🌱Universiti Putra Malaysia

Serdang (Selangor), Malaysia

QS World 2026 · #148

Malaysia's leading agricultural and life sciences university, originally founded as an agricultural college.

About UPM

UPM traces its roots to the Malayan School of Agriculture, founded in 1931, and remains Malaysia's strongest university for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Science. It's based in Serdang, just outside Kuala Lumpur, on one of Malaysia's largest university campuses.

Why students choose it

  • Strongest Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Science reputation in Malaysia
  • Traces its roots to a 1931 agricultural college
  • One of Malaysia's largest university campuses

🎓 Free application support for UPM

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to UPM — 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

AAB (A Level)  ·  IB 32

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

Tuition (international, per year)

RM15,000–RM30,000/yr

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

Language of instruction

English

Campus

campus campus, Serdang (Selangor)

🏆 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 UPM'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

Agriculture

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

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Veterinary Medicine

⏱️ Typical duration: 5–6 years where entered straight from school (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong); typically a 4-year postgraduate MD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: Requires Chemistry + Biology

Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

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

Forestry

⏱️ 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.

See where UPM ranks on your personal shortlist

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

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More Malaysia universities

UPM FAQ

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

What grades do I need to get into UPM?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, UPM expects around AAB at A Level or 32 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for UPM'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 UPM's own admissions page before applying.

How much does UPM cost for international students?

International tuition at UPM typically falls in the RM15,000–RM30,000/yr range (mid tier for Malaysia). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not UPM'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 UPM?

UPM 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 UPM's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for UPM?

Malaysia universities, including UPM, 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 UPM known for?

Malaysia's leading agricultural and life sciences university, originally founded as an agricultural college. UPM traces its roots to the Malayan School of Agriculture, founded in 1931, and remains Malaysia's strongest university for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Science. It's based in Serdang, just outside Kuala Lumpur, on one of Malaysia's largest university campuses.

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

Yes — UPM 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 UPM and every other Malaysia university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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