Government of Malaysia - Master scholarships for Malaysian students

What the MARA Graduate Excellence Programme (GrEP) gives you

You will receive a convertible loan to fund a Master’s or PhD programme, either in Malaysia or abroad. A convertible loan starts out as a loan, but part of it can be converted into a grant that you will never have to repay. It covers your tuition fees, a monthly living allowance and any other grants that MARA may award. If you complete your studies with excellent results, up to 90% of the loan will be waived, so it functions like a scholarship. If you drop out or fail to pass your course, you will have to repay the full amount. If you are already in employment, the loan will only cover tuition fees for a course of study in Malaysia. The funding covers the actual duration of your studies, from the semester in which you apply until you graduate. The funds come from Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), a Malaysian government agency under the Ministry of Rural Development.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are starting a Master’s or PhD programme. Your previous degree (a Bachelor’s degree for a Master’s programme, or a Master’s degree for a PhD programme) must already have been completed at the time of application.
• Field of study: All fields of study are open, particularly those in which Malaysia needs workers.
• Where you study: Any recognised higher education institution in Malaysia or abroad. The degree programme must be accredited by the Malaysian Ministry of Public Service and recognised by the government and the relevant professional bodies.
• Nationality: You and at least one of your parents are Malaysian citizens with Bumiputera status.
• Age: For a Master’s degree programme, up to 40 (in Malaysia) or 35 (abroad). For a PhD, up to 45 (in Malaysia) or 40 (abroad).
• Grades: For a Master’s degree programme, a CGPA of 3.00 is required for study in Germany, or a CGPA of 3.75 plus an IELTS score of 6.5 for study abroad. For a PhD: a CGPA of 3.50 and an IELTS score of 6.5 if you wish to study abroad. If your grades are not sufficient, at least 3 years of relevant professional experience may be taken into account instead.
• Enrolment: You are a full-time student. You are already enrolled or hold a certificate of admission stating that you have at least one academic year remaining (two years in the case of a PhD).
• No double funding: You must not be receiving funding from any other agency for the same level of study, nor must you be on MARA’s blacklist. MARA staff are not eligible to apply.
• Health: You are certified as being free from chronic or infectious diseases.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the MARA MyEduloan portal. Please pay close attention to the deadlines: the application window is very short and usually lasts from 10 to 14 days (in 2024, it ran from 14 to 23 October).

How realistic are your chances?

The eligibility criteria are strict: you must have ‘Bumiputera’ status, meet certain academic and age requirements, and be enrolled on an accredited degree programme. As a result, the pool of applicants is smaller than for open scholarships. If you clearly meet these conditions, your chances are good. The biggest risk is the short application window of around two weeks. You should therefore prepare your documents in advance and apply as soon as the application round begins.