Universiti Malaya (UM)

The University of Malaya (UM) is a public research university located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was established on September 28, 1905, as King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore, then a territory of the British Empire. In 1949, the merger of King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College created the university. UM is the oldest and highest ranking Malaysian institution of higher education, according to two international ranking agencies. It has graduated five prime ministers of Malaysia and other notable figures in the country's political, business, and cultural spheres.

Today, UM has over 2,300 faculty members and is divided into thirteen faculties, two academies, five institutes, and six academic centers. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, and dentistry. It is renowned for its research contributions in fields such as biotechnology, environmental science, and social sciences.

In 2012, UM was granted autonomy by the Ministry of Higher Education. It is currently ranked 70th in the world and 8th in Asia, according to the QS World University Rankings. The university is also known for its Japanese Language and Linguistic Course, which was awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for its contribution to promoting Japanese language education in Malaysia. UM also operates its own radio station, UMalaya Radio, under the auspices of its Student & Alumni Affairs Division.

The history of Universiti Malaya dates back to 1905 with the establishment of King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore, which was then a territory of the British Empire. The college was set up to provide medical education to students from the Malay Peninsula and Singapore.

In 1949, the college merged with Raffles College to form the University of Malaya, which was officially established on 8 October 1949. The university quickly became a leading institution of higher education in Southeast Asia and gained international recognition.

However, in 1959, the university split into two autonomous divisions, with one located in Singapore and the other in Kuala Lumpur. The Singapore division eventually became the National University of Singapore after Singapore gained independence from Malaysia.

The Kuala Lumpur division retained the name University of Malaya and became a separate national university in 1962. In 1961, legislation was passed to establish the University of Malaya as a national institution of higher learning.

Since then, the university has undergone significant expansion and today has more than 2,300 faculty members and is divided into thirteen faculties, two academies, five institutes, and six academic centres. In 2012, UM was granted autonomy by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, which has allowed the university to further develop its research and academic programs.

Universiti Malaya offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in various fields. The university has 13 faculties which offer over 100 academic programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These faculties include the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Business and Accountancy, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Economics and Administration, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Sports Science and Coaching, and Faculty of Built Environment.

The courses offered at Universiti Malaya include programs in the fields of arts and humanities, business, engineering, law, medicine, science, social sciences, and sports science. Some of the popular undergraduate courses offered at the university are Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Engineering (Hons), Bachelor of Science (Hons), Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons), Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Bachelor of Education (Hons). At the postgraduate level, Universiti Malaya offers various Master's and PhD programs, including Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Engineering (MEng), Master of Education (MEd), Master of Law (LLM), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in various fields.

The university also offers international programs, such as the International Bachelor Degree Program (IBDP), the International Master’s Degree Program (IMDP), and the International PhD Program (IPP) in collaboration with various international universities. These programs provide students with the opportunity to gain a global perspective on their studies and enhance their international exposure.

Universiti Malaya (UM) is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, as well as globally recognized for its academic excellence. In the latest QS World University Rankings for 2022, UM was ranked 70th in the world, 8th in Asia, and 3rd in Southeast Asia, making it the highest-ranked university in Malaysia. In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022, UM was ranked 301-350 in the world and 10th in the region of Southeast Asia.

UM is also recognized as a research-intensive university and is a member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities and the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning. The university has more than 2,300 faculty members and offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs in various fields of study, including engineering, medicine, law, business, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.

In addition to its academic programs, UM also has various research centers and institutes that focus on specific areas of research, including the Institute of Biological Sciences, the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies. The university has also established partnerships with leading universities and research institutions worldwide to facilitate collaboration and exchange of knowledge and expertise.

Students who graduate from Universiti Malaya have a relatively high job integration rate. A 2020 survey by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education found that 83.5% of graduates from public universities in Malaysia secured employment within six months after graduation, while 6.2% pursued further studies. Additionally, Universiti Malaya has a Career Development Centre that provides various career-related services and programs for students to enhance their employability and career prospects. These include career counselling, job matching services, career fairs, and workshops on resume writing, job interview skills, and more. The university also has partnerships with various companies and organizations to provide internship and job opportunities for its students.

Universiti Malaya (UM)

https://www.um.edu.my/

Campus: Kuala Lumpur

50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur