Undergraduate Studies for International Students - General Requirements - Language Requirement - Academic Requirement - Facilities & Services - Accommodation - Estimated Cost of Living

Oct 2, 2026

Undergraduate study guide for international applicants to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), presenting the university background, core academic and language entry requirements, and conditional guidance for meeting English proficiency through IELTS/TOEFL/Cambridge/PTE and other accepted routes. The document also outlines university requirements such as passing the USM interview, recommends the USM Intensive English Programme before tests, and explains available facilities and student services. Accommodation options (on-campus and off-campus) and estimated living costs are provided alongside examples of tuition and housing ranges.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

General Requirements

Academic requirement

Language requirement

Facilities & Services

Accommodation

On-campus accommodation

Off-campus accommodation

Estimated Cost of Living

Undergraduate Studies for International Students WE LEAD Transforming Higher Education for a Sustainable Tomorrow [www.usm.my](www.usm.my) Universiti Sains Malaysia Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), established in 1969 is the second oldest university in Malaysia and one of the leading universities in the country. Its main thrusts in the development of higher education are in the fields of Natural Sciences, Applied Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Building Sciences & Technology, Social Sciences, Humanities and Education. USM is the only APEX University in Malaysia, a special status accorded by the Ministry of Higher Education in 2008. The APEX (Accelerated Programme for Excellence) agenda among others is to propel the university to be one of the best institutions of higher learning in the world. USM is also a premium Research Intensive University in the country and has adopted an innovative approach to higher education, departing from the traditional faculty system to the broad-based school system. The University ina Garden USM Main Campus in Penang Island USM Campuses General Requirements ACADEMIC REQUIREMENT • Completed 12 years of Primary and High School Education and • Obtained High School Certificate (eg. A-Level, HSC, SMU, & Matayom Suksa 6 (Thailand), International Baccalaureate etc.) or • Diploma in the related field LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT • IELTS / IELTS Online min. Band 5.0 or • TOEFL iBT minimum score of 40 or • TOEFL Essentials (Online) minimum score of 7.5 or • Cambridge English : Advanced (CAE) min. score of 154 or • Cambridge English : Proficiency (CPE) min. score of 154 or • Cambridge English : Linguaskill Online min. score of 154 or • PTE Academic/ PTE Academic (Online) min. score of 47 or • Malaysian University English Test (MUET) min. Band 3.5 or • ELS Certified Intensive English Programme Level (CIEP Level) ELS minimum score of 107 or • Candidates from countries where English is the official language or • Candidates from an institution using English as the medium of instruction and • Passed with Credit in USM Intensive Preparatory Bahasa Malaysia Programme (for candidates pursuing programmes conducted in Malay Language) Note: You are recommended to enrol in USM Intensive English Programme (IEP) as preparation courses before IELTS/TOEFL Test For more details, please visit: [http://www.ppblt.usm.my/index.php/program/intensive-english](http://www.ppblt.usm.my/index.php/program/intensive-english) UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENT and /or Passed the USM interview *For other qualifications, please refer [to](to www.admissions.usm.my)[ www.admissions.usm.my](to www.admissions.usm.my) Anas Ahmed Hebish Egypt What Our Students Say “ USM offers top quality education and located at the heart of the beautiful island of Penang makes it a great opportunity for international students. With good links to the market and a high employability rate, the Mechanical Engineering programme is quite unique compared to other universities. This ensures the maintenance of the laboratories, lecture halls and student leisure rooms to the highest standard while providing great hands-on experience and software exposure. ” Facilities &Services The facilities that USM provides for the students include: • Free internet/wi-fi connection on campus • Impressive museum and art gallery filled with world-class & state-of-the-art displays • Lecture theatres and halls to facilitate classroom learning and teaching • Banks, bookshops, pharmacies and shops to cater to the needs of students • An outstanding research library with over one million references and an extensive network of electronic databases and internet access • Student residences that accommodate their stay on campus • A sport centre that is equipped with indoor and outdoor facilities that cater to students’ sports events and games • Sports and recreational amenities like soccer

FAQs

What academic qualifications are required for international undergraduate applicants?

Applicants must complete 12 years of primary and high school education and obtain a high school certificate (e.g., A-Level, HSC, SMU, Matayom Suksa 6, International Baccalaureate) or hold a diploma in the related field.

What English tests and minimum scores are accepted?

Accepted options include IELTS/IELTS Online (min. band 5.0), TOEFL iBT (min. 40), Cambridge CAE/CPE (min. 154), PTE Academic (min. 47), MUET (min. band 3.5), and others listed in the document.

How do accommodation options and costs work for international students?

Students may choose on-campus accommodation (single or twin-sharing rooms) with rent listed from USD30–USD75 per month without meals, or off-campus accommodation within walking distance/within 3 km, with rent from USD75–USD125 per month per room excluding utility bills.

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by Sophia Brooks