Malaysia’s universities are emerging as a leading destination for Bangladeshi students seeking higher education abroad. Data from Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) show that 6,103 Bangladeshi students enrolled in Malaysian institutions in 2024. By November this year, the figure had climbed to 8,957, an increase of about 47 percent in a single year.

China currently accounts for the fastest growth in international enrolments in Malaysia, according to EMGS data. This year, 29,388 Chinese students enrolled across Malaysian institutions, up from 19,202 in 2023. Bangladesh ranks second and India third.

Education experts attribute the trend to a mix of cost and quality. They point to relatively affordable tuition, campuses free from politics, strong public safety, and degrees that are widely recognised in Europe as key draws for Bangladeshi students.

One of them is Sumaiya Jafrin Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi postgraduate student at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). “Malaysian universities are far ahead in terms of academic standards and research facilities,” she said. “Compared with that quality, both tuition and living costs are low.”

She said students who arrive on self-funding often find access to scholarships and other funding after enrolment. Admission procedures are also simpler than in many other countries, she added, noting that IELTS is not mandatory in most cases. Malaysia also allows international students to bring spouses and parents.

Degrees from Malaysian universities carry strong international mobility, Sumaiya Jafrin said. “Many students can’t move directly from Bangladesh to Europe. Studying in Malaysia makes that pathway much easier later. That’s one of the main reasons so many students are choosing the country.”

Cultural and religious familiarity and Malaysia’s proximity make travel easier, she said, adding that parents can visit without the visa hurdles and high costs common in Western destinations. “That sense of accessibility makes students feel more comfortable here.”

Malaysia’s growing appeal is reinforced by its rising profile in global university rankings. A total of 27 Malaysian universities now appear in the Times Higher Education global tables, the second-highest number in the ASEAN region after Indonesia. According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, seven of the top 10 universities in the ASEAN region are Malaysian.

Singapore’s National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) hold first and second place in the regional ranking, followed by Malaysia’s Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and Universiti Malaya (UM), both placed in the 201–250 global band.

Sunway University and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) sit in the 301–350 band. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) are ranked in the 401–500 band globally.

Education quality and campus environment are among the strongest reasons behind Malaysia’s growing appeal, said Dr. Mohammad Ali Zinnah, a professor at the Institute of Education and Research at the University of Dhaka. He argued that academic standards in Bangladesh fall short of expectations and that political instability continues to disrupt many institutions.

Speaking to Bonik Barta, he added, “Parents with the means want safe, high-quality education for their children. Malaysia offers internationally benchmarked institutions. They have strong research capacity. Unlike us, they have politically stable academic environment. Security concerns are minimal. Tuition and living costs are also lower, and admission is simpler than in most European countries. That combination explains why so many families are now looking to Malaysia.”

Outbound student mobility has been rising for several years. According to Bangladesh Bank, Bangladeshis spent $662 million on overseas education in FY 2024–25, the highest figure on record. In local currency terms, that amounts to BDT 80.79 billion, calculated at an exchange rate of BDT 122 to the dollar.

Academics link the trend to persistent gaps in quality at domestic institutions. Tighter visa regimes in Europe have added pressure, pushing many students to consider alternatives such as Malaysia and other Asian destinations.

One beneficiary of that shift is Universiti Tenaga Nasional in Malaysia, where Md Jaris Islam is pursuing a PhD. He is also a managing partner of Overseas Highway, a firm involved in student admissions from Bangladesh.

Jaris told Bonik Barta that demand has risen across all levels of education, not just universities. “Bangladeshi enrolment has grown at secondary, higher secondary, and tertiary levels,” he said. “Fees charged by Malaysian schools and universities are now close to those at well-known institutions in Bangladesh. But Malaysia offers stronger academic standards and a better learning environment.”

He pointed to student accommodation designed to reassure parents, as well as flexible family arrangements, “Parents can remain in Bangladesh with confidence. If they choose then they can even relocate, since Malaysia allows families to accompany students. That has encouraged many guardians to send children abroad even before university.”

Jaris Islam also cited job-market uncertainty at home and the shortage of high-quality universities in Bangladesh. He added, “Graduates from Malaysian institutions find employment more easily and enjoy broad global recognition. Students who miss out on top-tier universities in Bangladesh often see Malaysia as a credible route to quality education and better prospects.”

For much of the past decade, the United States remained the dominant destination for Bangladeshi students. Enrolment there rose by about 250 percent over a decade. Numbers climbed from 4,802 students in the 2013–14 academic year to 17,099 in 2023–24, according to the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.

That momentum has recently slowed. New restrictions on foreign student admissions have prevented a significant number of Bangladeshis from travelling to the U.S. this year. Opportunities in several European countries have also narrowed, education specialists said, reinforcing the shift towards Malaysia and other alternatives.

Professor Manzoor Ahmed, emeritus professor at BRAC University, said, “Expectations of quality education and improved living standards continue to drive overseas study. Those who can afford it are increasingly looking abroad. Political conditions and campus environments at home may be playing a secondary role in this. In the past, top students mainly targeted the U.S. and Europe. But with access to those destinations becoming more difficult in recent times, Malaysia is emerging as a practical alternative for many.”