English Language Requirements

Applicants who do not meet the English proficiency requirements of their chosen programme at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) can  improve their English at Intensive English Programme (IEP) at Language Academy, UTM or the Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP) at ELS Language Centres in Malaysia.

ELS Language Centres has been a trusted partner of UTM since 2015. The ELS Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP) is approved by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, allowing university admission without the need for IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE tests.
ELS is conveniently located in D07 (CICT Building) on the UTM Skudai campus, and in Kuala Lumpur near KLCC, just 2 km from the UTM KL campus. ELS also offers the flexibility to study online from your home country while you apply for your student visa.

Undergraduate

Candidates who will join UTM starting from September 2023 must meet one of the following English language requirements :

(Please note that expired test results will not be accepted)

English Language Test 

Required Bands and Score for Entry to ALL Programme EXCEPT TESL Programme 

Required Bands and Scores for Entry to the Teaching English As A Second Language (TESL) Programme 

Admission Status / Decision

Malaysian University English Test (MUET) Band 4.0 and above  Band 5.0 and above  Student can enroll in Bridging Programme / Faculty Programme 
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Band 5.5 and above  Band 6.5 and above  Student can enroll in Bridging Programme / Faculty Programme
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT / TOEFL IBT Home Edition Score of 46 and above  Score of 79 and above  Student can enroll in Bridging Programme / Faculty Programme
The Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic / PTE Academic Online) Score of 51 and above  Score of 63 and above  Student can enroll in Bridging Programme / Faculty Programme
Cambridge English Qualification (CEQ) – B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE), Linguaskill Online Score of 160 and above  Score of 176 and above  Student can enroll in Bridging Programme / Faculty Programme
Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP – ELS) Complete level 108 and above                     – Student can enroll in Bridging Programme / Faculty Programme

IMPORTANT NOTE :

1. Students who do not meet the English language proficiency standards or requirements are required to attend : 

  • Intensive English Programme (IEP) conducted by the UTM Language Academy and obtain a minimum score in MUET / IELTS / TOEFL / Pearson Test of English / Cambridge English Qualification, OR
  • Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP) conducted by the ELS Language Centre and complete Level 108.

2. Linguaskill is a 100% online and computer-based test, which enables test takers to be remotely proctored and have their English competency levels tested wherever they are. However, we would like to inform you that UTM will only accept the Linguaskill Online Language proficiency test results if the candidate registers for the test with Malaysian test center specifically under SASBADI (Institution: MY959) which is the exclusive and authorized Linguaskill Agent by Cambridge Assessment English in Malaysia. The decision to use a VPN to register for the Linguaskill test with a Malaysian test center is up to the individual student.

Candidates may click the link below to register for the Cambridge Linguaskill test : https://e4c.sasbadi.com/linguaskill/register/ra-utm1-c1

OTHER EXEMPTION FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT :

1. Candidates from International Schools, A-level and International Baccalaureate qualifications are exempted from the UTM English language requirement an Bridging Programme.

2. Candidates from UTM Foundation or other Foundation programme in Malaysia are exempted from the UTM English language requirement and Bridging Programme. 

Postgraduate

Candidates who will join UTM starting from September 2023 must meet one of the following English Requirements :

(Please note that expired test results will not be accepted)

Malaysian University English Test (MUET)

Required band and score  Admission Status / Decision

Overall Band
4.0

 

 

Student can enroll at faculty
An overall band of 3.5 and lower

Students are required to attend either:

  1. Intensive English Programme (IEP) conducted by Language Academy, UTM and must achieve a minimum score in MUET/IELTS/TOEFL/PEARSON TEST OF ENGLISH/CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH QUALIFICATIONS, OR
  2. Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP) conducted by ELS Language Center and must complete minimum level 109

International English Language Testing System IELTS
(ACADEMIC)

Required band and score 

Admission Status / Decision

Overall band
6.0

Student can enroll at Faculty
An overall band of 5.5 and lower

Students are required to attend either:

  1. Intensive English Programme (IEP) conducted by Language Academy, UTM and must achieve a minimum score in MUET/IELTS/TOEFL/PEARSON TEST OF ENGLISH/CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH QUALIFICATIONS, OR
  2. Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP) conducted by ELS Language Center and must complete minimum level 109

TOEFL
(TOEFL iBT/ TOEFL iBT HOME EDITION)

Required band and score  Admission Status / Decision

Overall Score
60

Student can enroll at faculty
An overall score of 59 and lower

Students are required to attend either:

  1. Intensive English Programme (IEP) conducted by Language Academy, UTM and must achieve a minimum score in MUET/IELTS/TOEFL/PEARSON TEST OF ENGLISH/CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH QUALIFICATIONS, OR
  2. Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP) conducted by ELS Language Center and must complete minimum level 109

PEARSON TEST OF ENGLISH
(PTE ACADEMIC/ PTE ACADEMIC ONLINE)

Required band and score  Admission Status / Decision

Overall Score
59

Student can enroll at faculty
An overall score of 58 and lower

Students are required to attend either:

  1. Intensive English Programme (IEP) conducted by Language Academy, UTM and must achieve a minimum score in MUET/IELTS/TOEFL/PEARSON TEST OF ENGLISH/CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH QUALIFICATIONS, OR
  2. Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP) conducted by ELS Language Center and must complete minimum level 109

Cambridge English Qualification (CEQ)
B1 Preliminary / B2 First (FCE)
C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE)
*Linguaskill Online 

Required band and score  Admission Status / Decision

Overall Score
169

Student can enroll at faculty
An overall score of 168 and lower

Students are required to attend either:

  1. Intensive English Programme (IEP) conducted by Language Academy, UTM and must achieve a minimum score in MUET/IELTS/TOEFL/PEARSON TEST OF ENGLISH/CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH QUALIFICATIONS, OR
  2. Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP) conducted by ELS Language Center and must complete minimum level 109

Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP – ELS) 

Required band and score  Admission Status / Decision
Complete level 109 and above
Student can enroll at faculty
Level 108 and lower
Certified Intensive English Programme (CIEP) conducted by ELS Language Center and must complete minimum level 109

 

For entry to the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Postgraduate Programme, candidates must MEET one of the following English Language Requirements:
Malaysian University English Test (MUET)

Overall band
5.0

 

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Overall band
7.0

 

TOEFL
(TOEFL iBT / TOEFL iBT HOME EDITION)

Overall Score
95

 

Important Note :

Linguaskill is a 100% online and computer-based test, which enables test takers to be remotely proctored and have their English competency levels tested wherever they are. However, we would like to inform you that UTM will only accept the Linguaskill Online language proficiency test results if the candidate registers for the test with a Malaysian test center specifically under SASBADI (Institution: MY959) which is the exclusive and authorized Linguaskill Agent by Cambridge Assessment English in Malaysia. The decision to use a VPN to register for the Linguaskill test with a Malaysian test centeris up to the individual student.

Candidates may click the link below to register for the Cambridge Linguaskill test: https://e4c.sasbadi.com/linguaskill/register/ra-utm1-c1

 

 

Exempted

Countries

Candidate who had complete their High School or Graduated from the following countries are EXEMPTED from the UTM English Language Requirements

A

ANGUILLA
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
AUSTRALIA

B

BAHAMAS
BERMUDA
BARBADOS
BOSTSWANA
BHUTAN
BELIZE
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLAND

C

CANADA
CAYMAN ISLAND
CHRISTMAS ISLAND
COOK ISLAND

F

FALKLAND ISLAND
FIJI

G

GAMBIA
GHANA
GIBRALTAR
GRENADA
GUAM
GUERNSEY
GUYANA

H

HONG KONG

I

INDIA
IRELAND
ISLE OF MAN

J

JAMAICA
JERSEY

K

KENYA
KIRIBATI

L

LESOTHO
LIBERIA

M

MALAWI
MALTA
MAURITIUS
MONTSERRAT
MALDIVES
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MICRONESIA

N

NAMIBIA
NAURU
NEW ZEALAND
NIGERIA
NIUE
NORFOLK ISLAND

P

PAKISTAN
PALAU
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
PHILIPPINES
PUERTO RICO

R

RWANDA

S

SAINT KITTS & NEVIS
SEYCHELLES
SIERRA LEONE
SINGAPORE
SAINT LUCIA
SOLOMON ISLAND
SOUTH AFRICA

S

ST HELENA
SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
SRI LANKA
SUDAN
SWAZILAND
SAMOA

T

TANZANIA
TONGA
TURKS & CAICOS ISLAND
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

U

UGANDA
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
US VIRGIN ISLANDS

Z

ZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE
OTHER EXEMPTION FOR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

Candidates from International Schools, A-Level and International Baccalaureate qualifications are exempted from the UTM English language requirement.

OTHER EXEMPTION FOR POSTGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

Candidates from Indonesia, Brunei and other nations that use Malay as medium of communication are exempted from the UTM English language requirements based on the following conditions:

  • The candidate intends to register for an MPhil or a PhD programme by research.
  • The candidate declares that the thesis/dissertation will be written in Malay and approved by the supervisor

Candidates for Faculty of Islamic Civilization programme can use Bahasa Arab/Arabic as to write their thesis based on the following conditions:

  • The candidate intends to register for a MPhil or PhD programme by research
  • The candidate declares that the thesis/dissertation will be written in Arabic and approved by the supervisor