Perdana University

About Perdana University

Perdana University was established in 2011 as a private university with a focus on health sciences. The university was originally based in Serdang, in the southern part of the Klang Valley, before relocating in 2020 to Wisma Chase Perdana in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur. The move brought the institution into one of the capital’s established commercial and residential districts, closer to major hospitals, government health agencies, and the professional networks that matter for a health sciences institution.

In the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, Perdana University holds a position in the #741-750 band. The university carries SETARA Competitive status under the Malaysian government’s institutional quality rating system. Founded relatively recently compared to Malaysia’s older private universities, Perdana has built its academic identity around a specific offering rather than broad faculty coverage. Its most notable program is the graduate-entry MBBS, which remains the only one of its kind in Malaysia, and it is this programme that gives the university a clear and differentiated position in the Malaysian higher education market.

Perdana University was set up with the involvement of the Perdana Leadership Foundation, which was established to carry forward the legacy of Malaysia’s fourth Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. That institutional background has shaped the university’s orientation toward public policy, leadership, and the health and social sectors rather than engineering or commercial disciplines.

Programs at Perdana University

Perdana University organizes its academic offerings across health sciences, social sciences, and technology, with health sciences forming the clear core of the institution.

The graduate-entry MBBS programme is the university’s flagship offering and what sets it apart from every other medical school in Malaysia. The programme is designed for candidates who have already completed a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, typically in the biological or health sciences. Rather than running for the standard five years of a conventional MBBS, this programme delivers the full medical curriculum in four years. Admission is competitive, and the programme targets graduates who have made a deliberate decision to pursue medicine as a second qualification rather than as an initial undergraduate choice.

Occupational therapy is another health sciences program offered at Perdana. Occupational therapy deals with helping patients recover or maintain functional ability in daily activities following illness, injury, or disability, and the discipline sits within the broad allied health professions cluster. Nursing programs provide a pathway into registered nursing practice, with clinical placements forming a core component of the curriculum.

Medical sciences programs cover the biomedical and laboratory aspects of health, serving students who want to work in diagnostic, research, or pharmaceutical contexts rather than clinical medicine. Foundation programs are available for students who need a preparatory year before entering health sciences degree programs. Postgraduate programs provide advanced study options for graduates already working in health-related fields.

Social sciences and technology programs round out the university’s portfolio, though these remain smaller faculties relative to health sciences.

Fees at Perdana University

Perdana University’s fee range reflects the breadth from short foundation programs through to the resource-intensive graduate-entry MBBS. The range of approximately RM 9,000 to RM 72,000 spans foundation entry through to full health sciences degree programs.

The graduate-entry MBBS sits at the upper end of the fee range due to the intensive clinical training infrastructure, simulation facilities, and hospital placement coordination required. Health sciences programs generally carry higher per-student costs than social sciences or technology programs, a pattern consistent across Malaysian and international medical education.

Prospective students should request a current fee schedule directly from the university’s admissions office, as health sciences fees in particular are subject to revision and the costs for clinical training placements can change based on hospital partnership arrangements.

Facilities at Perdana University

Operating from Wisma Chase Perdana in Damansara Heights, the university works within a commercial building environment rather than a purpose-built standalone campus. For a health sciences institution of its size and specialization, this is not unusual, as clinical training happens largely within affiliated hospital environments rather than on the university’s own grounds.

The university maintains simulation facilities for clinical skills training, allowing medical and allied health students to practice procedures and patient interaction in a controlled setting before working with real patients. These simulation environments are standard requirements for Malaysian Medical Council and MQA accreditation of health sciences programs. Medical sciences laboratory facilities support biomedical coursework and research activity.

Library and digital resource access covers the health sciences literature students need for their studies. Given the university’s location in Damansara Heights, students have immediate access to Kuala Lumpur’s private hospital network, including hospitals that serve as clinical placement sites. The central location also means that access to public transport, food options, and urban amenities is part of the daily experience for students studying at the campus.

Admissions at Perdana University

Admissions requirements at Perdana University depend significantly on which program a student is applying for. Foundation programs have standard secondary school entry requirements based on SPM or equivalent qualifications. Undergraduate health sciences programs require strong passes in biology and chemistry alongside other sciences, following the general pattern for Malaysian health sciences entry.

The graduate-entry MBBS has distinct requirements that set it apart from all other programs. Applicants must already hold a relevant bachelor’s degree, typically in a biomedical, biological, or health sciences field, with strong academic results. Entry into the programme is selective, and applicants go through an assessment process that includes academic record review and an interview. The programme does not accept direct school-leavers; it is specifically structured for graduates making a deliberate transition into medicine.

Nursing and occupational therapy applicants need relevant science passes at secondary level alongside any additional requirements set by the respective professional boards whose accreditation governs those programs.

English language proficiency requirements apply to international applicants. IELTS, TOEFL, and equivalent qualifications are accepted. The admissions office can advise on minimum scores applicable to specific programs, as health sciences and medical programs tend to require higher proficiency thresholds than general academic programs.

Perdana University in Kuala Lumpur

Perdana University is located in Damansara Heights, one of Kuala Lumpur’s established and well-connected districts. The area sits to the northwest of the city centre, approximately 10 to 15 minutes from KLCC by car. Major roads including Jalan Semantan and the Mahameru Highway connect Damansara Heights to the broader Kuala Lumpur road network, and Semantan LRT station on the Kelana Jaya line is within walking distance or a short drive from Wisma Chase Perdana.

Damansara Heights is home to several private hospitals, specialist clinics, and medical offices, which makes it a fitting location for a health sciences university. The proximity to clinical environments is a practical advantage for a university whose programs require hospital access for training. The surrounding area also has food outlets, banking services, and retail within a walkable distance.

Students considering Perdana University who attended private schools in Kuala Lumpur or international schools in Kuala Lumpur and who want to pursue medicine or allied health will find the university’s Damansara Heights location straightforward to access from most parts of the city.