DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia

About DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia

DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia, commonly abbreviated to DRB-HICOM U or DHU, is a private university located in Pekan, in the state of Pahang, on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The institution was established on 2 April 2010 as the International College of Automotive (ICAM), opening with an initial cohort of 42 students drawn from the staff of DRB-HICOM Berhad subsidiary companies. ICAM was upgraded to full university status in October 2015 and rebranded as DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia. The institution is therefore among the younger private universities in Malaysia, with around a decade of full university operation as of 2026.

The university is owned by HICOM University College Sdn Bhd (HUCSB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRB-HICOM Berhad. DRB-HICOM Berhad is a Bursa Malaysia-listed conglomerate with operations spanning automotive assembly and distribution, banking and financial services, defence, postal services through Pos Malaysia, property, and concessions. Within the automotive segment, DRB-HICOM is the majority shareholder of Proton Holdings, the national car manufacturer, and serves as the local assembly partner for Honda Malaysia, Isuzu HICOM Malaysia, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Volkswagen Malaysia, and Tata Motors.

The institutional positioning is straightforward: DRB-HICOM University is Malaysia’s only private university built around the automotive sector. Its tagline, “University by the industry, for the industry,” reflects the founding rationale of producing skilled professionals for the DRB-HICOM Group and the wider Malaysian automotive supply chain. The current Vice Chancellor and CEO is Prof. Dato’ Omar Osman. The university operates under a Board of Governors that reports to DRB-HICOM Berhad through HICOM University College Sdn Bhd.

DRB-HICOM University runs more than 50 MQA-accredited programmes spanning foundation, diploma, bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. The academic structure consists of two faculties and one school: the Faculty of Engineering & Technology, the Faculty of Business & Management, and the School of Foundation and Interdisciplinary Studies. The university is registered on the Malaysian Qualifications Agency register under entity code 603, with its prior identity recorded as the International College of Automotive (Kolej Automotif Antarabangsa).

The 42-acre campus sits within the DRB-HICOM Automotive Complex in Pekan, adjacent to the Proton manufacturing plant and proximate to several other group operations. DRB-HICOM Berhad has reported approximately RM 360 million in cumulative campus investment, supporting classrooms, laboratories, and workshops sized to accommodate up to 7,000 students. The integration of the campus with the surrounding industrial complex is the institution’s defining structural feature and the basis on which it differentiates from broader-portfolio private universities in the Klang Valley.

DRB-HICOM University Location and Campus in Pekan, Pahang

DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia occupies a 42-acre site at Lot 1449, PT 2204, Peramu Jaya Industrial Area, 26607 Pekan, Pahang Darul Makmur. Pekan is a coastal town in the state of Pahang, historically the royal capital and the seat of the Sultanate of Pahang. The town sits roughly 45 minutes by road south of Kuantan, the state capital and largest urban centre on Malaysia’s east coast, and approximately 250 km from Kuala Lumpur via the East Coast Expressway (LPT2).

The campus is integrated within the DRB-HICOM Automotive Complex, the manufacturing and supply chain hub that hosts the Proton vehicle assembly plant in Pekan and a cluster of supplier operations under the DRB-HICOM Group umbrella. This co-location is the structural feature that distinguishes DRB-HICOM University from peer engineering institutions: students walk between teaching facilities and an active vehicle assembly environment, and the surrounding industrial estate provides a natural pool of industrial training placements.

The 42-acre footprint accommodates the Faculty of Engineering & Technology buildings, the Faculty of Business & Management facilities, the School of Foundation and Interdisciplinary Studies, automotive workshops, mechatronic and manufacturing laboratories, a central library, sports facilities, and student residences. DRB-HICOM Berhad has cited approximately RM 360 million in cumulative campus investment. Capacity has been planned to accommodate up to 7,000 students across the active programme portfolio.

For prospective students, the practical implications of the Pekan location are mixed. The east coast position places the campus outside the Klang Valley urban centre, which limits some of the cultural and lifestyle adjacencies available to students at metropolitan universities. The trade-off is direct exposure to a working automotive manufacturing complex, materially lower local cost of living than the Klang Valley, and proximity to Kuantan for healthcare, larger retail facilities, and air connectivity through Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport.

DRB-HICOM University Programmes in Automotive, Mechatronics, Business, and Technology

DRB-HICOM University organises its academic offerings across two faculties and one school. The portfolio totals more than 50 active programmes spanning foundation, diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, postgraduate certificate, and doctoral levels.

The Faculty of Engineering & Technology is the institution’s flagship faculty and the principal vehicle for the automotive specialty. Bachelor-level offerings include the Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Technology (Hons) with specialisations in Automotive Service Technology, Industrial Design, Mechatronic, Manufacturing, Quality System, and Material. The faculty additionally runs the Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mechatronic Engineering for students entering on the standard engineering pathway. Diploma-level offerings cover Mechanical Engineering Technology and Automotive Maintenance Engineering.

Beyond the engineering technology spine, the Faculty of Engineering & Technology operates a range of automotive-focused diplomas that reflect the operational structure of the DRB-HICOM Group: the Diploma in Automotive Management System (DMS), Diploma in Vehicle Assembly Management (DVA), Diploma in Vehicle Inspection (DVI), Diploma in Automotive Technology (DAT), Diploma in Automotive Parts Management (DPM), Diploma in Automotive Retail Management (DRM), and Diploma in Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH). These diplomas map directly onto job roles within vehicle assembly, dealership networks, parts distribution, and after-sales operations across the Malaysian automotive sector.

The Faculty of Business & Management complements the engineering portfolio with programmes in business administration, marketing, finance and accounting, and human resource management. The business curriculum is oriented toward operational and management roles within manufacturing and automotive distribution, rather than the generic finance or consultancy track common at metropolitan business schools. Postgraduate offerings extend to master’s-level qualifications for working professionals.

The School of Foundation and Interdisciplinary Studies runs the pre-university foundation pathways that feed into the degree programmes. Foundation studies are the principal entry route for SPM holders progressing into engineering and business degrees at DRB-HICOM University. The school also handles general education modules and English-language preparation for students who require additional support to meet degree-entry standards.

Postgraduate study at DRB-HICOM University runs through both faculties, with master’s and doctoral candidates typically pursuing applied research aligned with the operational needs of DRB-HICOM Group companies and the wider Malaysian automotive sector. Areas of postgraduate emphasis include automotive engineering technology, manufacturing systems, industrial design, and management of operations.

DRB-HICOM University Fees and Tuition

DRB-HICOM University publishes programme-level fees that are quoted in two components: a tuition fee covering teaching and assessment, and a resource fee covering laboratory, workshop, and equipment access. Engineering technology programmes carry the higher fee load due to the workshop and laboratory intensity of the curriculum.

Programme	Tuition (RM)	Resource Fee (RM)	Programme Total (RM)
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Technology (Industrial Design) Hons	~60,000	~7,450	~67,450
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Technology (Mechatronic) Hons	~60,000	~7,450	~67,450
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Technology (Automotive Service Technology) Hons	~60,000	~7,450	~67,450
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechatronic Engineering	request from admissions	request from admissions	request from admissions
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology	~25,000	included	~25,000
Diploma in Automotive Technology	~25,000	included	~25,000
Foundation in Engineering / Business	request from admissions	included	request from admissions

Application fees are RM 250 across programmes. Published sources indicate an additional RM 2,500 payable approximately six months after enrolment. Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Technology specialisations are quoted at approximately RM 60,000 in tuition with a RM 7,450 resource fee, totalling around RM 67,450. Diploma programmes typically run in the RM 25,000 to RM 35,000 total range depending on specialisation and duration.

These figures position DRB-HICOM University in the mid-tier of private engineering universities in Malaysia. By comparison, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS lists Bachelor of Engineering programmes at significantly higher per-year tuition due to its branding, scale, and Petronas industry pathway, while Universiti Tenaga Nasional similarly sits above DRB-HICOM University on per-programme tuition. The DRB-HICOM University fee profile is closer to the industrial-niche tier represented by Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology and similar specialist sub-campuses.

Sources cite that some programmes carry partial scholarships or fee discounts in specific intakes. Prospective students should request the current intake-specific fee schedule directly from the admissions office, as quoted figures vary by intake year, programme version, and any active scholarship arrangements. Hostel accommodation, food, books, and personal expenses are quoted separately and should be budgeted in addition to programme fees.

International student fees run on a separate schedule and should be requested directly from the admissions office. Visa documentation, the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) student pass, and any English-language preparation requirements add to the international student cost base.

DRB-HICOM University Accreditation and MQA Recognition

DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia is registered with the Ministry of Higher Education and listed on the Malaysian Qualifications Agency register at www2.mqa.gov.my under institutional entity code 603. The MQA register additionally records the institution’s previous identity as the International College of Automotive (Kolej Automotif Antarabangsa), reflecting the 2010-2015 ICAM phase prior to the upgrade to full university status.

Individual programmes carry programme-level MQA accreditation codes published on the public MQR register. Each accredited programme is subject to the standard MQA review cycle, which assesses curriculum content, faculty qualifications, infrastructure, assessment integrity, and graduate competence against the national qualifications framework.

Engineering technology programmes additionally engage the Engineering Technology Accreditation Council (ETAC) under the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) for accreditation review. ETAC accreditation is the relevant track for engineering technology degrees in Malaysia, distinct from the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) track for full engineering programmes. The Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechatronic Engineering, where offered as a full engineering qualification rather than an engineering technology qualification, is the relevant programme for EAC accreditation review.

Diploma-level programmes targeting specific automotive industry roles, such as Vehicle Assembly Management, Vehicle Inspection, and Automotive Retail Management, hold MQA accreditation aligned with the operational needs of the DRB-HICOM Group and the wider automotive industry. Occupational Safety and Health diplomas carry recognition from the relevant national authority alongside MQA accreditation.

Prospective students should verify accreditation status of their target programme directly on the MQR register before enrolment, as accreditation cycles are periodic and individual programme codes can shift across review rounds.

DRB-HICOM University Admissions

DRB-HICOM University operates rolling admissions across the bulk of its programmes, with intake cohorts aligned to the Malaysian academic calendar. Application contact runs through the admissions office at the Pekan campus.

Entry to Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Technology programmes typically requires either STPM with passes in Mathematics and Physics or another science subject, A-Level passes in equivalent subjects, a relevant Foundation in Engineering or Foundation in Science qualification, or a relevant diploma with the required CGPA for direct entry into Year 2. Applicants from technical and vocational pathways such as DKM and DVM are accepted under the recognised diploma routes.

Entry to Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechatronic Engineering runs on the standard engineering entry requirements set by the Engineering Accreditation Council, with stronger Mathematics and Physics prerequisites than the engineering technology pathway.

Entry to business and management bachelor programmes accepts STPM, A-Level, foundation, or diploma qualifications across a broader subject base than the engineering programmes. SPM-equivalent English passes are required.

Foundation programmes at the School of Foundation and Interdisciplinary Studies accept SPM, O-Level, or equivalent qualifications with the relevant subject passes for the engineering or business pathway.

Diploma programmes in automotive technology, vehicle assembly, vehicle inspection, automotive retail management, and similar specialisations accept SPM with relevant subject passes. These diplomas are the principal entry route for students seeking direct industry placement at sub-degree level within the DRB-HICOM Group and the wider automotive supply chain.

Postgraduate admissions run year-round. Master’s and doctoral applicants should hold a relevant bachelor’s or master’s qualification, identify a supervisor with research alignment, and submit a research proposal where required. Working professionals from automotive sector roles are a substantial component of the postgraduate intake.

International applicants should factor in additional lead time for the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) student visa pass, which runs on its own processing window separate from the university’s internal admissions decision. The university website at en.dhuautomotive.edu.my hosts the current intake calendar and online application portal.

DRB-HICOM University’s Industry Pathway: Proton, DRB-HICOM Group Companies

The structural distinction of DRB-HICOM University is its institutional alignment with the DRB-HICOM Group’s automotive operations. The university is owned by DRB-HICOM Berhad through HICOM University College Sdn Bhd, and the Pekan campus sits inside the DRB-HICOM Automotive Complex alongside active manufacturing operations. This alignment shapes industrial training placements, project-based coursework, and the recruitment pipeline into post-graduation roles.

DRB-HICOM Berhad’s automotive footprint covers several distinct lines:

• Proton Holdings: DRB-HICOM is the majority shareholder of Proton, Malaysia’s national car manufacturer. The Proton plant in Pekan operates the principal vehicle assembly line for Proton models including the X-series SUVs and the Saga sedan. Geely Holding holds the strategic minority stake following the 2017 partnership.
• Honda Malaysia: DRB-HICOM is the local assembly and manufacturing partner for Honda passenger cars in Malaysia, with the Honda Malaysia plant operated under the joint venture structure.
• Isuzu HICOM Malaysia: The local manufacturing partner for Isuzu pickups and commercial vehicles, operating through a joint venture structure.
• Mercedes-Benz Malaysia: Local assembly partnership for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars.
• Volkswagen Malaysia: Assembly arrangements for selected Volkswagen models.
• Edaran Otomobil Nasional (EON): Distribution and dealership operations for Proton, Mitsubishi, and other marques, historically the main retail channel for Proton.
• HICOM Engineering and parts subsidiaries: Component manufacturing and supply operations across the Pekan industrial cluster.

The practical implication for DRB-HICOM University students is that industrial training, internship placements, and final-year projects can be hosted within active group operations rather than requiring external partnerships. Engineering technology students undertake workshop modules in environments closer to actual production conditions than is typical at general-purpose engineering universities. Business and management students undertake operational rotations across dealership, parts distribution, and assembly management functions.

The recruitment pathway from DRB-HICOM University into group operations is institutional but not contractually guaranteed. Graduates pursue roles across DRB-HICOM Group companies, the wider Malaysian automotive supply chain, and unrelated sectors based on their own application outcomes. The university’s marketing materials reference an “unrivalled record of graduate employment,” though this is a self-reported claim rather than an independently audited employment figure. Prospective students should treat the industry pathway as a structural advantage rather than a placement guarantee.

The boundaries of the industry pathway are worth noting. DRB-HICOM University is positioned around the DRB-HICOM Group’s specific automotive footprint, which centres on assembly, parts manufacturing, and distribution. Students seeking exposure to original equipment manufacturer design and engineering at the level practised at Toyota, Volkswagen, or Tesla home plants will find that level of operation outside the scope of a Malaysian assembly-and-distribution group. The training is operationally relevant to the Malaysian automotive sector rather than to global vehicle design.

How DRB-HICOM University Compares to Other Engineering Universities (UTP, UNITEN, UniKL)

DRB-HICOM University occupies a defined niche within Malaysia’s industry-aligned private university landscape. The closest structural analogues are Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, and the constituent campuses of Universiti Kuala Lumpur. All four institutions share the structural pattern of corporate or government-linked sponsorship paired with sectoral specialisation, but the sectoral focus, ownership, and scale differ materially.

Sectoral focus: DRB-HICOM University is built around the automotive sector. UTP serves the oil and gas value chain. UNITEN serves the power, energy, and utilities sector. UniKL operates a multi-discipline industrial network spanning aviation, marine engineering, biotechnology, manufacturing, and others through its constituent campuses. DRB-HICOM University is the only one of the four with automotive as the principal sectoral identity.

Ownership: DRB-HICOM University is owned by DRB-HICOM Berhad through HICOM University College Sdn Bhd. UTP is owned by Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) through its education foundation. UNITEN is owned by Tenaga Nasional Berhad. UniKL is owned by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), a federal Bumiputera development agency. The first three are corporate-owned, the fourth is government-owned.

Scale and campus footprint: DRB-HICOM University operates a single 42-acre campus in Pekan with capacity for around 7,000 students. UTP operates a much larger main campus in Tronoh, Perak, with substantially higher student numbers and a research-intensive postgraduate programme. UNITEN operates dual campuses in Putrajaya and Bandar Muadzam Shah with materially larger scale. UniKL operates a federated network of 12 institutes nationwide.

Programme depth: UTP and UNITEN run full Bachelor of Engineering programmes accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Council under the Board of Engineers Malaysia, alongside computing, business, and other faculties. UniKL runs comparable engineering depth across its institutes. DRB-HICOM University’s principal degree depth is in Mechanical Engineering Technology rather than Mechanical Engineering, with the Mechatronic Engineering full engineering programme as the cross-over option. Engineering technology and full engineering qualifications carry different professional recognition pathways under BEM.

Industry pathway: Each of the four institutions offers an industrial training and placement pathway aligned with its sponsor. The DRB-HICOM pathway is automotive-centric and concentrated within a single industrial complex in Pekan. The UTP pathway is concentrated within Petronas and the wider oil and gas sector. The UNITEN pathway is concentrated within Tenaga Nasional and the power sector. The UniKL pathway varies by campus and institute.

The competitive consequence for prospective students is straightforward. Students with a clear automotive sector preference will find the industrial alignment at DRB-HICOM University more direct than at general-purpose engineering universities. Students seeking broader engineering depth, larger campus scale, or stronger general engineering branding will find UTP, UNITEN, or UniKL more aligned with their objectives. The choice is not about institutional quality in the abstract but about sectoral fit.

DRB-HICOM University Contact and Practical Information

DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia is reachable on +609-424 2400. The campus address is DRB-HICOM Automotive Complex, Lot 1449, PT 2204, Peramu Jaya Industrial Area, 26607 Pekan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia. The official university website is en.dhuautomotive.edu.my, with parent company information available at drb-hicom.com and the MQA institutional listing at www2.mqa.gov.my under entity code 603.

For Malaysian students from Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, and the wider east coast, DRB-HICOM University removes the need to relocate to the Klang Valley for an industry-aligned engineering education. For students from elsewhere in Peninsular Malaysia and from East Malaysia, the Pekan location is accessible via the East Coast Expressway from Kuala Lumpur (approximately 250 km, 3 to 3.5 hours by car) and via Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport in Kuantan for inbound flights, with onward road transfer of approximately 45 minutes.

Within the Pahang higher education map, DRB-HICOM University is the principal private university by automotive specialisation, complementing Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah as the state’s flagship public engineering university. The two institutions operate at different scales and within different regulatory frameworks but share the eastern coast geography of Pahang as their operating base.

In summary: DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia is Malaysia’s only private university built around the automotive sector, established in 2010 as the International College of Automotive and upgraded to full university status in October 2015, owned by DRB-HICOM Berhad through HICOM University College Sdn Bhd, located on a 42-acre campus inside the DRB-HICOM Automotive Complex in Pekan, Pahang, with Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Technology programmes quoted at approximately RM 67,450 in total programme cost, and an industrial pathway aligned with Proton, Honda Malaysia, Isuzu HICOM, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Volkswagen Malaysia, and other DRB-HICOM Group automotive operations.