How to Apply for PTPTN? Your Easy 2023 Step-by-Step Guide

How to apply for PTPTN:
PTPTN is one of the easiest ways for local students to finance their higher education in Malaysia and offset the cost incurred from tuition fees and expenses during tertiary studies. It allows students from all walks of life to have the opportunity to further their studies at the college/university level.

Let’s look at a few things you need to know before applying for the loan and a step-by-step guide to submitting a PTPTN online application.

Things You Need To Know Before Your PTPTN Loan Application

What is PTPTN?

PTPTN is Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional, a government institution established to provide study loans to Malaysian students for their local tertiary education.

The loan covers foundation, diploma, degree, and postgraduate studies across both private and local institutions.

Who is Eligible to Apply for PTPTN Loan?

To submit a PTPTN application, you need to fulfil the following criteria:

• Malaysian citizen
•  Age 45 years and below
•  Passed SPM with at least 3 credits in any subjects; or
•  Passed SPM and obtained a CGPA of 3.0 and above for a community college Certificate graduate who received an offer to a polytechnic diploma level or a polytechnic diploma graduate who is offered a postgraduate degree
•  Must have received an offer to study at an institution of higher learning (either public or private institutions)
•  Your chosen course must be accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

How Much Can You Borrow?

Despite that, your PTPTN loan amount will be decided by 2 factors:

Your Household Income

The percentage of the maximum amount of PTPTN funds you can apply for depends on which category you fall under. 

Your Chosen Course and University

Since tuition fees for private institutions are more expensive, their loan amounts are higher compared with public institutions.

The same goes for science courses compared with arts & humanities courses.

Do note that only Foundation courses at these Private Institutions are eligible for PTPTN loans:

• Universiti Multimedia (MMU)
• Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)
• Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
• Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UNITAR)

A PTPTN degree loan may only cover part of your study fees. Hence, even if you are a university student, it is advisable to plan your finances carefully to avoid any gaps in funding for your tertiary education!

How to Apply For PTPTN in 5 Easy Steps

Step 1: Complete the Required Procedures at the Bank

Before you even start applying for your PTPTN loan, you need to create your bank account.

Open a Skim Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional (SSPN-i account) at

• Maybank,
• Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN),
• Bank Islam,
• CIMB Bank,
• Agrobank or
• Bank Rakyat.

Alternatively, you can do this at any PTPTN counter.

Open a savings account at a panel bank.
*Note: Remember to check with your institution on the banks that are in their panel.

Then, buy your PTPTN PIN number from BSN for RM5.

*Note:

• The number will be valid for 6 months and once you log in you will be using this PIN number for all your PTPTN-related matters.
• You can only apply for your PTPTN loan with an SSPN-i account. So, it is important that you complete this step and prepare all the needed supporting documents first.

Step 2: Check Your Application Schedule

Why is your application schedule important?

Not every tertiary education programme in Malaysia begins at the same time. The starting date of your course (and the time you receive your letter of admission) depends on your course intake, which can affect your application.

To complete this step, visit the PTPTN official portal and search for your course. As you search, keep a lookout for the information on the site and ensure that it matches the ones on your offer letter.

Step 3: Submit Your Online Application Form

In this step, you can begin filling out the details of your PTPTN loan application. Follow their instructions carefully. (As you fill up your details, try not to jump from one section to another.) Providing incorrect or insufficient details will only increase the risk of loan rejection.

Note: Should you plan to apply for scholarships, you can check here to see if you can use both to pay for the course you want. Yes, you can apply for multiple scholarships. But, you can only accept 1 scholarship offer.

Step 4: Check the Results of Your PTPTN Loan Application

While you are eager to begin your university student life, you can only start checking the results of your loan application 6 working days after the closing date of your PTPTN online application.

Step 5: Submit Relevant Documents to Your Institution

Consult your college or university’s PTPTN officer so you do not miss out on any essential documents.

Generally, these are the supporting documents you need to send to your college/university:

• Your IC
•  SPM/O-level/ or equivalent certificate (your SPM result transcript will only be valid if the period commencing from the year of the SPM to the year of the application does not exceed 2 years).
•  Official offer letter from the college/university
•  Personal account number statement /book
•  Pre-university certificate and transcript (STPM/A-Level/ Diploma/ Foundation/UEC or equivalent).
•  Parents’ payslip (within the last 6 months)/BE form (latest)/income certification form/ letter of confirmation of unemployment for housewife or retired parents
•  2 sets of PTPTN agreements and its Letter of Offer (printable from the PTPTN website once your online application is complete.)
•  Confirmation letter of the student’s status from the university/college
•  Examination results of each of the previous semesters

Step 6: Receive First Payment

Loan disbursement will be paid into the designated bank account 2 months after approval, so be prepared to pay your registration and tuition fees first.

You can check your balance and pay PTPTN online through the PTPTN i-online portal. The important thing is to prepare your financial resources early in order to have sufficient funds to pay for your current semester’s fees.

Start Your PTPTN Loan Application Today!

Funding your own education is one of the most important things to think about as a university student. The PTPTN loan offers financial support to get you through your education. If you have any questions regarding your PTPTN loan application, you can visit their official website for more information. 

Call our counsellors today and let us show you how to save money on your higher education.