KUALA LUMPUR: Applications from international students to further their studies in Malaysia have recorded an increasing pattern since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.
As of Oct 31, over 33,000 applications for various courses were received by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) and it could well reach 40,000 applications by year end.
EMGS chief executive officer Mohd Radzlan Jalaludin said the applications from international students were around 50,000 in 2019, before declining to about 30,000 the following year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the figure rebounded this year with 33,000 applications within the first 10 months of the year.
"We are targeting 40,000 international students' applications by end of the year reflecting the improving pattern," he told newsmen today.
Radzlan said the fields of study that are often in high demand in Malaysia are science, business, social sciences and Islamic finance.
Malaysia has the potential to generate a multiplier effect through cash flow reaching about RM15.6 billion if 250,000 international students furthered their studies in the country by 2025.
He said this is their target by 2025 and it is achievable by increasing the promotions of opportunities to pursue studies in Malaysia.
He said among the "pull factors" for studying in Malaysia were reasonable education fees, affordable cost of living for students and English as the medium of learning.
"The applications for studies at the undergraduate and doctorate levels have also increased drastically.
"Until October this year, we have over 10,000 applications for doctorate studies in Malaysia, which is twice as much as in previous years," he added.
Earlier today, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad launched EMGS's Discover Education Malaysia portal.
The portal is a one-stop information portal on higher education institutions in Malaysia which is in line with the brand, "Study in Malaysia".
