167,000 international students contribute RM20bil annually to Malaysia's economy – EMGS

KUALA NERUS: International students currently contribute approximately RM20 billion to Malaysia's economy annually, according to Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) CEO Novie Tajuddin. With about 167,000 international students in the country, each student spends an average of RM10,000 a month on tuition fees and living expenses.

This spending impact extends to surrounding communities, fostering positive social and economic growth, Tajuddin noted during a Malaysian Cultural Discovery Community Immersion programme. Beyond higher education, international students stimulate local economic activities, particularly in food and service businesses. Malaysia is now recognized as one of the world's 14 leading higher education destinations, surpassing the previous top choices of the UK, US, Australia, and Canada.

The number of international students has grown by 23% over the past three years, and Malaysia aims to increase this number to 500,000 by 2035 as part of the 10-year Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint. Currently, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan are the main contributors of international students to Malaysia. The majority of these students are postgraduate, with the total figure encompassing both public and private higher education institution enrolments.