UPM Scholarship 2026/2027: Complete International Graduate Student Scholarship Guide
The UPM scholarship officially known as the International Graduate Student Scholarship is a tuition-support programme for high-achieving international PhD students at Universiti Putra Malaysia. It is administered by the School of Graduate Studies and is commonly abbreviated as IGSS.
For the First Semester 2026/2027, the UPM scholarship is open from August 1 to August 31, 2026. The current call is available to new students and existing students who have not progressed beyond their first semester and still hold “Continue” status.
Successful applicants receive a 30% to 50% tuition-fee waiver for up to three years, subject to an annual review of academic progress. The UPM scholarship does not advertise a monthly stipend, airfare, accommodation allowance, visa payment, insurance, or complete tuition coverage. Applicants should therefore understand it as a partial tuition scholarship rather than a fully funded award.
What Is the UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship?
The International Graduate Student Scholarship is a financial incentive for international doctoral students with strong academic records. The UPM scholarship is intended particularly for applicants from Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Priority is given to applicants from developing countries in which Universiti Putra Malaysia has strategic interests. Additional priority may be given to academic staff members from institutions that have a memorandum of understanding or memorandum of agreement with UPM and who plan to conduct research in areas relevant to UPM or Malaysia.
The UPM scholarship is offered through the School of Graduate Studies. It supports PhD study only and should not be confused with UPM’s other funding schemes for Master’s students, alumni, research assistants, local students, or outstanding graduates.
Is the UPM Scholarship Open?
Yes. The UPM scholarship is currently open for the First Semester 2026/2027.
The official application period is:
Opening date: August 1, 2026
Closing date: August 31, 2026
The applicant’s advisor or supervisor and the Dean or Director of the relevant faculty, school, or institute must also support the application online no later than August 31, 2026.
The UPM scholarship page states that incomplete or late applications will not be processed and that appeals will not be entertained. Applicants should not wait until the final day because the required online endorsements may take time.
UPM Scholarship Benefits
The UPM scholarship provides a tuition-fee waiver ranging from 30% to 50%.
The official call does not publish a formula showing how UPM decides whether an individual recipient receives 30%, 40%, or 50%. The percentage may depend on assessment, application quality, available funding, or other institutional considerations, but applicants should not assume a particular rate before receiving an official decision.
The UPM scholarship can reduce the cost of doctoral study, but the remaining tuition balance must still be paid by the student or another permitted funding source.
UPM Scholarship Duration
The UPM scholarship can cover up to three years, equivalent to the sixth semester of study.
Continuation is subject to an annual review of the student’s academic progress. An initial award should not be interpreted as an unconditional promise of support for every future semester.
Recipients should maintain satisfactory academic and research progress, comply with university regulations, complete required registrations, and respond to any review or documentation request.
Number of UPM Scholarship Awards
Universiti Putra Malaysia does not publish a fixed number of awards for the current intake.
The number of UPM scholarship recipients depends on:
- Application quality
- Funding availability
- Institutional priorities
- The strength of the applicant pool
The official call specifically states that the number of scholarships depends on application quality and available funding. Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee selection.
Is the UPM Scholarship Fully Funded?
No. The UPM scholarship should not be described as fully funded.
The published benefit is a 30% to 50% tuition-fee waiver. The current call does not state that it provides:
- A monthly living allowance
- A research stipend
- Full tuition coverage
- Accommodation
- Return airfare
- Visa fees
- Medical insurance
- Health-examination costs
- Family support
- Personal or research expenses
Applicants should prepare a realistic financial plan for the remaining tuition and all living and immigration costs.
A student who needs complete financial support may also research external government awards, research assistantships, sponsorship from an employer, or another permitted source. However, the UPM scholarship eligibility rules prohibit receiving another scholarship or financial assistance at the time of application, so any additional funding arrangement must be checked with the School of Graduate Studies before it is accepted.
Who Can Apply for the UPM Scholarship?
The UPM scholarship is designed for international PhD students.
The current eligibility conditions require the applicant to:
- Fulfil UPM’s general application requirements for international students
- Hold a Master’s degree
- Be a new student or a student no later than the first semester with “Continue” status
- Have no other scholarship or financial assistance
- Be unemployed at the time of application
- Have at least one academic journal article and/or strong recommendations from an academic institution
- Obtain a support letter from an advisor or supervisor
- Obtain a letter from the applicant’s embassy confirming the absence of financial assistance, scholarship, or income from agencies or government
- Complete the online application
- Receive online support from the advisor or supervisor and the relevant Dean or Director by the deadline
The UPM scholarship is competitive. Applicants should satisfy every formal requirement and also demonstrate strong academic and research potential.
Eligible Applicant Category
The current call accepts:
- New students
- Existing students who have not exceeded their first semester
- Existing first-semester students with “Continue” status
A student who has already progressed beyond the first semester is not included in the published category for the current UPM scholarship round.
New applicants should complete the relevant postgraduate admission process early enough to obtain the student or applicant access needed for the scholarship process and to identify a suitable advisor.
Degree Level
The UPM scholarship supports Doctor of Philosophy study.
It does not support:
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Postgraduate diplomas
- Master’s degrees
- Professional short courses
- Postdoctoral appointments
UPM’s general doctoral admission rules may permit several academic pathways, including limited direct admission from a first-class Bachelor’s degree. However, the current UPM scholarship call specifically requires the applicant to hold a Master’s degree.
A direct Bachelor’s-to-PhD applicant should therefore not assume eligibility for IGSS merely because doctoral admission may be possible under another university rule.
Academic Requirements
The scholarship page requires an excellent academic record but does not publish a separate minimum CGPA specifically for IGSS.
The applicant must satisfy the general admission requirements for an international PhD candidate. Universiti Putra Malaysia’s current doctoral admission information generally requires a relevant Master’s degree accepted by the UPM Senate or an equivalent recognised qualification. Faculties, schools, and institutes may impose additional requirements.
A competitive UPM scholarship applicant should present:
- Strong Bachelor’s and Master’s results
- A relevant academic background
- Evidence of research training
- A credible proposed field
- Suitable research methods
- Academic publications or strong institutional recommendations
- Clear support from a prospective advisor
Do not claim that a particular CGPA guarantees the award because the current scholarship call does not publish a guaranteed selection threshold.
UPM Scholarship Eligible Regions and Countries
The UPM scholarship call identifies five broad regions:
- Southeast Asia
- South Asia
- Central Asia
- The Middle East
- Africa
Priority is given to developing countries in which UPM holds strategic importance.
The official current notice does not provide a complete country-by-country list. Applicants should therefore avoid relying on unofficial lists copied from old articles. A person who is unsure about regional or country eligibility should contact the UPM School of Graduate Studies Financial Aid Unit before preparing the full application.
The UPM scholarship also gives priority to applicants connected with institutions that have formal MoUs or MoAs with Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Priority for University Academic Staff
An applicant who is an academic staff member at a university or research institution may have a strategic advantage when the home institution has an active agreement with UPM.
This priority does not replace the formal eligibility rules. Academic staff still need to meet the admission, publication or recommendation, supervisor-support, embassy-letter, employment, and funding conditions of the UPM scholarship.
Because the current call also says applicants should not be engaged in employment at the time of application, employed academic staff should seek written clarification from UPM about how the rule applies to approved study leave, unpaid leave, resignation, or sponsorship arrangements.
Do not conceal employment. Provide accurate information and obtain official guidance where the situation is not straightforward.
Employment and Other Funding Restrictions
An applicant must not be employed at the time of the UPM scholarship application and must not be receiving another scholarship or financial assistance.
Applicants should disclose:
- Government sponsorship
- Employer sponsorship
- University funding
- Research assistantship
- Fellowship
- Tuition discount
- Regular income connected with a sponsoring agency
- Any pending funding offer that may overlap
Do not assume that a small grant or partial award is automatically permitted.
The embassy letter is also used to verify that the applicant is not receiving government or agency funding. When circumstances change after submission, the applicant should inform UPM and request written guidance.
English Language Requirements
The UPM scholarship requires applicants to fulfil the general requirements for international students.
UPM’s current postgraduate English policy accepts several tests and pathways. For a full offer, the published table includes IELTS 6.0 or 6.5 depending on programme requirements, TOEFL iBT scores from 59 or 63 depending on the applicable category, PTE, MUET, Cambridge Linguaskill taken through UPM’s language centre, and the approved intensive English programme.
The exact requirement can differ by programme. Applicants should follow the score stated by the faculty and admission offer.
UPM currently states that Duolingo, IELTS Indicator, APTIS, TOEFL ITP, and a Medium of Instruction letter are not accepted for the general postgraduate English requirement. English results normally must be no more than two years old.
The UPM scholarship applicant should resolve English conditions early because a provisional admission status or required bridging programme can create additional cost and delay.
UPM Scholarship Research Areas
The UPM scholarship gives priority to research in areas relevant to UPM or Malaysia.
The current scholarship notice does not publish a closed list of eligible subjects. Applicants should not invent a priority label or assume that every PhD field receives equal consideration.
A strong project should show:
- A clear research problem
- Relevance to the chosen UPM faculty or institute
- Alignment with the advisor’s expertise
- Academic or practical significance
- Feasible methods
- Potential benefit to the applicant’s field, institution, country, Malaysia, or a wider research community
The UPM scholarship application will be stronger when the proposed research is specific and supported by an appropriate supervisor rather than described only in broad terms.
Publication Requirement
The current eligibility wording states that an applicant should have published at least one article in an academic journal and/or received strong recommendations from academic institutions.
This means the published UPM scholarship criterion allows evidence through:
- At least one academic journal publication
- Strong institutional recommendation
- Both a publication and strong recommendation
A publication should be described accurately. State whether it is published, accepted, in press, under review, or only submitted. Do not label a conference abstract, unpublished manuscript, predatory-journal item, or planned article as a completed peer-reviewed publication.
Applicants should prepare publication evidence such as the article’s first page, journal information, digital identifier, acceptance letter, or indexing details if the online form requests it.
Institutional Recommendation
The UPM scholarship page gives examples of senior institutional recommenders such as a Vice Chancellor, Dean, or Director.
A useful institutional recommendation should explain:
- The applicant’s academic role or connection with the institution
- Research performance
- Academic maturity
- Potential for doctoral study
- Expected institutional or national contribution
- Why study at UPM is relevant
- The institution’s confidence in the applicant
A title alone is not enough. The recommendation should contain credible and specific evidence.
Advisor or Supervisor Support Letter
A support letter from an advisor or supervisor is a stated UPM scholarship requirement.
Applicants should identify a suitable UPM academic whose expertise matches the proposed research. Before requesting support:
- Read the academic’s profile
- Review recent publications
- Understand the research group
- Prepare a focused topic
- Explain relevant academic experience
- Attach a concise CV
- Include a short research summary
- Mention the scholarship deadline
The support letter should confirm that the academic is willing to advise or supervise the proposed work, subject to the university’s formal processes.
The applicant must also ensure that the advisor or supervisor completes the required online support before August 31, 2026.
Dean or Director Endorsement
The UPM scholarship application requires online support not only from the advisor or supervisor but also from the Dean or Director of the relevant faculty, school, or institute.
This step is easy to overlook.
Submitting the applicant section does not necessarily complete the process. Applicants should contact the faculty or institute early, check whether the supervisor has endorsed the form, and confirm that the Dean or Director’s action is completed before the deadline.
The current notice states that late or incomplete applications will not be processed and appeals will not be entertained.
Embassy No-Funding Letter
Applicants must obtain a letter from their embassy confirming that they are not receiving financial assistance, a scholarship, or income from an agency or government.
This is a specific UPM scholarship requirement and may take time.
When contacting the embassy, provide:
- Full legal name
- Passport number
- Country of citizenship
- UPM programme information
- Scholarship name
- The exact confirmation requested
- Application deadline
- Any form or sample wording provided by UPM
Ask the embassy to issue the letter on official letterhead with the date, authorised signature, designation, and contact details.
If the embassy does not issue such letters, contact the UPM Financial Aid Unit for an approved alternative instead of uploading an unofficial self-declaration.
UPM Scholarship Documents to Prepare
The current scholarship notice does not publish one complete attachment checklist for every applicant.
Based on the stated UPM scholarship eligibility conditions, candidates should be ready to provide evidence of:
- Identity and citizenship
- Master’s qualification
- Academic records
- UPM admission or student status
- Academic publication
- Strong institutional recommendation where used
- Advisor or supervisor support
- Embassy confirmation of no funding or income
- Current scholarship and employment status
- Research direction
The separate UPM admission application normally requires supporting documents to be uploaded through the applicant portal. UPM states that each document type should be combined into a single PDF or JPEG, files should not exceed 2 MB, and documents not written in English or Malay must be officially translated into English.
Country-specific document-verification requirements can also apply. UPM currently publishes additional documentation instructions for applicants educated in countries including Iran, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, and China.
UPM Scholarship Application Process
Step 1: Check the Current Call
Confirm that the UPM scholarship is open for your intended semester and read the latest eligibility conditions.
Step 2: Confirm PhD Admission Eligibility
Check the general UPM requirement and any additional faculty or institute conditions.
Step 3: Identify an Advisor or Supervisor
Choose an academic whose expertise genuinely matches the proposed research.
Step 4: Prepare the Research Direction
Develop a focused title, problem, objectives, methods, and expected contribution.
Step 5: Obtain Supervisor Support
Request the required support letter and confirm that the supervisor is prepared to endorse the online application.
Step 6: Obtain Institutional Evidence
Prepare the publication evidence and/or strong institutional recommendation.
Step 7: Request the Embassy Letter
Start this process early because embassy response times vary.
Step 8: Complete the Online Form
Submit the UPM scholarship application through the UPM student portal.
Step 9: Request Online Endorsements
Ensure the advisor or supervisor and Dean or Director support the application online by August 31, 2026.
Step 10: Review the Status
Check that every section, attachment, and endorsement is complete.
Step 11: Submit Before the Deadline
Do not rely on an appeal. The official notice says late and incomplete applications will not be processed.
Step 12: Monitor Email and Portal Messages
Respond promptly to any official request from the School of Graduate Studies or faculty.
Application Fee
The UPM scholarship call does not state that applicants must pay a separate fee for the IGSS form.
However, applying for postgraduate admission is a separate process and has a non-refundable processing fee. Effective March 23, 2026, UPM lists the international postgraduate processing fee as:
- USD100 when paying from outside Malaysia
- RM400 when paying from inside Malaysia
Applicants should distinguish between:
- The postgraduate admission application
- The UPM scholarship application
- Registration and tuition payments after admission
A scholarship application does not automatically remove the admission processing fee.
How to Get a UPM Scholarship Application Fee Waiver
UPM’s current processing-fee page publishes the required international fee and does not announce a standing waiver for the present UPM scholarship round.
UPM has offered limited processing-fee waivers during special promotional events in the past. For example, the university’s 2025 Postgraduate Open Day advertised an on-site fee waiver. This shows that promotional waivers can occur, but it does not mean a waiver is currently available.
A practical approach is to:
- Monitor official UPM postgraduate open days and admission campaigns
- Check announcements from the School of Graduate Studies
- Attend an eligible event when a waiver is explicitly advertised
- Ask the Admissions Unit whether a current promotional code or campaign exists
- Obtain written confirmation before submitting without payment
Do not use an unofficial code or claim that financial hardship guarantees a waiver.
Read the complete guidance on requesting a university application fee waiver only when a current institution or campaign publishes an eligible route.
Research Proposal
The research proposal is important for supervisor contact and PhD admission even though the current UPM scholarship notice does not publish a detailed proposal requirement.
A useful proposal identifies the research gap, objectives, questions, methods, expected contribution, and fit with the proposed UPM research environment.
For a practical proposal structure, read the research proposal guidance in the Malaysia International Scholarship guide.
CV or Academic Resume
Keep the CV focused on education, Master’s research, publications, methods, conferences, academic employment, and technical skills.
The purpose is to help the supervisor and selection reviewers quickly understand your research readiness.
Read the complete guide on how to prepare a scholarship CV or academic resume.
Recommendation Letters
The UPM scholarship specifically values strong recommendations from academic institutions when used to meet the publication-and/or-recommendation criterion.
A recommendation should give specific evidence of research ability, academic performance, integrity, and future contribution.
For detailed reference planning, review the recommendation letter guidance in the Malaysia International Scholarship guide.
Motivation Letter or Statement of Purpose
The current call does not list a general motivation letter as a universal IGSS requirement. A faculty, supervisor, or admission process may still request a statement.
Keep it connected to academic preparation, the proposed research, UPM fit, and realistic career goals.
Read the complete guide on how to write a strong scholarship motivation letter.
How to Improve Your UPM Scholarship Chances
A strong UPM scholarship application should do more than satisfy the minimum conditions.
Apply Early
The embassy letter and two online endorsements can delay completion.
Demonstrate Research Quality
Use a credible publication, strong Master’s thesis, clear methodology, or detailed institutional recommendation.
Choose the Right Supervisor
Research alignment is more persuasive than contacting a famous academic whose work is unrelated.
Explain Strategic Relevance
Show why the project matters to the discipline, UPM, Malaysia, the applicant’s institution, or the home country.
Verify Every Requirement
Check the admission status, first-semester limit, employment condition, other-funding restriction, and endorsement status.
Prepare Financially
The UPM scholarship is a partial tuition waiver. Build a plan for the remaining fees and living costs.
Common Application Mistakes
Applicants should avoid:
- Describing the award as fully funded
- Applying for a Master’s programme
- Applying after the first semester
- Missing the August 31 deadline
- Forgetting the supervisor’s online endorsement
- Forgetting the Dean or Director’s endorsement
- Submitting without the embassy letter
- Hiding employment or another scholarship
- Using an unrelated supervisor
- Providing weak publication evidence
- Uploading incomplete documents
- Assuming every country is automatically eligible
- Assuming a particular waiver percentage
- Ignoring remaining tuition and living costs
- Waiting for an appeal after a late application
The UPM scholarship page expressly says incomplete and late applications will not be processed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official name of the award?
It is the International Graduate Student Scholarship, commonly abbreviated as IGSS.
Is the UPM scholarship open now?
Yes. Applications for the First Semester 2026/2027 are open from August 1 to August 31, 2026.
Who can apply?
Eligible international PhD applicants from the stated regions can apply, subject to all admission and scholarship conditions.
Does it support Master’s students?
No. The current UPM scholarship call is for PhD students.
How much funding is provided?
Recipients receive a 30% to 50% tuition-fee waiver.
Is it fully funded?
No. It is a partial tuition waiver and does not advertise a living stipend or complete expense coverage.
How long does it last?
The UPM scholarship can continue for up to three years or the sixth semester, subject to annual academic-progress review.
Is there an age limit?
The current call does not publish an age limit.
Is there a minimum CGPA?
The current scholarship notice asks for an excellent academic record but does not publish a separate IGSS CGPA threshold. Applicants must meet UPM and faculty admission requirements.
Do I need a Master’s degree?
Yes.
Do I need a publication?
The criterion asks for at least one academic journal article and/or strong recommendations from an academic institution.
Do I need a supervisor?
Yes. Applicants need a support letter and online support from an advisor or supervisor.
Is Dean or Director approval required?
Yes. The relevant Dean or Director must support the online application by the deadline.
Why is an embassy letter required?
It confirms that the applicant is not receiving financial assistance, a scholarship, or income from an agency or government.
Can employed applicants apply?
The current UPM scholarship conditions say applicants should not be engaged in employment at the time of application.
Can I hold another scholarship?
No other scholarship or financial assistance is permitted under the published eligibility condition.
Can a first-semester student apply?
Yes, provided the student has not exceeded the first semester and has “Continue” status.
Can a second-semester student apply?
The published category does not include students beyond the first semester.
Which countries are eligible?
The notice names Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa but does not publish a complete country list.
Are all fields eligible?
The call does not publish a closed field list. Priority is given to research relevant to UPM or Malaysia.
How many awards are available?
The number depends on application quality and available funding.
Where is the application submitted?
The application is completed through the UPM student portal.
Is there a scholarship application fee?
The current call does not state a separate IGSS fee. The postgraduate admission application has its own processing fee.
Can the admission processing fee be waived?
No standing waiver is announced for the current round. UPM has offered promotional waivers at selected events in the past.
What happens if the application is late?
The official notice states that late applications will not be processed and appeals will not be entertained.
Final UPM Scholarship Checklist
Before submitting a UPM scholarship application, confirm that:
- You are an international applicant.
- You are applying for a PhD.
- You hold a Master’s degree.
- You meet UPM’s international admission requirements.
- You are a new or eligible first-semester student.
- Your status is “Continue” where applicable.
- You are not receiving another scholarship.
- You are not employed at the time of application.
- You have publication evidence and/or a strong institutional recommendation.
- You have a supervisor support letter.
- Your supervisor will endorse the application online.
- The Dean or Director will endorse it online.
- You have requested the embassy no-funding letter.
- Your research is relevant to UPM or Malaysia.
- Your documents are complete and readable.
- Required translations are official.
- You understand that only 30% to 50% of tuition is waived.
- You have funds for the remaining tuition and living expenses.
- You submit before August 31, 2026.
- You monitor your portal and email.
Final Thoughts
The UPM scholarship can significantly reduce tuition costs for an international PhD student with a strong academic and research profile.
Its main advantages are the 30% to 50% tuition waiver and support lasting up to three years. Its main limitations are the absence of a published living stipend, the first-semester restriction, the prohibition on employment and other financial assistance, and the need for both institutional and embassy documentation.
A successful UPM scholarship application requires early preparation. Applicants should identify a suitable supervisor, prepare credible research evidence, obtain the embassy letter, complete the online form, and verify both endorsements before August 31, 2026.
Because UPM scholarship conditions can change, applicants should always confirm the latest call, admission rules, fees, and portal instructions directly with Universiti Putra Malaysia before submitting.