Fulbright Malaysian Graduate Study & Research Program

The Fulbright Malaysian Graduate Study & Research Program awards grants annually to Malaysian students to study for a Master’s or PhD in the United States.

Thinking of Applying for the Fulbright Malaysian Graduate Study & Research Program?

Don’t miss our MACEE-Led Info Session—your one-stop guide to crafting a strong application and making the most of your Fulbright journey in the U.S.!

Watch the session to learn:

How the Fulbright Program can support your academic and professional goals.
Step-by-step guidance through the online application process from the MACEE team.
Firsthand insights and advice from inspiring Fulbright alumni.
Tips on securing external funding and managing your finances.
Strategies to make the most of your Fulbright experience—inside and outside the classroom.

Whether you’re just getting started or refining your application, this session is packed with practical advice to help you succeed.

Graduate Alumni Session: Crafting Your Study/Research Objectives & Personal Statement

Struggling with your Study/Research Objectives or Personal Statement?

You’re not alone—and the guidance you need is just a click away!

In this recorded session, Fulbright alumni share firsthand experiences, practical tips, and honest advice to help you write strong, authentic essays for your application.

Watch the session recording and get inspired.

In This Session:

Real advice from alumni who’ve completed the application process.
Personal insights to help you reflect and refine your writing.
Practical strategies for crafting compelling and purposeful essays.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or fine-tuning your drafts, this session offers valuable support to guide you through the process.

What happens after you’re selected for a Fulbright?

Get an inside look at what life is really like as a Fulbright graduate grantee in the U.S.! In Graduate Alumni Session, past Fulbright scholars share their firsthand experiences and guide you through essential aspects of the journey—from arrival and orientation to IIE programming, budget planning, stakeholder expectations, and navigating your new social and academic life.

Whether you’re preparing to depart or just curious about the next steps, this session will help you feel more confident and informed.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the Fulbright Malaysian Graduate Study & Research program, you must:
- Be a Malaysian citizen
- Have lived in Malaysia for at least one year prior to the announcement date
- Have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree with Honors and CGPA of 3.0 or equivalent
- Have a TOEFL score of at least 100 (iBT). All shortlisted candidates are required to take the TOEFL iBT, with MACEE providing vouchers to cover the test fee.
  - Note: Certain fields and/or institutions may require a higher score.
- Have a GMAT*, GRE*, or GRE subject test* with a minimum score as required by the institution of your choice.
- Be available for a virtual interview.
- Commit to return to Malaysia immediately upon completion of the study.
The following individuals are not eligible:
- Who are currently or were previously enrolled in a graduate degree program at an American university and are seeking nomination to complete it.
- To complete a second Master’s degree or PhD.
- Intend to pursue internship, residency, or research at a U.S. school of medicine, nursing, dentistry, or veterinary medicine.
- Working or currently studying anywhere outside Malaysia.

Award Benefit

USD 35,000 per year for a maximum of 2 years of study regardless of degree or curriculum sought.
All grants are for periods of one academic year but can be renewed for a second year if academic requirements are met.
University placement support.
Accident and sickness health benefit coverage

Note: Grant renewals are recommended for approval by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarships Board and are not automatically renewable.

Nature of the award:

Awards will be partial grants or otherwise require cost-sharing from the candidate’s home institution, scholarships, or other funding from the admitting university or from personal resources.
The amount of any specific award will be based on available funding and other criteria as determined by the academic committee during the selection process.
All decisions regarding category and amount of grant shall be final. Similarly, the amount of renewal funding shall be contingent upon financial circumstances affecting the Commission.
For Master’s and PhD grants, efforts will be made to retain funding levels from the first to the second year. However, candidates should not assume this will take place.

Placement of award:

IIE-Placement: IIE’s Placement service works to secure Master’s and PhD opportunities on behalf of Fulbright candidates. Candidates are required to submit their Fulbright application and provide all supporting documents to MACEE. The Placement Team will use the information shared in their Fulbright application to apply to institutions on behalf of each candidate. The Placement Team will manage admission decisions and negotiate funding. The Placement Team will accept and decline on behalf of candidates once a final placement decision is made. The Placement Team is the first point of contact to U.S. institutions during this process and candidates are only in touch directly with U.S. institutions on an as needed basis.
Self-Placement: Candidates can apply to universities directly and manage their applications with universities directly. Candidates are responsible to submit materials and test scores per each university deadline and application requirements including any associated fees or deposits. IIE is not involved in the application process for self-placed candidates. Candidates secure their own admission, possible university funding and tuition awards independently.

Note: Students cannot apply for programs with clinical requirements such as dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, nursing.

Note: Institute of International Education (IIE) will assist candidates in securing a placement at a regionally accredited U.S. university and candidates should be accepted by June 1st, 2026.

Additional Information

Designate your test score reports to the Institute of International Education (IIE). Institution code for TOEFL & GRE: 2326, GMAT: FOF-4J-28.

All shortlisted candidates are required to take the TOEFL iBT and GRE tests, with MACEE providing vouchers to cover the associated costs.

Application Procedure

You will need to submit:

A complete online application.
Certified true copies of university transcript(s) for all years of academic study.
Certified true copies of degree certificates.
A writing sample. This is required for all PhD applicants and for Master’s applicant, this field is recommended, but not mandatory.
Three reference letters
A study/research objective
A personal statement

Note: Selected Master’s fields may require a writing sample.

Fulbright Plagiarism Procedure

This program seeks applicants whose writing achieves the highest academic standards of original research, writing, and citation. Application materials will be processed using software to help identify any instances of plagiarism. Plagiarism in any part of your application will result in your disqualification from participating in the program.

Plagiarism will be understood to include any of the following:

Presenting wording, statistics, or concepts as your own which should be attributed to someone else or publications (online or offline). This includes, but is not limited to:

Copying the exact wording of a written source
Presenting material with alterations in wording
Paraphrasing the content of a source without citation

It is expected that your application will be your work and writing, with a clear citation of secondary sources if describing the academic work and writing of others (including one’s own previously published work). Any sources used in the construction of your responses must be cited.

FAQ

Click here to explore the program FAQ

Connect With Your Fulbright Graduate Alum

Need help with your application? Your Graduate Alum is here to assist! They can answer your questions and guide you through completing your application.

Feel free to reach out to your Graduate Alum via email for support.

If you’re unsure how to connect with an alum, email us at fulbrightmalaysia@macee.org.my, and we’ll gladly connect you to one.

We’re here to help—don’t hesitate to reach out!

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