Study Design and Media in Malaysia

Courses usually cover drawing, colour and typography, design theory, photography, digital tools for layout and illustration, and the planning and presentation of design projects. Many courses add media subjects such as writing, advertising or video. Students build a portfolio, and most courses end with a final project that is shown to an audience.

Titles include graphic design, communication design, visual communication, advertising and design, and media studies. Some courses are craft and studio based and others lean towards communication and media. Animation, creative multimedia and architecture are related subjects, with pages linked below.

Design and media suits students who are visually minded, who enjoy making things look clear and attractive and who can take criticism of their work in a constructive way. Much of the learning happens through projects that are discussed with teachers and other students. If you want to work with moving images, read the animation page, and if you want to combine design with technology, read the creative multimedia 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 gives a route into a degree for students whose school qualification does not give direct entry. A diploma is practical and shorter, and a bachelor's degree goes deeper and is the usual first degree. Master's and PhD courses are for specialisation and research, and the PhD asks for a research proposal.

Pages for a single study level: Bachelor's Degree in Design and Media in Malaysia

Look at the student work the university shows and at the studios, software and workshops. Many applications ask for a portfolio, so find out what is required. Check which areas the course concentrates on, since design and media courses differ widely. Ask which software and equipment are provided, whether students can use the studios outside class hours, and whether the university shows an end-of-year exhibition or an online portfolio of student work that you can look at 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 & Innovation1 course
• City University Malaysia1 course
• Limkokwing University of Creative Technology6 courses
• Lincoln University College1 course
• MAHSA University1 course
• SEGi University1 course
• UCSI University2 courses
• Universiti Kuala Lumpur2 courses
• University of Cyberjaya2 courses

• Study Animation in Malaysia

  Animation and visual effects courses.

• Study Creative Multimedia in Malaysia

  Creative multimedia, interactive media and digital content courses.

• Study Architecture in Malaysia

  Architecture and related built-environment courses.

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