Malaysia Opens S2-S3 Scholarships Including Living Expenses – Check the Schedule!
The Malaysian government is opening the Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) 2026 programme for master’s (S2) to doctoral (S3) levels. Applicants include citizens from ASEAN countries, including Indonesia.
Not only does it waive tuition fees, but the programme also provides a living allowance of RM 1,500 per month, or about Rp 6.4 million. This scheme is one of the main attractions for students wishing to continue their studies in Malaysia.
The MIS programme is intended for citizens from eligible countries, including the ASEAN region. The scholarship can also be followed by students who have already undertaken postgraduate studies in Malaysia, provided they have at least two semesters remaining.
Regarding the criteria, applicants for S2 are limited to a maximum age of 40 years, while for S3 it is 45 years. In addition, prospective participants must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 and English language proficiency with a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent TOEFL of 550.
The priority fields of study in this programme are quite broad. Students who are already in or choose the following fields will be priority candidates, including:
Education
Social sciences, journalism, and information
Natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics
Engineering, manufacturing, and construction
Health and welfare
Arts and humanities
Business, administration, and law
Information and communication technology
Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
Meanwhile, the universities cover both public and private institutions. Here is the list:
Public Universities
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
Universiti Malaya (UM)
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)
Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTEM)
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP)
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas)
Universiti Malaysia Perlis (Unimap)
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (Unisza)
Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM)
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
Private Universities
Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)
Multimedia University (MMU)
INCEIF University
To apply, applicants need to prepare several documents, including a copy of the passport, English proficiency certificate, notarised academic transcript, acceptance letter from the destination university, curriculum vitae, two letters of recommendation, and a research proposal of at least 1,000 words.
Registration for this scholarship is done online through the official website of the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education. Or on the website https://biasiswa.mohe.gov.my/INTER/index.php.