How much does it cost to study?
Published on: Monday, May 03, 2021
By: K Krishnan
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Businesses are not doing very well. Overall the economy is down. However, as students, you may not fully understand the current situation. Let us look at the cost of education today. Before you discuss your future with your parents, you need to know the facts and figures.
1. Tuition fee at some
foreign universities (in USD)
Usually it is very difficult to get a full scholarship or financial aid. You must ensure you have your own funds.
Country Bachelor’s degree (per year)
Australia $14,393 - 32,384
US $26,000 - 50,000
UK $13,150 - 34,190
France $200 - 3,272
China $1,665 - 3,030 Russia $1,750 - 12,570
Spain $802 - 2,947 (public
universities) or $5,894 -
23,577 (private universities)
Germany $0 (public universities)
or up to $26,300
(private universities)
(Source: Times Higher Education, 2020; Go Overseas, 2020; Motivist Japan, 2020; Study Portals, 2020; Education.com, 2020)
The above is only the approximate tuition fee. In addition you need money for accommodation, food, clothing, books, insurance, Visa and transport. If you get homesick and want to visit your family, you need money for your airline ticket.
Your cost of living will approximately be RM 2,000 - 5,000 per month depending on your lifestyle.
2. Tuition Fee at Malaysian Public or
Government Universities (in RM)
If you are intending to study locally in a public or government university in Malaysia, the cost is very affordable. There are about 66 local public universities. Numerous forms of financial aid are also available. If you do not get any scholarships, you can apply for the PTPTN loan. Almost all students are eligible for the PTPTN loan. However, you must get an offer to study in local public universities.
Degree Tuition Fees (per year)
Bachelor of RM18,000 - 21,500
Electrical
Engineering
4 years
Bachelor of RM137.500 -160,300
Medicine and
Bachelor of
Surgery (MBBS)
5 years
Bachelor of RM15,000-19,200
Accounting
4 years
Bachelor of RM14,000 - 15,800
Computer
Science 3
.5 years
The fee quoted is for the whole course. So, if you intend to study Electrical Engineering, the tuition fee is between RM4500 – RM5375 per year. That is really affordable.
The above is the approximate tuition fee. In addition to the tuition fee, you need money for accommodation, food, clothing, books, insurance and transport. Approximately you will need RM 300 – 800 per month depending on your lifestyle. If you get homesick and want to visit your family you can take Air Asia which can be very economical if you travel wisely.
3. Tuition Fee at Malaysian
Private Universities (in RM)
If you are intending to study locally in a private university in Malaysia, the cost is higher than the Public Universities. However, it is lower than going abroad. There are more than 83 local private universities to choose from. They offer their own local degrees and off campus degrees.
Numerous forms of financial aid are also available. In-house tuition waivers and scholarships are also offered by individual universities. If you do not get any scholarships, you can apply for the PTPTN loan. At times you may not get the full amount that you asked for. In which case you must have your own funds to top - up. Be prepared. However getting an offer from local private universities is much easier.
Degree Total Tuition Fees
Business Degree RM40,000 – 50,000
(3 years)
Engineering Degree RM50,000 – 85,000
(4 years)
IT (3 years) RM40,000–60,000
The above is the approximate tuition fee for popular courses in Private universities and serve only as a guideline. In addition to the tuition fee, you need money for accommodation, food, clothing, books, insurance and transport. Approximately you will need RM 500 – 1000 per month depending on your lifestyle. If you get homesick and want to visit your family you can take Air Asia which can be very economical.
Career Tips
You need to know the cost of studying abroad and locally. When you discuss your future with your parents you must be able to give a rough indication of how much your tuition fee and the living cost would be.
Your parents can then decide, whether they can afford it or not. Note that the tuition fee and living cost is only approximate and can vary from time to time.
