The Malaysia Inter-Campus Exchange Programme

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The Inter-Campus Exchange Programme to the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) offers UNUK students the chance to study abroad for a semester or an entire academic year during their second year at our University of Nottingham Malaysia campus.

You can find more information about the Inter-Campus Exchange Programme on the official Inter-Campus Exchange page from the Global Opportunities team.

This page focuses on students from the School of Psychology1, but students from many other schools participate in the programme.

You can find slides from previous student presentations in the Study Abroad section of the School of Psychology Moodle page.

👍 Key benefits

Some of the key benefits of studying abroad on the Inter-Campus Exchange Programme include:

  • For home students, tuition fees are only ~ £1,400 for a whole year abroad (see Tuition fees section).
  • Enhance your CV by studying abroad.
  • Experience a new culture.
  • Travel in South-East Asia.
  • Gain independence.
  • Make new friends.

✅ Eligibility

The Inter-Campus Exchange Programme is open to BSc students (both Psychology, and Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience) and MSci students.

You apply in your first year, and go abroad in your second year.

You need an overall average mark of 50% or above at the time of application (note that this average will take into account your January exam marks).

Tip

If you’re eligible and considering going abroad, you might want to hold off on committing to Year 2 accommodation until you’ve decided about the Inter-Campus Exchange.

Important

If you’re spending time in Malaysia in Year 2 and also want to go on the International Exchange Programme in Year 3, you can spend only one semester in Malaysia.

📝 Applying to the programme

📅 Deadline

The application deadline is 9 January 2026 at 3pm.

👣 How to apply—step-by-step

The “How to apply” section on the Inter-Campus Exchange page mentions six steps you should complete before applying:

Step 1 asks you to find out when you can study abroad. In the School of Psychology, you can study abroad for a semester (autumn or spring) or an entire academic year during your second year.

Step 2 is to attend global opportunities events. Note that these events are recorded and will be made available online.

Step 3 is to read up on the campus and the country, and on finances. This is definitely a good idea!

Step 4 can be ignored as you will be studying the same modules in Malaysia as you would in Nottingham.

Step 5 is relevant to those with physical disabilities, long-term medical conditions, specific learning differences, sensory impairments or mental health issues, and to LGBTQ+ students.

Step 6 is the actual application. To apply, you need to fill in an online application form that will be released on 24 November. Once released, please note that you can start filling this in without actually submitting the form to see what sort of information is required for the application. Only if you click “Submit” on the final page will the form actually be submitted.

🔔 Application outcome

For the first time this year, the inter-campus exchange application has a January deadline. If the Global Opportunities team continues to include January exam results in the overall average calculation, it will likely take at least three to four weeks before outcomes are announced.

That said: If you meet the eligibility criteria, your chance of being accepted is close to 100%. In the past 10+ years, we’ve never had to turn away a student who met the eligibility criteria.

🤝 Help and support

For questions regarding the academic aspects of the Inter-Campus Exchange, please contact the Study Abroad Academic Adviser in the School of Psychology, Jan Derrfuss (email).

If you have any further questions about the exchange programme, please contact the Global Opportunities Team (email). The team will also support you with obtaining health insurance, applying for accommodation and obtaining a Visa Approval Letter (see Passport and visa section).

💰 Tuition fees

While abroad, you continue to pay tuition fees in the UK. No tuition fees are to be paid to the Malaysia campus. Fees are substantially reduced while abroad:

Student category Time abroad Fee (for your entire 2nd year)
Home students 1 semester abroad £6,675
1 year abroad £1,430
International students 1 semester abroad 75% of international fee
1 year abroad 50% of international fee

The fees are lower when you spend one year abroad because you continue to pay for teaching/admin in the UK and there’s less of that when you’re away for the whole year.

You can find an overview of the fees on the University’s exceptional fees page.

💸 Financial support

🪙 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for International Travel

All students selected for the Inter-Campus Exchange Programme will receive an automatic bursary between £750 and £1,500. The bursary will be paid via bank transfer prior to the start of the exchange.

The funding amount is based on household income:

  • Students with a household income above £42,875, or those not receiving funding through Student Finance or those not means-tested, will receive £750.
  • Students with a household income between £35,001 and £42,875 will receive £1,250.
  • Students with a household income of £35,000 or below will receive £1,500.

You can find more information on the study abroad finance page.

🪙 Student Finance Travel Grant

A Travel Grant is available to eligible full-time students who have undergone a means-tested assessment by Student Finance. This grant is intended for students studying abroad as part of their course.

You can find more information on the Government Students Travel Grant webpage.

🪙 University Core Bursary

If you are receiving a Core Bursary, and your financial circumstances remain unchanged, you will continue to be eligible for the same bursary amount during your time abroad.

🪙 Turing Mobility Funding

Turing mobility funding is competitive funding available to University of Nottingham students participating in an international exchange. Priority will be given to students who meet Turing’s widening access criteria. Turing funding is not guaranteed and limited funding is available.

🪙 Butex scholarships

Competitive scholarships of £600 are available through Butex British Student Mobility. Applications open in April/May each year.

Ψ The Malaysia psychology course

The UNM School of Psychology was founded in 2009. The psychology courses at UNM were the first overseas psychology courses accredited by the British Psychological Society. While in Malaysia, you will study the same modules as in the UK (note that the module codes differ though). Thus, participating in the Inter-Campus Exchange Programme will not increase your overall degree duration. All teaching is in English.

Autumn semester:

  • PSGY2012 - Cognitive Psychology (20 credits)
  • PSGY2015 - Conceptual and Historical Issues (10)
  • PSGY2025 - Social Psychology 2 (10)
  • PSGY2028 - Research Methods and Analysis 2A (10)
  • PSGY2026 - Practical Methods 2A (10) or PSGY2030 - Practical Methods in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience 2A (10)

Spring semester:

  • PSGY2014 - Neuroscience and Behaviour (20)
  • PSGY2017 - Personality and Individual Differences (10)
  • PSGY2024 - Developmental Psychology 2 (10)
  • PSGY2029 - Research Methods and Analysis 2B (10)
  • PSGY2027 - Practical Methods 2B (10) or PSGY2031 - Practical Methods in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience 2B (10)

The modules and assessments at UNM are very similar to those in Nottingham. However, they might not be an exact replica of UK Campus modules, with some modules having local differences. Modules will still have the same assessment methods as in the UK.

The reduced number of students at the campus in Malaysia allows for smaller sized lectures and seminars, resulting in more opportunities for engagement with lecturers.

For details on term dates and important academic events, please refer to the University of Nottingham Malaysia Academic Calendar 2026/27.

🏛️ The Malaysia campus

The UNM campus is located in Semenyih. You can find a virtual campus tour and a campus map on this page.

Semenyih is about an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur (KL) and it costs approximately £12 to get to KL via taxi. KL International Airport is about a 45-minute drive away from Semenyih.

🏠 Accommodation

Accommodation is available on campus and off campus. You can find more information on the UNM Accommodation page.

Off-campus housing includes privately owned apartments, houses, and individual rooms. Most of our past inter-campus exchange students recommended Univillage. For more information on Univillage, please visit Univillage’s official website.

For an overview of accommodation costs, see the Cost of living section.

📚 ☕ ⚽ Campus facilities

The campus provides essential amenities such as a library, bookshop, cafés, convenience stores, and diverse dining options. Students can also access entertainment spaces, a sports complex, and various academic, cultural, and sports clubs. The use of the sports facilities is free of charge.

Please see the Campus Facilities page for more detail.

🇲🇾 Living in Malaysia

Malaysia is a multiracial and multicultural country, home to Malays, Chinese, Indians, and indigenous groups. This diversity is reflected in its languages, customs, religions, festivals, and cuisine.

Malaysia’s culture is shaped by its indigenous heritage, colonial history, and influences from neighboring countries, which can be seen in its art, music, dance, and craftsmanship. While Malay is the national language, English is widely spoken, especially in educational institutions and urban areas. However, learning a few basic Malay phrases can be helpful for daily interactions and cultural engagement.

Students should be prepared for differences in lifestyle and living standards. The cost of living is generally lower than in the UK, and facilities, infrastructure, and services may not always have the same standard as in the UK.

In addition to the University’s LGBTQ+ guidance mentioned under Step 5 in the “How to apply” section, you can find more information about LGBTQ+ issues in the UK government’s extensive guidance on sexual orientation and gender identity in Malaysia.

Further information on living in Malaysia can be found on the UNM Culture page.

Here is a 2.5-minute YouTube video showcasing some of the country’s landscapes, wildlife, traditions, and people (I recommend changing the resolution to 4K and watching it in full-screen mode 🙂):

💊 Health insurance

Basic medical insurance is provided via the university (see the UNM Health Information page for more detail), but additional private health insurance is strongly recommended.

💵 Cost of living

The estimated monthly expenses for an international student living in Malaysia is from RM2,500 to 3,500 (~ £450 to £630). This includes accommodation, meals, utilities, local transportation and entertainment. However, your exact living expenses will of course depend on your choice of accommodation and lifestyle. Below is an approximate breakdown of key expenses each month:

Ringgit GBP
Off-campus accommodation (single rooms) RM810 to RM1400 ~ £150 to £255
On-campus accommodation (single rooms) RM750 to RM1200 ~ £135 to £220
Food RM500 to RM700 ~ £90 to £126

Additional costs to consider:

  • Flights to Malaysia: Prices vary depending on airline and season, but a round-trip flight typically costs between £500 and £800. Booking early can help secure lower fares.
  • Private health insurance: The annual premium typically ranges from £100 to £200, but exact costs will vary depending on the insurer, insurance package and optional benefits you choose.
  • Phone and internet: Mobile phone plans with calls and data cost around £5 to £11 per month.
  • Travel within Malaysia and Southeast Asia: Travel costs can vary widely based on destination and mode of transport. Budget airlines such as AirAsia and public transportation offer affordable options for regional travel.

More information is available on the UNM Cost of Living page.

🛠️ Working in Malaysia

Options for work are somewhat limited. Student pass holders are only allowed to work during semester breaks and only for up to 20 hours per week. Additional details can be found on the UNM Working in Malaysia page.

🪪 Passport and visa

You must ensure that you have a passport valid for 18 months following your planned entry into Malaysia.

All inter-campus exchange students are required to obtain a Visa Approval Letter (VAL) prior to their arrival in Malaysia. The application process may take approximately four to six weeks, and students are therefore strongly encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible. The total cost for the VAL is ~ £850 (RM4,660), comprising a ~ £485 (RM2,660) visa processing fee and a ~ £365 (RM2,000) deposit. The deposit will be refunded before you return home.

If you are a UK student: You can enter Malaysia with your passport and the VAL. (The UK is visa-exempt.)

If you are an international student: You must check whether or not you are visa-exempt. If you are not visa-exempt, you must also apply for a Single Entry Visa (SEV) after obtaining your VAL and before entering Malaysia. You will need your passport, the VAL and the SEV to enter the country.

Important
  • Students must submit their passport to the UNM Visa Office one month before departure, meaning they cannot travel outside Malaysia during their final month.
  • Upon leaving Malaysia, students must fly directly to their home country or country of residence.

More information can be found on the UNM campus Visa and Immigration page.

Footnotes

  1. Note that there is no Inter-Campus Exchange Programme with our China campus as no psychology course is currently offered there.↩︎