Is Your UK Degree Recognised In Malaysia? Check Here!
If you are planning to study in the UK and work in Malaysia, you should check if your desired UK degree is recognised by the official bodies in Malaysia. In this guide, we’ll show you how you can check if the degree is accepted in Malaysia.
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Importance Of Degree Recognition
If you are considering pursuing an overseas qualification, it’s important to check if your degree is recognised in your home country. Degree recognition is important for ensuring that foreign qualifications are valued and accepted in Malaysia, impacting career opportunities, professional licensing, further studies, and eligibility for government positions and scholarships.
Malaysia has official bodies in place to ensure that qualifications obtained from universities abroad align with local standards. This applies to most professional degrees such as medicine, law, architecture, pharmacy and more. This is crucial because for instance, if you obtained a degree in Medicine which is not recognised in Malaysia, you would not be able to practice Medicine locally.
The role of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA)
The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) is responsible in ensuring the quality and recognition of higher education qualifications in Malaysia. It is responsible for developing and implementing the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF), which sets the standards for all academic programs offered by local and foreign institutions in the country.
The MQA evaluates and accredits programmes to ensure they meet national standards, maintains the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR) that lists accredited qualifications, and provides guidelines for recognising foreign degrees.
How To Check If Your Medicine Degree Is Recognised In Malaysia
The Malaysian Medicine Council (MMC) is the regulatory body responsible for maintaining the standards of medical practice in Malaysia. It ensures that doctors practicing in the country meet the required qualifications, ethical standards, and professional competence. As such, they also dictate which UK degrees (and those of other countries) are recognised in Malaysia.
You can check if your Medicine degree is recognised here on the official MMC Website: https://mmc.gov.my/medical-education-recognition/
How To Check If Your Pharmacy Degree Is Recognised In Malaysia
The Pharmaceutical Services Programme of Malaysia determines which UK Pharmacy degrees (and those of other countries) are accepted in Malaysia.
You can check if your Pharmacy degree is recognised here on the official website: https://pharmacy.moh.gov.my/en/content/list-recognized-pharmacy-degree-pharmacy-board-malaysia.html
How To Check If Your Law Degree Is Recognised In Malaysia
Similar to other professions, there are regulatory bodies that dictate which UK degrees (and those of other countries) are accepted in Malaysia. Here are some reference websites:
How To Check If Your Architecture Degree Is Recognised In Malaysia
You can refer to the official Board Of Architects Malaysia website to see which UK Architecture Degrees (and those of other countries) are recognised in Malaysia.
How To Check If Your Engineering Degree Is Recognised In Malaysia
The Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) refers to the accreditation organisations in the country where the degree is issued to determine which degrees should be recognised in Malaysia. For example, you can check the list of accredited engineering courses in the UK on this website: UK Engineering Council Course Search. For other countries, refer to this list.
Degrees That Do Not Require Recognition For Working In Malaysia
The following degree subjects typically do not require to be recognised in order for you to work in Malaysia. However, it is always beneficial to obtain a degree from a reputable university as you can be assured of the quality of education. Plus, it will be perceived more valuable to potential employers.
- Arts
- Accounting (May require additional certification for practice such Chartered Accountant qualification, but the degree itself does not need recognition.)
- Business / Business Administration
- Economics
- Mass Communication
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology (if aiming for clinical practice, may require additional certification)
- Social Sciences
- Information Technology / Computer Science
List Of Top Ranking UK Universities
The following high-ranking UK universities are known for their quality degree programmes and you can be assured that most of the degrees will be accepted in Malaysia. Refer to our UK University League Table rankings below:
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Why must UK degrees be accredited in Malaysia?
UK degrees must be accredited in Malaysia to ensure they meet local academic and professional standards, allowing graduates to pursue careers, further studies, or professional licensure without issues.
2) How to check if my UK degree is recognised in Malaysia?
Refer to the guidelines in our article here to learn how to verify if a UK degree is recognised in Malaysia.
3) What happens if I took a degree that is not recognised in Malaysia but want to work here?
If your degree is not recognised in Malaysia, you may face challenges in securing employment, professional licensing, or further studies. You might need to seek additional accreditation, certifications, or consider alternative pathways to meet local requirements.
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