Admission and Programmes at International Islamic University Malaysia
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Feb 20, 2026 • Study in Southeast Asia
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) runs 3 campuses, Gombak for most programmes, Kuantan for medicine and health sciences, and Pagoh for tourism and language studies. Malaysian SPM leavers enter through IIUM's own Centre for Foundation Studies or through the national UPU system after STPM, matriculation or a diploma, and international applicants apply directly through IIUM's own online portal.
🎓 14 Kulliyyahs (faculties) cover law, engineering, medicine, ICT, economics and Islamic studies.
📩 IIUM's Centre for Foundation Studies takes SPM leavers at its Petaling Jaya and Gambang campuses.
🌐 International applicants need IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550 for the Foundation Programme.
🕌 English is the main teaching language, with Arabic central to Islamic Revealed Knowledge and law programmes.
Three campuses, one university
IIUM splits its programmes across 3 campuses. Gombak, on the edge of Kuala Lumpur, hosts most Kulliyyahs, the term IIUM uses for faculty, including Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Economics and Management Sciences, Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, and the Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws. Kuantan, in Pahang, hosts the health science cluster: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences and Science. Pagoh, in Johor, hosts the Kulliyyah of Sustainable Tourism and Contemporary Languages. Check the full, current list on IIUM's Kulliyyah directory before you shortlist a programme, since campus assignments shift as IIUM adds new faculties.
Campus quick reference
| Campus | Location | Kulliyyahs |
|---|---|---|
| Gombak (main) | Selangor, near Kuala Lumpur | Engineering, ICT, Economics and Management Sciences, Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws, and other faculties |
| Kuantan | Pahang | Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, Science |
| Pagoh | Johor | Sustainable Tourism and Contemporary Languages |
How Malaysian students get in
Malaysian applicants reach IIUM through 2 main routes. The first goes through UPUOnline, the Ministry of Higher Education's central application system for public universities, open to STPM, matriculation and diploma holders alongside other public university choices. The second is IIUM's own Centre for Foundation Studies, a dedicated pathway for SPM leavers who want a direct route into IIUM's bachelor's degrees without going through STPM or matriculation first, run out of campuses in Petaling Jaya and Gambang, Pahang. Apply for the Foundation Programme through IIUM's Centre for Foundation Studies admission page , which lists current intake dates and required SPM grades.
Applying as an international or ASEAN student
IIUM enrolls students from across the Muslim world and wider ASEAN region, not only Malaysians. If you hold a secondary certificate outside the Malaysian system, apply through IIUM's online application centre , which processes international applications separately from the Malaysian UPU channel. For the Foundation Programme, international applicants need an IELTS score of 6.0 or a TOEFL score of 550, plus certified copies of your academic transcripts. Requirements shift by Kulliyyah and by year, so confirm the current cutoff for your target programme directly with the IIUM Admissions office before you apply.
What IIUM programmes look like
Teaching runs mainly in English across IIUM's Kulliyyahs, with Arabic central to Islamic Revealed Knowledge, Usuluddin and parts of the law curriculum. The Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws teaches civil (common) law and Shariah law side by side, a structure that draws students planning to practice in Malaysia's dual legal system. Engineering, ICT, Economics and Management Sciences and the health science cluster in Kuantan follow professional accreditation tracks recognized by Malaysia's relevant bodies, so check accreditation status for your specific programme with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency before committing, particularly for regulated fields like medicine, pharmacy and engineering.
Application timeline to plan around
Malaysia's UPU cycle typically opens applications in the first quarter of the year for the same-year intake, following SPM, STPM or matriculation results release. IIUM's own Foundation Programme runs more than one intake a year, though exact dates shift each cycle, check the Centre for Foundation Studies page directly for the current schedule. Start gathering your certified transcripts, MUET or English test results and passport photos at least 2 months before your target intake closes, since document verification takes longer for international applicants.
Before you apply
Shortlist your Kulliyyah first, then check whether it sits at Gombak, Kuantan or Pagoh, since campus location affects your accommodation search and daily costs. Compare the Foundation Programme route against UPU if you already hold or expect strong STPM or matriculation results, since UPU keeps your options open across every public university rather than committing you to IIUM alone at application stage. Confirm current SPM or STPM grade cutoffs, English test requirements and application deadlines on IIUM's own pages before you submit anything, since admission requirements get updated for each intake.