10 Top Private Universities And Colleges In Kuala Lumpur 2025

Here are our Top 10 best reputable universities and colleges in Kuala Lumpur you should consider studying. Uni Enrol is the official partner and can tailor our recommendations to your preferences!

Each of these institutions has various scholarships and bursaries you should not miss out! So talk to our counsellors or use Pathway Match, our scholarship and course matching tool.

#1 Asia Pacific University (APU)

Since 1993, APU has been one of the best private universities in Malaysia that focuses on producing top talents in the digital technology field. Since then it has introduced a plethora of other fields of study and disciplines.

APU key snapshot statistics:

Total student population	14,000
% of international students:	45% coming from over 130 different countries
% of teaching staff with industry experience	90%, which is a reflection on the strong employment track record of its graduates
Graduate employability rate:	100% by Annual Graduate Tracer Study

Why Should You Study At APU?

• Its innovation in learning has earned 5 Stars from QS for categories including Teaching, Employability, Internationalisation, Academic Development, Facilities, Social Responsibility and Inclusiveness.

• Renowned for Computing & IT studies and attested by many employers according to Talent Bank.

• Dual-Degree Scheme with De Montfort University UK for a number of its courses.

• Heavy investment in technology for other faculties such as Psychology (EEG, Eye Tracker, VR, psychoanalysis rooms, observation rooms etc).

• Strong partnerships with Microsoft, AWS, CISCO, SAS and CDMA to provide curriculum and certifications that are up-to-date with the latest industry standards.

APU popular courses:

• Computer Science
• Software Engineering
• Cybersecurity
• Psychology
• Business, Accounting, Finance
• Actuarial Science
• Engineering

Discover more about APU from our Complete Guide.

The Complete Review Of Asia Pacific University (APU) Malaysia

#2 IMU University

IMU is Malaysia’s first and most established private medical and health sciences university since its inception in 1992. Over the years, the institution has expanded its variety of courses beyond medicine to include other health-related disciplines. In 1999, it was granted university status.

Here is some quick stats about IMU:

Total student population	3,800
% of international students	12% from more than 40 countries

Why Should You Study At IMU?

• IMU is the most respected private medical education provider in Malaysia and its graduates are well regarded and in-demand.

• Ranks in the Top #201-250 globally on QS World University Rankings and has continued to climb since its increased effort in publishing more research work since 2012 and producing over 14,000 in high quality and successful student alumni.

• IMU also ranks as top tier for Medicine and Pharmacy studies on the QS Subjects Ranking.

• A strong attraction for IMU’s MBBS course is the opportunity to start a doctorate career in the USA. Starting in August 2017, IMU has integrated the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Preparatory Course into the medical curriculum.

• IMU’s Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) course is conducted entirely in English and welcomes students from all walks of life to study TCM. Students will start clinical skills almost from the get-go at IMU’s in-house Chinese Medicine Centre.

IMU popular courses:

• MBBS
• Dentistry
• Pharmacy
• TCM

Read our guide on IMU University to get the complete scoop and our very own Campus Unboxing Tour!

The Complete Review Of IMU University

Uni Enrol has successfully facilitated thousands of applications and placements of students in Malaysia and many popular countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.

#3 Heriot-Watt University (Malaysia)

The Heriot-Watt Malaysia campus has got to be the top most beautifully designed private university campuses in Malaysia.

It is an architectural and engineering marvel which reflects the university’s long historic strength in both architecture and engineering studies.

Here’s some key stats about Heriot-Watt Malaysia:

Total student population	2,000
% of international students	30%
Graduate employability rate %	95% in 6 months from graduation

Why Should You Study At Heriot-Watt Malaysia?

• Ranks #256 in 2025 on the QS World University Rankings and in the Top 150 and Top 200 for Architecture studies and Civil Engineering studies respectively based on the QS World Ranking by Subject.

• Ranked #15 on the QS World Subjects Ranking for the ”Engineering – Petroleum” category which is one of the largest industries in Malaysia with lucrative job prospects.

• Its Go Global programme gives you the flexibility to transfer to any of its UK and Dubai campuses for as short as 2 weeks (study programme) up to 2 years.

• Get a 20% waiver on your tuition fees if you choose to transfer after the first year of your degree.

Heriot-Watt Malaysia popular courses:

• Engineering Studies
• Construction Management
• Quantity Survey
• Business
• Actuarial Science
• Accounting & Finance

Check out our Complete Guide about this university with a beautiful campus.

The Complete Review Of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia

#4 UCSI University

Established in 1986, UCSI University started as Sedaya College and later received university college status in 2003 and full-fledged university status in 2008, becoming Malaysia’s second private university and renamed as UCSI University.

Here are some key statistics about UCSI:

Total student population	15,000
% of international students	30% from more than 100 countries
PhD lecturers	70%-90% of lecturers are PhD holders depending on faculty
Graduate employability rate	100%, based on MOHE Graduate Survey

Why Should You Study At UCSI University?

• UCSI is the 2nd highest ranking private university in Malaysia based on its ranking position of #265 globally on the QS World University Rankings and #9 among top universities in Southeast Asia.

• Believe it or not, UCSI ranks #32 on the QS ranking for the subject category of Performing Arts, owing to its established Music faculty that offers Contemporary Music and Classical Music courses.

• UCSI opened a new flagship campus in the township of Springhill Seremban which focuses on healthcare courses such as Medicine and Nursing. It also offers Optometry, Pharmacy and Nutrition at its KL campus.

• Extensive facilities for every faculty such as Hospitality where an entire building on campus is dedicated as a learning ground and an actual hotel named Le Quadri Hotel (Kl Campus) and UCSI Hotel Kuching. Students undergoing the degree in hospitality will receive a dual award from UCSI and HTMI Switzerland which is ranked #19 globally under the QS Subject rankings.

UCSI University popular courses:

• Medicine
• Optometry
• Pharmacy
• Music Studies
• Hospitality
• Business
• Accounting & Finance
• Design Studies
• Engineering

Applying to UCSI? Read the Complete Guide and talk to our counsellors before you do!

The Complete Review Of UCSI University

Uni Enrol has successfully facilitated thousands of applications and placements of students in Malaysia and many popular countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.

#5 MCKL

The Methodist College Kuala Lumpur (MCKL) was founded by the Methodist Council of Education in 1983. Since then it has provided top-notch education in foundational courses, various diploma programmes and ACCA qualifications.

Its main campus is located in Brickfields, in the bustling metropolitan of Kuala Lumpur. Despite its city location, the campus is insulated from noises and it is situated conveniently next to the public monorail. In 2022, MCKL also opened its branch campus in Penang (Pykett Campus) to serve school leavers in the northern region of Malaysia.

Why Should You Study At MCKL?

• MCKL is one of the early providers of international pre-university courses, A-Level and AUSMAT and has produced top graduates over the years who go on to top tier overseas universities.

• For students who wants to get their higher education from the United States, MCKL is one of the few that provides the American Degree Transfer Program (ADTP) pathway.

• The Diploma in Digital Business specifically has a fast track pathway which allows students, upon completion of the diploma, to spend only 1 year at Middlesex University, London to obtain a degree.

• The Computer Science and Information Technology diplomas are certified by AWS Academy as a Cloud Practitioner. A Diploma in Computer Science will also be awarded the SAS Academic Specialisation upon completion.

• Students completing a diploma can articulate directly to the University of South Australia smoothly to complete a degree in Computer Science.

• MCKL is a Platinum-approved learning partner of ACCA which is the highest recognition for a provider due to its excellent track record.

MCKL popular courses:

• A-Level, AUSMAT
• ADTP
• ACCA
• Computer Science
• Digital Marketing
• Business

Check out the full review with our own Campus Unboxing Tour at MCKL:

The Complete Review Of Methodist College Kuala Lumpur (MCKL)

#6 SEGI University

SEGI started in 1977 with the vision to make education accessible and affordable to all students. With that in mind, the university has flourished to 6 different campuses across key states and locations in Malaysia.

SEGI’s branch campus in Kuala Lumpur initially operated as Systematic College, and now offers all types of studies such as Accounting, Finance, Digital Marketing, Business, Computer Science, Nursing, Early Childhood Education, Culinary Arts and more.

Here are some key statistics about SEGI:

Total student population	20,000 on-campus and online
% of international students	40% from over 90 countries
Teaching faculty-to-student ratio	1:30, a healthy ratio
Employability Rate %	85% hired after 6 months from graduating

Why Should You Study At SEGI?

• Ranks within #451-460 on the QS Asian University Rankings and #78 on the QS South East Asia University Rankings.

• Highly accessible through its flagship university campus in Kota Damansara (Selangor), its other college building in the same area of Kota Damansara, its Subang college campus, its Kuala Lumpur college campus and colleges in other states including Penang and Sarawak.

• SEGI is one of the most affordable private universities in Malaysia including its courses in healthcare such as MBBS and Dentistry.

• It also offers many types of study disciplines from Business, Built Environment, Communication, Creative Media, Music, Education, Engineering, Law, Hospitality, Medicine, Dentistry, Allied Health Sciences and more.

• For students studying at the Kuala Lumpur campus, you can obtain your degree with an award from the University of Greenwich, UK, being the university partner of SEGI or you may transfer to the Kota Damansara main campus.

• Through a scheme called PTPTN X’tra, SEGI partners with PTPTN and key education lending providers to enable B40 students to secure additional financial aid on top of the PTPTN amount that they qualify.

SEGI popular courses:

• Healthcare (MBBS, Dentistry, Pharmacy)
• Psychology
• Early Childhood Education
• Creative Media and Design
• Business
• Human Resource
• Marketing

If you have been thinking about SEGI, here’s our Complete Guide to get more insights.

The Complete Review Of SEGI University

#7 HELP University

HELP University, was established in 1986 as HELP Institute, is a household name among students in Malaysia and made its name in Psychology studies and providing many overseas articulation options.

HELP University is part of a larger network of campuses that includes its flagship campus in Subang 2 (Shah Alam) which was awarded a Green Building Index (GBI) certification.

HELP’s second campus is located in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur which focuses on popular in Accounting , Business, Hospitality, Human Resource, Economics and its UK Law programme.

Here are some key statistics about HELP University:

Total student population	10,000
% of international students	25%
PhD lecturers	40% depending on faculty

Why Should You Study At HELP?

• HELP University ranks within #601-620 on the QS Asian University Rankings and #105 on the QS South East Asia University Rankings.

• It is also the first private university in Southeast Asia to be awarded the maximum 5 Stars in all 9 categories of the QS Star Rating System.

• If you’re looking for Psychology studies in particular, HELP is the largest provider for this field of study with an impressive line of academic lecturers and extensive research produced in this space.

• HELP is also famous for its many articulation pathways (more than 200) where you can transfer your degree credit hours to universities abroad in Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland, China and US.

• The university also facilitates Student Exchange Programmes such as the Korean Exchange Programme for up to 2 semesters and Short Term Mobility Programme akin to a short study tour up to 4 weeks.

HELP popular courses:

• Psychology
• Early Childhood Education
• Business Data Analytics
• Accounting
• Communications
• Law

Check out our full review and Uni Enrol’s signature Campus Unboxing videos in here!

The Complete Review Of HELP University

Uni Enrol has successfully facilitated thousands of applications and placements of students in Malaysia and many popular countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.

#8 Raffles College KL

The Raffles Education brand has built a strong reputation in creative arts including Fashion Design, Creative Media Technology and Graphic Design.

It has a global campus presence and operates its first Malaysian campus branch in Kuala Lumpur. The KL branch campus offers Fashion Design, Creative Arts, Multimedia and Interior Design.

Why Should You Study At Raffles University?

• Raffles received 5 Stars for the categories of ‘’Teaching, Employability, Inclusiveness and Online Learning’’ by the QS World University Rankings standard.

• Raffles is at the forefront of design learning innovation. It embraces the use of Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) to find design inspiration and exploration.

• Opportunity to advance your Diploma in Fashion Design, to a Bachelor of Fashion Design at Raffles Singapore which you will also receive an additional award from Coventry University, UK.

• Launched an AI Research Institute, producing not only research findings but real-life solutions that are tested for the construction, medical and educational industries. 

• Campus presence in 9 countries spread across the globe expands the institution’s cross-border industry network which students can tap into.

Raffles University popular courses:

• Fashion Design
• Fashion Marketing
• Creative Media Technology
• Game Arts
• Multimedia Design
• Graphic Arts
• Interior Design

Considering studying fashion design or creative arts at Raffles? Here’s our full review guide!

The Complete Review Of Raffles University & Raffles College, Malaysia

#9 International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW)

IUMW is a private university established based on a mutual partnership between the University Malaya (UM) & the University of Wales, UK in 2015. It offers an array of undergraduate and postgraduate courses to both local and international students.

Why Should You Study At IUMW?

• Highly reputable parent institution behind IUMW, i.e. University Malaya (QS #60) and University of Wales UK (QS #531-540).

• You can opt to get a dual award from Universiti Malaya and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) when you graduate from certain degree such as Accounting, Business Administration, Marketing and Finance.

• Opportunity to articulate to UWTSD in the United Kingdom and experience new cultures.

IUMW popular courses:

• Business
• Accounting
• Islamic Finance
• Real Estate
• Computer Science
• Psychology

Uni Enrol has successfully facilitated thousands of applications and placements of students in Malaysia and many popular countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.

#10 TARUMT

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 affordable 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.

Why Should You Study At TARUMT?

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

• TARUMT provides afforadble courses. Most of its degree courses are below RM40,000 and its engineering courses are below RM50,000. This is not inclusive of potential scholarships savings.

• For some of its degree offerings, you can also receive dual awards from TARUMT and Coventry University, UK which is ranked #571 globally by QS World University Rankings out of thousands of education institutions in the world.

• 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. Only a few universities like MMU and INTI has this arrangement.

TARUMT popular courses:

• Business
• Accounting and Finance
• Engineering
• Communications Media
• Creative Arts
• Science courses

Read up on our complete guide on TARUMT:

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

#Bonus – Universiti Malaya

Universiti Malaya (UM) is a public research university located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and is the oldest Malaysian institution of higher education. UM is divided into 14 faculties, 2 academies, 3 institutes and 2 academic centres. The university has graduated 5 prime ministers of Malaysia, and other political, business, and cultural figures of national prominence.

While UMM is a public university in Malaysia, students who were not successful in entering through the UPU system can enrol through its private intake channel, called Open Channel (SATU). Through this channel, you pay the full tuition fees.

Here are key statistics about UM:

Total student population	40,000 students
% of international students	30%, majority being post-grad students
Student-teacher-ratio	Est 16:1

Why Should You Study At UM?

• UM is ranked #60 globally on the QS World University Ranking and is the highest-ranked university in Malaysia.

• Aside from its ranking UM is highly regarded for its research achievements and has a global reputation.

• Very extensive offerings of close to 300 courses catering to a wide range of interests and career aspirations from business to arts, computing to engineering, science to communications and law to social studies.

• UM is well known for its healthcare courses and even has its own medical centre called Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and a specialist arm called UM Specialist Centre which treats tens of thousands of patients every year.

UM popular courses:

• Healthcare
• Law studies
• English, Journalism
• Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Science
• Policy and Social Science

Uni Enrol has successfully facilitated thousands of applications and placements of students in Malaysia and many popular countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.

See More Uni Review Guides

If you are looking for other options outside, check out our full list of university reviews and ultimate course & fees listings too!

Complete Guide To Private Universities In Malaysia

Fees & Courses Of Private Universities In Malaysia