UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

    Minimum Entry Requirements

1. Entry for Foundation Programmes

     UTAR welcomes applicants with any of the following qualifications for entry to Foundation Programmes:
    • Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM)
    • Ordinary-Level (O-Level) / International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) 
    • Unified Examination Certificate (UEC)
    • Other equivalent qualifications recognised by the Malaysian Government
Upon successful completion of the Foundation programmes, students are eligible to proceed to the corresponding UTAR Honours Degree programmes.

For details on the UTAR Foundation Minimum Entry Requirements and Stream of Study Click here

To find out more on UTAR Foundation programmes, kindly log on to https://study.utar.edu.my/foundation.php

2. Entry for Undergraduate Programmes

         UTAR welcomes applicants with any of the following qualifications for entry to Bachelor' Honours Degree Programmes:
    • Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM)
    • Unified Examination Certificate (UEC)
    • Advanced-Level (A-Level)
    • South Australian Matriculation (SAM)
    • Canadian Pre-University (CPU)
    • Foundation / Matriculation
    • Diploma
    • Other equivalent qualifications recognised by the Malaysian Government

For details on the UTAR Bachelor Minimum Entry Requirements Click here  

To find out more information on the particular programmes, kindly log on to https://study.utar.edu.my/undergraduate.php 

Applicants with qualifications other than those described above, for example, a Diploma from a college/institution/polytechnic may also apply for admission to UTAR programmes. Such applications will be considered on a case-to-case basis and successful applicants may be given entry with Credit Transfer.

All applications for credit transfer must be made together with the application for admission. Certified copies of the official academic transcripts, programme structure, course syllabus and all other relevant information and materials related to the previous studies must be enclosed with the application. Applications submitted without the above documents will be processed for normal admission without any consideration for credit transfer.

 3. Entry for Postgraduate Programmes                                                                                                          

    UTAR welcomes applicants with any of the following qualifications for entry to Postgraduate Programmes:
  • Postgraduate Diploma and Master's Degree                                                                                                                                                       
    • Bachelor's degree or other equivalent qualifications as approved by the Senate   
  • Doctoral Degree                                                                                                                                                      
    • Master's degree or other equivalent qualifications as approved by the Senate 
    • A Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours or with a minimum CGPA of 3.67 as approved by the Senate and shows evidence of related research aptitude to the satisfaction of the Senate

      For specific UTAR Postgraduate Entry Requirements Click Here 

      To find out more information on the particular Postgraduate programmes, kindly log on to https://ipsr.utar.edu.my/Programmes.php

   
English Language Requirements
The English language is the medium of instruction and examination at the University. You are required to meet the 
specific English Language Requirements in order to be eligible for admission to UTAR programmes.

1. English Language Requirements for Foundation/Undergraduate Programmes                                      (Malaysian students)
     
      Most programmes would normally require a credit/relevant score in English Language in one of the following examinations:
Recognised Tests
   Foundation
   Undergraduate
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    4.0
    5.0
Test of English as a Foreign Language - Internet-based Testing                      (TOEFL - iBT)
    30
    42
SPM English Language / O-level English Language
    Credit/Grade C 
    Credit/Grade C
Malaysian University English Test (MUET)       
    Band 2
    Band 3
Cambridge English / Linguaskill
    140
    154
UEC English Language  
    Grade B
     Grade B

      Note: All Malaysian applicants (EXCEPT for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies) must have one of the above English Language                                       qualifications or any other English Language qualification as approved by the Senate.

      A specific English Language score is required for admission into the following programmes:

      (a) Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Accounting* AND Bachelor of Accounting (Honours)*                                                                                                              Credit (Grade 6C/C) in SPM English /equivalent and MUET Band 2 / IELTS 4.0 / TOEFL iBT 30 / PTE 36 / Linguaskill 140

      (b) Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biomedical Science*/ Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours)*/                                                                                                     Bachelor of Science (Honours) Dietetics* AND Bachelor of Science (Honours) Environmental, Occupational Safety and Health*                                    MUET Band 3 / IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL iBT 46 / Cambridge English 160 / Linguaskill 160
              
      (c) Bachelor of Arts (Honours) English Language*
                    MUET Band 4 / IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 60 / PTE 59 / Linguaskill 169 / equivalent

      (d) Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Credit (Grade 6C/C) in SPM English/ MUET Band 3 / IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL iBT 80
                 
      (e) Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.)                                                                                                                                                                        MUET Band 4 / IELTS 6.0/ TOEFL iBT 60 / Grade A in English 1119 or GCE O-Level / Grade A in UEC Bahasa Inggeris / Cambridge English 169/                        Linguaskill 169
      
                 
*For applicant with A-Level/SAM/CPU and other qualifications conducted fully in English Language, the above English language requirements does NOT apply BUT must have a pass in English Language at SPM/equivalent.      
                             

2. English Language Requirements for Foundation/Undergraduate Programmes                                  (International students)
    All international students are required to meet academic entry requirements as well as a standard of English Language proficiency in order                        to study at UTAR. International students who wish to enrol on the Foundation and Bachelor's degree programmes shall possess an English
      Language score in one of the following tests:
Recognised Tests
   Foundation
   Undergraduate
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    4.0
    5.0
Test of English as a Foreign Language - Internet-based Testing                      (TOEFL - iBT)
    30
    42
Cambridge English / Linguaskill
    140 
 154
Pearson Test of English (PTE)    
   36
   47
Malaysian University English Test (MUET)
    Band 2
    Band 3

      Some Bachelor's degree programmes may require high English Language test scores as set by the Ministry of Education (MOE) or the                                  Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA). These programmes are:

     (a) Business programmes 
           IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL iBT 46 / PTE 51 / Linguaskill 160 / equivalent       
                                
     (b) Bachelor of Finance (Honours)  / Bachelor of Finance (Financial Technology) with Honours AND 
           Bachelor of Science (Honours) Financial Mathematics
           IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 60 / PTE 59 / Linguaskill 169 / equivalent   
     
     (c) Bachelor of Arts (Honours) English Language
           IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 60 / PTE 59 / Linguaskill 169 / equivalent

     (d) Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biomedical Science  / Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) /                                                                                                   Bachelor of Science (Honours) Dietetics AND Bachelor of Science (Honours) Environmental, Occupational Safety and Health          
           IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL iBT 46 / PTE 51/ Linguaskill 160 / equivalent       

     (e) Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)
           IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL iBT 80 / equivalent 
                                                                                                                                                                                    
     (f) Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.)
          IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 79 / PTE 63 / Linguaskill 176 / equivalent                                                                                                                                                                         

     Conditional offers will be issued to students who have fulfilled the academic entry requirements but do not have or achieve one of the above                     English Language test scores as required. Under such conditions, the students will undergo the UTAR English Enhancement Programme (EEP) 
     and sign up  for the IELTS / TOEFL / MUET test through UTAR. The students must pass the IELTS / TOEFL / MUET test with the required score within 
     1 year before they can commence Bachelor's degree programme.             
           
   3. English Language Requirements for Postgraduate Programmes 
 In addition to the academic requirements a candidate is also required to possess an English Language certification as stated in the table below.
     English Language Requirement 
Recognised Tests
IELTS Academic
 MUET
   TOEFL iBT
   PTE Academic
Cambridge English Qualification and Tests
Business Programmes
6.0
 4
60 -78
59 - 62
169 - 175
Engineering Programmes
5.0
3.5
40-45
47 - 50
154 - 159
Computing Programmes
6.0 
4
60 -78
59 - 62
169 - 175 
Media and Communication Studies Programmes
6.0
4
60 -78
59 - 62
169 - 175 
Creative Arts
6.0
4
 60 -78
59 - 62
169 - 175
Language Programmes             5.0    3.5     40-4547 - 50154 - 159

Notwithstanding the above, English language requirements for programmes not stated in the above table, a candidate is required to possess any one of the following:

(a) a minimum overall score of  40 - 45 in TOEFL (internet-based testing) or 7.5 in TOEFL Essentials (Online)
(b) a minimum overall band score of 5.0 in IELTS Academic /High B1 level in Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
(c) a minimum overall score of 154 - 159  in Cambridge English Qualification and Tests  High B1 level in CEFR
(d) a minimum overall score of 47 - 50 in Pearson Test of English (PTE) 
(e) a minimum overall band score of 3.5 in MUET

An International applicant who does not fulfil the English Language requirements will be considered for Conditional Offers, whereby the applicant will undergo a Preparatory Course. Applicant should then register and sits for either IELTS, TOEFL or MUET and achieve the score as per programme standard/ UTAR English requirement within 12 months from the date of entry into Malaysia.

If the applicant has obtained a Bachelor's or Master's degree with English as the sole medium of instruction, please provide the letter from the institution's Registrar as a supporting document.

Senate may, upon the recommendation of the Faculty, exempt a candidate from the English Language requirements if the candidate had obtained the Bachelor's or Master's degree using English as the sole medium of instruction or as one of the media of instruction.
          
         To find out more information on the Language Requirements for Postgraduate programmes, kindly log on to                                                                                 https://ipsr.utar.edu.my/Requirement.php

   
Chinese Language Requirements
In addition to the academic requirements and English Language requirements, students who wish to enrol on the following programmes are required to have obtained a Chinese Language grade/level in one of the tests listed in the table below. 

(a) Chinese Studies programmes (Foundation, Undergraduate and Postgraduate)                                      
Recognised Tests
  Foundation
   Undergraduate
   Postgraduate
China's New Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (New HSK)/New Chinese Proficiency Test
Level 5
(180-300 marks)
Level 5
(195-300 marks)
Level 5
(210-300 marks)
Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL)
    Level 3
    Level 4
   Level 5
STPM Chinese Language
    Pass
    Pass
 Pass
SPM/ O-Level/ UEC Chinese Language
    Credit
    Credit
  Credit

      Note: 1) The Chinese Language requirement for foundation and undergraduate programmes can be waived should the entry qualification  
                      contain a Chinese Language subject with an equivalent or higher achievement.
                 2) If the medium of instruction is fully taught in the Chinese Language, you should provide a letter from your institution's Registrar. An 
                     interview or an internal assessment of Chinese Language proficiency may be needed by the University.
                             

(b) Journalism in Chinese Media programme (Foundation and Undergraduate)                                     
Recognised Tests
   Foundation
   Undergraduate
SPM/ O-Level/ STPM/ UEC Chinese Language
    Pass
    Pass
China’s New Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (New HSK) / New Chinese Proficiency Test (since 2010)
    Level 4
    Level 4
Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) (since 2013)
    Level 4
   Level 4

      Note: 1) The pass requirement of Chinese Language at SPM Level can be waived should the entry qualification contain a Chinese Language  
                      subject with an equivalent or higher achievement.

                 2) Applicants who do not obtain the above Chinese Language grade/level may apply for the Journalism in Chinese Media programme but 
                     will be required to undergo a language proficiency interview and a written test.
                     
All information is correct at the time of upload and UTAR reserves the right to make amendments without prior notice.