EMGS: International students generate RM20b a year for Malaysia’s economy, each contributing an estimated RM10,000 monthly

KUALA NERUS, Aug 23 — International students in Malaysia contribute approximately RM20 billion annually to the country's economy through tuition fees and living expenses, according to Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) CEO Novie Tajuddin. Each of the 167,000 international students in the country spends roughly RM10,000 per month while residing in Malaysia.

This economic impact extends beyond the universities they attend, benefiting local communities and businesses. Novie Tajuddin made these statements during the Malaysian Cultural Discovery Community Immersion programme at Pantai Teluk Ketapang. He highlighted that Malaysia has emerged as one of the world's 14 leading higher education destinations, surpassing the traditional top four countries (United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and Canada) for international students.

The number of international students in Malaysia has grown by about 23% over the past three years, and the government aims to attract 500,000 international students by 2035 as part of the Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint. The main countries of origin for international students in Malaysia are China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, with most students pursuing postgraduate degrees in public or private higher education institutions.