Official guides / Student support & services

Financial advice (Monash Malaysia)

Official source

Monash University Malaysia

Last checked: 25 Oct 2026 UTC

What this page covers

Budgeting
Expenses you need to consider
How to prepare a budget?
Cost of Study

Page text

Text and tables taken from the official page, with collapsed sections opened, so it can be read and searched here. Images and forms are not copied, so open the original page when you need to apply or submit something.

Budgeting

A budget is an effective way of organising your money to see:

how much money comes in (income)
how much needs to go out (expenses)

Expenses you need to consider

Recurring expenses	Weekly travel, food, monthly rent, monthly mobile and internet bills
Semester, yearly or one-off expenses	Course fees, insurance, etc
Unexpected costs	Accidents or illness
Lifestyle choices	Entertainment and savings

How to prepare a budget?

Step 1	Review the cost of living and cost of study estimates
Step 2	Work out your income. Include family allowances, any government support and/or any scholarships
Step 3	Keep track of your expenses for several weeks. Divide the costs into categories at the end of the period
Step 4	Prepare a spreadsheet and enter your amounts into income and expenses separately.
Step 5	Assess your income and expenses. Decided what spending limits each month are workable for you
Step 6	Stick to your target spending limits and monitor your progress. If you do not have enough funds, you need to either decrease your spending or increase your income/fund
Step 7	Revise your budget when your circumstances change

Step 1 Review the cost of living and cost of study estimates

Cost of Study

During your time at Monash, you can expect to incur some or all of the following study-related costs:

Cost	Details	Frequency
Application Fee	Fees payable for undertaking a course at Monash University Malaysia campus	Once only
Registration fee		Once only
Tuition fee Undergraduate Postgraduate		Every semester
Amenities fee	The cost of services provided to students	Every semester
Miscellaneous fees	For example academic transcript, student letter, replacement ID card, graduation ceremony	As and when necessary
Hospitalisation and Surgical Insurance	Compulsory for all International Students	Every year
Textbooks	You can by these new or second hand	Every semester
Course or unit related costs	For example laboratory coats, art, technical equipment etc	Once or every semester
Field trips, excursions and placements	Some courses may require you to undertake field trips, excursions or placements. Some of these may require cost from you; e.g., travelling cost.	As and when necessary
Photocopying and printing	Photocopying and printing charges will apply. To help get you started, a one-time RM15 credit will be provided to all new students	As and when necessary
Library fines and penalties	Fines for overdue or loss of library materials	As and when necessary
Parking on campus	On campus car park is available at monthly rate or pay-per-entry depending on location	Monthly or daily

What is GPA at Monash?

All campuses

GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale from your grades rather than your marks: High Distinction 4.0, Distinction 3.0, Credit 2.0, Pass 1.0, Near pass 0.7, Fail and Hurdle fail 0.3, Withdrawn fail 0.0. Some results, such as SFR and NE, are not counted. Your GPA is shown in WES and on your transcript. Malaysia also uses a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) with different values: High Distinction 4.0, Distinction 3.67, Credit 2.85, Pass 2.15, Near pass 1.7, Fail and Hurdle fail 1.15, Withdrawn fail 0.0. It is not on your academic record, so you request a CGPA letter.

How do I withdraw from a unit?

Australia: withdraw through WES while enrolment changes are open. Before the census date there is no fee and no record; after it, you keep the fee liability and the unit shows as a withdrawal. If you are on a student visa you have study load requirements to maintain: Monash's study load page says you can reduce your load only in compassionate or compelling circumstances, unless you are in your final year and will finish within the time on your CoE. Malaysia: after the census date a withdrawn unit shows as WD-LATE or WD-FAIL, and the date you withdraw can affect fee refunds and your academic record. The last day to withdraw without academic penalty is before the WD-LATE date ends; the dates are in Monash Malaysia's Principal Dates. With a Student Pass, going below 24 credit points a semester is an underload: it needs approval, it can never go below 18 credit points, and below 18 you have to apply for intermission.

How many hours can I work on a student visa?

The rules are each country's, not Monash's, and they are different. Australia: work rights for student visa holders are set by the Australian Government, and the cap has changed several times in recent years. Monash's page links to the current Department of Home Affairs conditions - always confirm the number there before relying on it. Malaysia: with a Student Pass you may work only during semester breaks or public holidays of more than seven days, and for no more than 20 hours a week, at restaurants, petrol kiosks, mini markets or hotels; the page lists jobs that are not allowed. Every job has to be approved by the Immigration Department: you apply through the International Student Pass office and must be there in person when the application is submitted.