Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)

Tuition fees for the whole period paid directly to the university, plus a living allowance of MYR 1,500 a month paid every four months.

Fields: Any field

Citizens of 27 listed countries

Eligible country codes: DZ, BW, CM, EG, GM, GH, KE, LS, LY, MW, MU, MA, MZ, NA, NG, RW, SC, SN, SL, ZA, SD, SZ, TZ, TN, UG, ZM, ZW

• You must be a citizen of a recipient country. The 2026 list includes Commonwealth countries (CPA regions of Africa) and named countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Senegal, Sudan and Tunisia. The nationality list on this page is a best reading of that, so confirm your country in the official guidelines.
• Master's applicants must be 40 or younger, and PhD applicants 45 or younger, at the time of application.
• Master's: CGPA 3.00 or Second Class Upper or higher at bachelor's level. PhD: CGPA 3.00 or excellent results at master's level in a related field.
• English: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL paper-based 550, or a degree taught in English with an official declaration.
• Master's by research and PhD applicants must submit a research proposal of at least 1,000 words.
• Study must be full-time at one of the 24 listed Malaysian public and private institutions.

The 2026/27 call ran from 4 March to 3 April 2026 and is closed. Shortlist results for that round are checked on the portal until 31 December 2026. The next call is expected around March 2027 but is not yet announced, check the MOHE portal.

Deadlines move a little every year and some close early. Confirm the date on the official page before you plan around it.

• Certified copy of passport valid for at least 6 months
• Certified academic transcripts (master's transcript too for PhD applicants), plus a grading-system letter if the transcript has no CGPA or percentage
• English proficiency result or letter from your university confirming English as the language of instruction
• Two recommendation letters
• Admission letter, if you already have one
• Curriculum vitae
• Research proposal (research master's and PhD only)

1. 1

   Step 1: Read the guidelines

   Download the current MIS guidelines from biasiswa.mohe.gov.my and confirm your country is on the recipient list.
2. 2

   Step 2: Choose a university and programme

   Pick a full-time master's or PhD at one of the listed institutions. Priority goes to areas such as education, engineering, ICT, agriculture, natural sciences and business.
3. 3

   Step 3: Apply online

   Fill in the form on the MOHE online system and upload all PDF documents, in English or with certified translations, during the call period.
4. 4

   Step 4: Shortlisting and interview

   Shortlisted applicants are invited to an interview. Check your status on the portal during the results period.
5. 5

   Step 5: Secure admission and visa

   Confirm admission with the university yourself and apply for your student visa and medical check. The scholarship offer does not guarantee a visa.

• You must study full-time and carry out your research in Malaysia, and you cannot change programme without written permission from the university and MOHE.
• Paid employment is not allowed without written approval from the host university.
• Satisfactory academic progress is required each period, or the scholarship is withdrawn.
• Flights are not listed as a benefit in the guidelines.

• The call window is only about a month, so prepare certified documents and your research proposal before March.
• A clear, Malaysia-relevant research proposal helps, as the guidelines state a preference for Malaysia-related topics.
• Plan for the MYR 1,500 allowance being paid every four months after progress reports, so keep savings for the first months.
• Confirm that your country is on the official recipient list in the guideline PDF, as it can change by year.

Winning the award does not include the visa. Plan your application with our guide for the host country.

• Malaysia student visa

Checked against these official pages on 17 Oct 2026.

• MIS 2026 Guidelines (MOHE) (opens in a new tab)
• MOHE Malaysia International Scholarship portal (opens in a new tab)