Rather recently, there was some controversy regarding the rankings of the two best universities in Malaysia, i.e. University of Malaya (UM) and Science University of Malaysia (USM). This was due to a tremendous drop in rankings in the 2005 Times World University Rankings compared to the previous year’s rankings. For more information about this, go here. But this is not the main aim of today’s post.
The main aim of today’s post is to compile and arrange the rankings of Malaysian public universities, but it seems that there is no easy way to do this. For one, Malaysia does not have any official ranking of all its public universities. Moreover, besides the University of Malaya and the University Sains Malaysia (USM), no other Malaysian university ranks within the 2005 Times World University Rankings (or within any of the previous years’ rankings either). In fact, USM was dropped from the Times Top 200 Universities in 2005, so all we have left is UM’s world ranking. This would not be such a problem if there were other up-to-date and reliable university ranking tables to consult. But the 5 year old Asiaweek.com’s Asia’s Best Universities 2000 and 6 year old Asia’s Best Universities 1999 seem to be the most comprehensive for Malaysian public universities so far, given the inclusion of four Malaysian universities in their tables.
So, for now, we have this:
- University of Malaya [a.k.a. Universiti Malaya (UM)]
- No. 1 in Malaysia (Placed No. 89 on Times Top 200 Universities in 2004 and Placed No. 169 on Times Top 200 Universities in 2005)
- No. 1 in Malaysia (Placed No. 47 on Asiaweek.com’s Asia’s Best Universities 2000)
- No. 1 in Malaysia (Placed No. 27 on Asiaweek.com’s Asia’s Best Universities 1999)
- Science University of Malaysia [a.k.a. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)]
- No. 2 in Malaysia (Placed No. 111 on Times Top 200 Universities in 2004)
- No. 3 in Malaysia (Placed No. 57 on Asiaweek.com’s Asia’s Best Universities 2000)
- No. 2 in Malaysia (Placed No. 42 on Asiaweek.com’s Asia’s Best Universities 1999)
- Putra University of Malaysia [a.k.a. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)]
- No. 2 in Malaysia (Placed No. 52 on Asiaweek.com’s Asia’s Best Universities 2000)
- No. 4 in Malaysia (Placed No. 69 on Asiaweek.com’s Asia’s Best Universities 1999)
- Technological University of Malaysia [a.k.a. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)]
- No. 1 Science and Technology University in Malaysia (Placed No. 30 on Asiaweek.com’s Asia’s Best Science and Technology Universities 2000)
- National University of Malaysia [a.k.a. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)]
- No. 3 in Malaysia (Placed No. 56 on Asiaweek.com’s Asia’s Best Universities 1999)
Now, I really wish I had more data to draw from given that there are 17 public universities in Malaysia. But, whether due to political motivations or the fundamental lack of resources, we are unlikely to see any sort of official university rankings for public universities in Malaysia anytime soon. So, for now, you will have to be content with what is available.
have this site been updated??
good morning, am a B.SC Banking and Finance Student From University of maiduguri Borno State Nigeria Want to study master degree in malaysia.Please give me a Guide. THANK YOU
Dear Sir or Madam,
Kindly be informed that this is Samaneh Moosavi from Iran, I am 28 years old and I studied Commercial Economy in Allameh Tabatabai University in bachelor degree with average of 17.60 . I have worked in a private company in foreign purchasing department (business) for 4 years and now I am working in international department of Parsian Bank (L/C Department ) for 2.5 years .I am interested to continue my education in your good university in master degree in business and especially in MBA.
I also have IELTS 6 band score overall ( general ) . ( speaking 6.5 , writing 6, reading 6, listening 6 ).
It would be highly appreciated if you kindly inform me possibility of study in your esteem university.
Do not hesitate to contact me if any further information is needed.
Thank you in advanced for your kind co-operation.
Best regards.
Samaneh Moosave.
Mobile : +989122502082
Email : samaneh4711815@yahoo.com
Could you please enable me to learn more about the International Universities based in Malaysia and their rankings including the private local univesities of Malaysia. I am a prospective student who is greatly interested in the field of Quantity Surveying. So please enable me to get a clear picture of Mlaysian universities and if possible am looking for a high standard university located in Kuala Lampur.
Thanks
Aisha
Personally I agree that world is unfair but hereafter. In Malaysia, we of course should be proud of our universities. Malaysian universities are still young and baby…it’s not the same as Cambridge, Harvard or Oxford in which built many yers ago. So, it’s unfair to compare our universities with those old universities, but we should learn from them, for sure. Our country practices democracy, so it means the nations are free to talk. I firmly disagree with the rankings of Malaysian Universities, in other words, bias. That’s why there’re only 4 universities listed above which agreed to be ranked. Not like other great universities such as UIA, UDM, UiTM, UUM etc. These universities realize of the bias in ranking. The government must change their principle first before evaluating IPTA’s. I strongly agree with UIA, the only public international university in Malaysia which doesn’t care about this kind of ranking.
I am a Nigerian . I will like to be enrol into the best Malaysian Universities . Please get me in touch with the requirements for an International Student from Nigeria via my email.
THANKS and will be very Happy to hear from You in Anticipation.
pls i need to know if i must write TOEFL EXAMS , before gaining admission for masters,and also i need to know if i can enrol for july or august admission this year, 2009.
Hi,
i am intrested in studying in Malaysia i am from jordan(arab) please keep me informed about requirement of study and its opportunities especially in this good country