The Complete Guide To Study International Relations in Malaysia

Looking to pursue a degree in International Relations in Malaysia? Our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know.
The Complete Guide to Study International Relations In Malaysia​. Learn About Programs, Duration, Entry Requirements, Fees, Accommodation & Admissions.
Country

Malaysia

Duration

3 Years

Fees

$7,500+ Yearly

Field

Business

Program Overview 

There has never been a greater need for those with the highest ambition to want to improve society in today’s multicultural and hyper-connected globe. If you wish to better understand the world and the challenges faced, studying international relations in Malaysia would be the right way. The study of state relationships with one another and international organisations is known as international relations. Simply put, it is the study of politics, economics, and law on a global scale. In general, contacts between political bodies, such as international NGOs and international government organisations, are the focus of international relations in Malaysia degree programs.

The study of international relations describes behaviour that takes place between state boundaries. It is a critical and distinctive topic that draws on knowledge of various topics, including various cultures, economies, political divides, and their effects on society. The study of international relations in Malaysia tries to understand how various countries and governments interact with one another and subnational entities, ranging from the nature of diplomacy to the causes of conflict (such as political parties or interest groups).

Being a multifaceted topic, studying international relations in Malaysia frequently invites students to broaden their thinking and approach theories from several perspectives. Typical subjects include and address foreign policy analysis, international security, diplomacy, journalism, global governance, ethnic identities, social movements, and more. However, specific topics will differ from one educational institution to the next.

When you study international relations in Malaysia, you incorporate a variety of academic disciplines. Studying international relations in Malaysia combines economics, history, sociology, anthropology, and politics to study cross-border issues and provide the knowledge you need to make a difference in the world. You may utilise your abilities to help shape the future in various professions, including media, politics, diplomacy, and negotiation.

There are institutions that offer both bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes if you wish to study international relations in Malaysia. Also, a sizable proportion of recent graduates express interest in conducting advanced studies in emerging international relations topics such as nationalism, immigration, refugee issues, and human rights. In line with the broad spectrum of specialities in the field, programs in international relations in Malaysia frequently draw students from various academic backgrounds. Most candidates come from the arts, humanities, and social sciences, while it is possible to transition from the natural, life, or technological sciences.

This guide will provide extensive details, particularly if you want to study international relations in Malaysia.

Why Study This Program

Address Contemporary Global Issues

The general level of life across the globe is now higher than ever. Despite our ongoing technological advancements and discoveries, humanity faces many issues and difficulties. Consider human trafficking, poverty, starvation, inequality, and the environment. After earning a degree in international relations in Malaysia, you can collaborate with local governments, businesses, and non-governmental organisations to solve these issues.

You may enhance people’s lives, alter their surroundings, and lessen suffering and injustice by working with others to conduct welfare initiatives and events or by assisting in implementing new public policies. While the task is enormous, challenging, and demanding, you will feel satisfied and pleased with your work on most days’ decisions.

Opportunities For Travel

Students enrolled in international relations in Malaysia programs frequently travel. If you’re still in school, opportunities might begin early. For instance, if you’re pursuing a dual degree, you could have to spend the first half of the program at one university and the second half at a partner institution.

Students in a joint degree program in Malaysia take economics and political science classes at a regional campus. The three-year curriculum culminates in the students receiving both degrees. After completing a program, your profession may take you worldwide. If you speak several languages, you’re more inclined to travel. Travel is also standard for diplomats, consultants, and individuals working in foreign sales.

Need of the Hour

Many individuals alternate between binge-watching news programs and taking time off to decompress. Politics’ rules, or the decision to follow them, are not what they once were. The worldwide political scene has significantly changed in the last ten years. The world now appears more unstable due to changes in socio-economics, globalisation, technology, and the onset of the climate issue.

The lines of gender interactions and colonial legacies have been redrawn. At the turn of the century, a significant change occurred in how we think and live our everyday lives. Who is qualified to foresee, counsel against, and formulate strategies before the upcoming unavoidable seismic shocks for the world? Those who study international relations in Malaysia possess the depth and breadth of information necessary to think and act carefully and wisely in a chaotic environment.

A Great Career Path

Career options in international relations in the public, private, or NGO sectors are always available, depending on your goals, interests, and experiences. You can work in security or intelligence if you consider working for the government. You will have the chance to work on foreign relations initiatives. Even more so, studying international relations in Malaysia is an excellent place to start if you want to pursue a career as an ambassador or diplomat.

Those studying international relations in Malaysia might pursue various other careers because it is interdisciplinary. You can access various professions, including political scientist, diplomat, foreign policy analyst, translator, international assistance worker, and intelligence analyst. You might pursue a career in public safety, humanitarian aid, business, agriculture, media, law, and other fields.

Several students go on to serve as diplomats in fields including human trafficking, environmental challenges, and climate change. Nevertheless, a political career is not the only one that might lead to a degree in international relations in Malaysia. Students might choose to work in the intelligence field as an analyst or in international business.

Develop Key Transferable Skills

You may use the skills you acquire while studying international relations in Malaysia in various fields and professions. Your skills will help you succeed in any job, even if you change your mind and decide you no longer want to work in international relations. The “soft skills” you acquire while studying international relations, such as effective communication, cross-cultural management, critical thinking, problem-solving, and cooperation, are just as necessary outside the subject.

Solid and soft skills increase your career alternatives and make it easier for you to transition between other professions. Thus this is important. Companies don’t want job candidates with poor communication, inadequate teamwork, or issues with analytical thinking since they know they will likely need to train individuals on specific systems and processes. Building the type of foundation, you’ll require for any job is possible by studying international relations in Malaysia.

Why Study In Malaysia

Modules in Diplomacy

Strategy and decision-making, which is about negotiating and formulating policy, are the key modules in international relations programs in Malaysia. Also, there is economic diplomacy, which focuses on trade and climate change agreement discussions. Foreign policy analysis, a theory of international relations, might be another. 

Work on Structural Issues

There are innumerable systems and structures in the world. Even nations with identical systems and institutions fundamentally differ, making international relations in Malaysia crucial for cross-border partnerships. Working on these systems and connections is an opportunity for you as a professional in international relations. You can address the complicated global challenges affecting the billions of people alive today, whether in that capacity as a data analyst, diplomat, consultant, foreign policy analyst, or something similar.

Affordable Course Fees

The fee required to study international relations in Malaysia is comparatively less than that required in many other countries, such as the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada, to name just a few. With international relations degree expenses shooting up worldwide, Malaysia comes across as a reliable option to receive a high-quality education at an affordable cost.

Globally Recognised Degrees

International relations degrees from Malaysian universities enjoy global recognition. Studying international relations in Malaysia allows students to pursue the program in Malaysia and then move anywhere globally. Several students continue their master’s and specialisation in Malaysia or transfer to other countries to pursue different pathways.

International Education Standard

The standard of international relations programs in Malaysia meets international standards. This ensures exceptional education for students who enrol in this course. The course curriculum is rigorously developed, keeping in line with international benchmarks to ensure students learn the latest developments in international relations. 

Excellent Campus Facilities and Infrastructure 

Malaysia offers excellent campus facilities, modern infrastructure, and innovative teaching aids for learning international relations in Malaysia. The schools in Malaysia offer a great learning atmosphere. Several leading universities have developed in-house labs and testing facilities dedicated to helping students learn with hands-on experience, operate with state-of-the-art machinery, and stay up to date with the latest innovations.

Career Prospects 

Relationships between nations are crucial for addressing global challenges (including pandemics, terrorism, and the environment), improving human civilisation, conducting international trade and business, etc., in our increasingly linked globe and throughout history.

Theoretical solid foundations on global societies and their interconnections are provided to students who major in international relations in Malaysia. The introductory and elective courses required for this degree are law and ethics, political economics, and diplomatic history.

Graduates with degrees in international relations in Malaysia often land jobs in one of the three primary industries: the public, commercial, non-governmental, or not-for-profit sectors. With this degree, individuals can transition between any or all of these industries at different stages of their careers. This is because it’s not just a flexible degree with a distinctive skill set but also a degree in great demand in our hyper-connected, globalised world.

The discipline of international relations in Malaysia also offers a variety of career paths, each with its own set of problems, goals, techniques, and tools for bringing about change. The most specific employment categories could include leadership, lobbying, communication, research, academia, activism, and legislation. These are a few of the most popular and intriguing international relations job choices. Let’s look at more career prospects you can explore when studying this program.

Political Analyst

Political analysts, sometimes political scientists or policy analysts, study political systems, formulate political theories by examining historical records and offer guidance to management or national leaders on a government’s policy and its potential repercussions.

Political Affairs Officer

Getting a job at the United Nations working for the department of Political Affairs has to be one of the most prominent international positions on the list. Political affairs officers are committed to assisting countries in peacefully resolving disputes to prevent war and suffering among people. Officers coordinate and advance diplomatic efforts between states and peaceful political solutions to conflict.

Administrative Specialists

By processing administrative duties, providing courteous and knowledgeable advice and support over the phone and email, scheduling travel arrangements, and being a pleasant presence at work, administrative specialists should be ready to serve supervisors and all visitors to the business. They must always be prepared for whatever work is at hand, organised, and responsive.

Lobbyist

Graduates with degrees in international relations frequently work as lobbyists. They are typically employed by a corporate, association, or non-profit organisation to persuade government officials to take actions that would benefit the group or business they represent.

Communications Officer

On behalf of an organisation, communications officers produce communications material. They produce social media updates, blog articles, and press releases. They are frequently responsible for managing digital media archives and monitoring campaign metrics.

Foreign Affairs Analyst

By providing information and analysis on worldwide labour activities, policies, and programs, foreign affairs analysts work to assist their employers in achieving their strategic goals. They research subjects related to their area of specialisation that may impact governmental policies, non-profit organisations, and the rules and viewpoints of multinational enterprises.

Interpreter

An interpreter interprets verbal communication from one language to another to promote communication between two or more speakers of different languages. To preserve the flow of an open conversation, interpreters frequently have rapid thinking processes and may be proficient in at least two languages. They frequently work in places like courts, hospitals, schools, and customer service.

International Marketing Specialist

An organisation’s worldwide marketing plans and initiatives are managed by an expert in international marketing. They develop marketing strategies and budgets with domestic marketing teams on product launches and marketing campaigns. Some of their other responsibilities are promoting a company’s goods and services sales, market research, trend forecasting, and spotting threats and opportunities in their organisation’s industry.

International Development Consultant

International organisations, including governmental organisations, charities, and for-profit businesses, are advised and supported by international development consultants (or advisers). They operate in a variety of industries and aid communities and developing nations all around the world. They give their customers the right resources to help them reach their objectives. The strategy aims to identify long-term remedies for various issues.

International Logistics Manager

In a worldwide corporation, these experts oversee the material transit, storage, and distribution with the ultimate goal of managing the supply chain for their company. To do this, they could develop and assess budgets, handle product shipments, negotiate business deals with customers and suppliers, and lead and manage logistics teams. A talented international logistics manager may have superior communication abilities, problem-solving experience, and flexibility.

Program Duration

The duration to study international relations in Malaysia is three years for the bachelor’s program. English is the medium of instruction followed in schools across all major international private universities. 

The first year will have a number of common subjects between different specialisations. As students progress to years two and three, their modules and subjects will become more specialised as per their field of choice. 

Students can sometimes switch from one specialization to another, but it will require approval from the University faculty and the relevant authorities in Malaysia.

Students who want to opt for program transfers to another University will usually need to prepare the transfer paperwork and start processing from their second year onwards to ensure all the paperwork and approvals are in place so the program transfer can be done.

Entry Requirements

The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) sets the entry requirements and guidelines for university admissions in Malaysia, which all universities must adhere to. All prospective international students must meet the minimum entry requirements, as the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) takes these standards into account during the application acceptance and processing phases.

The admission requirements to study international relations in Malaysia for international students may vary from one university to another. However, the basic entry requirements are the same for most universities. 

Usually, there are two pathways to entering a degree program in Malaysia:

  • First, students can join a foundation program after completing their secondary schooling, O levels, or equivalent qualifications. After completing the foundation in the business program, they can continue to the bachelor’s degree as per their choice.
  • Second, students who have completed their higher secondary school or A levels or equivalent will be able to join the bachelor’s degree programme directly into year one. 

If a student fails to meet the entry requirements for a bachelor’s degree programme, the faculty may offer different pathways into the degree programme, for example, through a foundation or a diploma programme. 

Universities may raise the entry requirements to ensure incoming students are academically prepared for the rigours of their programmes. So, prospective international students should consult with an admission advisor to determine the precise entry criteria for their chosen programme and their preferred university.

General Entry Requirements For Bachelor’s Degree

  • A Levels: 2 Passes in A-Level with a Pass in English and Mathematics at SPM/ O-Level/ IGCSE or its equivalent.
  • Foundation: Passed the relevant Foundation programme (minimum CGPA of 2.0)

English Language

International students who wish to study international relations in Malaysia will need to also provide proof of their English language proficiency with IELTS or TOEFL exams. Students who have studied the British or American curriculum are generally exempted from the English proficiency requirements since the medium of instruction for that curriculum is in English by default. 

Students who have studied other curriculums where the medium of instruction is also English will usually need to provide a supporting letter from the school stating that the instruction language for their schooling has been English. With that letter, English language requirements are proven to have been completed.

Fees & Cost

Students sometimes only look at the tuition fee during the comparison. However, depending on how forthright and clearly the fee guidelines from the university are, the extra fees can be a hefty amount that could be a surprise. So students are advised to correctly add all the fees and decide which university fits their budget requirements to study international relations in Malaysia. 

Various factors will contribute to the overall cost structure, such as:

  • Tuition fees
  • Accommodation fees
  • Admission fee
  • Registration and Visa fees and
  • Other one-time fees.

These fees vary from university to university and can depend on varying factors. The quality, infrastructure, facilities and teacher-to-student ratio will also determine how much a university charges.

You must find the right balance between quality and cost to get the best education possible. The average cost to study international relations in Malaysia is between RM30,000 to RM40,000 per year, depending on the University.

For reference, that’s around USD $7,500 to $10,000 per year for a 3-year international relations degree program at the current exchange rate.

Accommodation

Accommodation cost is going to be another recurring fee for international students. Generally, students have two options: they can either stay at the on-campus accommodation provided by the university or at private accommodation. The prices will differ according to which university and area you choose.

Generally, campus accommodations at major universities start at around US$150 per month and can go up to $400 per month. The pricing for on-campus accommodation is determined by the size of the room, whether a student will be sharing the room or will be staying alone, or if the student is taking a master room which generally comes with an attached bathroom or decides to stay at a sharing room with shared bathroom.

Some universities also offer cooking facilities and on-campus accommodation, which are shared facilities which will also be factored into the accommodation costs. Utility costs are generally an add-on fee.

While choosing the university, you can check with your admissions advisor on the options available for accommodation and how much they will cost so that you have an idea of how much of a monthly budget you will require as a student.

Admission Procedure

Researching, applying and managing overseas admissions is a tedious, time-consuming and often confusing process. Incorrect application submissions can lead to lengthy processing, delayed approvals, or rejections. You can visit education, exhibitions and fairs to collect information. However, that is not enough. You can only collect cursory information at these places. However, your admission processing will usually take much longer. During that time, you will need consistent and dedicated support to ensure your application is in the right experienced hands.

This is where we help.

Edmates helps international students from around the world with complete admissions processing. Our integrated one-stop centre helps international students with everything. We help you find future-driven programs that match your abilities and interests in leading universities.

We handle the entire process from the beginning until you have joined the university. Our international support system will manage everything for you, absolutely free.

Each student is assigned with a dedicated admission advisor who will manage the complete admission process and also guide the student throughout the admissions process. The advisor will also liaise with the university admissions department to ensure clear communications and faster processing.

You can speak with your assigned advisor anytime by booking a free call online through the website. You will also receive regular updates regarding your application via emails, SMS and WhatsApp.

To learn about each step of the admission process, you can read our complete guide to start applying for your higher education the right way.

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