Malaysia gradually becoming popular study abroad destination due to low crime rates, unique culture and high quality of education. There are 5 universities appearing in the world ranking of universities by Times.
Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country that is all together modern, traditional, developed and historic with a peaceful multicultural population. Native Malay and traditional tribes such as the Iban and Bidayuh live amicably alongside a large Chinese and Indian populace and this flawless blending of cultures lends Malaysia an international flavor that few countries can boast.
With an equatorial climate, appealing and attractive culture, Malaysia is a welcoming country to visit and study. Crime is low and transport links are excellent with major towns and cities connected by air and, failing that, by inexpensive bus. Opportunities for a brilliant cultural experience are very high while politically and economically the country is considered to be established.
Peninsular (West) Malaysia is a federation of states stretching south of Thailand and north of Singapore. Kuala Lumpur (known simply as KL) is the capital and the major cities of Penang, Johor Bharu and Melaka are found there. East Malaysia, the northern part of the island of Borneo, consists of Sarawak and Sabah and is host to some of the world's most famous jungle, the orang-utan, and to Kuching (meaning 'cat' in Malay), one of Asia's most loveable cities.
The standard of education system is improving rapidly and government poured millions into research and development and to encourage the foreign students into the country. In the 2008 THE-QS World University Rankings, five universities appeared in the top 400. Malaysia is trying to boast its position regarding a hot destination for students for seeking study abroad. There are more than 50,000 students from nearly 100 countries studying in Malaysian educational institutes.
Ministry of Higher Education is the governing authority of higher educational institutes which governs:
Public Universities: Fully funded government universities
Polytechnics: Train school leavers to be skilled technical assistants and technicians in various engineering fields, or junior & middle level executives.
Community Colleges: Institutions for SPM or SPM(V) school leavers to train, 're-skill' or 'up-skill' themselves.
Teacher Training Colleges: Responsible for producing teachers under the management of Teacher Education Division in the Ministry of Education.
Technical & Vocational Education: An alternative to academic qualifications. It emphasizes hands-on training and new skills.
Private Universities: privately owned and established by financially sound corporations. They can confer the award of bachelor degrees & other higher qualifications.
Foreign University Branch Campuses: universities from foreign countries, which provide the option for students in Malaysia to obtain foreign tertiary qualifications locally instead of going abroad.
Private Colleges: colleges run by the private sector to provide tertiary education to school leavers.
Malaysian universities have partnership with many other international universities as Australia's Monash University and the University of Nottingham in the UK. These have branch campuses offering exactly the same courses as their home country institutions but, of course, at a fraction of the cost. For example, the tuition fee of a three-year UK engineering degree is priced at about US$7,600 per year in the Malaysian branch compared to US$24,000 per year in the UK main campus. Cost of living is around US$3,000 - $4,000 per year, much cheaper than the US or Europe.
Weather/Climate
The weather of Malaysia is very hot and very wet, averaging 32 degrees C and 267cm of rain per year, often at the same time. Due to the closeness to equator and with a lot of jungle interior, rarely it gets cold, very humid climate. There are monsoon patterns from December to February but, you won't notice a great deal of difference. The afternoon rains keep the temperatures down. Buy a raincoat and at least three umbrellas and some sunscreen. When it is very humid, it can be unpleasant. Drink a lot of water all the time.
Light clothing will be best suited for Malaysia's climate. However, it is important to remember that Malaysia is a Muslim country and you must respect the national code of dress. Dress conservatively. Bermuda shorts and flip flops would be seen as crass at best of times and will not endear you to the locals.
