Zakat Aid for IPT Students: Schemes by State and How to Apply
Every state has a zakat body that helps Muslim students entering IPT, usually with a one-off entry payment and sometimes a yearly dermasiswa. You apply to the state where you live, not where you study, and most schemes close three to six months after registration. Published entry rates include RM800 to RM2,500 in Penang and RM1,200 to RM2,500 in Perlis.
By Degreemate Editorial · Education research teamPublished 4 min read
Zakat aid for IPT students is zakat money that a state Islamic religious council or zakat board gives to Muslim students continuing their studies. It is separate from state-government entry aid, and you can check both.
How student zakat schemes work
Asnaf categories. Zakat goes to eight categories of recipient (asnaf). Students are usually helped under fisabilillah; poorer families are assessed under fakir, miskin or muallaf. Lembaga Zakat Negeri Kedah and MAIPk Perak state that their entry aid sits under fisabilillah, while Lembaga Zakat Selangor limits its aid to fakir, miskin and muallaf asnaf registered with it.
Means-testing. Most zakat bodies measure family income against the had kifayah, the cost of a household's basic needs. MAIWP and MAIK name this calculation as a condition.
Entry aid versus dermasiswa. Entry aid is paid once per level of study when you first register. A dermasiswa is applied for every year and depends on results: MAINPP's requires a CGPA of 2.75, and MAIK's Dermasiswa Sultan Ismail Petra requires 3.00 from the second year.
Which state? The state where you live. MAINPP rejects applicants receiving zakat from another state.
Schemes we verified, state by state
| State | Zakat body | Scheme | Main conditions | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johor | MAIJ | Skim Bantuan Pendaftaran IPT; Skim Dermasiswa Pelajar | Johor native resident for at least 3 consecutive years who pays zakat in Johor; no aid from another party | Not published |
| Kedah | LZNK | Skim Agihan Awal IPT | Living in Kedah; aged 18 or above; full-time offer starting in 2026; STPM and STAM excluded | Not published |
| Kelantan | MAIK | Bantuan Melanjutkan Pelajaran ke IPT; Dermasiswa Sultan Ismail Petra | Had kifayah screening in the eAgihan system | Dermasiswa: RM2,500 for a local diploma or degree |
| Melaka | MAIM | Bantuan Pendaftaran ke IPT untuk Anak Asnaf | Dependants of fakir and miskin asnaf registered with MAIM; 2026 session | Not stated |
| Negeri Sembilan | MAINS | Bantuan Am Pelajaran IPT | Resident in Negeri Sembilan; first semester or within 6 months of registration | Not published |
| Pahang | MUIP | Bantuan Awal ke IPT | MyKad address of applicant and parents in Pahang; within 6 months of the offer letter; registration receipt | Not published |
| Perak | MAIPk | Bantuan Persediaan Pengajian Tinggi 2026 | Perak students; within 3 months of registration | Not published |
| Perlis | MAIPs | Bantuan Pelajaran IPT | Living in Perlis; full-time study only | RM1,200 certificate/foundation/matriculation; RM1,700 diploma; RM2,000 degree; RM2,500 overseas degree |
| Penang | Zakat MAINPP | Skim Agihan Permulaan ke IPT; Dermasiswa | Permanent resident for at least 12 months; within 6 months of registration | RM800 certificate/matriculation/Form 6; RM900 vocational diploma; RM1,000 diploma; RM1,200 degree; RM2,500 overseas degree (2026) |
| Sabah | MUIS | Skim Bantuan Yuran Pendaftaran Awal | From Sabah; aged 18–28; within 6 months of first-semester registration | Not stated |
| Sarawak | Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak | Bantuan Kemasukan ke IPT | Muslim Sarawakians or Sarawak residents; within 180 days of registration | Check with TBS |
| Selangor | Lembaga Zakat Selangor | BDPT and Bantuan Persediaan Masuk IPT | Fakir, miskin or muallaf asnaf registered with LZS | Not published |
| Terengganu | Yayasan Pendidikan MAIDAM | Bantuan Awal Pengajian | Terengganu native resident for at least a year; within 3 months of registration | Not published |
| Federal Territories | MAIWP | Bantuan Persediaan IPT | Resident in the Federal Territories for at least a year; had kifayah calculation | Not published |
All of the schemes above are open to Muslim students only.
How to apply
- Identify the zakat body of the state where you live.
- Register on its online portal if it has one (MAIK eAgihan, LZS Portal Pendidikan, MAINS e-SPBM, MUIP Zakat4Pengajian, MAIPk Bestari). MAIM and MAIJ take forms at the counter.
- Prepare your offer letter, proof of registration, MyKad copies for you and your parents, proof of income and a bank account in your name.
- Submit before the window ends and track the status.
Why applications are rejected, as the zakat bodies state
- Late. MAIPk only processes applications within 3 months of registration; MUIP within 6 months of the offer letter; TBS within 180 days.
- Incomplete documents. LZNK may reject a form that is not complete and clear. MAIK rejects an application whose documents are incomplete more than three times.
- Part-time study. MAIPs only helps full-time study.
- Zakat from another state or another sponsor. MAINPP and MAIJ state this as a condition.
- Parents not paying zakat in that state. MAIDAM will not consider an application if parents working in Terengganu do not pay their zakat to it.
- False information. MAIK may reject without notice.
See also the entry-aid list, B40 education aid and where to apply for degree scholarships.
Sources: the official sites of MAIJ, LZNK, MAIK, MAIM, MAINS, MUIP, MAIPk, MAIPs, Zakat MAINPP, MUIS, Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak, Lembaga Zakat Selangor, Yayasan Pendidikan MAIDAM and MAIWP, checked on 1 October 2026; MAINPP's 2026 rates as reported by Sinar Harian. Conditions and rates change yearly — confirm with your state's zakat body.
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Frequently asked questions
- Who can apply for zakat aid for IPT students?
- Muslim students who live in the state concerned and meet its zakat body's conditions, usually full-time study at a recognised institution and a family income assessed against the had kifayah. Some states, such as Selangor, limit aid to asnaf already registered with them.
- Can I claim zakat aid from two states?
- No. Apply only to the state where you are resident. Zakat MAINPP in Penang states that applicants must not receive or apply for zakat aid from another state.
- Can I receive zakat aid together with PTPTN?
- It depends on the state. MAINPP's dermasiswa and MAIK's dermasiswa both exempt PTPTN from their no-other-sponsor rule, but MAIJ in Johor requires that applicants receive no aid or loan from any other party. Read your state's conditions.
- When should I apply for zakat entry aid?
- As soon as you have your offer letter and proof of registration. The windows we verified run from 3 months after registration (MAIPk, MAIDAM) to 6 months (MAINPP, MAINS) or 180 days (Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak).
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