Malaysia recognizes Kazakhstan’s university entrance exam for university admission

Malaysia has officially recognized Kazakhstan’s Unified National Testing (UNT) results, a standardized university entrance exam taken by secondary school graduates. The country’s Ministry of Higher Education has added the UNT to the list of documents accepted for admission to undergraduate programs.

This allows Kazakhstani students to enroll in several Malaysian universities without having to complete a mandatory Foundation program. However, applicants to programs taught in English will still be required to demonstrate English proficiency through IELTS, TOEFL or equivalent certificates.

Kazakhstan’s National Testing Center emphasized that each Malaysian university independently determines its minimum UNT score requirements and additional admission criteria.

«Depending on the academic program, universities may conduct their own entrance exams, interviews, review portfolios, or offer preparatory courses. Therefore, applicants are advised to check the specific requirements of each university in advance,» the statement said.

The Center noted that international recognition of the UNT confirms that Kazakhstan’s knowledge assessment system meets contemporary academic standards and expands opportunities for graduates of Kazakhstan’s secondary schools to study abroad.

The UNT results are recognized not only by institutions in Kazakhstan but also abroad, including in several Asian countries.

In addition, Kazakhstan is working to introduce a new entrance exam, the Admissions Insight Test (AIT), developed in cooperation with ETS.

In the future, the developers expect the AIT to also gain international recognition from universities and educational organizations.