The Government of Malaysia International Scholarship, usually shortened to MIS, is a fully funded postgraduate award run by Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). It pays for Master's, PhD and post-doctoral study at 24 participating Malaysian universities, and it is one of the few government scholarships that adds a research grant on top of the stipend. Pakistani nationals are eligible.
This guide is for Pakistani students who already have a research idea and a decent CGPA, and want to know whether MIS is worth the effort. If you want the condensed version, see the full scholarship details page.
Who MIS makes sense for
MIS is a research scholarship first. Selection rests on academic merit, the quality and originality of your research proposal, how relevant that research is to Malaysia's development agenda, and your English communication skills. That means a student with a clear research question and a supervisor lined up will usually beat a student with a slightly higher CGPA and a vague plan.
It suits you well if you are heading into engineering, the natural and applied sciences, medicine and health sciences (at postgraduate level), agriculture and environmental studies, social sciences, or business and economics. Malaysia has real depth in a few niches: tropical agriculture and sustainability, Islamic finance, biotechnology and environmental engineering. If your research sits in one of those areas, your proposal has an easier story to tell.
It is a poor fit if you want an undergraduate degree. MIS does not fund MBBS. Medicine is covered only at Master's and PhD level. It is also a poor fit if you need to work part-time during your studies, because paid employment is not allowed without prior official approval.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Levels | Master's, PhD, post-doctoral |
| Provider | Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Government of Malaysia |
| Country | Malaysia (24 universities: 20 public, 4 private) |
| Portal usually opens | January (estimated) |
| Deadline | March 31 (estimated, confirm for the current cycle) |
| Intakes | February or September |
| Official site | MIS portal on biasiswa.mohe.gov.my |
The research grant is the real draw
The package covers:
- Full tuition fees
- A monthly living stipend
- Medical insurance throughout the program
- A return international air ticket
- A research grant for academic and fieldwork expenses
Most scholarships stop at tuition and a stipend. The MIS research grant is separate money for lab work, fieldwork and data collection, which is exactly where PhD students tend to run short. If your project needs consumables, travel to field sites or paid survey work, this matters more than a slightly bigger stipend elsewhere.
The stipend amount itself varies by program level and MOHE updates it periodically. We are not going to quote a figure here, because any number would be out of date the moment rates change. Check the current rates on the MOHE portal before you build a budget around it.
The CGPA bar and the other conditions
The minimum CGPA is given as a range of 3.0 to 3.5, not a single number. Read that honestly: 3.0 gets you in the door, but it is not a comfortable position. Applicants below the upper end can still apply if their research profile is strong, but they need an exceptional proposal to make up the gap.
Beyond grades, these are the conditions you sign up to:
- You must be an international student. Pakistani nationals are eligible.
- Your research proposal must show clear impact on technology and human well-being.
- You need excellent English communication, writing and reading skills.
- Study must be full-time in Malaysia, and the research must be conducted in Malaysia.
- You cannot change program without official permission.
- No paid employment without prior official approval.
- You must maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout.
The rule about research being done in Malaysia trips up some applicants. If your PhD idea depends on collecting data in Pakistan, rethink it or frame it so the core work happens in Malaysia. A proposal built around fieldwork back home sits awkwardly against this condition.
Writing a proposal that fits Malaysian priorities
The proposal is the most important part of the application. MIS explicitly evaluates impact on technology advancement and human well-being, so that phrase should not be an afterthought in your last paragraph. Build the whole document around it.
A workable structure:
- A clear title and research question.
- Background explaining why the topic matters globally and specifically to Malaysia's development.
- Specific, measurable research objectives.
- Methodology: how you will actually do the work.
- Expected outcomes and their impact on technology and human well-being.
- A short overview of your previous research experience.
Keep it to 2-3 pages, professionally formatted. Reference published work from relevant Malaysian universities in your field, which shows reviewers you know who is already working on your problem there. Vague lines like "this research will benefit society" do you no favours. Reviewers are looking for a feasible plan.
An easy mistake is recycling a proposal written for a different scholarship or country. A proposal that never mentions Malaysia, its institutions or its development needs is easy for MOHE to set aside.
Getting a supervisor before you submit
Contacting a potential supervisor is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended, and in practice it is one of the strongest moves you can make. A named supervisor and a letter of support from a faculty member significantly strengthen an application. Start this well before the portal opens, because academics can take weeks to reply.
When you write to a professor, send a short email with your CV and a one-page summary of your proposed research, and explain why their work connects to yours. Do not mass-email the same message to every department.
Choosing among the 24 universities
The 20 public universities include UM, UTM, USM, UPM, UiTM, IIUM and UKM. The 4 private ones are UTP, UNITEN, MMU and INCEIF. The full list is on the MOHE portal. A rough guide by field:
- Universiti Malaya (UM) is the most prestigious, ranked top 100-200 globally, and strong in medicine, engineering and social sciences.
- UTM is a leading choice for engineering and technology.
- USM is strong for natural sciences and health.
- UPM is good for agriculture, environmental sciences and biotechnology.
- UKM is another solid option for engineering, sciences and agriculture.
- IIUM is one of the most internationally diverse campuses, with strong medicine, engineering, law and Islamic studies.
- INCEIF is a dedicated Islamic finance university and the obvious target for Islamic finance research.
Pick the university based on where a suitable supervisor is, not on ranking alone. A well-matched supervisor at UPM will help your application more than a lukewarm contact at UM. For a wider view of your options, see our guide to all Malaysia scholarships.
Documents to have ready
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- A detailed research proposal tailored to Malaysia's strengths and development needs
- An updated CV with a passport copy
- English proficiency proof (IELTS or TOEFL, if your chosen university requires it)
- Recommendation letters from academic supervisors
- A supervisor agreement or support letter from your target university, if you can get one
On English tests: specific requirements depend on the university. Some accept IELTS, TOEFL or their own entry tests. Even where a test is not strictly required at the application stage, a good IELTS or TOEFL score helps. If you are sitting a test anyway, do it early so the result is ready before the deadline.
Get your degrees and transcripts attested in good time. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide covers the process, and the documents checklist for international scholarships is useful for checking you have not missed anything.
The application, from portal account to shortlist
- Create an account and apply online through the MIS portal.
- Select your program and target university from the 24 participating institutions.
- Prepare and upload a research proposal tailored to your field and to Malaysian research priorities.
- Submit all documents and complete your application profile before the deadline.
- Obtain a supervisor agreement letter from your target university if required (recommended either way).
- Wait for MOHE review and university shortlisting, and keep your university department or ORIC informed throughout.
Why the January opening is only an estimate
The portal typically opens around January and the deadline has been estimated at March 31, but MIS cycle openings are not published on a fixed annual calendar. Treat both dates as a guide and confirm the actual dates for the current cycle on the official portal. Check it regularly from late in the previous year so you are not caught out.
The rough sequence looks like this:
- Supervisor contact: ongoing, well before the deadline.
- Portal opens: January (estimated).
- Submission: per the MOHE announcement.
- Review and shortlisting: 2-3 months after the deadline.
- Acceptance notifications: timing varies, and visa processing begins after selection.
- Program start: February or September intake.
For the visa, the Student Pass is processed in Malaysia by your university, but you collect your entry visa from the Malaysian High Commission in Islamabad before you fly. Once in Malaysia, the Pakistan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur handles consular matters such as document attestation and passport renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for MIS?
Yes. MIS is open to international students, and Pakistani nationals are eligible.
Does MIS cover MBBS?
No. Medicine and Health Sciences is an eligible field, but only at postgraduate level (Master's and PhD). MIS is not an undergraduate MBBS scholarship.
Is IELTS compulsory?
English proficiency is required, but the specific test depends on your chosen university. Some accept IELTS, TOEFL or their own English entry tests. Check with your target university, and consider taking a test anyway since good scores strengthen your application.
Can I work part-time while on the scholarship?
Not without prior official approval from the university and the Ministry. Breaking this rule can lead to suspension of the scholarship.
How much is the monthly stipend?
It varies by program level and is updated periodically. Check the current rates on the MOHE portal rather than relying on figures quoted elsewhere.
Can I apply with a CGPA close to 3.0?
The minimum is stated as 3.0 to 3.5. You can apply with a lower CGPA in that range if your research profile is strong, but your proposal and supervisor support will need to carry more weight.
Before you apply, confirm the current cycle dates and stipend rates on the official MIS portal, and keep the Malaysia International Scholarship page handy for the key details.