Institutes / Universities
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
Established in
2002Famous For
Engineering, Business, Information Technology (IT), Health Sciences, and Humanities
- Overview
- Services
- Rankings
- Accommodation
- Location
- Courses
- Scholarships
Overview
When Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) welcomed its first 411 students on 10th June 2002, it did so from a temporary campus in Petaling Jaya with just eight degree courses. Officially launched on 13th August 2002, this not-for-profit private university was established under the UTAR Education Foundation with a clear mission: affordable, quality higher education. Today, UTAR teaches about 20,000 students and is placed in the 801–850 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027.
Students choose between two purpose-built campuses with very different characters. The main Kampar Campus sits on a 1,300-acre site donated by the Perak State Government. This lake-view campus has 15 buildings, including a grand hall that seats 4,000. The Sungai Long Campus in Selangor is a purpose-built city campus. It began full operations on 1st June 2015 and brought UTAR's Klang Valley operations together in one place.
Kampar has some memorable touches. Bronze sculptures of Confucius and Einstein reflect UTAR's belief in bringing together Eastern and Western thinking. On an island in the campus lake, the UTAR Bird Sanctuary shelters a heronry.
UTAR teaches across a wide range of fields. These include accounting, business and economics, actuarial science, agriculture and food science, and arts, social sciences and education. They also cover creative industries and design, engineering and the built environment, information and communication technology, life and physical sciences, and medicine and health sciences.
Life at UTAR goes well beyond lectures. The UTAR Soft Skills Development Certificate (USSDC) recognises students' growth in soft and life skills. The Undergraduate Research Scheme (URS) is open to undergraduates in any discipline and lets them work on real research projects guided by UTAR researchers.
Services
At UTAR, overseas students are supported by the Department of International Student Services (DISS), which handles non-academic matters from enrolment to graduation. Once you have made the required payment, DISS applies for your Student Pass online through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS).
DISS also offers a meet-and-greet and airport pickup service for new students. It runs Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and you need to submit the pickup form at least 20 days before you arrive. Within seven days of arriving, new students attend a medical screening at an EMGS panel clinic.
Settling in is made easier by the Buddy Programme, which pairs newcomers with senior international students. If you want to strengthen your English, the Centre for Extension Education (CEE) runs English Enhancement classes. For a social life, you can join the International Friendship Society or come along to DISS events such as the International Students Annual Dinner.
Rankings
UTAR appears in both major global ranking systems and holds QS's highest star rating. It is placed in the 801–850 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, and in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026 it ranked 109th in Asia and 26th in Southeast Asia. On 6th November 2025, UTAR received the QS Rating 5 Plus Stars Outstanding Award in Seoul. In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026 it sits in the 1001–1200 band, and it ranked 189th in the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026.
Accommodation
UTAR does not operate its own halls. Instead, the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) compiles listings of private accommodation near both campuses. Students agree tenancies directly with landlords, so rooms are not guaranteed.
In Kampar, the listed options include Danish House (Westlake Homes), about 1.6 km from campus, Westlake Villas Condominium at 1.7 km, and MH Unilodge Hostel at 2.7 km. At Sungai Long, Flora Green Condo is only around 160 metres away, with Vivahomes and Pangsapuri Azalea a little further out. Availability and rents change, so check the latest DSA listing before committing.
Location
The Kampar Campus is in Bandar Barat, Perak, just off the North-South Highway and about 190 km (roughly two hours by car) from Kuala Lumpur. Weekends bring limestone scenery at Lembah Kinta National Geopark, a swim at Lata Kinjang Waterfall, a visit to Kellie's Castle, or white-water rafting on the Kampar River. KTM ETS trains connect Kampar with KL Sentral, and from there the separate KLIA Ekspres service runs to Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The Sungai Long Campus is in Bandar Sungai Long, a busy university township near Kajang. It has BMC Mall, a Tuesday night market, and hiking trails at Sungai Long Hill Park. To reach campus by public transport, take the MRT to Bukit Dukung and then feeder bus T453, or the KTM to Serdang and then RapidKL bus 590. UTAR also runs a campus shuttle from Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays.
Courses offered at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
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