our free IELTS, TOEFL and PTE practice tests.
6. Prepare for an interview, if needed
Only the Bachelor of Science in Architecture and the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design need an interview. UTM will contact you if you need one, so be ready to talk about why you want to study architecture or design.
7. Check the health requirements
All new international students have a compulsory medical check-up in Malaysia, and you must be certified as being in good health. UTM’s rules say that some serious infectious diseases found before registration can stop you registering, and students from yellow fever areas without a valid vaccination certificate are quarantined on arrival, so check UTM’s health requirements and get any vaccinations before you travel.
8. Understand the fees
UTM publishes total tuition fees for international students. Engineering costs about RM75,000 (US$18,000) for the whole degree, computing RM71,000, and science, landscape architecture, quantity surveying and industrial design RM63,000, with a higher first-semester payment (RM14,758 for engineering). Architecture is about RM51,620 and management about RM45,788. Fees don’t include accommodation and may change. UTM’s scholarships are mainly for postgraduate students, so plan your funding before you apply. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia: international undergraduate fees.
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 Teknologi 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. UTM says visa approval can take three to six weeks, so don’t buy your flight until you have both your eVAL and any single-entry visa you need. 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 Teknologi 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 UTM?
UTM’s postgraduate programmes have their own windows. For September 2026, international applicants could apply for taught and mixed-mode programmes from 1 April to 31 July 2026 and for research degrees until 31 October 2026. UTM’s International Doctoral Fellowship gives international PhD students a partial tuition waiver of RM2,000. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
UTM’s popular engineering programmes are competitive, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Putra 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 Teknologi Malaysia’s official admission pages, including its international undergraduate, entry requirements, English language requirements, fees, health requirements, visa and scholarship pages, 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 UTM’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.