Universiti Malaya (UM)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Quick Facts
- Malaysia’s oldest and most established university
- Apply directly through the SATU Channel
- Ranked #58 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
About Universiti Malaya (UM)
Universiti Malaya is a public university located in Kuala Lumpur. First founded in Singapore in 1905 as the King Edward VII College of Medicine, it merged with Raffles College to form University of Malaya in 1949. The rapid development of the university led to the establishment of 2 autonomous divisions located in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. In 1960, both countries expressed their desire to change the divisions into their respective national universities. Legislation was passed and in 1962, Universiti Malaya, as we know it today, was born.
The university offers a wide range of programmes across various fields of study. This includes medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, law, architecture, engineering, computer science, physical sciences, education, language and more.
Universiti Malaya is Malaysia’s oldest and most established university. As a public university, entry to the university is usually reserved through the UPU channel. However, you can also apply directly to the university using their open channel, SATU.
Universiti Malaya Ranking & Reputation
Ranked #58 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026), Universiti Malaya is the only Malaysian university to make it into the world’s top 100.
It has also achieved remarkable success in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, having had 4 subjects ranked in the top 50 and 20 subjects in the top 100.
Why Study at Universiti Malaya (UM)
Top University
Ranked #58 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026), Universiti Malaya has consistently ranked among the world’s top universities
Direct Application Through SATU
While application is usually made through UPU, you can also apply directly to Universiti Malaya through their SATU channel
Comprehensive Programme Offering
The university offers a wide range of programmes across various fields of study, including medicine, law, architecture, engineering, computer science, physical sciences and more
Campus Location
Universiti Malaya is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and can be easily accessed through major highways, LRT, buses and other forms of public transport.
Sitting on 890 acres of land, the campus’ facilities include 11 residential colleges, an on-campus clinic, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a jogging track, fields for football and rugby, tennis and basketball courts, gymnasiums, stadium and multi-purpose halls, cafeterias and food courts, a central library with over a million titles and more.
Its prime location also puts it in close proximity to numerous shopping outlets, eateries and leisure spots.
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Courses Offered
Universiti Malaya offers a wide range of programmes across different industries, including medicine, law, engineering, computer science and more. Check out the full list of programmes offered by Universiti Malaya here.