Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) pointed out that international students, including those from China, are beginning to shift from the global top four study destinations— the UK, the US, Australia, and Canada— to Malaysia. The number of Chinese students enrolled in our country last year increased by 25%.
In an interview with The Star, EMGS, which is under the Ministry of Higher Education, noted that many students are exploring more dynamic and diverse study locations in Asia, with Malaysia being one of the top choices.
They reported that the number of Chinese students furthering their studies in Malaysia increased from 26,627 in 2023 to 33,216 in 2024.
The countries with the highest number of applicants, besides China, are Bangladesh (6,917 students), Indonesia (5,556 students), India (2,591 students), and Pakistan (2,417 students).
Moreover, the applications from Chinese students from January to March this year increased to 5,876 from the 5,780 during the same period last year, a rise of around 2%.
Malaysia’s multilingual, politically stable, safe environment, and rich cultural experience are among the reasons attracting Chinese students to further their studies here.
“Additionally, Malaysia's geographic proximity to China allows students to return home more conveniently and at a lower cost to reunite with their families during festivals.”
According to a recent report by China Daily, due to deteriorating US-China bilateral relations and increasing concerns about overseas safety, many parents are reconsidering plans for their children to pursue higher education in the US.
EMGS stated that Malaysia’s education blueprint from 2015 to 2025 aims to attract 250,000 international students by 2025, with 39% of these students expected to be from China.
“The continuous growth in international student applications and the student-friendly visa regime reflect our commitment to transforming into a global classroom and strengthening our global influence and soft power.”
They added that Malaysia offers internationally accredited degrees and frequently collaborates with renowned universities from the UK, Australia, and the US, allowing students to obtain prestigious degrees at a very low cost.
“Malaysian qualifications are also widely recognized and highly regarded in China, making it easy for students to find jobs after graduation.”