Universiti Sains Malaysia [USM] 2023 Admissions: Entry Requirements, Deadlines, Application Process

George Town, PenangLocation

UniversitySchool type

Estd1969established year

21394enrollment

Public

Partner [1 Courses]

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Universiti Sains Malaysia located in George Town is the second oldest university in Malaysia. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate as well as distance learning programs in various fields. Programs are spread out over the components of Arts, Science, Engineering and Medical, Dental and Health Sciences. USM has a total enrollment of 20,908 students comprising 3,070 international students . In the latest round of admissions, 3931 new undergraduates and 1,334 graduates enrolled to study in Malaysia.

Universiti Sains Malaysia welcomes applications for the September and February intake. September is the primary intake month as limited programs are available for second-semester intake i.e. February. The University accepts applications throughout the year until cut-off dates. All applications received before the cut-off dates will be processed for the same intake. Applications received beyond the cut-off dates will be processed for the next semester.

A minimum CGPA of 2.75 on 4.0 is ideal for admission to most graduate programs. Some programs like MBA at USM require a CGPA of 3.0 on 4.0 for admission. Candidates who do not meet the minimum CGPA requirements may still be considered for admission on the basis of a combination of CGPA, research experience, work experience or journal publications.

COVID-19 Admission Updates

Starting October 4, 2023 the institute will begin procedures for the Semester 1 academic years once the board has decided on the standard operation procedure.

Highlights

Application Portal	Online Application Portal
Application Portal	100 RM
Mode of Payment	Online payment via EPayment@USM
Academic Calendar	Semester-wise
Intake Semesters	Semester I, II
Intake Months	September/ February
English language proficiency tests	TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, CAE, CPE
Work Experience	Maybe required for some graduate courses
Financial Aid	Scholarships, grants

Universiti Sains Malaysia Admission Deadlines

The University has fixed application deadlines for programs and offers rolling admission in some cases to postgraduate applicants. Application deadlines differ for undergraduate and postgraduate applicants. These have been stated below:

Program	Semester 1	Semester 2
Undergraduate	August 12 (extended)	December 30
Postgraduate	August 31 (extended)	October 15

Universiti Sains Malaysia International Student Admissions

Universiti Sains Malaysia attracts students from all around the world and currently has about 3,070 international students. International students must apply well in advance in order to have enough time for visa processing as well. The overall application process for international and domestic applicants is similar. However, international applicants are required to fulfill some additional requirements to secure admission.

Application Portal: Online Portal or via International@USM

Application Fee: 100 RM

Basic Admission Requirements: International applicants must fulfill the following requirements for admission to the university:

Completed 12 years of Primary and High School Education.
Obtained high school certificate or diploma in related field.
Official academic transcripts, certificates, mark sheets or report cards from all institutions attended.
Translations of documents issued in language other than English or Malay language.
Copy of Passport (details page)
English language proficiency test scores
Letter of Scholarship
Receipt of processing fee payment

First time applicants are advised to first register and provide the required information online with the university after which detailed information and reference numbers will be provided to the student for further admission procedures.

English Proficiency Test Score for International Students

International students whose primary language of instruction is not English are required to submit proof of English language proficiency. The institute accepts the following minimum test scores for admission:

Test	Minimum Scores
IELTS	Band 5.0
TOEFL (Internet-based)	42
PTE	47
Cambridge English Advanced	154/B1
Cambridge English Proficiency	154/B1
Malaysian University English Test	Band 3

Visa Process for International Students

International students require a student visa in order to study in Malaysia. Students are advised to apply well in advance, at least three months prior to the beginning of their program in order to secure enough time to obtain the visa. Visa applications must be submitted directly to the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS).

Application Fee: 400 USD

The following documents are required to apply for a Malaysian visa:

Valid passport
Health declaration
Insurance cover
Passport size photograph
Academic certificates and transcripts
Offer letter from the University
No Objection Certificate

Applicants should get in touch with the Malaysian embassy for further details on the same.

Universiti Sains Malaysia Undergraduate Admissions

Undergraduate programs at USM are offered in the field of computer science, applied statistics, fine arts, product design, mechanical engineering, etc. Programs are offered in Malay language as well as English. These programs differ for international and Malaysian students.

Where to Apply: Applications can be submitted online via International@USM.

Application Fee: 100 RM

Admission Requirements: The following documents must be submitted along with the application for admission to undergraduate programs:

Official transcripts, mark sheets or grade cards from all secondary schools or colleges attended.
Translated copy of certificates issued in any language other than Malay or English.
English language proficiency test scores
Copy of passport
Student pass
Letter of scholarship
Receipt of fee payment

Universiti Sains Malaysia Graduate Admissions

The institute has four basic schools offering graduate programs in Arts, Science, Engineering and Medical, Dental and Health Sciences. Programs may be coursework based, research based or a combination of both. Applicants are advised to check their program type and its specific requirements before applying. A combination of low GPA and research/ work experience and journal publications can be used for admission.

Where to Apply: Online Application

Application Fee: 100 RM

Admission Requirements: The general admission requirements to apply for a master’s program at USM are as follows:

Bachelor degree with minimum CGPA of 2.75 on a 4 point scale depending on the program of interest.
Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions.
Work or research experience
English language proficiency test scores

Specific requirements for some of the popular degrees have been tabulated below:

Requirements	M. Sc Medical Physics	Master of Economics Management	M. Sc Civil Engineering	Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)	Master of Business Administration
Intake Month	September	September	September	September	September
Transcripts	Required	Required	Required	Required	Required
Education Requirements	Bachelor’s degree in related field with minimum CGPA of 2.75/4.00 or relevant research and paper publications.	Bachelor’s degree with CGPA of 3.00/4 in relevant field or bachelor’s degree with work experience in relevant field.	Bachelor’s degree with minimum 2.50 to 2.75/4.0 or 2.50 to 2.74/4.00 with relevant research experience, final year projects, professional experience, etc.	Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minimum CGPA of 2.75/4.00 with credit variability.	Bachelor’s degree with minimum 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/4.0 CGPA for scholarship.
English Language Proficiency test scores	Not applicable.	TOEFL IBT – 35; IELTS band 5; CAE, CPE – 154; PTE – 36.	Not applicable.	TOEFL IBT – 35; IELTS band 5; CAE; CPE – 154; PTE – 36.	TOEFL IBT – 80; IELTS band 6; MUET Band 4.

All above documents can be submitted electronically along with the application form after successful registration with the university. Applications to the university may be slightly competitive, but with a strong GPA and sufficient experience, one can get admission to the program of their interest and secure their careers. The University takes 5 days to review applications. After receiving the letter of acceptance from the university, international students must apply for a visa on time.