Twelve thousand and eight hundred fifty (12,850) applications were received in Q1 2014 from international students interested to pursue tertiary education at private higher education institutions in Malaysia, according to Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). 

Of the total number of applications received, 11,336 applications were approved.

For this year's intake, the Ministry of Education targets to receive 36,000 new international students intake. To date, EMGS has achieved 31 per cent of that target.

EMGS uses the Student Application and Registration System (STARS) to track and manage student applications. The system enables the agency to identify which private higher education institutions that habitually offer unqualified candidates or places to candidates with dubious applications.

As of December 2013, Malaysia has 117,833 international students from 140 countries with active student passes.

Related news:

• EMGS promises to speed up visa processing
• International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) targets more foreign student enrolment