Education is an integral part of India-Malaysia’s multi-faceted relationship.  A large number of Malaysians pursue their studies in India.  During 1960s and 1970s, an estimated 30,000 Malaysian students were in Indian institutions of learning. This number has decreased substantially since then. Over 30% of doctors in Malaysia today are Indian-trained. Manipal Medical College alone has over 3000 alumni in Malaysia. In 2006, there were 1,163 Indian students studying in public and private higher education institutions in Malaysia, while it is estimated that there are about 3,000 registered Malaysian students studying in India. There are indications of increasing numbers of students coming into India for higher and technical/professional education. Malaysians account for only 10 per cent of the total number of foreign students studying in India, and there is much scope for growth in this area.

The establishment of branch campuses of Indian institutions of higher learning is gathering momentum with a view to make Malaysia as a hub for education among ASEAN countries. Under a twinning programme, Melaka Manipal Medical College has been set up with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education as the Indian partner. Replicating the experience, Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation, a Deemed University in Salem in Tamil Nadu, has established twinning arrangements with Penang International Dental College (PIDC) in 2005.   The Vinakaya Missions has recently announced greater investments in establishing educational institutions in Johor Bharu.

The High Commission administers India Scholarship Trust Fund (ISTF) with a corpus of Malaysian Ringgit 1.2 million and provides scholarships to deserving Malaysian Indian students. The Government of India has recently instituted this new scholarship programme for children of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to study in Higher and Technical Institutions in India. A total of 100 admission-cum-scholarships are offered worldwide annually. The objective of SPDC is to make available India’s highly developed higher education system to the children of the Indian Diaspora (PIOs and NRIs) living in select countries. A limited number of seats are also offered to Malaysian Indian students in medical, dentistry, and engineering disciplines under the Self-financing Foreign Students Scheme.  Since its inception in 1984, a number of Malaysian Indian students were selected under this scheme to pursue medical, dentistry, and engineering degrees in various Government colleges in India. In addition, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) based in New Delhi offers scholarships for Malaysian students to study Indian dance, music, painting and sculpture. These scholarships are valid for one year. Details of these scholarship schemes are available on the website of High Commission of India [www.indianhighcommission.com.my].

Under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC), training in India is provided for Malaysian candidates in various fields such as banking, Information Communication and Technology (ICT), audit and accounts, hydrology, management, journalism, etc.   Under the TCS of the Colombo Plan, scholarships are also awarded to Malaysian candidates for undergraduate, postgraduate and research towards a Ph.D. degree. Details of ITEC and TCS of Colombo Plan are available at the website [www.indianhighcommission.com.my].

IOR-ARC Scholarship Scheme

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) offers two scholarships to meritorious students from Malaysia, for Post-Graduate courses only, under the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) Scholarship scheme. The IOR-ARC scholarship does not cover courses in medicine or dentistry. Candidates must pass an English Proficiency Test conducted by the High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur. Priority will be given to students who have never studied in India before.

The application form for this scholarship scheme is available with the Education Section at the High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur (Telefax: 03 2092 2339, Tel: 03 2093 3510 extn 410, Email: edu@indianhighcommission.com.my. The application form can also be downloaded from http://www.indianhighcommission.com.my/

The candidates should meet the following selection criteria: (i) the candidate should be proficient in English, and (ii) should not have serious health problems. Please also note that no airfare will be provided under this scheme. The scholarship provides for Living Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Thesis and Dissertation Expenses, Study Tour expense, etc. at rates prescribed by the ICCR.

The application forms are usually available in February-March. The duly filled-in applications should be forwarded as per our Guidelines to: The Education Section, High Commission of India, No. 2, Jalan Taman Duta, Off Jalan Duta, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. The last date of receipt of application by the High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur is 16 March 2009.

Application form for ICCR Scholarship
Press Release IOR-ARC Scholarship 2009-10