The Complete Review Of Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TARUMT)

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TARUMT) was established in 1969 as TAR College. TARUMT is a non-profit with the aim to provide tertiary education opportunities for young Malaysians. Today the university has spread its wings from its first campus in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur (which remains its Main Campus) to 5 more branch campuses in Penang, Perak, Johor, Pahang and Sabah.

In catering to as many learning interests, TARUMT offers many course choices, it offers pre-university, diploma, bachelor degree and postgraduate levels covering disciplines from foundation to accountancy, finance, business, economics, engineering, built environment, applied sciences, computing as well as mass communication, creative arts, social science and hospitality management.

TAR UMT has won many scholastic awards and recognitions amongst which include the Premier Digital Tech Institution status awarded by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) since 2017 and achieved the Competitive category for SETARA 2022. Besides this, the university won the Asia Pacific CSR Awards 2016 for ‘Excellence in Education Improvement’ award.

TARUMT currently hosts about 30,000 across its 6 campuses and also receives international students from over 30 countries.

1.2 TARUMT Rankings 2025

TARUMT is ranked #119 on the QS South East Asia University Ranking out of 148 Southeast Asia institutions that are ranked on the list. SEA alone has hundreds of universities that are not ranked on QS.

2. Student Life Review & Living Cost

2.1 TARUMT Campuses Review

TARUMT Kuala Lumpur Main Campus

Location and Surrounding Vibe: The KL Main Campus covers approximately 186 acres of land and is the flagship campus of TARUMT, where the majority of its student population, about 18,000, are studying at. 

The campus itself is fairly big and spreads across several building blocks amidst beautifully landscaped greenery to provide students with a conducive learning environment.

With the support from tuition fees, donations and sponsorships from alumni and various foundations, TARUMT has continued to upgrade the campus facade and interior over the years and is today equipped with modern amenities, recreational spaces and top-notch academic facilities.

There are so many things you can do on campus to have fun and develop your physical and mental health too. There is a dedicated Sports Complex and outdoor facilities that houses basketball, netball, volleyball, futsal, tennis and badminton courts. Football enthusiasts can rejoice with an open field available. Those who prefer solo workouts can look for the running tracks and Olympic-sized swimming pool. Indoor entertainments include gym, snooker tables, and rooms for martial arts and dance.

There is also no shortage of F&B choices as the campus not only has a big cafeteria called The Bricks and another called Yum Yum. Additionally, there are several cafes sprinkled around the campus where students can chill and camp to study during their free time.

Ease of Accessibility to Campus: Being located specifically in the Setapak township, it is within a 10 km radius of the city centre of Kuala Lumpur and other suburban areas where most students come from. If you are not from Selangor or KL, there are many adventures to have here during your study tenure.

The university also provides a free shuttle bus service at various stops such as Wangsa Maju, Teratai Residency, Genting Kelang, Melati Utama and other points around the greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley area. Ample parking space is also provided on the campus.

TARUMT Penang Campus

Campus tour intro for you!

Occupying 23 acres of land located at the prime tourist belt of Tanjong Bungah in Penang. The campus is situated a fair distance away from the hustle and bustle of Georgetown city centre and is positioned against a backdrop of the forest foothills of Penang island. This produces a cooling and calm atmosphere, great for focus and studies. About 4,000 students study at this campus.

While the facade isn’t the most updated in design, the facilities within the campus are always maintained and upgraded where needed to keep up with learning relevance.

Watch to find out all the facilities you can enjoy on the campus!

You can enjoy recreational facilities here such as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, basketball/netball court, table tennis, squash court and a gymnasium. There are many spaces for relaxation and catch-up with friends throughout the campus including the campus cafeteria. 

The Penang Campus also provides free bus shuttle services to students to travel back home, student accommodations or get to entertainment spots. The stops include Komtar, the Jetty, Air Itam, Farlim, Jalan Masjid Negeri and Sungai Nibong.

TARUMT Perak Campus

About 1,500 students congregate at this campus. It is located in the picturesque town of Kampar Perak overlooking the serene West Lake. Coincidentally TARUMAT Perak is right opposite the main campus of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) which is an affiliated university.

There are many on-campus facilities such as a swimming pool, futsal court, squash court, a multi-purpose hall with badminton courts, a gymnasium and other amenities like grocery stores and cafeterias.

The free shuttle bus service runs through Champ Elysees, Westlake Homes, Taman Mahsuri Impian, Uni Suites, and Pangsapuri Sutera, most of which are student accommodations.

TARUMT Johor Campus

The Johor Campus is located 20 minutes south of the Segamat township. It sits on a 50-acre campus land and is surrounded by lush greenery and landscaped gardens because of its fairly remote area. 

The dedicated ICT Centre, Business Centre and Aquatic Facilities were built to enrich students’ learning journey.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of activities students can do here. Indoor and outdoor courts facilitate sports such as basketball, badminton, squash, tennis and running tracks. There’s a swimming pool and even a training kitchen for baking if you’re in the mood to practice your skills. 

TARUMT Pahang Campus

The Pahang Campus is situated on a 15-acre plot of lush greenery in the heart of Indera Mahkota town, just a 20-minute drive west from Kuantan. The campus is located on the far east side of Pahang which meets the South China Sea.

The campus is well-equipped with various facilities. Here you’ll find indoor sports complex for badminton, volleyball, basketball and table tennis. There is a gym and swimming pool as well.

TARUMT Sabah Campus

The Sabah Campus is set within 6 acres of prime land in the Alamesra area which is just a 15-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu.

The campus can accommodate up to 3,000 students and is equipped with comfortable classrooms, cafeteria, learning spaces and laboratories. 

Its sports facilities are built into the campus rooftop and consist of basketball, futsal, and badminton courts, a well-equipped gymnasium, and an infinity-edge swimming pool.

2.2 Learning & Recreational Facilities

TARUMT Kuala Lumpur Main Campus

The main KL campus in Sg Long offers the majority of courses ranging from sports science, architecture, construction management, hospitality, culinary arts, nutrition, aquaculture, sciences, to various engineering disciplines.

A demo of how an assembled Mechatronic technology works!

TARUMT Penang Campus

The Penang campus has creative media courses, computing and engineering related facilities that are well maintained. There is no shortage of sports facilities here too from an indoor sports complex to a large swimming pool.

TARUMT Perak Campus

The Perak Campus offers business studies, hospitality/culinary and media/design courses. The campus features extensive equipment for its culinary course or what it calls Gastropreneurship. There are 8 types of kitchens to cater for artisanal, butchery, eastern cuisine, western cuisine, pastry and basic training.

TARUMT Pahang Campus

The Pahang campus has a full equipped simulation room to train you in the wonders of child development and nurturing. Scroll through to see other facilities on campus.

TARUMT Sabah Campus

You will utilize the various kitchenwares and learn how to manage restaurants and hotels through the hospitality course at the Sabah Campus.

2.3 Student Activities

There are close to 100 clubs and societies you can join at the main campus of TARUMT and multiple others if you are at other campuses.

Additionally, there are open co-curricular courses offered to any students who wants to participate such as sports (even e-sports), cultural (choir, dance, calligraphy), community work, army reserve unit and first aid unit. Students also enter many competitions to test their mettle and enhance their resume.

Here are some interesting student activities throughout the years!

The university also encourages entrepreneurship initiatives through The Centre for Business Incubation and Entrepreneurial Ventures (CBIEV) which was established in June 2016 to provide support and resources to TAR UMT students, staff, alumni, and the public to accelerate the transformation of ideas into marketable innovations focusing on start-up companies.

It is both a physical space and network resource to connect, share ideas, learn, meet people, and build their businesses on campus. Students are assigned mentors and they get the opportunity to talk to alumni and industry experts.

2.4 Student Services

TARUMT students get access to: 

• Student Counselling Services – The professional counsellors at TARUMT are there to assist students in their mental and emotional well-being be it academic or personal issues.

• Career Development Services – Career & Personality Explorations (Leonard Personality Inventory (LPI), LPI Career Tool, LPI Series Workshops, RIASEC etc) and Career Development Series (Customized Career Workshops, Talks and Industrial Engagement)

2.5  TARUMT Student Accommodation

TARUMT Kuala Lumpur Campus

On-Campus: The hostel at the main campus consists of 10 blocks of 5-storey, 1,000 standard rooms that accommodate 2,000 students. Each room is twin-sharing. There is a separation between the male and female wings.

Each floor has its common bathrooms, toilets, pantry, water dispenser and drying area. There is a self-service laundry machine, air-conditioned study rooms and free internet. A convenience store and stationery shop is also nearby.

As all rooms come standard, the rate is RM243 per room, per month for twin sharing. Rooms only have ceiling fans.

Off-Campus: For students who can’t book the on-campus rooms in time or prefer to have a more premium stay, can opt for Teratai Residency. The condominium comes with facilities such as swimming pool, 24-hour security, gym, self-service launderette and a small recreational park. A shuttle bus service to the campus is provided.

Room rates start from RM250 to RM450 per room, per month, depending on the size of the room and whether twin sharing or single occupancy. Rates include water and electricity up to RM300 per month per unit. Units are equipped with common living rooms and kitchen area.

There are other off-campus properties in the vicinity that TARUMT can help facilitate in matching you with.

Living Costs: General cost of living around Kuala Lumpur, excluding accommodation, for students studying on-campus, typically ranges between RM1,000 and RM1,200 per month. This would cover expenses like food, transportation, books, and miscellaneous personal expenses. However this is subject to individual lifestyle.

TARUMT Penang Campus

TARUMT provides an off-campus option at Mont Residence condominium. Well equipped with a gym, outdoor swimming pool, basketball court, and even a mini golf course and sauna for leisure.

All units are air-conditioned with free internet access and a common kitchen pantry and washing machine.

For rates or other information, you may ask our Uni Enrol counsellors for more information.

TARUMT Perak Campus

There are no on-campus student accommodations but there are many nearby options available as the campus is surrounded by a few housing areas.

Catch this super helpful guide from Lawrence Tan. Shout out to Lawrence!

These are the recommended options by TARUMT. A free shuttle bus service will pick up students from these locations.

• Danish House
• KT Management Student Hostel
• Danish House (Westlake Villas)
• MH Unilodge Kampar
• F.C.K Peak Hostel Management Sdn Bhd
• The Meadow Park Kampar
• UNI Suites
• Kondominium Timur Perdana

For rates or other information, you may ask our Uni Enrol counsellors for more information.

TARUMT Johor Campus

The Johor Campus has an on-campus student accommodation called The Student Residence which is located within walking distance to campus. 

Each unit is an apartment-style unit with 3 rooms and 3 attached bathrooms. All rooms are twin-sharing and fully furnished with essential needs such as beds, study tables and wardrobes.

There are amenities to enhance living comforts such as discussion rooms, self-service laundry, an elevator service, prayer rooms and 24-hour security. 

For rates or other information, you may ask our Uni Enrol counsellors for more information.

TARUMT Pahang Campus

There is an off-campus option, Valley Suites Apartments, which is only a 2-minute walk from the campus.

For rates or other information, you may ask our Uni Enrol counsellors for more information.

TARUMT Sabah Campus

There are ample accommodation options available as the campus is surrounded by various apartment units for rent.

For rates or other information, you may ask our Uni Enrol counsellors for more information.

3. Courses Review, Fees & Scholarships

3.1 Courses You Can Study At TARUMT

TARUMT has 6 campus branches across 6 states in Malaysia.

TARUMT Kuala Lumpur Campus

These are well known areas of study offered at TARUMT KL campus. Click the respective area of study below to see all courses offered:

Foundation Foundation in Arts, Business, Science	Business Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, International Business, HR, Marketing, Logistics & Supply Chain, Economics, Real Estate
Accounting and Finance Accounting, Finance, Banking, Investment	Architecture and Built Environment Architecture, Interior Architecture, Quantity Survey, Construction Management
Communication and Media Studies Mass Communication, Advertising, Broadcasting, Media Studies, Creative Multimedia, Graphic Design, PR	Computing and IT Computer Science, IT, Software Engineering, Data Science, Info Security, Software Systems
Creative Arts and Design Fashion Design	Education Early Childhood Education
Engineering Electrical & Electronics, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Manufacturing	Hospitality and Services Hospitality Management, Tourism, Hotel Management
Language and Social Studies Psychology, Counselling, English Studies, Drama	Medicine and Allied Health Sciences Nutrition, Sports Science, Sports Coaching
Science and Mathematics Analytical Chemistry, Physics, Food Science, Mathematics in Computing

TARUMT Penang Campus

These are well known areas of study offered at TARUMT Penang Campus. Click the respective area of study below to see all courses offered:

Foundation Foundation in Business, Foundation in Computing	Business Business Admin, E-Marketing, International Business, HR
Accounting and Finance Accounting, Finance, Banking, Investment	Architecture and Built Environment Quantity Survey, Building Studies
Communication and Media Studies Mass Comm, Broadcasting, PR	Computing and IT Computer Science, IT, Software Engineering, Data Science, Internet Technology, Software Systems
Engineering Electronics Engineering

TARUMT Perak Campus

These are well known areas of study offered at TARUMT Perak Campus. Click the respective area of study below to see all courses offered:

Business Business Administration, Marketing, E-Marketing	Accounting and Finance Accounting, Finance,
Communication and Media Studies Communications, Media Studies, Graphic Design, PR	Computing and IT Software Systems, IT,  Information Systems
Hospitality and Services Tourism Management, Gastropreneurship, Culinary Arts, Event Management, Hotel Management

TARUMT Johor Campus

These are well known areas of study offered at TARUMT Johor Campus. Click the respective area of study below to see all courses offered:

Business Business Administration, Entrepreneurship	Accounting and Finance Accounting, Finance
Computing and IT Computer Science, IT, Software Systems	Education Early Childhood Education
Hospitality and Services Hotel Management	Science and Mathematics Aquaculture

TARUMT Pahang Campus

These are well known areas of study offered at TARUMT Pahang Campus. Click the respective area of study below to see all courses offered:

Business Business Administration, E-Marketing Logistics & Supply Chain	Accounting and Finance Accounting, Finance
Computing and IT Information Technology, Software Systems	Education Early Childhood Education

TARUMT Sabah Campus

These are well known areas of study offered at TARUMT Sabah Campus. Click the respective area of study below to see all courses offered:

Business Business Administration, Marketing	Accounting and Finance Accounting, Finance, Banking
Computing and IT Software Engineering, IT Software Systems	Education Early Childhood Education
Hospitality and Services Hotel Management

3.2 Course Fees At TARUMT

We have also saved you the hassle and compiled the full list of TARUMT’s detailed course fees into one article below. Check it out and share it!

TARUMT Fees & Courses In 2025

3.3 TARUMT Scholarships

These are some of the popular scholarships offered by TARUMT. Click here to see the full list of scholarships:

Scholarships	Details
TARUMT Sports Scholarship	25% – 100% tuition fee waiver for state and national athletes
TARUMT Merit Scholarship	Up to 100% tuition fee waiver based on academic results. Covers foundation, diploma and degree courses for all fields. Requires maintenance in results.

PTPTN Financial Aids

Malaysian students can apply for the National Higher Education Fund or PTPTN which is responsible for giving loans to students pursuing tertiary education. PTPTN falls under the purview of the Ministry of Higher Education.

You can borrow from RM3,400 to a maximum of RM50,000 per annum depending on the level and type of course you are taking. PTPTN only charges an annual interest rate of about 1%.

3.4 Popular Courses Review At TARUMT

Business Studies

The business faculty undoubtedly has the largest student population of about 14,000 at any given point.

TARUMT has all the essential business competencies to choose such as Business Administration, Banking, Finance, Investment, Economics, Human Resources, Marketing, International Business, Entrepreneurship and Logistics & Supply Chain.

Without the need to study in the UK, graduating from any of these degree programmes will entitle you to a dual award from TARUMT and Coventry University, UK which is ranked #571 by QS World University Rankings out of thousands of education institutions in the world.

Several courses that are worth noting and relevant to today’s globally and digitally pervasive world:

• Business Analytics – Many businesses are run online and results are data driven. You are exposed to both business and technical skills such as programming, discrete mathematics, data science, statistics, data warehousing technology, big data analytics and more

• Marketing and E-Marketing – TARUMT’s degree in Marketing or diploma in E-Marketing marries timeless marketing and branding principles with technical skills in running new digital marketing channels such as social media and search engine platforms.

• Logistics & Supply Chain – Increased connectivity online has catapulted the logistics and shipping industry to a new stratosphere. This field is an intricate driver to both traditional trade and e-commerce.

Accounting Studies

TARUMT’s 4-year Accounting degree has a special arrangement of awarding you with immediate membership into the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) which qualifies you as a Chartered Accountant after procuring a few years of working experience. 

There are only a handful of other universities with this arrangement, namely INTI University and Multimedia University (MMU).

You will also receive a dual award from TARUMT and Coventry University, UK upon graduation.

You can also opt for the degree in Accounting and Finance, where you can receive exam exemptions for professional accounting qualifications such as ACCA, CPA and CIMA, as well as exam exemptions awarded by the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM), and Malaysian Financial Planning Council (MFPC).

TARUMT’s accounting students have no shortage of awards from various competitions organised by major audit, tax and company secretarial firms such as Deloitte, Earnst and Young, and MAICSA.

Computing Studies

Aside from the business courses, the computing studies at TARUMT is quite extensive.

For students who intend to acquire deep computing knowledge, they can consider:

• Management Mathematics with Computing – Completion of this degree entail majoring in Management Mathematics and minoring in Computing. This course is accredited by CompTIA A+ and covers mathematical techniques for business management, including quantitative decision, applied statistics and financial mathematics. Prepares you for software design and development, including skills on programming and information management.

• Computer Science specialisation in Data Science – You will receive a SAS Joint Certificate specialised in Data Science and Machine Learning. The curriculum incorporates artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, data visualisation, data warehouse technology, and cloud computing.

• Software Engineering – Receive accreditation as a ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL). Gain skills in mobile application development, web application development, Blockchain application development, data science, cloud computing as part of the elective choices.

• Information Security – Accredited by Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Linux+. Network and data protection is increasingly vital. You will learn how to prevent, detect and defend an organisation’s digital assets from internal and external threats.

The computing faculty of TARUMT has a graduate employability of 98% and have won multiple accolades including the Worldskills ASEAN 2023 held in Singapore where 2 software engineering students won the Medallion for Excellence award in the Internet-of-Things category.

Communication and Creative Media Studies

For the expressive and creative, TARUMT is also quite popular for its communication and creative media studies.

Areas of study which give you an all-rounded learning experience about creation, curating and distribution of media and content can consider TARUMT’s diploma or degree in Communications, Broadcasting and Media Studies.

Communication courses that carry specific skillsets offered are Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising.

For creative students, TARUT offers diploma/degree in Graphic Design or Multimedia Design and degree in Fashion Design. Final year Fashion Design students get the opportunity to create and showcase their fashion collections.

As communication and creative media courses are highly hands-on and tactile in nature, you are evaluated mostly on your coursework including 2 projects and industrial training.

3.6 Industry Partners

The TARUMT faculties at every branch campus work hard to establish many international and local organisations for all fields, especially for science, engineering and technology.

3.7 University Partners

TARUMT has close ties with Coventry University UK for its various degree programmes. There are other universities from China, Vietnam and Japan that work closely with the institution for smooth articulation arrangements.

4. Entry Requirements & Intake Dates

4.1 TARUMT Entry Requirements 2025

Minimum entry requirements for Foundation:

• SPM – 5 credits
• IGCSE – 5 credits

(Including credit for Maths and English)

Minimum entry requirements for Diploma:

• SPM – 3 credits
• IGCSE – 3 credits

(Including pass for Maths and English)

Minimum entry requirements for Degree:

• UEC – 5B
• STPM – CGPA of 2.00
• A-Level – 2D
• SACE/WACE – ATAR 50
• IB Diploma – 24
• Foundation – CGPA 2.00
• Diploma – CGPA 2.00

Please note that the entry requirements may vary depending on the chosen field of study as certain courses may have higher or specific qualifying conditions especially for courses in Engineering.

4.2 TARUMT Intake Periods For 2025

The intake periods for TARUMT in 2025 are as follows:

• Foundation – Feb, Jun, Oct
• Diploma – Feb, Jun, Nov
• Degree – Feb, Jun, Nov
• Postgraduate – Jan-Dec (rolling months)

Please note that the intake periods may vary depending on the courses. For specific intake periods and dates, consult Uni Enrol’s counsellors.

4.3 Learn How To Choose The Right University

When you need life-changing advice, we often consult professionals such as teachers, lawyers, and bankers. However, many students are not aware that education consultants like Uni Enrol can help you choose the right education path to secure your future prospects.

Check out some articles on what education consultants do and the benefits:

• 7 Vital Questions To Ask Before Choosing Your Educational Consultant
• Top 10 Benefits Of Engaging A Higher Education Consultant

5. Student Testimonials & Alumni

This is Schera’s story and experience at TARUMT

What students say about TARUMT

6. Summary Review

TLDR? No worries. Here’s our main takeaways:

Background, Status and Ranking: TARUMT has evolved significantly since its establishment in 1969, achieving full university status in 2022. Recognized as a Premier Digital Tech Institution by MDEC and rated in the “Competitive” category in Malaysia’s SETARA 2022 rankings, it demonstrates a commitment to academic excellence and industry relevance.

Student Life: TARUMT offers an active and enriching student experience, shaped by over 100 clubs and societies that cater to academic, cultural, and recreational interests. The campus promotes a balanced lifestyle with structured co-curricular programs, leadership development, and ample opportunities for students to engage beyond the classroom. Facilities and support systems are in place to nurture both personal growth and career readiness, making it a well-rounded environment for student development.

Courses Offered: TAR UMT provides an array of over 200 courses across various disciplines, including accounting, finance, business, engineering, applied sciences, computer science, mass communication, creative arts, social sciences, built environment, and hospitality management. This extensive portfolio caters to diverse academic interests and career aspirations.

Popular Courses: The university is particularly renowned for its courses in accounting, finance, business, and engineering. Its status as an ACCA Platinum Approved Learning Partner underscores its strength in accounting education, while its engineering programs are recognized for their academic rigour and industry relevance.

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