Malaysian Government Scholarships Without IELTS 2027 – Malaysia

Overview

The Malaysian Government offers two flagship fully funded postgraduate scholarships for the 2027 intake: the Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) and the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Scholarship. Both programmes accept proof of English‑medium instruction as an alternative to IELTS, enabling candidates without a standardised English test score to apply.

Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)

• Benefits: full tuition paid directly to the university, monthly living allowance of RM 1,500, study at any of the 20 public universities or four selected private institutions.
• Eligibility: citizens of designated ASEAN, Commonwealth and other listed countries; Master’s applicants ≤ 40 years with a Bachelor’s degree (CGPA ≥ 3.00 or 2nd Class Upper); PhD applicants ≤ 45 years with a Master’s degree; full‑time study only; English‑medium previous degree accepted.
• Application: submit online via the MOHE portal; required documents include certified transcripts, a 1,000‑word research proposal (for research‑based programmes), two recommendation letters, a medical report and proof of English proficiency (MOI letter if applicable).

Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Scholarship

• Benefits: full tuition, monthly allowance of approximately RM 3,500, return economy‑class airfare, and additional book/equipment support.
• Eligibility: citizens of MTCP‑recipient developing countries; maximum age 45; Bachelor’s degree with at least 2nd Class Upper (CGPA ≥ 3.00, some cycles ≥ 3.50); must hold a confirmed full offer from a Malaysian public university; English‑medium previous degree accepted.
• Application: first obtain a full university offer, then apply through the MTCP online system; required documents mirror MIS plus the offer letter.

Why English‑medium degree matters

Both scholarships list “previous degree(s) with English as the medium of instruction” as an accepted proof, removing the IELTS barrier for many applicants. Candidates must provide an official Medium of Instruction certificate from their prior institution.

Practical steps for 2027 applicants

1. Verify that your nationality appears on the current MIS or MTCP recipient list.
2. Secure an MOI certificate if you lack IELTS/TOEFL scores.
3. Identify English‑taught Master’s or PhD programmes at eligible Malaysian universities and begin admission applications early.
4. For MTCP, obtain a full offer letter before the scholarship window opens.
5. Monitor the official portals (MIS: March 2027 window; MTCP: May 2027 window) for exact opening dates.
6. Prepare a strong research proposal and two recommendation letters.

Additional benefits

MTCP includes return airfare and possible book/equipment allowances; MIS offers the flexibility to study at a wide range of public and selected private universities across Malaysia.