There may be many of us out there who have always dreamt of studying for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at a renowned university abroad, but may be prevented due to financial constraints or other commitments that stop us from leaving home. Well, with the steady increase of foreign university branch campuses right here in Malaysia, your dreams may just be a little closer to coming true.
So what are FUBCs?
Foreign university branch campuses (FUBCs) are universities that have been invited by the Malaysian government to establish their off-shore campus in Malaysia. There are currently 10 FUBCs in Malaysia that originate from host campuses in Australia, China, the UK and Ireland. FUBCs award their own degree (undergraduate and postgraduate), diploma and foundation studies qualifications. The qualifications are identical to that of the host universities.
Why make studying at an FBUC your choice?
One of the main advantages of studying at an FUBC is that you’ll be paying lower tuition fees compared to studying abroad. Besides the lower tuition fees, you’ll also enjoy a much lower cost of living in Malaysia.
Next, and more importantly, you will be awarded the same qualifications as students studying at the main campus abroad.
Perhaps you’re not convinced yet as you’re still longing for a study abroad experience. You’re in luck because most FUBCs offer its students the opportunity to study for one or more semesters at the main campus overseas. The icing on the cake is that you need to pay only the fees of the Malaysian branch campus for the said semesters but you’ll need to pay for your own room and board.
Note: This arrangement is not for all students and is subject to the student obtaining the appropriate visa from the relevant government and fulfilling other academic requirements of the university concerned.
10 foreign university branch campuses in Malaysia
Things you didn’t know about FUBCs in Malaysia |
The very first FUBC, Monash University Malaysia was set up 20 years ago in 1998 by Monash University of Australia. Today it has the largest student population among all FUBCs – about 8000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Monash University ranked #59 in the QS World University Rankings? 2019. |
Curtin University is based in Perth, Australia and has campuses in Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai and Mauritius. The 300-acre Malaysian campus in Miri, Sarawak namely, Curtin University Sarawak Campus, is Curtin’s largest international campus. |
The novelist DH Lawrence is possibly University of Nottingham's most famous former student. Closer to home, the founders of myBurgerLab, Salad Atelier and D Skills Academy are the alumni of University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. |
Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus is home to more than 4,000 students from over 40 countries. Besides the Melbourne campus in Australia, the university offers students the chance to spend half a year as an exchange student with their partner universities in South Korea. |
Newcastle University has four campuses in Newcastle, London, Singapore and Malaysia. It is the first UK university to establish a fully owned international campus for medicine in Malaysia. Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) opened in 2011. |
The University of Southampton Malaysia offers engineering courses. Its host campus was ranked 2nd for Electrical and Electronic Engineering and 6th for Mechanical Engineering in the UK by The Guardian University Guide, 2019. The Complete University Guide, 2019 ranked it 4th for Aeronautics and Astronautics. |
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia ranks 37th in the world, 13th in the UK and 3rd in Scotland for its international outlook based on THE World University Rankings 2019. A sum of ?35 million was invested in its Malaysia campus, which is the first 'green campus' in the country. |
University of Reading Malaysia is the first overseas campus of the University of Reading in the UK. The campus in EduCity@Iskandar is made up of two buildings linked by a central parkland area – its design was shortlisted for a World Architecture Festival award in 2013. |
Xiamen University was founded by Malayan Chinese Tan Kah Kee in 1921. Ninety-three years later, Xiamen University reciprocated this act by setting up a campus in Malaysia—the first Chinese university branch campus in the country. Xiamen University Malaysia currently has five schools at its 150-acre campus. |
Probably the institution with the longest name, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and University College Dublin (UCD) Malaysia Campus or ‘RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus’ in short is the newest foreign university branch campus in Malaysia. RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC) was previously known as Penang Medical College (PMC) which was established in 1996. To date, RUMC has nearly 1,700 graduates practising around the globe – the graduating class of 2019 will be the first batch to graduate under the new university name. |
Sources:
- , June 2018
- Education Guide Malaysia (15th edition)
- Various universities’ website
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