Malaysia, officially the Federation of Malaysia, is a Southeast Asian country located partly on a peninsula of the Asian mainland and partly on the northern part of Borneo. It shares land borders with Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei, and has maritime boundaries with Vietnam and the Philippines. Surrounded by the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca, Malaysia spans approximately 330,803 square kilometers, making it similar in size to Norway. Kuala Lumpur is the capital, while Putrajaya is the administrative center, with other major cities including George Town, Johor Bahru, and Kota Kinabalu. Known for its cultural diversity, Malaysia is a melting pot of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous cultures.

The official language is Malay, but English, Mandarin, Tamil, and indigenous languages are also widely spoken. Malaysia, as a member of ASEAN, offers easy access to other Southeast Asian countries and provides a multicultural environment, quality education, and affordability. Its education system consists of public and private universities, along with branch campuses of foreign universities, offering globally recognized undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The academic year usually starts in September and is divided into two or three semesters, making Malaysia an attractive destination for international students.