PUTRAJAYA, July 5 — International students make up only 12.6 per cent of total enrolment in public and private higher education institutions (IPTs) in Malaysia as of December 31, 2025, said the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE).
Data from the MyMoHES system show a total enrolment of 1,264,541 students, comprising 159,138 international students (12.6 per cent) and 1,105,403 Malaysian students (87.4 per cent).
The ministry was responding to a statement by Jitra state assemblyman Haim Hilman Abdullah, who claimed that international student admissions to public universities had reduced opportunities for local students.
“The claim is unfounded, misleading, and not reflective of the reality of the higher education system.
“In public universities, total enrolment stands at 634,706 students, of whom 56,565 (8.9 per cent) are international students and 578,141 (91.1 per cent) are Malaysians,” it said in a statement today
By level of study, undergraduate programmes account for 520,105 students, including 502,212 Malaysians (96.56 per cent) and 17,893 international students (3.44 per cent).
At the postgraduate level, enrolment totals 114,601 students, comprising 75,929 Malaysians (66.26 per cent) and 38,672 international students (33.74 per cent).
The MOHE said the figures show that most international students are enrolled at the postgraduate level and are not competing for undergraduate places with SPM, STPM, matriculation, or diploma holders.
On claims that international students at the five research universities: Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, are “taking away” local places, it said total enrolment at these institutions is 186,824 students.
Of this, 145,727 (78 per cent) are local students and 41,097 (22 per cent) are international students.
This aligns with the role of research universities, which focus on research, innovation, publications, and international collaboration, in which the presence of international students is integral to strengthening the research ecosystem.
The MOHE added that Malaysia remains a preferred destination for international students, including 32,549 from China, reflecting the country’s standing alongside other major destinations such as the United States, United Kingdom, the Australia, and Canada.
The country’s appeal lies in the quality of its higher education system, lower costs of study and living, a peaceful environment, a multicultural society, and the widespread use of English in education.
The ministry noted that protecting local students’ access to education remains the government’s priority, while continuing to advance the internationalisation of higher education to ensure Malaysian institutions remain competitive and globally recognised.
