Study Computer Science in Malaysia

A computer science course normally starts with programming and the mathematics used in computing, such as logic, discrete mathematics and statistics. It then moves to data structures and algorithms, computer architecture, operating systems, databases, networks and software engineering. Later years usually offer choices such as artificial intelligence, graphics, security, distributed systems or human-computer interaction, and many courses end with a larger project or dissertation.

Many titles name a specialisation in brackets, such as artificial intelligence, data science, cyber security, games or networks, and those courses may also appear on the page for that specialisation. Software engineering concentrates on how large programs are designed, tested and maintained by teams, and information technology on how organisations use and manage systems. Both have their own pages, linked below, and the three are worth reading together.

Computer science suits students who enjoy logical problems, patterns and mathematics, and who are happy to spend long periods working on a program until it behaves as intended. You do not need to have programmed before for most bachelor's courses, but you should expect the work to be demanding and cumulative, because later subjects build on earlier ones. If you would rather concentrate on running systems for organisations, look at the information technology page instead, and if you want to build large programs in teams, read the software engineering page.

Study levels in Malaysia follow a ladder. A foundation course is a pre-university year for students whose school qualification does not give direct entry to a bachelor's degree. A diploma is shorter and more practical, and some universities let diploma graduates join a degree in a later year; each university decides how much credit it gives. A bachelor's degree is the main undergraduate qualification, a master's degree follows it, and a PhD is a research degree.

A foundation course in computing is a pre-university year for students whose school qualification does not give direct entry to a degree. A diploma covers the basics over a shorter period, and a bachelor's degree is the standard first degree. A master's degree is usually taken after a first degree in computing or a closely related subject, and a PhD asks for a research proposal and a supervisor at the university.

Pages for a single study level: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science in Malaysia

Read the list of subjects on the course page and look for the amount of mathematics and programming the course expects. If you want a specialisation, check whether it is a set of optional modules or the whole course. Courses that look alike in the title can differ in the theory-to-practice balance, so compare more than one before you decide.

• Entry requirements. They differ between universities and courses. Compare the entry requirements on the course page with your own certificates.
• English language. Most courses state a minimum score in a test such as IELTS. The scores stored for these courses are in the summary above.
• Recognition. Each university states how its courses are approved or accredited. Zawqari does not confirm a university's status, so ask the university to confirm it in writing if it matters for your plans.
• Fees and intakes. Fees and intake months are set by the universities and can change. Each course page shows the source and date of every figure.

Listed alphabetically. The order is not a ranking.

• Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation10 courses
• Lincoln University College4 courses
• Multimedia University1 course
• SEGi University2 courses
• UCSI University3 courses
• Universiti Kuala Lumpur1 course
• Universiti Tenaga Nasional2 courses

• Study Information Technology in Malaysia

  Information technology courses: systems, networks, databases and software for organisations.

• Study Software Engineering in Malaysia

  Software engineering courses: designing, building, testing and maintaining software.

• Study Artificial Intelligence in Malaysia

  Artificial intelligence and machine learning courses.

• Study Data Science in Malaysia

  Data science and data analytics courses.

• Study Cyber Security in Malaysia

  Cyber security, information security and digital forensics courses.

Need to improve your English first? See English courses at language centres in Malaysia.