What you need to know before getting here – travel and immigration requirements, what to bring with you, when you first get here, living and getting around in Malaysia.
Travel and immigration advise
Student Pass and Passport Requirements
Before coming to Malaysia, make sure you know that:
- Your passport must have a minimum validity of 16 (sixteen) months beyond the period of stay from the day you enter Malaysia.
- You are permitted to hold only one pass at a time, i.e. your Student Pass.
- Your Student Pass is non-transferable and permits you to study only at MAHSA. The pass is valid for 1 (one) year and is renewable while you remain as a student at MAHSA.
Social Visit Pass
You need to get your Student Pass approval before leaving your country because in case your social pass expires before your Student Pass is approved, you will have to leave and re-enter Malaysia.
Note that all students and visitors to Malaysia are subject to the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Expiry and Extension of Student Pass
It is your responsibility to remember when your Student Pass expires. You need to submit application for your Student Pass extension 1 (one) month before the expiry date. Failing to do so may cause you to be compounded for overstaying in Malaysia by the Immigration Department
Working in Malaysia
The Immigration Department of Malaysia allows International students to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week while studying in Malaysia and only during semester breaks which are more than 7 days long.
Leaving and Re-entry to Malaysia
When returning to Malaysia from your holiday, ensure that your Student Pass is still valid for no less than 1 (one) month from the date you re-enter Malaysia. You are advised to inform us of your travel plans and the length of your stay abroad.
Renewal of Passport
You are strongly advised to renew your passport at your country’s Embassy, High Commission, Diplomatic, or Consulate Office in Kuala Lumpur in order to facilitate transfer of Student Pass endorsement from your old passport to the new one
Note: The information above is valid at the time of writing. Check with your local Malaysian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate that this information is still up to date, as immigration rules change from time to time. You can also check from the Malaysian Immigration website at www.imi.gov.my.
Preparing for your travel
Travel Ticket and packing for travel
Check with your travel agent to make your airline reservation. If you already have your accommodation arranged, you are advised to arrive in KL at least a few days before your course starts, so that you can settle down with your accommodation and the new environment. Also remember that during holiday seasons, flights could be expensive or fully booked on your desired dates, so make sure you make your ticket reservation soon after you receive your Student Pass approval letter.
When packing your luggage, remember that there are certain restrictions on the weight of luggage when you travel by air. Excess luggage charges can be quite expensive, so sometimes it may be cheaper to leave your books and heavy things at home and buy new ones in Malaysia. Check with your travel agent or airline on how much you can bring, what you are allowed and not allowed to bring into Malaysia.
What kind of clothing should I bring?
It averages 29 degrees Celsius year round in Malaysia You will need both professional attire and casual. During school session, professional attire is required on campus. You may want to bring casual clothing for non-school and off-campus events.
What should I bring with me?
Make yourself feel at home! Bring personal stuff like posters or photographs of your friends and family. If you are bringing any electrical equipment with you, remember that the power supply in Malaysia is 220 – 240 volts / 50 cycle AC system.
Living and getting around in Malaysia
Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur, or just KL, is the capital city of Malaysia. Both the University campus is right at the heart of KL. During the first few weeks you will become familiar with the city and its neighbourhoods. The people here and the local life are two of the best things about studying at MAHSA! You’ll quickly find that you and newly met fellow students will discover a lot about local life, customs and culture, transport, places of interest, shopping centres, post offices, cinema, etc
Healthcare
Through Jerneh Insurance, we provide you with a comprehensive medical insurance package. Details of the package with enclosed registration form are given to you at the time of registration.
Living Costs
Plan ahead for your expenses while you study and live in Malaysia. In addition to tuition fees, costs may at minimum include food, books and stationery, accommodation, clothing, travel, entertainment, healthcare, insurance, visa renewal, etc. A moderate student lifestyle monthly expenses average RM1,200 to RM1,800, including accommodation and excluding tuition fees.
Currency
The local currency is Ringgit Malaysia (RM). It is generally easy to convert currencies at the money changers and banks throughout Malaysia. Most organisations in Malaysia accept major credit cards; some accept travellers’ cheques. ATMs can also be used to obtain cash via debit/cash cards from your home bank.
Upon arriving in Malaysia, we advise you to open an account with a local bank. You will need to obtain a letter from our Admission for this purpose
Language
Malaysia’s official language is Bahasa Malaysia. However, English is spoken by a majority of people throughout Malaysia, linking the various ethnic groups. Other everyday languages include Chinese dialects such as Cantonese, Hakka, and Hokkien. You will also hear Indian dialects like Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi.
Communications
You can make phone calls through residential phones, public phone booths, and mobile phones. IDD call cards are available from convenience stores to offer special rates for overseas calls. To get Internet access at home, broadband Internet subscription has become increasingly cheap in Malaysia to offer wired and wireless home Internet connection. Check with several local service providers such as Streamyx, Maxis, Celcom, DIGI.
Post offices are located throughout the country, with typical services provided for letter and package sending/receiving. Courier companies also operate throughout the country. There is a postal service facility near on campus and they can direct you to any other service facilities you may need.
Orientation and Assistance
The Student Services will be glad to assist should you have any questions It is our job to make you feel at home here. We look forward to welcoming you and wishing you SELAMAT DATANG!
