Find out the top 10 universities in Malaysia

Malaysia’s higher education sector continues to gain global recognition, with several local institutions featuring prominently in 2025’s major international rankings. This blog post highlights the ten Malaysian universities that have demonstrated outstanding performance, drawing on both the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings to give you a rounded picture of their achievements.

According to QS, the 2025 edition is the largest ever, covering over 1,500 universities across 105 higher education systems Top Universities. Meanwhile, THE’s 2025 World University Rankings assess more than 2,000 institutions from 115 countries and territories Times Higher Education (THE).

1. Universiti Malaya (UM)

  • QS 2025: #60 in the world

  • THE 2025: 251–300 in the world
    As Malaysia’s oldest and most prestigious institution, UM not only leads locally but also sits comfortably among the world’s top 100 universities in QS, marking a 5-spot jump from the previous year WikipediaTimes Higher Education (THE).

2. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

  • QS 2025: #138 in the world

  • THE 2025: 401–500 in the world
    Founded in 1970, UKM has steadily climbed global rankings, reflecting its expanding research output and international collaborations WikipediaTop Universities.

3. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

  • QS 2025: #146 in the world

  • THE 2025: 401–500 in the world
    With strengths in science and engineering, USM’s QS position underscores its reputation for innovation, especially in health and environmental research WikipediaTop Universities.

4. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

  • QS 2025: #148 in the world

  • THE 2025: 501–600 in the world
    Originally an agriculture college, UPM now excels across multiple disciplines, boosting Malaysia’s presence in the global academic community WikipediaTop Universities.

5. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)

  • QS 2025: #181 in the world

  • THE 2025: 401–500 in the world
    UTM’s engineering and technology programmes continue to earn high marks, reflecting strong industry partnerships and research impact WikipediaTop Universities.

6. Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

  • THE 2025: 201–250 in the world

  • QS Subject 2025 (Engineering & Technology): #184
    A private research university wholly owned by PETRONAS, UTP has become the first Malaysian institution to break into THE’s 201–250 band, while also achieving a top-200 QS subject ranking in engineering Times Higher Education (THE)Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.

7. Sunway University

  • QS 2025: #539 in the world

  • THE 2025: 401–500 in the world
    Sunway stands out as one of Malaysia’s leading private universities, noted for its strong performance in business, hospitality and social sciences WikipediaTimes Higher Education (THE).

8. Taylor’s University

  • QS 2025: #251 in the world
    Taylor’s is Malaysia’s top private institution in QS, known for its industry-ready graduates and strong ties with global universities EduAdvisor.

9. Monash University Malaysia

  • QS 2025: #37 in the world (global ranking of the full Monash University network)
    As the only Malaysian branch campus of a top-50 global institution, Monash Malaysia brings an international standard of teaching and research to the region EduAdvisor.

10. UCSI University

  • QS 2025: #265 in the world

  • QS Asia 2025: #45 in Asia
    UCSI has made one of the fastest climbs among private universities, placing in the global top 1% and emerging as a leader in performing arts, hospitality and business & management subjects Top UniversitiesUCSI University.

These ten institutions together paint a picture of a maturing Malaysian higher education landscape—one that blends historic public universities with dynamic private and international branches, all contributing to the country’s growing academic footprint on the world stage. Whether you’re seeking cutting-edge research in STEM fields or industry-focused professional programmes, Malaysia’s top universities offer a wealth of opportunities for students and scholars alike.