As the Spring Festival approaches and the new semester begins for overseas universities, President WANG Wei of the East & West International Education Group (EWIE), along with Yan Haixia, General Manager of the Group’s Wuhan Center, and Feng Jishang, Director of the Group’s International Curriculum Center, embarked on an inspection tour of the Malaysian branches of Newcastle University, the University of Southampton, and the University of Reading starting from January 22, 2025, at the invitation of the respective universities. During the visit, the delegation met with senior leaders and heads of international admissions and project cooperation departments from the three institutions. They reached numerous agreements on the recognition of international curricula and collaborative admissions, creating more opportunities for students of the EWIE International Curriculum Program to apply to these prestigious UK branch campuses.
During the visit to Newcastle University Malaysia, President WANG Wei and his team met with the university’s president and executive vice president. The university highlighted its specialization in medical sciences, boasting advanced teaching facilities and excellent internship opportunities, and expressed a desire to attract more Chinese students. The university welcomes applications from IFC foundation program students and also accepts IYO students for its biomedical undergraduate program, awarding the same degree certificates as those issued in the UK. Students also have the option to transfer to the UK main campus to complete their studies or pursue further education.
At the University of Southampton Malaysia, the delegation met with the university’s president, the dean of the business school, and the director of international admissions. As a top 100 global university, the University of Southampton is highly attractive to international students. The university has recognized the IFC foundation program, and graduates from the EWIE International Foundation Courses who meet the admission criteria can apply for relevant majors. The dean of the business school expressed intentions to soon accept applications from students who have completed the EWIE IYO International Year One program for finance and accounting majors. Currently, over 60 students from the EWIE International Foundation Courses have applied and received conditional offers. The university is also working to establish language bridging courses, which, upon completion, would exempt students from taking IELTS, a significant advantage for those with conditional offers. The business school leadership also expressed strong support for EWIE’s collaboration with Chinese universities to promote a direct master’s program, offering domestic undergraduate graduates the opportunity for direct admission to the University of Southampton.
At the University of Reading Malaysia, the delegation met with the heads of international project cooperation and the international market department. The university has recognized the IFC international foundation program, with several graduates applying in recent years, and is actively working towards recognizing the EWIE’s IYO International Year One program. The University of Reading Malaysia offers English bridging courses, after which students can take the Linguaskill test. Students can apply to transfer to the UK campus for their final one or two years, and regardless of whether they study in the UK, they will receive the same degree certificates as those issued in the UK.
All three universities inspected are ranked within the top 200 globally. The establishment of UK university branches in Malaysia is a significant innovation in the history of international education development. The cultural proximity between China and Malaysia, the low cost of studying in Malaysia, and the high international recognition of UK degrees make these Malaysian branches increasingly popular among Chinese students. With less than one-third of the cost of studying in the UK, students can access world-leading higher education, essentially studying at a prestigious global university close to home.
University Profiles
University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM) is located in EduCity, Iskandar, Johor, Malaysia. The Malaysian campus is the seventh direct campus of the University of Southampton and the only overseas campus, sharing the same rankings as the UK main campus. The campus is just a few minutes away from Singapore, an international metropolis and global financial center. UoSM offers excellent undergraduate degrees in engineering, including foundation programs, computer science, engineering, and business.
The University of Southampton, established in 1862, is a public research university with its main campus in Southampton, UK. It is a member of the Russell Group, the Worldwide Universities Network, the Science and Engineering South Consortium, the International Universities Climate Alliance, RENKEI, the World Port Cities Universities League, the European University Association, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Ranked 80th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, it is among the top 100 global universities.
Newcastle University Malaysia, established in 2011 in Johor, Malaysia, is home to NUMed, the first UK university to establish an international medical campus in Malaysia. The campus offers undergraduate degrees in Medicine (MBBS) and Biomedical Sciences (BSc), as well as foundation and postgraduate opportunities. The programs are identical to those in the UK, with degrees awarded by Newcastle University. Studying at NUMed Malaysia allows students to obtain prestigious UK qualifications at a significantly lower cost than in the UK. The MBBS program was launched in 2009, the BSc in Biomedical Sciences in 2013, and the Foundation in Biological and Biomedical Sciences in 2016. Both MBBS and BSc programs offer opportunities to study in the UK.
Newcastle University, located in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, is a public comprehensive research university and a member of the Russell Group, the N8 Research Partnership, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and the European University Association. Established in 1937, it offers over 200 undergraduate and 300 postgraduate programs, with a staff of over 6,000 and 29,000 students. It is ranked 129th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.
University of Reading Malaysia, a wholly-owned international branch of the University of Reading, opened in September 2015. It shares the same rankings, courses, and degrees as the UK campus, with programs accredited by both UK and Malaysian quality assurance bodies. Ranked 172nd in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, it demonstrates strong academic strength and international reputation. The courses offered are identical to those in the UK, following the same quality standards in curriculum, assessment, and teaching methods. All programs are accredited by the UK Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), ensuring students receive the same degrees as those from the University of Reading.
The University of Reading, located in Reading, Berkshire, England, was established in 1892. It has 43 departments across five major disciplines and approximately 17,000 students. Its Henley Business School holds triple accreditation from AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS, ranking 31st in Europe and 8th in the UK. In the 2025 QS rankings, it is placed 172nd globally and 26th in the UK, showcasing its robust academic strength and international influence.
