The MTCP scholarship is the Malaysian government’s fully funded master’s award for citizens of developing countries that take part in the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme. It pays tuition at a Malaysian public university plus allowances, which the official portal values at RM3,500 a month, and a return economy flight. It is for master’s degrees only, lasting 24 to 36 months, and you must be 45 or younger with at least a Second Class Upper or a CGPA of 3.00.
The 2026 round opened on 4 May and closed on 12 June 2026 for the September/October 2026 intake, so it is over. The deadline is 12 June 2027, for study starting in September/October 2027. Below are the eligibility rules, the priority fields, what the money covers, documents, and how to apply, checked against Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) MTCP portal and government circulars from applicant countries.
What is the MTCP scholarship?
Malaysia set up the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme in 1980 as its contribution to South-South cooperation. Most of MTCP is short training courses at Malaysian institutions; according to Wisma Putra, participants from 144 countries have taken part and more than 39,000 people have benefited since it began. The scholarship is the long-term strand: full-time master’s study at a Malaysian public university, paid for by the Malaysian government, so that graduates take the skills back to their home countries.
MTCP scholarship 2027 key dates
| Stage | 2026 round | Next round |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open | 4 May 2026 | 4 May 2027 |
| Deadline | 12 June 2026 (closed) | 12 June 2027 |
| Studies begin | September/October 2026 | September/October 2027 |
Next-round dates are the 2026 dates moved forward one year (based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens). Deadlines have moved before: the 2021/22 round closed on 31 July 2021.
MTCP scholarship eligibility
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Citizen of an MTCP recipient country (the list is on the MTCP portal) |
| Age | No more than 45 on the date you apply |
| Degree | Bachelor’s with at least Second Class Upper (Honours) or CGPA 3.00 |
| English | IELTS 6.0 overall, TOEFL iBT 60, or a previous degree taught in English |
| Health | Medically fit, shown on the medical examination form |
| Study mode | Full-time master’s by coursework, mixed mode or research |
| Excluded fields | Nursing, medicine and clinical pharmacy |
Government circulars in Kenya and South Sudan advertised the 2026 round to their citizens, which gives you an idea of the spread. I have not reproduced the long country lists that some sites print, because they include duplicates and the only reliable list is the one on the portal when the call opens.
One thing to sort out early is your admission. The 2021/22 rules said you must already hold an offer from a Malaysian university and must not have studied more than one semester of the master’s. I could not confirm whether the 2026 portal still makes the offer compulsory, but I would apply to the university first anyway; it is what the 2021 rules asked for, and it costs you nothing to have it ready.
MTCP priority fields of study
| Priority field (2026 round) | Examples of related master’s programmes |
|---|---|
| Information and Communication Technology | Computer science, data science, cybersecurity |
| Economy and Trade | Economics, international trade |
| STEM | Engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics |
| Food Security and Agriculture Technology | Agronomy, food science, aquaculture |
| Islamic Finance | Islamic banking and finance |
| Law | LLM programmes |
| Public Administration and Policy Studies | Public policy, governance |
| Sustainable and Environmental Science | Environmental management, renewable energy |
The examples in the second column are my own illustrations of what fits each area. MTCP publishes the fields, not a list of approved course titles, so check that your programme sits clearly inside one of them.
What the MTCP scholarship covers
The MTCP portal says the scholarship covers tuition fees and other allowances worth RM3,500 a month, plus a return economy-class air ticket. Tuition goes straight to the university, and allowances are paid into a Malaysian bank account in your name.
The 2021/22 guidance broke the allowances down into these items. The current portal does not repeat the list, so treat it as a guide to what to ask about rather than a promise:
- Cost of living and house rental allowances
- Book, tools and thesis allowances
- Placement, travel, practical training and end-of-study allowances
- Family assistance, medical claims and the visa fee
Some listings call RM3,500 a monthly stipend paid on top of tuition. The portal’s wording is looser than that, so wait for your award letter before you fix a budget.
Which universities can you study at?
The 2026 announcements I found do not name the universities. The last published list, for 2021/22, had 20 institutions, mostly public universities:
| Research and older universities | Technical universities | Others |
|---|---|---|
| Universiti Malaya (UM) | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) | Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) |
| Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) | Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) | Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) |
| Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) | Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) | Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) |
| Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) | Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) | Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) |
| Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) | Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) | Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) |
| Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) | Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) | Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) |
| Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) |
Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) also listed MTCP among funding options for the 2026 intake, so the list may have grown. Check the portal before you choose.
MTCP scholarship documents
This is the 2021/22 upload list. The 2026 notices do not itemise documents, so compare it with the portal when the round opens. Everything goes in as a clear scanned PDF.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Application form | Completed online on the MTCP portal |
| Passport copy | Certified, valid for at least 6 months |
| Academic transcripts | Certified; add a letter explaining the grading scale if the transcript has no CGPA or percentage |
| English test result | IELTS or TOEFL, or proof your degree was taught in English |
| Two recommendation letters | From referees who know your academic or professional work |
| Endorsement form | On the MTCP template; check the portal for who must sign it |
| Malaysian university offer letter | Uploaded if you have it |
| CV | Education, work and achievements |
| Medical examination form | Signed by a doctor; you pay for the check-up |
Translate anything not in English and have the translation certified. For referees, our recommendation letter samples show what a strong scholarship letter covers.
How to apply for the MTCP scholarship
- Choose a programme: a full-time master’s at an eligible Malaysian university, in one of the priority fields.
- Apply for admission: start between January and March so the offer arrives before May.
- Prepare documents: certified copies, the medical form and your English proof.
- Register on the portal: create an account at mtcp.kln.gov.my/scholarship once the round opens.
- Submit before the deadline: only submitted applications are considered, and false information leads to disqualification.
- Watch your portal account: MTCP uses the same system for the whole selection, including requests for extra documents.
Selection looks at academic and extra-curricular achievement, English in speaking, writing and reading, and how well prepared you are for the programme. A study plan that ties your master’s to a real problem at home helps on that last point.
Rules once you hold the award
- Study full time and keep satisfactory progress; suspension from the university ends the award.
- Research must be done in Malaysia.
- No paid work without written approval from the university and the MTCP Secretariat.
- The award does not guarantee a student visa; that goes through Education Malaysia’s visa process.
If you do not fit MTCP, look at the Malaysia International Scholarship and other routes in our guide to studying in Malaysia without IELTS, or university awards such as the Albukhary International University scholarship for undergraduates.
FAQ on the MTCP scholarship
What is the MTCP scholarship 2027 deadline?
12 June 2027, with applications opening on 4 May 2027. These are the 2026 dates a year on; the 2026 round closed on 12 June 2026.
Can I apply for the MTCP scholarship without IELTS?
Yes, if your previous degree was taught in English. Otherwise you need IELTS 6.0 overall or TOEFL iBT 60.
Does MTCP fund undergraduate or PhD study?
No. The scholarship is for full-time master’s degrees only, lasting 24 to 36 months.
How much is the MTCP monthly allowance?
The portal says tuition and allowances are worth RM3,500 a month, plus a return economy ticket. Your award letter gives the exact breakdown.
Sources and updates
Eligibility, the RM3,500 figure, the return flight and study modes come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ MTCP scholarship portal; MTCP’s history and reach come from the portal’s About MTCP page. The 2026 dates and priority fields come from Kenya’s Ministry of Education circular and Universiti Tenaga Nasional’s MTCP page; the age, CGPA and excluded fields come from South Sudan’s Ministry of Higher Education circular as reported by Eye Radio. The university list, allowance items, documents and award rules come from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia’s 2021/22 MTCP notice. Checked on 24 October 2026. The MTCP Secretariat can be reached at mtcp@kln.gov.my.
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.
