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11 Best PhD Universities in Malaysia

Universiti Malaya tops our list of 11 PhD universities in Malaysia at #58 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (QS World #126) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (QS World #134) complete the top three. Across the whole list there are 62 courses to choose from.

11 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
1Best overall
UM Universiti Malaya logo
QS World #58 #1 in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia
#58 QS World University Rankings 2026
#1 in Malaysia
2Top pick
UK Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia logo
QS World #126 #2 in Malaysia Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Public University · 7 courses in PhD

All 7 courses →
MYR 20,000 – MYR 27,000/yrTuition (indicative)
1970Founded
27,000Students
4,000International
Admissions open
#126 QS World University Rankings 2026
#2 in Malaysia
3Top pick
US Universiti Sains Malaysia logo
QS World #134 #3 in Malaysia Penang, Malaysia

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Public University · 6 courses in PhD

All 6 courses →
MYR 20,000 – MYR 27,000/yrTuition (indicative)
1969Founded
30,000Students
4,000International
Admissions open
#134 QS World University Rankings 2026
#3 in Malaysia
4Ranked
MU Multimedia University logo
#21 in Malaysia Malaysia
#21 in Malaysia · by research impact
440,362 citations · h-index 197

By university type

How these universities are ranked

3 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #58 (Universiti Malaya) to #134 (Universiti Sains Malaysia); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: Universiti Malaya is cited most (6,091,682 citations). 2 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

11 are public and 0 private (100% public). By location, Federal Territory (1), Selangor (1) and Penang (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is Universiti Malaya, founded in 1949. Universiti Sains Malaysia is the largest, with 30,000 students.

Levels, lengths and start dates

The most common subjects are Business & Management (14), Medicine & Health Sciences (11), Education (8) and Social Sciences & Psychology (7). The usual length is 4–6 years. 94% are full-time. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake). Universiti Malaya offers the widest choice, with 15 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 3 of these universities. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is the least expensive at USD 5,000 a year and Universiti Malaya the most at USD 6,000; the middle of the range is about USD 5,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in Malaysia for PhD?

Universiti Malaya (QS World #58), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (QS World #126) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (QS World #134) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for PhD in Malaysia?

Of those with published fees, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is the least expensive at about USD 5,000 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer PhD in Malaysia?

11 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a PhD course take in Malaysia?

Most listed courses run 4–6 years.

When do PhD courses start in Malaysia?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then.

Which university has the most PhD courses in Malaysia?

Universiti Malaya, with 15, ahead of Open University Malaysia (10).

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