Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur allocates residential college places to international students by application only, in standard twin or triple-sharing rooms with fans and a common bathroom. That is what its Student Affairs Department says for the 2024/2025 session, and its pages list no fees. This guide sets out what I could confirm about Universiti Malaya housing and what I could not verify for the rest of Kuala Lumpur.
Details come from two Universiti Malaya Student Affairs Department documents for international students (the first-semester guide for new undergraduates and the second-semester college application notice, both for the 2024/2025 session), checked on 28 October 2026. These documents are a session old, so confirm the current process with the university.
Universiti Malaya residential colleges
| Question | What the university says (2024/2025) |
|---|---|
| Room type | Standard rooms: twin or triple sharing, fan-type, common bathroom |
| How you apply | Complete the international students’ residential college declaration form |
| Allocation | Based on application only; posted online (from 15 March for semester two) |
| Check-in | At your assigned college, Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.00pm |
| Fees and deposits | Not stated on the pages I read |
For questions, the Student Affairs Department lists umwow@um.edu.my and hep@um.edu.my.
What I could not verify
I could not find official fee pages for other Kuala Lumpur universities, and I have not quoted rents for condominiums, hostels or shared rooms, or ranked neighbourhoods, because I could not check current prices or availability against reliable sources. I also did not verify Malaysian tenancy rules. If you rent privately, view the room in person or on a live video call, get a written tenancy agreement and never pay before you have one. Before you commit, read our guide to university halls versus private housing, the checklist of what to look for before you sign and our safety guide.
FAQs about student accommodation in Kuala Lumpur
Can international students live on campus at Universiti Malaya?
Yes, by application. The university’s notice says accommodation is arranged in standard rooms based on application only.
What are the rooms like?
The 2024/2025 guide describes twin or triple-sharing, fan-type rooms with a common bathroom.
How much does a residential college cost?
The documents I read state no fees, so ask the Student Affairs Department for the current rate.
Sources
- Universiti Malaya: accommodation for new international undergraduates, 2024/2025
- Universiti Malaya: college application for international students, semester 2
All checked 28 October 2026.
