The UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship is an excellent opportunity for academically strong international students who want to pursue a PhD in Malaysia. Officially known as the International Graduate Student Scholarship or IGSS, the award provides a 30% to 50% tuition-fee waiver for up to three years at Universiti Putra Malaysia. It is intended for new and first-semester doctoral students from selected regions who have strong academic records, research potential and the support of a UPM supervisor. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship 2027, including its tuition support, eligible regions, application requirements, required documents and detailed application process.
Universiti Putra Malaysia, commonly known as UPM, is one of Malaysia’s leading public research universities. Located in Serdang, Selangor, the university is particularly respected for agriculture, food science, forestry, veterinary medicine, engineering, biotechnology and environmental research, while also offering advanced study across science, technology, business, education, medicine and the social sciences. UPM is ranked #138 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, placing it among the leading universities in Malaysia and the wider Asian region.
UPM offers more than 300 fields of study through its master’s and PhD programmes by research. International applicants can explore the available disciplines through the official UPM postgraduate programmes page before choosing a research area and approaching a potential supervisor.
The UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship is specifically designed to encourage talented international PhD students from Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Priority is given to applicants whose research is relevant to UPM or Malaysia and to academic staff from universities that have formal agreements with UPM.
UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: PhD
- Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia
- Study Destination: Malaysia
- Scholarship Duration: Up to three years or six semesters
- Number of Awards: Depends on application quality and available funding
Application Deadline
Applications for the UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship for the First Semester 2026/2027 are open from:
August 1 to August 31, 2026
The applicant’s advisor or supervisor and the Dean or Director of the relevant faculty, school or institute must also complete their online endorsements by August 31, 2026.
UPM states that incomplete or late applications will not be processed and appeals will not be considered. Applicants should therefore submit early enough to allow their supervisor and faculty to complete the required approvals before the deadline.
For the latest dates and announcements, applicants should regularly check the official UPM IGSS page.
UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship Coverage
Recipients of the UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship receive:
- A 30% to 50% tuition-fee waiver
- Scholarship support for up to three years
- Funding up to the sixth semester of PhD study
- Opportunity to conduct doctoral research at Universiti Putra Malaysia
- Access to UPM supervisors, research groups, laboratories and academic facilities
The exact percentage of the tuition-fee waiver awarded to an individual student may depend on the scholarship assessment and available funding.
Scholarship continuation is subject to an annual review of the recipient’s academic progress. Receiving the scholarship in the first year does not automatically guarantee that the tuition waiver will continue for the entire three-year period if the student does not maintain satisfactory progress.
Eligible PhD Programmes
The scholarship is available for eligible PhD study at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
UPM offers research opportunities in areas such as:
- Agriculture
- Forestry and environment
- Food science and technology
- Veterinary medicine
- Engineering
- Computer science and information technology
- Biotechnology and biomolecular sciences
- Medicine and health sciences
- Natural sciences
- Business and economics
- Education
- Human ecology
- Design and architecture
- Modern languages and communication
- Social sciences
- Humanities
- Management
- Interdisciplinary research
UPM offers more than 300 research fields across its faculties and institutes. Applicants should use the official programme-by-research directory to identify a suitable PhD field and research supervisor.
Eligibility Criteria for UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship
To qualify for the UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Applicants must be international students.
- Applicants must come from an eligible region.
- Applicants must meet UPM’s general admission requirements for international students.
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree.
- Applicants must be applying for or registered in an eligible PhD programme.
- Applicants must be new students or students in their first semester with an active “Continue” status.
- Applicants must not receive another scholarship or financial-assistance award.
- Applicants must not be engaged in any form of employment at the time of application.
- Applicants must have the support of a UPM advisor or supervisor.
- Applicants must obtain the online endorsement of the relevant Dean or Director.
- Applicants must provide confirmation from their embassy that they are not receiving another scholarship, financial assistance or income from a government or other agency.
- Applicants should have at least one article published in an academic journal or receive a strong recommendation from an academic institution.
Required Documents for UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship
Applicants should prepare the documents requested in the current i-GIMS application. The official scholarship page specifically requires or refers to the following:
- Completed online IGSS application
- Copy of master’s degree qualification
- Evidence of admission or active enrolment at UPM
- Support letter from the UPM advisor or supervisor
- Letter from the applicant’s embassy
- Evidence of an academic journal publication, where applicable
- Strong recommendation from an academic institution, where applicable
- Any additional documents requested through the UPM student portal
Supervisor Support Letter
Applicants must obtain a support letter from their UPM advisor or supervisor. This letter should confirm that the supervisor supports the student’s scholarship application and proposed doctoral research.
The applicant should discuss the scholarship with the supervisor before submitting the online form. The supervisor must also endorse the application electronically through the UPM system.
Embassy Confirmation Letter
Applicants must obtain a letter from their embassy confirming that they are not receiving:
- Another scholarship
- Financial assistance
- Income from a government agency
- Funding from another organisation or institution
Applicants should contact their embassy early because obtaining this letter may take time. The document should clearly identify the applicant and confirm the absence of overlapping financial support.
Publication or Institutional Recommendation
Applicants should provide evidence of at least one article published in an academic journal or a strong recommendation from their academic institution.
Where a recommendation is used, it should preferably come from a senior university official such as the Vice-Chancellor, Dean or Director and should explain the applicant’s academic ability, research potential and suitability for doctoral study.
Scholarship Duration and Renewal
The UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship may cover up to:
- Three years of doctoral study
- Six semesters at UPM
Continuation is subject to an annual assessment of the student’s academic progress. Recipients must therefore maintain satisfactory research progress and comply with UPM’s academic and scholarship regulations.
How to Apply for UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship?
Follow these application instructions to apply for the UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship:
(1) Begin by confirming that you meet both the scholarship requirements and the admission requirements of your selected PhD programme. The IGSS is limited to international doctoral students who hold a master’s degree and are either new students or in their first semester with “Continue” status. Applicants who have not yet joined UPM should first choose a research field through the official UPM postgraduate programme directory and complete their PhD admission process.
(2) Contact a suitable UPM academic in your proposed research area and discuss your doctoral project and IGSS application. You will need the academic’s agreement to act as your advisor or supervisor, a formal support letter and the supervisor’s online endorsement. It is therefore important to approach someone whose research genuinely matches your proposed topic rather than sending the same general request to several unrelated academics.
(3) Prepare the scholarship-specific documents before opening the form. These should include your supervisor’s support letter, evidence of your journal publication or strong institutional recommendation and a letter from your embassy confirming that you are not receiving another scholarship, financial assistance or income. Make sure the names, passport details and programme information are consistent across all documents.
(4) Log in to the official UPM i-GIMS student portal and complete the International Graduate Student Scholarship application. Enter your academic, programme and scholarship information carefully and upload the documents requested in the current form.
(5) After submitting your section, follow up with your advisor or supervisor and the Dean or Director of your faculty, school or institute. Both must support the application online no later than August 31, 2026. A student application that has not received the required institutional endorsements will remain incomplete.
(6) Review the final application status through i-GIMS and ensure that every approval has been completed before the deadline. UPM will not process late or incomplete applications, and appeals will not be considered.
(7) After submission, monitor your UPM email and student portal for the scholarship decision or any request for clarification. If selected, read the scholarship offer and renewal conditions carefully, particularly the approved tuition-waiver percentage, annual progress-review requirements and maximum support period.
Website
For more information about the UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship, visit:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship?
UPM International Graduate Student Scholarship is a partial tuition-fee scholarship for eligible international PhD students at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Is UPM IGSS fully funded?
No. The scholarship provides a 30% to 50% tuition-fee waiver. It does not provide full tuition coverage, a monthly living allowance, airfare or accommodation.
Who can apply for UPM IGSS?
International PhD students from Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa may apply if they satisfy the scholarship and university requirements.
Can master’s students apply?
No. Applicants must hold a master’s degree and be enrolled in or entering a PhD programme at UPM.
Can current UPM students apply?
The scholarship is open to new students and students up to their first semester who have an active “Continue” status.
How long does the scholarship last?
The award may continue for up to three years or six semesters, subject to an annual review of academic progress.
What is the UPM IGSS deadline?
Applications for the First Semester 2026/2027 are open from August 1 to August 31, 2026. The supervisor and Dean or Director must also complete their endorsements by August 31.
Is a publication required?
Applicants should have at least one academic journal publication and/or a strong recommendation from an academic institution.
Do I need a supervisor before applying?
Yes. Applicants must obtain a support letter from a UPM advisor or supervisor, and the supervisor must endorse the application online.
Can I hold another scholarship while receiving IGSS?
No. Applicants cannot receive another scholarship or financial assistance and cannot be engaged in another form of employment at the time of application.
How do I apply?
Eligible applicants must complete the online scholarship application through the UPM i-GIMS student portal and obtain electronic approval from their advisor or supervisor and the relevant Dean or Director.
