focus:tertiary education
Student Life in Malaysia:
Affordable and Enjoyable
T
hough there are
certainly some
notable exceptions
elsewhere in
the country,
the majority of
universities in
Malaysia are located
in and around the Greater Kuala Lumpur
metropolitan area. Accordingly, it stands
to reason that most students will make
their home in the Malaysian capital city
and its environs.
The great thing is that, as one of the
region’s major cities, there’s plenty to
do in Kuala Lumpur. Getting around is
affordable, food is often downright cheap,
and there’s no shortage of entertainment
options (when you’re not studying, that
is) which are either inexpensive or free.
The year-round warm, tropical weather
also makes it easy to keep your wardrobe
budget under control!
Already regarded as one of Asia’s most
budget-friendly cities in which to live,
Kuala Lumpur offers a great deal of
value to students who call the city home
for a few years. Nevertheless, student
life presents additional challenges and
demands beyond those of the typical
foreign resident. So with an eye to the
unique concerns felt by those studying
here, we look at some ways to make your
budget work better if you’re a student in
Kuala Lumpur.
- GET A STUDENT DISCOUNT CARD
Every student in the country is entitled
to a Malaysian Student Discount Card
which is free of charge. With the card, you
will be able to enjoy discounts on food,
apparel, entertainment, books, health
and recreation services, restaurants,
transportation, and even flight tickets. It
can save you between 5% to 60% when
you spend at any of the 2,600 participating
outlets. So don’t delay and apply for a
student discount card at isic.org, and
choose Malaysia from the drop-down
menu.Bonus: For expat full-time teachers
and professors, the International Teacher
Identity Card (ITIC) is an internationally
recognised card that offers discounts and
savings, both at home and abroad.- MAKE USE OF EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES
Many educational resources provided by
universities in Malaysia are available for
free. Normally, you don’t have to pay for
an access to their materials. So make full
use of that advantage and study at your
university – use the Internet to research as
much and as long as you need, instead
of paying membership fees in public
libraries. In addition, universities tend to
organise free additional lectures, training,
and events. Don’t hesitate to attend those,
as well. - CHECK OUT THE FREE ENTERTAINMENT
OPTIONS
Many of KL’s public activities are free, such
as the guided walking tours organised
by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, which
highlight the local architecture, food,
shops and history of Malaysia. Also, every
Monday at The Stage in Publika Square, a
free open-air film screening takes place.
There are many free galleries and
museums, such as Bank Negara Museum
and Gallery, Galeri Petronas and Wei-Ling
Gallery, and nature-splashed spots at
tropical Perdana Botanical Garden and
KLCC Park, along with KL Forest Eco-Park
(Bukit Nanas) and Titiwangsa Park. Nearly
all of these places are on or near public
transit lines, too, making them an easy
choice. (Some of these offers are subject
to change, so do check.) As a student,
you can get discounted tickets for many
theatres, cinemas, attractions, and clubs- even if it’s not stated anywhere, it never
hurts to ask.
- USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The free GoKL city bus service (gokl.com.
my) will be very useful if you travel within
the Central Business District of Kuala
Lumpur. It serves four lines, and is very
convenient because bus stops are close
to tourist attractions, shopping malls and
entertainments. In addition, you will find
free Wi-Fi there. In case you are going to
use public transport on a regular basis, it’s
best to buy a monthly pass for the entire
public transport system (myrapid.com.my).
These passes are very affordable and can