Malaysia International Scholarship MIS 2026 for Postgraduate Study in Malaysia
Country: Malaysia
Program: Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) 2026
Category: Scholarship
Study Level: Master’s / PhD
Organization: Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia
Deadline: 03 April 2026
The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) 2026 is an initiative by the Malaysian Government aimed at attracting top talent from around the world to pursue postgraduate studies in Malaysia. The scholarship is presented as part of Malaysia’s aspiration to strengthen its role as a global centre of academic excellence by attracting, motivating, and retaining talented international human capital.
Overview
Interested international graduates with strong academic and co-curricular backgrounds are invited to apply for postgraduate study opportunities in leading Malaysian universities and higher education institutions. The source also notes that applicants will have the opportunity to experience Malaysian hospitality and a world-class higher education environment.
Application Dates
The call for applications for the 2026/2027 academic year opens on 04 March 2026 and closes on 03 April 2026.
Who Can Apply
According to the guidelines, MIS 2026 is open to graduates from recipient countries who are citizens of the listed recipient countries and who either intend to pursue full-time postgraduate studies in Malaysia at Master’s or PhD level, or are already pursuing full-time postgraduate studies in Malaysian public universities and selected private higher education institutions with at least two semesters remaining before the end of their study period.
Recipient Countries
The guidelines state that high-potential and excellent graduates from ASEAN countries, Commonwealth countries, and a listed group of other countries are welcome to apply. The named countries include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, Georgia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria for consideration:
Age
Master’s applicants must not be more than 40 years old at the time of application. PhD applicants must not be more than 45 years old at the time of application.
Academic Record
For Master’s study, applicants must have obtained a CGPA of 3.00 or a 2nd Class Upper (Honours) or higher at bachelor’s degree level. For PhD study, applicants must have obtained a CGPA of 3.00 or excellent results at Master’s level in courses related to the intended PhD study program.
English Proficiency
Applicants must show good English language proficiency through IELTS band 6.0 or higher, a total score of 550 or higher in the TOEFL paper-based test or an equivalent score in other TOEFL tests, or proof that previous degree studies were completed with English as the medium of instruction supported by an official declaration from the university.
Research Proposal
A written research proposal of at least 1,000 words is required for Master’s by Research and PhD applicants only.
Study Level
MIS 2026 supports full-time study only at two levels: Master’s degree and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree.
Supported Institutions
The scholarship supports study at listed Malaysian public universities and selected private universities.
Public Universities
The public universities listed are Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan.
Private Universities
The selected private universities are Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Multimedia University, and INCEIF University.
Benefits
The scholarship covers tuition fees for the entire sponsorship period, paid directly to the university upon invoice issuance to the Ministry of Higher Education. It also provides a monthly living allowance of RM 1,500.00, paid every four months upon submission of the scholar’s progress report to the Ministry of Higher Education.
Areas of Study
Applicants may apply for any accredited courses, with priority given to the following areas: Education; Arts and Humanities; Social Sciences, Journalism and Information; Business, Administration and Law; Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics; Information and Communication Technologies; Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction; Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary; and Health and Welfare, excluding medicine, nursing, and pharmacy.
Required Documents
Applicants must complete the application form and upload required documents in PDF format. These include a certified copy of the passport with at least six months’ validity, certified academic transcripts, English proficiency results or an official medium-of-instruction letter, two recommendation letters, an admission letter to a Malaysian university where applicable, a curriculum vitae, and a research proposal for Master’s by Research and PhD applicants only. The guidelines also state that all documents must be in English, or accompanied by certified English translations.
Selection
Applications are considered based on outstanding academic and co-curricular achievement, the quality of the research proposal and its potential contribution to the advancement of technology and human well-being, with preference for Malaysia-related research topics, and excellent communication, writing, and reading skills in English.
Terms
Scholars must enroll in full-time postgraduate study and are responsible for confirming university admission. They may not change their study program without written permission from the university and the Ministry of Higher Education. They must comply with Malaysian laws and university rules, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and carry out research in Malaysia. The scholarship may be suspended or withdrawn under the conditions stated in the guidelines. The source also states that successful candidates are responsible for applying for the appropriate entry visa and meeting its requirements.
