Monash University Malaysia scholarships for international students come in two groups. Undergraduates can get partial tuition waivers, the main one being the Monash High Achiever Award worth RM10,000 a year. Research students (MPhil and PhD) can get a full tuition waiver plus a monthly stipend of RM2,950 through the Graduate Research Excellence Scholarship or the GEMS scholarship.
For most of these awards there is no separate scholarship form. You apply for your course, and Monash considers you automatically or asks you to tick the scholarship option inside the course application. Below are the awards open to international applicants, the amounts, the 2027 intake deadlines, the English scores Monash accepts and the documents to prepare.
Monash University Malaysia scholarships 2027 at a glance
- Campus: Bandar Sunway, Selangor (Malaysia time is GMT+8)
- Best undergraduate award: Monash High Achiever Award: RM10,000 a year off tuition
- Best research award: Full tuition waiver plus RM2,950 a month (GRES or GEMS)
- Number of research awards: 80 GRES and 15 GEMS scholarships listed for 2027
- 2027 intakes: February, July and October (October for selected courses)
- Separate scholarship form? Usually no. Pharmacy Excellence is the main exception
- Fully funded undergraduate award? No. Undergraduate awards for international students are partial tuition waivers
Monash University Malaysia scholarships open to international students
Malaysian education portals list about 20 Monash Malaysia scholarships and bursaries, but many are limited to Malaysians, UEC holders or Indonesian students. These are the ones the university’s own pages say are open to international applicants:
| Scholarship | Level | Value | How you are considered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monash High Achiever Award (new students) | Bachelor’s | RM10,000 a year (RM5,000 per semester) | Automatic with your admission application |
| Female in Engineering Scholarship | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) | RM6,000 for first year (RM3,000 per semester) | Automatic with your admission application |
| Monash Pharmacy Excellence Scholarship | Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) | 25% or 50% tuition waiver for the four-year course | Separate application, closes 31 January |
| Graduate Research Pathway Scholarship | Honours year, or Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Commerce | Up to 100% tuition waiver | Through your school’s Education Management Office |
| Graduate Research Excellence Scholarship (GRES) | Research master’s and PhD | Full tuition waiver plus RM2,950 a month | Tick the scholarship in your research degree application |
| Graduate Research Tuition Fee Waiver | Research master’s and PhD | 50%, 75% or 100% tuition waiver, no stipend | Tick the scholarship in your research degree application |
| Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS) | Full-time PhD | Full tuition waiver, RM2,950 to RM8,500 a month, RM9,000 travel grant | Tick GEMS and name one advertised research topic |
Monash states that the university can change scholarship terms without notice, so treat the amounts as current for 2026 and 2027 entry and confirm them in your offer letter.
Undergraduate Monash University Malaysia scholarships
Monash High Achiever Award
This is the award most international undergraduates will be looking at. It takes RM10,000 off your tuition each year, paid as RM5,000 per semester, for the normal length of your degree. It is open to every undergraduate course except the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine, and the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours).
To be considered you need a full (not conditional) offer, you must not have started university study elsewhere, and you must not be transferring in with credit. Monash judges your school results against an internal eligibility table. Uni Enrol, a Malaysian admissions platform, publishes these qualifying results:
| Qualification | Result reported for the award |
|---|---|
| GCE A Levels | 3 As |
| International Baccalaureate | 38 points |
| Australian Year 12 | ATAR 98 or higher |
| Canadian matriculation | 95% or higher |
| Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) | 89% |
| STPM (Malaysia) | 11 points |
| UEC (Malaysia) | 6 or more As |
Monash’s own page refers to a table effective from November 2025 but does not print it, so use these figures as a guide. If your qualification is not listed (WAEC, CBSE, Gaokao and others), Monash decides what counts as an “outstanding” equivalent.
Keeping the award is where students slip. You must hit the maintenance score in your offer letter, carry a full load of 24 credit points each semester, finish on time with no extensions, and accept no other financial aid at any point. One reduced-load semester can end it.
Female in Engineering Scholarship
Open to new female students, Malaysian or international, entering the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours). It gives RM6,000 off first-year tuition. Places are limited to 7 for the February intake, 7 for July and 6 for October. To keep the second-semester payment, you need a 70% average across 24 credit points in semester one with no failed unit. You are considered automatically when you apply for admission.
Monash Pharmacy Excellence Scholarship
Pharmacy is shut out of the High Achiever Award, so this is its replacement. It is a 25% or 50% tuition waiver for the full four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), open to new Malaysian and international students. Unlike the others, it needs a separate application through the SORS portal or by emailing the form to the scholarship office. The closing date is 31 January. Extracurricular activities and community work count in your favour.
Graduate Research Pathway Scholarship
This one is for students entering an Honours year (or the Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Commerce) with a distinction average from a recognised university. It waives up to 100% of tuition. You apply through the Education Management Office of your school.
Monash Malaysia postgraduate research scholarships (MPhil and PhD)
The fully funded options at Monash Malaysia are all for research degrees. Monash’s postgraduate scholarships page lists research awards only, and the university warns that they do not apply to taught master’s courses with similar names. If you want a coursework master’s, expect to pay the fee.
Graduate Research Excellence Scholarship (GRES)
- Value: full tuition waiver plus a stipend of RM2,950 a month (2026 rate).
- Number: 80 scholarships listed for 2027.
- Duration: 2 years for a research master’s, 3.5 years for a PhD, or until you submit your thesis if that comes first.
- Academic bar: First Class Honours (H1) or an equivalent Monash recognises.
- Who: new research students, or current students in their first year. Nationality is not restricted.
- Condition: up to 240 hours a year of teaching or research support for your school.
GRES runs in four rounds. Your research degree offer letter must be issued by the round date for you to be considered in that round:
| GRES round | Offer letter needed by |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | 12 February 2027 |
| Round 2 | 23 April 2027 |
| Round 3 | 30 July 2027 |
| Round 4 | 1 October 2027 |
Because the date is tied to your offer letter, not your application, I would apply at least two months before the round you are aiming for. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed by their school.
Graduate Research Tuition Fee Waiver
If you have a Second Class Honours, Upper Division (H2A) or equivalent but not a first, this is your route. It waives 50%, 75% or 100% of tuition for the same durations as GRES, with no stipend. It can be awarded at any point after your offer letter is issued. If an employer or government already sponsors you, you need the scholarship office’s approval first.
Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS)
GEMS is the richest award on the campus. It is a full-time PhD scholarship with up to nine months spent at Monash Australia, Monash University Indonesia or IIT Bombay in India. Monash values the tuition waiver at RM218,880 for international students at 2026 fee rates.
| GEMS benefit | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 100% waiver for up to 4 years full-time |
| Stipend in Malaysia | RM2,950 a month for 33 to 36 months |
| Stipend while in Australia | RM8,500 a month for up to 9 months |
| Stipend while in Indonesia or India | RM2,950 a month for up to 9 months |
| Travel grant | RM9,000 towards visa, insurance and flights |
| Total funded period | 42 months |
| Not covered | Registration and amenities fees |
You need First Class Honours or equivalent, and you must choose one of the advertised GEMS research topics and write a proposal for it. Monash advises contacting the main supervisor of that topic before you apply. The 2027 deadline is 25 January 2027, and you must enrol by 31 December 2027. Your mobility term has to start within 18 months of your PhD start date.
Monash says 15 GEMS awards are offered per year, though its 2027 topic list adds up to 17 places. Either way, it is a small pool, so a strong proposal matters more than anything else in the file.
2027 intakes and application deadlines for international students
Undergraduate scholarships close with your course application, so the course deadline is your scholarship deadline. All dates are Malaysia time (GMT+8).
| Intake (classes start) | Course application deadline | Student visa deadline |
|---|---|---|
| February 2027 (1 March 2027) | 18 December 2026 for most courses; 4 December 2026 for Medicine; 27 November 2026 for Master of Professional Counselling | 24 December 2026 |
| July 2027 (26 July 2027) | 14 May 2027 for most courses; 30 April 2027 for Master of Professional Counselling | 21 May 2027 |
| October 2027 (25 October 2027) | 13 August 2027 (selected courses only) | 20 August 2027 |
The Master of Clinical Psychology deadline for February 2027 was 2 October 2026 and has passed. The Pharmacy Excellence Scholarship has its own 31 January closing date, and GEMS closes on 25 January 2027.
English and entry requirements
Every applicant must meet both Monash’s English rules and those of Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education. For most undergraduate and coursework postgraduate programmes, these are the minimums:
| Test | Most degrees | Medicine (Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, 6.0 in each skill | 7.0 overall, 6.5 in each skill |
| TOEFL iBT (from 21 January 2026) | 4.0 total | 4.5 total |
| TOEFL iBT (before 21 January 2026) | 79 total | 94 total |
| PTE Academic | 58 overall | 65 overall |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 176 overall | 185 overall |
- Results must be less than three years old at your course start date. Malaysia’s government also applies a two-year rule per degree, which Monash checks when you apply.
- Monash does not accept the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition or PTE Academic Online. Duolingo is not on its list.
- You can skip the test if you completed at least one full-time semester of post-secondary study in English within the last three years, or a bachelor’s degree within the last five years, at an institution that taught and assessed in English. You need an official letter from that institution’s registrar confirming it.
- Research master’s and PhD applicants have separate English rules that Monash publishes per course.
On school results: each bachelor’s course page lists the qualifications it accepts, such as A Levels, IB, Australian Year 12, Indian, Chinese and Sri Lankan certificates. Many national school certificates, including WAEC and NECO from West Africa, are not listed. Students with those results usually enter through the Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) at Sunway College, which asks for an O Level or SPM pass with five credits including English. Ask Monash admissions in writing whether your certificate is accepted before you pay any fee.
Documents checklist
| Document | Undergraduate | Research degree and GEMS |
|---|---|---|
| Passport (photo page) | Yes | Yes |
| School results (and pre-university results) | Yes | No |
| Degree certificates and transcripts with grading scale | Only if you studied after school | Yes, certified true copies |
| English test result or registrar’s letter | Yes | Yes |
| CV | No | Yes |
| Research proposal | No | Yes (on your chosen GEMS topic for GEMS) |
| Personal statement | No | About 300 words for GEMS |
| Publications | No | If you have any |
| Co-curricular certificates | For Pharmacy Excellence | No |
Monash says incomplete GEMS applications will not be accepted. Some research schools also ask for referees. If yours does, our recommendation letter samples show what a useful reference looks like.
How to apply for Monash University Malaysia scholarships
- Pick your course on monash.edu.my and check that your school or degree qualification is listed for it.
- Book IELTS, TOEFL or PTE early if you need one. Plan for results at least a month before the course deadline.
- Research applicants: email a potential supervisor with your CV and a short research idea. For GEMS, write to the supervisor named on your chosen topic.
- Apply through the Monash online application portal. Research applicants select the scholarship type (GRES, Tuition Fee Waiver or GEMS) in the same application. GEMS applicants enter the exact topic title.
- Pharmacy applicants: submit the separate Pharmacy Excellence application by 31 January.
- Save your application reference and answer any document request quickly. Research applicants may be called for an interview.
- Undergraduate awards arrive with your offer of admission. Accept both before the lapse date in the letter.
- Start the student visa process through Monash before the visa deadline for your intake.
Costs the scholarship will not cover
An RM10,000 waiver covers only part of a year’s international tuition, and you still pay rent, food and visa costs. Monash’s 2026 entry guidelines for new international students point out a few costs people forget:
- Your visa approval letter (eVAL) comes through Monash. If your nationality needs a single entry visa, apply for it at a Malaysian embassy before you fly.
- You pay an RM300 Special Pass fee after arrival, and you hand in your passport for four to six weeks while your student pass is endorsed.
- You must carry proof of funds, and Monash advises bringing enough for about 12 weeks of living costs. A new Malaysian bank account can take up to two weeks to open and up to 12 weeks before it can receive money from abroad.
- GEMS holders still pay registration and amenities fees.
If you need a scholarship that pays living costs at bachelor’s level, Monash Malaysia will not provide it for international students. Our guide to Sapienza University scholarships covers an option that does. For a partial-waiver comparison in Europe, see the University of Oulu scholarships guide.
FAQ on Monash University Malaysia scholarships
Does Monash University Malaysia offer fully funded scholarships for international students?
Only at research level. GRES and GEMS cover full tuition plus a monthly stipend for MPhil and PhD students. Undergraduate awards for international students are partial tuition waivers.
Do I need a separate application for the Monash High Achiever Award?
No. Your admission application is also your scholarship application, and eligible students receive the award with their offer letter.
Can I apply to Monash Malaysia without IELTS?
Yes, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or Cambridge C1/C2 instead, or with a registrar’s letter showing recent English-medium university study. Duolingo is not on Monash Malaysia’s accepted list.
What is the GEMS scholarship deadline for 2027?
25 January 2027, Malaysia time. You must start your PhD and enrol by 31 December 2027.
Sources and updates
Undergraduate award terms come from Monash University Malaysia’s merit scholarships page, with High Achiever qualifying results from Uni Enrol’s listing of the award. Research award details come from Monash Malaysia’s postgraduate scholarships pages, its graduate research scholarships page (for the 2027 GRES rounds) and the GEMS scholarship page. Intake and visa deadlines come from Monash’s intake periods page. English scores come from Monash Malaysia’s English proficiency tests page and its page on studying in English. Arrival costs come from the Monash entry guidelines for new international students (2026). MUFY entry rules come from Sunway College’s MUFY page. Information checked on 24 October 2026. I will update this post when Monash publishes 2027 stipend rates and any change to the award terms.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
