Top 10 Full Scholarships In Malaysia For Your Overseas Study After SPM

Looking for scholarships in Malaysia that allows you to study experience overseas?

We have compiled a list of the top full scholarships that you can consider. Here, you will find

• the academic requirement
• the field of studies allowed
• the financial coverage; and
• other qualifying criteria

1. JPA Scholarship – Program Penajaan Nasional

The JPA Program Penajaan Nasional is a prestigious scholarship offered by the Public Service Department (JPA) for top SPM leavers.

Where Can You Study?

• Top 10 UK or US universities only based on international ranking standards such as QS, THE or ARWU

What Type Of Courses Are Covered?

• Pre-University and Degree courses. A-Level will usually be conducted at the Kolej Yayasan UEM.

• Degree must be in the fields of Engineering, Science & Technology, Social Science, or Creative Arts.

What Expenses Are Covered?

• Full sponsorship in the form of a convertible loan covering tuition fees, resource fees, accommodation, living expenses, and other study-related costs.

• The loan conversion depends on employment after graduation: 0% repayment for civil service, 25% for GLCs, 50% for Malaysian private companies, and 100% for other cases (e.g., working overseas or unemployed).

Other Important Information & Criteria:

• Malaysian citizen, under 19 years old (or 20 for transition stream students).

• Must have sat for SPM for the first time.

• Achieved at least 9A+ for specific subjects in Science and Engineering fields, or 8A+ for other fields (with at least A- in remaining subjects).

• Applicants undergo an interview and student assessment.

2. JPA Scholarship – Program Khas Jepun Korea Jerman Perancis (JKJP)

The JKPJ is another JPA scholarship aimed at students pursuing studies in specific East Asian and European countries.

Where Can You Study?

• Leading universities in Japan, Korea, France, and Germany. Students will attend preparatory studies in a local university first.

What Type Of Courses Are Covered?

• Focuses on Engineering, Science and Technology, and Social Sciences.

What Expenses Are Covered?

• Sponsorship in the form of a convertible loan (Pinjaman Boleh Ubah), covering preparatory and undergraduate studies.

Other Important Information & Criteria:

• Malaysian citizen, under 19 years old (or 20 for transition stream students).

• Must not be receiving other financial aid for the same level of study.

• Academic Requirement for SPM – 5 A+/A in Bahasa Melayu, Matematik, Matematik Tambahan, Fizik, and Kimia. At least A- in English and Sejarah subjects.

3. MARA Scholarship – Program Khas JPA MARA

The MARA Scholarship is a collaborative scholarship for Bumiputera SPM candidates.

Where Can You Study?

• Selected overseas universities in countries such as Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

What Type Of Courses Are Covered?

• Fields of study include Engineering, Science & Technology, Social Sciences, and Medicine.

What Expenses Are Covered?

• Full sponsorship for preparatory and undergraduate programmes in the form of a convertible loan, covering tuition fees, resource fees, accommodation, living expenses, and other study costs.

Other Important Information & Criteria:

• Bumiputera Malaysian citizen.

• First-time SPM candidates, under 19 years old in the year of the SPM examination.

• Scored at least A+/A in 5 subjects (Bahasa Melayu, Matematik, and 3 other subjects) or 6 subjects for Medicine (Bahasa Melayu, Matematik, Matematik Tambahan, Fizik, Biologi, Kimia).

• Scored at least A- in Bahasa Inggeris and Sejarah.

• The loan conversion terms are similar to PPN (0% for civil service, 25% for GLC, 50% for private company in Malaysia).

4. Bank Negara Kijang Scholarship

The Bank Negara Kijang Scholarship is offered by Bank Negara Malaysia to nurture future talent in fields relevant to the central bank’s operations.

Where Can You Study?

• A list of approved universities primarily in the UK, US, and Australia, and also local universities in Malaysia.

What Type Of Courses Are Covered?

• Disciplines related to the bank’s core business, including Economics, Accounting, Finance, Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Law, and Computer Science.

What Expenses Are Covered?

• Inclusive of tuition fees, return flight tickets (for overseas students), subsistence allowance, and related scholarship allowances.

Other Important Information & Criteria:

• Malaysian citizen.

• For pre-university: Not exceeding 19 years of age with a minimum of 8As (A and A+ only) in SPM.

• For undergraduate: Not exceeding 25 years of age on July 1 of the application year.

• Upon graduation, scholars are required to serve an employment bond with Bank Negara Malaysia (ratio of one year of study to two years of service).

5. ASEAN Scholarship

The ASEAN Scholarship is offered by the Ministry of Education (MOE) Singapore to students from ASEAN member countries, including Malaysia, to study in Singapore.

Where Can You Study?

• Selected Singapore secondary schools or junior colleges, leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level certificate or similar qualification. While not directly for university, it’s a pre-university pathway for overseas study.

What Type Of Courses Are Covered?

• A-Level or equivalent.

What Expenses Are Covered?

• Annual allowance with hostel accommodation, settling-in allowance, return economy airfare (or transport allowance), school fees, examination fees (GCE O-Level and A-Level), subsidised medical benefits, and insurance cover for accidents.

Other Important Information & Criteria:

• Malaysian nationals proficient in English.

• Consistently good school examination results and participation in co-curricular activities.

• Specific age criteria based on the school level applying for (Secondary 1, Secondary 3, or Pre-university 1).

• Scholars’ performance is reviewed annually for scholarship renewal.

6. PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme (PESP)

The PETRONAS Scholarship is a highly sought-after scholarship for students aiming to contribute to the energy industry.

Where Can You Study?

• Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and other top leading local and overseas universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, and South Korea.

What Type Of Courses Are Covered?

• A wide range of disciplines, often technical and non-technical, relevant to Petroans’s business needs. Specific eligible disciplines are provided during the application period.

What Expenses Are Covered?

• Full sponsorship that typically covers tuition fees, living allowances, and other study-related expenses.

Other Important Information & Criteria:

• Malaysian citizen.

• For overseas programs, generally requires a minimum of 4A+ and 4A in SPM.

• Strong leadership skills and active participation in co-curricular activities.

• Undergo a comprehensive assessment process, including online assessments and face-to-face interviews.

• Recipients are usually bonded to serve PETRONAS upon graduation.

7. Shell Malaysia Scholarship

The Shell Malaysia Scholarship Programme offers opportunities for students to pursue higher education in fields relevant to the energy industry.

Where Can You Study?

• Prestigious local and overseas colleges and universities. The sponsorship usually covers two tiers: A-Levels and then undergraduate studies.

What Type Of Courses Are Covered?

• Primarily Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Petroleum, Electrical & Electronics, Environmental, Sustainable), Sciences (Geology, Geosciences, Data Science), and Commercial (Business & Management, Digital Marketing).

What Expenses Are Covered?

• Full scholarship including tuition fees, resource fees, accommodation, living expenses, and may include job placement opportunities.

Other Important Information & Criteria:

• Malaysian citizen.

• Minimum 8As (A/A+) in SPM or excellent O-level grades (A*/A) at IGCSE.

• Must be the latest cohort of SPM or O-Level school leavers.

• Strong leadership skills and active participation in extracurricular activities.

• Not holding other scholarships/loans.

• Willing to pursue A-levels at selected boarding institutions if required.

• Applicants undergo online assessments, self-recorded video interviews, and a final interview.

8. Yayasan Khazanah Global Scholarship

The Yayasan Khazanah Global Scholarship is a highly competitive award for high-achieving Malaysians aspiring to study at top global universities.

Where Can You Study?

• Top-tier universities from Yayasan Khazanah’s approved list worldwide. The scholarship can cover A-Level studies at Kolej Yayasan UEM as a pathway to undergraduate studies abroad, or direct undergraduate studies overseas.

What Type Of Courses Are Covered?

• A wide range of disciplines across various faculties, including Computer Science, Engineering (various), Sciences (various), Business, Arts & Design, and more.

What Expenses Are Covered?

• Full scholarships that include full academic fees, living expenses, accommodation, and development/training support.

Other Important Information & Criteria:

• Malaysian citizen.

• For A-Level pathway: Minimum of 8As (combination of A and A+) in recent SPM or IGCSE, with A/A+ in Bahasa Melayu, English, History, and Mathematics (for SPM). Not exceeding 18 years of age at foundation studies enrolment.

• For direct undergraduate: Meets specific pre-university qualification requirements (e.g., 3As for STPM, CGPA 3.50 for Foundation/Matriculation), and obtained admission to an approved university. Not exceeding 21 years of age for Bachelor’s Degree programme.

• Recipients are provided with leadership training and job attachments in Malaysia.

9. Yayasan UEM Scholarship

The Yayasan UEM Scholarship is offered by UEM Group Berhad to develop future leaders in critical sectors.

Where Can You Study?

• Renowned, top global universities for the Global Scholarship pathway, usually after pre-university study at Kolej Yayasan UEM.

What Type Of Courses Are Covered?

• Focus areas include Business (Finance, Business Management, Accounting, Economics), Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Data), and IT and Computer Related fields (Computer Science, Computer System and Networking, Software Engineering, Data Science, Data Engineering), as well as Actuarial Science.

What Expenses Are Covered?

• Covers academic expenses including tuition and examination fees, medical and life insurance, laptop, subsistence allowance, and allocation for books and study-related equipment.

Other Important Information & Criteria:

• Malaysian citizen, proficient in English.

• Excellent academic track record in Form 4 and Form 5.

• Obtained a minimum of 7As (A+/As) in relevant subjects in SPM. Must obtain an A in SPM English and Mathematics.

• Scholars are bonded for a period of time with Yayasan UEM (e.g., 5-year bond for Global Scholarship).

10. Yayasan Telekom Malaysia Scholarship

The Yayasan Telekom Malaysia (YTM) Future Leader Scholarship supports high-achieving SPM leavers to pursue undergraduate studies.

Where Can You Study?

• Multimedia University (MMU) and selected overseas institutions.

What Type Of Courses Are Covered?

• Predominantly in fields such as Information Technology & Digital, Creative Multimedia, Engineering, and Management.

What Expenses Are Covered?

• A full scholarship program covering tuition fees, monthly stipend, and allowances for books and apparatus.

Other Important Information & Criteria:

• Malaysian citizen with good health.

• For overseas programs, generally requires a minimum of 8 A+ for SPM, with a minimum C for Sejarah.

• Not exceeding 21 years old in December of the application year.

• Household income below RM 20,000 per month.

• Cannot have any sibling who was a YTM scholarship recipient at a higher education institution.

• Both parents must be Malaysian.

• Not currently receiving any other form of education financial aid.

• YTM scholars are bound by an agreement and often have the opportunity to work with TM upon graduation.