Best Public (IPTA) & Private (IPTS) Universities in Malaysia According to QS World University Rankings 2026
- Ranking of Malaysia’s Public (IPTA) & Private (IPTS) Universities for 2026 According to QS World University Rankings
- Ranking of Malaysia’s Universities in the World & Asia
Taylor’s University achieved its best result, rising to 27th, while UCSI University entered the top 30 for the first time, reaching 30th after climbing 75 places in five years. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) rose to 44th, Sunway University to 55th, and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) to 65th.
Several institutions achieved notable improvements across specific indicators: Al-Madinah International University is first in Asia for International Students, INTI International University places 22nd for International Faculty, as well as third and sixth for Inbound and Outbound Exchange Students, and Perdana University is second for Faculty-Student Ratio.
There are many reasons and motivations for attending university in Malaysia, so ask yourself some serious questions to identify what you want from your university experience.
It goes without saying that one of the most important considerations when it comes to choosing the right university to study in Malaysia is your course of interest and whether that particular university is popular for it. Additionally, many universities in Malaysia may offer the same course but many students fail to consider looking at the subjects, the experience of the university in running the course, rankings, awards won as evidence of the university’s capability and the facilities to support the course.
Many students have taken the easy way out and choosing the university that is cheapest, nearest and where most of their friends attend. They fail to understand that what they decide now can affect their future career forever
EduSpiral Consultant Services provides free advise to students after SPM, IGCSE/O-Levels, STPM, A-Levels, UEC, and Pre-University to guide them in choosing the right course and top university in Malaysia to study so that they can have a successful career. The aim for EduSpiral Consultant Services in sharing this article is to help students in selecting their course of study and career paths based on areas in demand.
Malaysian Universities Perform Well in the 2026 Rankings
Mother of Nishant, Mechanical Engineering at UOSM
QS said Malaysia performed strongly across nearly all academic indicators, ranking above the regional average in nine out of 11 metrics.
QS senior vice president Ben Sowter noted that while academic and employer reputation indicators remain Malaysia’s strengths, the country’s next frontier lies in research performance, particularly in citations and publication output.
Among Asia’s top 10 for International Research Network are 3 Malaysian universities which is more than any other system in the region, showing Malaysia’s strong engagement in global partnerships and co-authored research.
This has been the effort of the government’s successful decade long policy to internationalise Malaysian higher education, with a focus on joint research, faculty exchange, and partnerships across Asean, Europe, and the Middle East.
In its report, ‘How universities are shaping Asean’s tomorrow’, Malaysia is cited as a model of internationalisation and system coordination, nearly achieving its target of 250,000 international students by 2025.
Its universities combine affordability, cultural openness, and global credibility, making Malaysia one of the fastest-growing education destinations in the region.
Malaysia’s high STEM graduate share is recognised as a key factor supporting its manufacturing and innovation sectors, with universities such as UM, UTM, and USM driving cross-border collaborative research.
QS chief executive officer Jessica Turner said: “Malaysia’s progress shows the power of education as an engine of inclusive growth. If governments continue to align education and labour market strategies, the region could unlock nearly US$900bil in additional value by 2035. Malaysia’s leadership in international education shows how that vision can become reality.”
The QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026 features 1,529 universities across 25 higher education systems, evaluated across 11 indicators: Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty-Student Ratio, Citations per Paper, Papers per Faculty, Staff with PhD, International Research Network, International Faculty, International Students, Inbound Exchange Students, and Outbound Exchange Students.
70% of Malaysian varsities rise in latest QS global rankings
Malaysia achieved the world’s highest rate of improvement – more than any other country with 10 or more ranked universities – with 70% of its 32 institutions climbing in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026.
Of the 32 universities ranked, 19 rose, five remained stable in their ranks or bands, five featured for the first time, and three dropped.
Leading the nation is Universiti Malaya (UM), which is the only Malaysian university in the top 100. It rose two positions to 58th globally and is ranked 16th in Asia.
UM is also the country’s top performer in five of the nine QS indicators, most notably in Academic Reputation, where it placed 58th, and Employer Reputation, where it ranked 40th.
Coming in second is Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), which climbed 12 spots from 138th to 126th.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) are third in Malaysia, tied in 134th spot globally, climbing 14 and 12 spots, respectively.
Rounding out the institutions in the top 200 is Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), which climbed 28 spots to place 153rd
In the top 300, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) rose 18 places to secure 251st, making it the highest-ranking private institution in Malaysia, followed by Taylor’s University at 253rd and UCSI University at 269th.
Meanwhile, Sunway University and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) broke into the global top 500, placing 410th and 491st, respectively.
These institutions make up Malaysia’s 10 top 500 universities, up from eight last year.
SEGi University achieved Malaysia’s highest rank in any individual indicator, placing 13th globally in International Students Ratio – the third-highest ranking in Asia.
In a statement on Thursday (June 19), QS said Malaysia outperformed the global average in five indicators, most notably in International Student Ratio.
“This indicator marked a significant strength for the country, with an exceptional six Malaysian universities among the top 50.
“Malaysia also improved overall in five indicators, most prominently in Academic Reputation and International Research Network. It dropped overall in four indicators, with the sharpest drop seen in Employment Outcomes, marking a challenge for the country in this indicator, in which it also achieved its lowest average score.
QS senior vice president Ben Sowter said employability, sustainability strategy, and research are three pillars that are central to the rankings and sustained higher education excellence.
“As Malaysia competes with regional peers like Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam, investing in these areas will not only enhance its global reputation but also ensure its universities play a transformative role in shaping a skilled, future-ready workforce,” he said.
Sowter added that as the country advances towards a high-income economy, its higher education institutions must equip graduates with both the technical skills and human competencies required to excel in the workforce and drive innovation.
The QS World University Rankings 2026 featured more than 1,500 universities across 106 countries and territories, evaluated across nine indicators: Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty Student Ratio, Citations per Faculty, International Faculty Ratio, International Students Ratio, International Research Network, Employment Outcomes, and Sustainability.
The United States is the most represented higher education system, with 192 ranked universities, followed by the United Kingdom (90) and Mainland China (72).
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology topped the rankings for the 14th consecutive year. Imperial College London stayed in second place while Stanford University climbed three positions to third. The University of Oxford and Harvard University each dropped one spot, placing fourth and fifth, respectively.
Singapore is the only Asian country featured among the world’s top 10, with the National University of Singapore ranked 8th globally.
Here’s the List of Top Universities in Malaysia according to QS World University Rankings 2026
| 2026 QS World University Rankings | 
|
|||
| 2026 | 2025 | Institution | ||
| Index | Rank | Previous Rank | Name | |
| 59 | 58 | 60 | Universiti Malaya (UM) | |
| 127 | 126 | 138 | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) | |
| 134 | 134 | 148 | Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) | |
| 135 | 134 | 146 | Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) | |
| 153 | 153 | 181 | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) | |
| 251 | 251 | 269 | Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) | |
| 253 | 253 | 251 | Taylor’s University (Malaysia) | |
| 270 | 269 | 265 | UCSI University | |
| 412 | 410 | 539 | Sunway University | |
| 493 | 491 | 554 | Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) | |
| 511 | 509 | 516 | INTI International University | |
| 544 | 542 | 587 | Universiti Teknologi MARA – UiTM | |
| 553 | 551 | 641-650 | Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) | |
| 598 | 597 | 611-620 | Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) Malaysia | |
| 600 | 597 | 580 | Management and Science University – MSU Malaysia | |
| 612 | 609 | 741-750 | Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) | |
| 616 | 613 | 661-670 | International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) | |
| 639 | 638 | Lincoln University College, Malaysia | ||
| 738 | 731-740 | SEGi University | ||
| 804 | 791-800 | 801-850 | Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) | |
| 838 | 801-850 | 1001-1200 | Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) | |
| 879 | 851-900 | 1001-1200 | Multimedia University (MMU) | |
| 893 | 851-900 | 951-1000 | Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) | |
| 998 | 951-1000 | University of Cyberjaya | ||
| ### | 1001-1200 | 1201-1400 | Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) | |
| ### | 1001-1200 | 1001-1200 | Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) | |
| ### | 1001-1200 | 1001-1200 | Universiti Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia (UTHM) | |
| ### | 1001-1200 | 1001-1200 | University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS) | |
| ### | 1201-1400 | 1201-1400 | Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) | |
| ### | 1201-1400 | Universiti Malaysia Kelantan | ||
| ### | 1201-1400 | 1201-1400 | Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) | |
| ### | 1401+ | Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin | ||
Choosing the Best University to Study in Malaysia
Renee Tan, Mechanical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
There are so many private universities & colleges in Malaysia, students will need to be strategic to narrow down this confusing array into a shortlist and ultimately decide which is the best university for you.
Choosing a top university to study in Malaysia is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Furthermore, your decision will be influenced by many criteria such as the reputation & ranking of the university, accreditation of its courses, the suitability of the course against your academic results and career goals, tuition fees, quality of lecturers, facilities, friends & family, and more.
In addition, choosing a top private university in Malaysia to study after SPM, O-Levels, UEC, Pre-U, A-Levels or STPM takes time, it is a process in finding out which university best fits you. With so many things to consider, it may be confusing, therefore students should choose the best university in Malaysia with insider tips from knowledgeable & experienced counselors at EduSpiral Consultant Services.
