Top 10 Private Universities in Malaysia 2018 | Excel Education

Top 10 private universities in Malaysia 2018

There are hundreds of private universities and colleges in Malaysia. Every university and course in Malaysia is different and each student prefers a different program that fit their education and career goals. Deciding which university to study is one of the important decisions you will make in your life. Your decision might be influenced by many criteria such as the reputation of the university, the entry requirement of the course against your academic results, career goals, tuition fees, facilities, friends & family, and more.

As per research, there is no reliable ranking system available to determine the best universities in Malaysia. Therefore, we made one up to save you the time and trouble. Here is the full updated list of the best private universities to study in Malaysia 2018. The listing below is sourced from publicly available information over the internet. You should use this information as a general guide only.

1. Asia Pacific University (APU)

Asia Pacific University (APU) is one of the premier’s private universities in Malaysia. It was founded in 1993 with the name of Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT) and was subsequently renamed as Asia Pacific University College of Technology and Innovation (UCTI) in 2004 after being granted the status of University College by Minister of Education Malaysia. The University has developed more than 20,000 industry-ready graduates taught by tech-based syllabus and astounding industry partners such as Cisco, IBM, Google Web Academy and Dell. In addition, APU had secured more than 100 awards in the past, with the most recent award of Industry Excellence 2011 was granted by our former prime minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak. 

APU is specialised in providing undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the areas of information technology, business and engineering.

APU is recommended for Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering.

Website:  http://www.apu.edu.my/

2. Monash University Malaysia

Monash University is one of the top-ranking universities in Australia, it was ranked at #59 overall by QS World Rankings 2018/2019. The Malaysia campus, located in the central of Sunway township, was opened in 1998.  It was the first foreign university in Malaysia. Monash University also has a branch university in Italy, South Africa and a research academy in India. 

Monash University Malaysia is currently home to approximately 7,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Monash University Malaysia is famous in Business, MBBS and Engineering subjects. Living up to its name, the university also received accreditation from the Australian Medical Council (AMC) for the MBBS programme. It is the first program fully accredited by the AMC that taught outside of Australia and New Zealand.

Monash University is recommended for Business and Pharmacy.

Website: https://www.monash.edu.my/

3. Sunway University

Sunway College was founded in 1987 and subsequently upgraded to university status and renamed as Sunway University in 2011.  

Sunway University bridges the gap between university and working life with industry-equipped graduates and partnership with prestigious institutions such as Harvard University’s Asia Leadership Trek. Sunway University is a broad-based university offering academic programmes at both undergraduate and at postgraduate levels.

Sunway University was rated as 4-star international university by the university rating and ranking organisation Quacquarelli Symonds (QS Asia), with 5-star ratings for teaching, employability and facilities.

Sunway University is recommended for Accounting and Performing Arts.

Website: https://university.sunway.edu.my/

4. Taylor’s University 

Taylor’s University (commonly referred to as Taylors) is one of the premier universities founded in 1969. Taylors offers a range of programs from pre-university, diploma to undergraduate degree. Besides, Taylors has one of the biggest independent centre for Cambridge A Level (CAL), South Australian Matriculation (SAM) and Canadian Pre-University Programme (CPU) pre-university programs in Malaysia. The American Degree Transfer Program (ADP) is also well-known that allows students to apply university in the United States.

Taylor’s University is a member of the Taylor’s Education Group which comprises Taylor’s College, Garden International School, Taylor’s International School, Australian International School Malaysia, Nexus International School Malaysia, Nexus International School Singapore. With a global network of over 3,000 industry and education partners, Taylorians are known to be pro-active and industry-ready leaders with its cohesive curriculum and innovative teaching and learning experiences. 

Students can choose to study: Architecture, Computer Science, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Biosciences and Law, to Business, Communication, Design, Hospitality and Tourism, Medicine and Pharmacy.

Taylor’s University is recommended for Law, Business, Architecture, Hospitality and Tourism, Medicine and Pharmacy and Engineering.

Website: http://university.taylors.edu.my/

5. HELP University 

Founded in 1986, HELP University (HELP) is a private university located in Kuala Lumpur. HELP offers twinning programmes with the ability to transfer student to one of 28 partner universities in United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, and Europe. HELP was the first private educational institution that offers Psychology degree in Malaysia. Besides, HELP‘s Bachelor of Business (Accounting) degree is recognised by CPA Australia, ICAEW and ACCA.

Help University is recommended for Psychology & Early Childhood Education.

Website: https://help.edu.my/

6. INTI International University

INTI International University was founded in 1986 by INTI Education Group. The University has formalised a partnership with Laureate International University from 2008 to 2017. INTI International University has campuses in Central, Northern and Eastern of Malaysia. The university focuses on producing work-force ready graduates with skills to help them succeed; Up to 98% of INTI graduates are able to secure a full-time job within 3 months after graduating from the university.

INTI International University is recommended for American Degree Program, Information Technology and Mass Communication.

Website: http://newinti.edu.my/main/

7. KDU University College

KDU University College (or KDU) is a private university college established in 1983. KDU was one of the first private colleges in Malaysia who owned a purpose-built campus. KDU offers education programs in Certification, Foundation Diploma, Degree and Master levels.

KDU is part of the Paramount Education Group that offers a fully integrated education service from primary, secondary, tertiary, and postgraduate level studies as well as executive and professional development programs. KDU also in partnership with Middlesex Polytechnic (Middlesex University) that offers young Malaysians an opportunity to pursue internationally renowned programmes at more affordable cost.

KDU University is recommended for Actuarial Science, Business and Hospitality.

Website: www.kdu.edu.my/‎

8. Segi University College

SEGi University College was founded in 1977 in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s commercial district, offering globally recognised professional qualifications. SEGi has a total of 5 campuses located in Kota Damansara, UEP Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Sarawak.

SEGi has been awarded various accolades including the Bronze Trophy in the Education and Learning category at the Putra Brand Awards 2016. The university is also the first higher learning institution that works together with MIDA, to provide advisory services on human resources development needs by having SEGi to develop academic programs that meet the industry expectations.

Segi University is recommended for Computer Science, Business, Law and Psychology.

Website: https://segi.edu.my/

9. Heriot-Watt University Malaysia

Heriot-Watt University Malaysia has been providing industry-driven curriculum since its establishment in Edinburgh in 1821.  For over 20 years, Heriot-Watt University has been committed providing education of the highest standard to students around the world by first setting up offshore campuses in Dubai and Malaysia.  

Since September 2014, The Heriot-Watt University Malaysia is in operation on top of its cutting edge and modern ‘green’ campus in the heart of Putrajaya, creating opportunities for up to 4,000 students to study a range of professionally relevant programs tailored to the needs of the Malaysian and Asian economies and employment markets. Engineering graduates who complete the 4th year in the main campus in Scotland will graduate with a Masters of Engineering (MEng) certification. 

Heriot-Watt University is recommended for Actuarial Science & Engineering.

Website: https://www.hw.edu.my/

10. University Nottingham Malaysia Campus

Established in 2000, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) was the first campus of a British university in Malaysia and one of the first to open outside Britain thus earning the distinction of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2001 and the Queen’s Award for Industry (International Trade) 2006. The University of Nottingham’s other overseas campus is in Ningbo, China.

Designed to reflect University Park Campus in Nottingham, it is a self-contained, vibrant village situated on an attractive and landscaped 125-acre site. The University has around 5,000 students and around 700 teaching and administrative staff from all over the world. 

According to The Graduate Market in 2016, High Fliers Research, UNMC graduates are Britain’s top choice for employers with the ‘Nottingham Advantage’ – standing out in employability, soft skills, recognition and industrial experience. Additionally, the Psychology curriculum here is fully research-led and fully accredited by the British Psychological Society.’

Recommended for Medicine, Engineering, Psychology, Bio-Science and Business.

Website: https://www.nottingham.edu.my/

11. Swinburne University Sarawak

Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus (SWTSC) is the foreign branch campus of Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia and is located in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Established in 2000, Swinburne Sarawak operates as a partnership between the Sarawak State Government and Swinburne Australia. The campus is part of a long-term strategy by Swinburne Australia is to globalise its operations and provide its students with international living, working and learning opportunities.

The SWTSC operates as a full-fledged branch campus, joining three other Swinburne campuses in Melbourne, Australia, and is under the academic control of Swinburne’s Higher Education Division in Australia. Courses offered are identical to those available in Melbourne and graduates are awarded Australian testamurs.

The SWTSC has a current student population of 4,000. Apart from Malaysia, students hail from more than 60 countries, making it a truly international university. Students can choose to complete their degrees entirely in Kuching or transfer their remaining semesters to one of its campuses in Melbourne.

The focus on practical training is an integral part of the course structure and the university is well known for producing employment-ready graduates. Swinburne Sarawak maintains a strong technology base and important links with the industry. With state-of-the-art facilities, it conducts research on information security, mechatronics engineering, software engineering, business as well as education and e-learning.

Recommended for Computer Science, Business and Engineering.

Website: https://www.swinburne.edu.my/

12. Curtin University Sarawak 

The Curtin University located in Perth, Western Australia has once ranked 27th in the world for universities under the age of 50 in the QS World University Rankings 2016 and has received five-star overall excellence rating in the QS stars rating in 2017.

Operating since 2002, Curtin University Sarawak is the first and largest offshore campus of Curtin University of Technology and the first offshore campus located in Miri, Malaysia. It offers an Australian degree with plenty of transfer options to their parent campus in Perth. The business, engineering and mass communication programs are strongly ranked and have received a five-star rating in the QS World University Rankings by Subject in 2014.

Curtin Malaysia offers identical degrees to those at the Curtin University main campus in Western Australia. Examinations for the degree programmes are set and moderated at Curtin’s main campus in Perth to ensure that they meet and fulfil the academic standards. 

Recommended for Business, Engineering and Mass Communication

Website: http://www.curtin.edu.my/