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Each international student spends an average of around 10,000 MYR per month while studying and living in Malaysia, according to a study by the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), as revealed by its Chief Executive Officer, Novie Tajuddin.

EMGS is an organization under Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education responsible for promoting international education and supporting the management of international students in the country.

The role of international students extends beyond universities, benefiting local communities and service sectors in areas where students live and study, Novie said during a Malaysian culture exploration program held from Aug. 21 to 23 at Pantai Teluk Ketapang.

Local communities around universities benefit from demand for housing, food, transportation and other services, he said.

The presence of international students is also helping boost business activity among local enterprises, particularly those in the food and service sectors, while generating positive economic and social impacts in areas hosting higher education institutions.

He added that Malaysia is currently regarded as one of the world’s top 14 higher education destinations, reflecting the country’s growing position in the international education market.

Countries such as the U.K., the U.S., Australia and Canada were traditionally the top choices for international students. However, Malaysia is now also among the destinations being considered by an increasing number of foreign students.

He said Malaysia is emerging as a competitor in the global education sector, with the number of international students studying in the country rising by about 23% over the past three years.

Malaysia has three universities in the top 150 of the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2027 and three in top 30 of QS Asia University Rankings.

The British higher education analytics firm ranked its capital Kuala Lumpur the 15th best city in the world for international students, only after Singapore in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia aims to attract 500,000 international students by 2035, in line with the goals set out in its 10-year higher education blueprint, he said.

To achieve this target, it is implementing various overseas education promotion programs. EMGS plans to reach out to around seven to eight regions worldwide to promote Malaysian higher education institutions and enhance the country’s ability to attract international students.

Novie said China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are currently the five countries with the largest numbers of students in Malaysia. International students attend both public and private higher education institutions, with the majority pursuing postgraduate programs.