🌾Universiti Malaysia Kelantan

Kota Bharu (Kelantan), Malaysia

A public East Coast university built around Entrepreneurship, with a lower cost of living than the Klang Valley.

About UMK

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) is a public entrepreneurship-focused university with campuses in Kota Bharu and Bachok, Kelantan, best known for Entrepreneurship alongside Business, Creative Technology and Agro-Industry. Kelantan is culturally distinctive within Malaysia and notably lower-cost than the Klang Valley, though students should plan for the extra travel time to and from the East Coast. International tuition typically runs RM20,000–RM45,000+ a year, among the more affordable options in Malaysia. It suits students drawn to a genuine entrepreneurship and enterprise focus rather than a conventional business degree.

Why students choose it

  • A distinctive Entrepreneurship focus, including Creative Technology and Agro-Industry specialisms uncommon elsewhere
  • Notably lower living costs than Kuala Lumpur, as a public university on Malaysia's East Coast
  • A culturally distinctive Kelantan setting for students wanting a different regional experience within Malaysia

🎓 Free application support for UMK

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to UMK — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

BBB (A Level)  ·  IB 26

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

<RM15,000/yr

low tier for Malaysia — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

campus campus, Kota Bharu (Kelantan)

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or UMK's financial aid office.

Malaysian government scholarships are almost entirely restricted to Malaysian citizens. For international students, the main route is university-level merit scholarships or fee rebates, especially common at private and branch-campus universities.

  • University merit scholarships / fee rebates: Offered by private and branch-campus universities (e.g. Taylor's, Sunway, Monash Malaysia, Nottingham Malaysia) — typically a percentage tuition rebate for strong IGCSE/A-Level results, often applied automatically or via a simple form.

Public university (UM, USM, UKM, UPM, UTM) scholarship access for international students is much more limited than at private/branch-campus universities — check directly before assuming availability.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Entrepreneurship

⏱️ Typical duration: 3–4 years, depending on the course and university

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Business

⏱️ Typical duration: 3–4 years, depending on the course and university

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Creative Technology

⏱️ Typical duration: 3–4 years, depending on the course and university

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Typical entry: Portfolio / audition

Agro-Industry

⏱️ Typical duration: 3–4 years, depending on the course and university

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Durations are typical for Malaysia — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
February, September
Typical deadline
Rolling — apply 3–6 months ahead of your intended intake

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 overall

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

Read the full Tutopiya guide

A deeper walkthrough of applying to UMK for international IGCSE / A Level / IB students.

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See where UMK ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Malaysia University Shortlist Builder to see whether UMK is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Malaysia university that matches.

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UMK FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to UMK as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into UMK?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, UMK expects around BBB at A Level or 26 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for UMK's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on UMK's own admissions page before applying.

How much does UMK cost for international students?

International tuition at UMK typically falls in the range (low tier for Malaysia). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not UMK's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for UMK?

UMK follows Malaysia's typical intake calendar: February, September, with applications generally due rolling — apply 3–6 months ahead of your intended intake. Always verify the exact date on UMK's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for UMK?

Malaysia universities, including UMK, typically ask international applicants for 6.0 overall. Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is UMK known for?

A public East Coast university built around Entrepreneurship, with a lower cost of living than the Klang Valley. Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) is a public entrepreneurship-focused university with campuses in Kota Bharu and Bachok, Kelantan, best known for Entrepreneurship alongside Business, Creative Technology and Agro-Industry. Kelantan is culturally distinctive within Malaysia and notably lower-cost than the Klang Valley, though students should plan for the extra travel time to and from the East Coast. International tuition typically runs RM20,000–RM45,000+ a year, among the more affordable options in Malaysia. It suits students drawn to a genuine entrepreneurship and enterprise focus rather than a conventional business degree.

Can I apply to UMK with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — UMK accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Malaysia University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against UMK and every other Malaysia university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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