Institutes / Universities
- Overview
- Services
- Rankings
- Accommodation
- Location
- Courses
- Scholarships
Overview
Universiti Malaya-Wales (UM-Wales) is a private university in central Kuala Lumpur, established in 2013 through a partnership between Universiti Malaya, Malaysia's oldest university, and the University of Wales. Formerly known as the International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW), it now delivers its UK degrees with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD).
That UK link is the main draw for international students. On selected Dual Award programmes, graduates receive certificates from both UM-Wales and UWTSD, and students must register for the Dual Award in their first semester. Dual Award students can also opt into the Mobility Programme, studying at UWTSD's Swansea or Carmarthen campus for an additional fee, currently listed at RM21,000 and separate from travel and living costs.
Programmes are taught through the UM-Wales Business School, the Faculty of Arts and Science, and the Centre of Foundation, Language and Malaysian Studies. Options run from the Foundation in Arts and Foundation in Science to bachelor's degrees in accounting, business administration, computer science, information technology, psychology, and professional communication, and on to an MBA, a Doctor of Business Administration, and PhD pathways. The university states that all its programmes, including Dual Award programmes, are approved by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), and it highlights industry accreditation from ACCA and CMI.
Academic resources stretch well beyond the compact city campus. Alongside its own Library and Resource Centre, which holds more than 10,000 printed items, UM-Wales gives students access to Universiti Malaya Library resources, and Dual Award students can also use the UWTSD digital library.
Services
Specialist support for overseas students sits with the International Student Office (ISO), which works with incoming and enrolled international students throughout their studies. Its services include:
- Guidance through the admissions process
- Advice on visas and Student Passes
- Liaison with Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), Immigration Malaysia, and embassies on documentation
The university's arrival guide asks new students to wait in the KLIA immigration arrival area for a UM-Wales representative, then complete the post-arrival medical examination, orientation, and registration.
On campus, the Student Services Centre covers welfare, orientation, and clubs, while the Counselling Unit offers confidential support.
Rankings
UM-Wales does not currently publish an overall QS World University Rankings or Times Higher Education ranking for the institution itself. Rankings associated with its partner institutions include:
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Universiti Malaya: 58th in the QS World University Rankings 2026, and the highest-ranked university in Malaysia in that edition.
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University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD): named University of the Year for Teaching Quality in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.
Accommodation
UM-Wales arranges rooms in Bistari Condominium, which the university describes as a 10 to 15-minute walk from campus. Room types include shared master, middle, and small rooms, plus single rooms.
According to the university, units include a kitchen, fridge, washing machine, and water heater, and residents can use a swimming pool, tennis court, and 24-hour front desk, with weekly housekeeping. Rooms are allocated subject to availability, and an accommodation officer meets students on check-in day. Students preferring to rent privately can request a list of recommended landlords.
Location
UM-Wales occupies a city campus on Jalan Tun Ismail, beside the greenery of Tunku Hill in central Kuala Lumpur. Some of the capital's best-known landmarks are close by, including the National Monument, the ASEAN Sculpture Garden, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial, Bank Negara's Sasana Kijang, and the Houses of Parliament.
Daily essentials are within easy reach. Sunway Putra Mall is a short walk from the university's Bistari Condominium housing, and the nearest train station is around 10 minutes from campus on foot.
Getting further afield is straightforward:
- PWTC LRT and Putra KTM Komuter stations connect to the wider Klang Valley rail network.
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) links to the city via the KLIA Ekspres to KL Sentral.
Courses offered at Universiti Malaya-Wales
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