Previously, we shared how Malaysia has the 9th most number of universities in Asia with 351 higher learning institutes, though according to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, only 1 of them, Universiti Malaya, made it into the world’s top 100 list.
Despite this apparent ‘quantity over quality’, our local universities do excel in other case studies, most recently in the QS Best Student Cities 2025.
Kuala Lumpur is the 6th most student-friendly city in Asia
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In the latest edition of the index, QS ranked 150 cities globally to find the world’s most student-friendly locations.
Accordingly, in the list, the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur is named the 6th most student-friendly city in Asia and 23rd globally.
Furthermore, only Japan’s Tokyo, South Korea’s Seoul, Japan’s Kyoto, Singapore and Hong Kong are Asian cities that ranked higher than Kuala Lumpur.
In the index, Kuala Lumpur has an overall score of 85.4 out of 100, with its scores for the 6 specific categories considered in the ranking are:
- Student view – 73.2
- Student mix – 68.7
- Employer activity – 85.1
- Desirability – 52.5
- Affordability – 69.7
- Rankings – 65.8
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Subang Jaya and Shah Alam also made it into the top 35 list in Asia
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Besides that, 2 other Malaysian cities made it into the list, which are Subang Jaya and Shah Alam.
Subang Jaya placed 27th in Asia and 109th globally with a 56 score, while Shah Alam ranked 35th in Asia and 123rd globally with a 52.3 score.
QS noted that the index showcases the best urban destinations for international students, based on a diverse range of indicators grouped into the 6 aforementioned key categories.
Moreover, to be considered for inclusion, each city must have a population of over 250,000, and be home to at least two universities featured in the most recent QS World University Rankings. For population metrics, the metropolitan area is used where possible.
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So, what do you guys think of Kuala Lumpur, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam’s placement in the index? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Also read: UiTM Will Maintain Policy of Only Accepting Bumiputera Students to Bridge Gap Between Races
