Purpose and scope
This guide shows how to check one programme in the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR). It then separates that check from the other decisions that follow it. Each decision has its own authority and its own evidence.
The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) defines accreditation as formal recognition of a certificate, diploma, or degree programme Evidence. The programme must meet MQA quality standards and comply with the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) Evidence. Accreditation therefore applies to a programme. An institution name alone does not show it.
The MQA states that accreditation is a basis for other parties to recognise the programme Evidence. The Public Service Department (PSD) uses the accreditation status to recognise a qualification for public service employment Evidence. The MQA also states that many private sector employers prefer accredited programmes Evidence. Accreditation can help a student to get credit transfer, but the institution concerned makes the final decision Evidence.
| Decision | Who decides | Evidence to obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Programme accreditation | MQA | The MQR record for the exact award title, institution, and location |
| Public service recognition in Malaysia | MQA from 1 January 2017 Evidence | The MQR statement “Equivalency for Public Services”, or the esisraf record before that date |
| Authority to enrol international students at a private institution | MOHE and MOHA Evidence | Written confirmation from the institution |
| Admission | The university Evidence | The published entry rules and your offer letter |
| Credit transfer | The institution that receives you Evidence | Its written credit assessment |
| Home-country recognition | Your home-country qualification authority | Its written statement |
| Professional registration | The professional body in the country of practice | Its written rule for your award and study route |
The first five rows come from the official sources on this page. The last two rows are general advice on where to ask. The professional section below gives one Malaysian example. Read University Entry Requirements in Malaysia for the full admission rules.
Options and requirements
Search the MQR
The MQR groups its search into Public/Government Institutions, Private Institutions, and Malaysian Skills Qualifications Evidence. It also offers Search by Keyword Evidence. The MQA example types a subject in the Name of Qualification column and selects a Type of Qualification Evidence. The keyword search also accepts a programme code, for example MQA/FA1234 Evidence.
The keyword search has separate filters for Mode of Delivery and Mode of Study Evidence. Its Location filter lists states and federal territories, for example Kedah, Selangor, and Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur Evidence. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are separate items in that list. Select the state or federal territory of your campus, not only its city.
A programme code is the most exact search key. If your offer letter shows no code, ask the university for it.
- Copy the award title, institution, campus, and programme code from your offer letter.
- Open Search by Keyword on the MQR page.
- Type the programme code, or part of the award title.
- Select the Type of Qualification and the Location of your campus.
- Compare the title, level, mode, and location in the record with your offer.
- Use the Print Guide On Accreditation Status to save the record Evidence.
- Write the search date on your saved copy.
- Write to the university if the record and the offer do not agree.
Match the reference format to the portal
A university document can show an MQA reference next to the award title. Each MQA search box shows the formats that it accepts.
| Reference format | Portal that accepts it | Example in a university document |
|---|---|---|
| MQA/FA, for example MQA/FA1234 | MQR keyword search Evidence | HELP University lists its Master of Business Administration (Open & Distance Learning - ODL) with MQA/FA8009 Evidence |
| P, MQA/PA, MQA/PSA, or TVET/QP | Provisional Accreditation portal Evidence | HELP University lists its Master in Artificial Intelligence with MQA/PA18874 Evidence |
The sources do not explain the other parts of a code, such as (04/33). Do not read a date or a status from those parts. Ask the university, and then search the reference in the correct portal.
When the MQR shows no record
The MQA gives four likely reasons for the search result “No such record” Evidence:
- The programme has Provisional Accreditation, but it has not reached the stage to apply for Full Accreditation.
- The provider did not apply for Provisional Accreditation or Full Accreditation.
- The programme ran before 1997.
- The programme failed to achieve Full Accreditation.
If the MQR shows no information, the MQA tells you to check the Provisional Accreditation portal Evidence. Provisional Accreditation is a “candidacy assessment” of the curriculum and its delivery support before the public offer Evidence. The MQA grants it with a validity period Evidence. The programme must undergo Full Accreditation before that period expires Evidence.
| Search result | What it can show | Your next action |
|---|---|---|
| An MQR record matches your offer | The programme has an MQR listing at that location | Save the record and keep it with your offer |
| No MQR record, but a Provisional Accreditation record | The programme is at the provisional stage | Ask the university for the validity end date and its Full Accreditation plan |
| No record in either portal | The MQA reasons do not show which one applies | Ask the university for written evidence before you pay a deposit |
One university sequence: TAR UMT
Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) describes its own sequence. Each TAR UMT programme first obtains Provisional Accreditation from the MQA Evidence. TAR UMT states that MOHE approval of its programmes is crucial before it admits any student Evidence. TAR UMT seeks Full Accreditation when the first cohort reaches its final semester, or when re-accreditation is due Evidence. Programmes with Full Accreditation then appear in the MQR Evidence.
If you join a first cohort under this sequence, your programme can stay at Provisional Accreditation for most of your study. This point is an inference from the TAR UMT sequence. Another institution can use a different sequence.
Check the campus location
The MQA grants accreditation for the location where the provider conducts the programme, unless the record states otherwise Evidence. The MQA treats programmes at locations that the MQR does not specify as not accredited Evidence. Thus, one award title can have a record at one campus and no record at another.
TAR UMT lists its Kuala Lumpur Campus and its Penang, Perak, Johor, Sabah, and Pahang branches after its MQR statement Evidence. Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) gives an address in Sintok, Kedah, and a separate UUM KL Campus address in Kuala Lumpur Evidence. For a branch or a second campus, confirm that the MQR record names that location. A record for the main campus does not cover it, unless the record states otherwise.
Check the study mode and the institution authority
Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) states that international students can only enrol for full-time courses, except for mobility programmes Evidence. An accredited part-time record does not change this rule. Match the Mode of Study in the record with the mode in your offer.
Open and distance learning (ODL) is a different route. HELP University states that international candidates can complete its MBA ODL without presence in Malaysia or a student visa Evidence. This statement covers that HELP programme only. The EMGS student visa site also lists an item named Apply for Online Distance Learning Evidence. The evidence gives no rules for that item. Ask the university and EMGS before you select an online or distance mode.
The Immigration Department of Malaysia lists a Student Pass category for private higher education institutions (IPTS) Evidence. This category covers an IPTS with MOHE approval for its courses and establishment, and MOHA authority to enrol international students Evidence. An MQR record does not show the MOHA authority. Ask a private institution to confirm both approvals in writing.
Current official evidence
The MQR pages in the evidence show no page date. The UUM International Accreditation page shows the date 19 May 2022 Evidence. A status label on an older page can change. Confirm each UUM label with UUM before you rely on it.
The MQR page carries a disclaimer. The Malaysian Government and the MQA accept no liability for loss from use of the MQR information Evidence. Treat your saved record as a start point. Get written confirmation from the university for each decision that has a cost.
The MQR page lists telephone 03-86881900 and an enquiry and complaint system, Sistem Pengurusan Pertanyaan & Aduan Evidence. Its menu also lists Permohonan Pengemaskinian MQR and Salinan Cetakan Akreditasi MQA Evidence. The evidence gives no English description of these two items. Ask the MQA what each item provides before you use it.
Costs and dates
No supplied source states a fee for an MQR search. No supplied source states a fee or a time to issue a printed accreditation record.
Dates matter for public service recognition in Malaysia. From 1 January 2017, this recognition is under the purview of the MQA Evidence. Before that date, it was under the Permanent Committee on Assessment and Recognition of Qualifications (JTPPK), MOHE Evidence. For status before 1 January 2017, the MQA refers you to the Civil Service Qualification Recognition System (esisraf) Evidence. From that date, the MQR shows the status under the statement “Equivalency for Public Services” Evidence. This recognition applies to public service appointments in Malaysia. It does not show recognition by a foreign employer or authority.
Dates also matter for a new programme. Provisional Accreditation has a validity period, and the programme must undergo Full Accreditation before it expires Evidence. Ask the university for that end date. Compare it with your planned completion date.
The evidence contains no 2026 intake date and no scholarship date. This page does not state that any intake is open.
Labels that are not an MQR record
Some labels use the word accreditation, but they do not show MQA programme accreditation.
For the Asia e University (AeU) Master of Business Administration, Flexible Entry through Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) is for Malaysian students only Evidence. AeU defines APEL as an assessment of the prior experiential learning of an individual Evidence. APEL assesses a person. MQA programme accreditation assesses a programme.
Institutions with accredited programmes can use MQA recognition in their advertisements Evidence. An advertisement can refer to a different programme or location. Check the MQR record for your exact award title.
UUM lists international quality labels at two levels.
| Label on the UUM page | Level | Status in the source | What the label does not show |
|---|---|---|---|
| AACSB | Institutional | Accredited since 2016 Evidence | The MQR record of a named programme |
| AUN-QA | Programme | Three named bachelor programmes certified Evidence | The status of other UUM programmes |
| CMI Level 7 | MBA programme | Dual accreditation in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice Evidence | Whether a student receives a separate CMI award |
| EQUIS | Institutional | In process, not obtained Evidence | An accreditation outcome |
The AUN-QA programmes are the Bachelor of Science in Economics (Hons.), the Bachelor of Development Management (Hons.), and the Bachelor of International Affairs Management (Hons.) Evidence. These labels do not replace the MQR record. Use them as extra quality evidence only.
Next admission step
The university decides admission under its own rules. EMGS refers additional entry requirements to the institution Evidence. In an entry rule, the word recognised applies to your previous award. Ask the university which recognition evidence it accepts for an award from your country.
AeU gives an example for its Master of Business Administration. One regular entry option for Malaysian and international students is a recognised Bachelor’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 2.50 Evidence. Another option accepts a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent below CGPA 2.50 with at least five years of related work experience Evidence. AeU states that these requirements are a guideline, and that applicants must verify them with its Admission Unit Evidence.
EMGS states a general rule for diploma and degree admission. International students need at least 12 years of education and a national or international examination that the Ministry of Education recognises Evidence. EMGS lists academic screening and document verification as a stage of the Student Pass application Evidence. Applicants provide copies of all previous academic records Evidence. The evidence does not state that this screening checks the MQR record of your Malaysian programme. Do the MQR check yourself.
When you Request University Admission Help, include these details:
- Give the exact award title and institution name from the offer.
- Give the programme code or MQA reference, if the offer shows one.
- Name the campus and its state or federal territory.
- State the intake month and year, and the study mode.
- Name your highest completed qualification and its country of award.
- Describe the MQR or Provisional Accreditation record that you found, or state that you found none.
- State the decision that you need help with: admission, credit transfer, or study mode.
- Name the country where you intend to work in a regulated profession, if applicable.
Do not send a passport scan, certificate, or transcript in the first enquiry. The reply can explain published rules and official routes. It cannot make an accreditation, recognition, or registration decision.
Home-country recognition
The MQA states that accreditation is a basis for other parties to recognise a programme Evidence. The MQR lists only accredited programmes that a provider offers in Malaysia Evidence. It does not include offshore deliveries unless it states otherwise Evidence. No supplied source names a foreign authority or states how it treats an MQA-accredited award.
If you study a Malaysian award at a delivery outside Malaysia, check whether the MQR record names that delivery. If the record does not name it, the record does not cover it.
Contact your home-country qualification authority before you accept an offer. Ask these questions in writing:
- Do you require MQA accreditation for this award?
- Do you accept Provisional Accreditation, or only Full Accreditation?
- Do you require a specific award title, level, or study location?
- Do you accept an online, distance, or franchised delivery?
- For a dual award, which of the two awards do you assess?
- Which documents do you require after graduation?
Keep your saved MQR record with the written answers.
Professional authority checks
Programme accreditation and professional registration are separate checks. The TAR UMT accreditation page lists International Professional Bodies and Local Professional Bodies as menu items apart from Programme Approval & Accreditation Evidence. Look for a similar page at your university. Then confirm the rule with the professional body itself.
The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) gives one example for registration in Malaysia. Medical practitioners who register in Malaysia must hold qualifications from recognised institutions in the Second Schedule of the Medical Act Evidence. The MMC tells applicants to check the Second Schedule before verification Evidence. If a qualification does not meet its registration criteria, the MMC does not grant registration, even after verification Evidence. For a medical degree, check the MMC list in addition to the MQR record.
Professional accreditation can also have a narrow scope. HELP University states that MQA fully accredits its Master of Project Management Evidence. HELP also states that the Project Management Institute (PMI) Global Accreditation Center (GAC) accredits this programme Evidence. HELP states that graduates get substantial credit towards the experience requirement for PMI certifications, for example PMP Evidence. This credit applies to an experience requirement. The source does not state that graduates receive a PMI certification.
For any regulated profession, use this procedure:
- Identify the country where you intend to practise.
- Find the registration body for the profession in that country.
- Send it the exact award title, institution, location, and MQR record.
- Ask whether it accepts the award for registration, and on which conditions.
- Get its written answer before you pay a deposit.
Foreign awards and dual awards
For dual awards, the MQR lists only the accredited qualifications that the provider in Malaysia awards Evidence. The MQA does not evaluate or register the award of the partner institution Evidence. An MQR record for a dual-award programme therefore does not show the status of the partner degree. Check the partner degree with the authority in the country of the partner institution.
The MQA states that institutions can franchise their accredited programmes to other institutions, subject to certain conditions Evidence. When a second institution teaches a programme, ask which institution holds the accreditation. Then check that the MQR record names the institution and the location where you study.
UUM describes an MBA with dual accreditation through CMI Level 7 Evidence. The source does not state whether a student receives a separate CMI qualification. Dual accreditation and a dual award are different claims. Ask UUM to name each award and the body that confers it.
EMGS states that an international student can study only one full-time degree at any one time Evidence. Do not plan two separate full-time degrees at the same time. The evidence does not state how this rule applies to one programme that leads to two awards.
For a programme that leads to a foreign or dual award, ask the institution these questions:
- Which institution confers each award?
- Which award does the MQR list for this programme?
- Which register in the partner country lists the partner award?
- Does the MQR record name the location where you study?
Compare programmes in Courses in Malaysia for International Students and institutions in Universities in Malaysia for International Students.