Matriculation Allowance and Fees: What You Get and What You Pay
Eligible KPM Matriculation students receive Bantuan Sara Hidup Pelajar (BSHP) of RM2,500 for one year of study, which the official FAQ gives as RM250 a month. Tuition and accommodation are paid by the government. You still pay a registration fee of RM446 to RM499 depending on stream, plus RM150 for MUET, for the 2026/2027 session.
By Degreemate Editorial · Education research teamPublished 4 min read
The figures here are from the Matriculation Division's FAQ for the 2026/2027 session, updated on 6 January 2026. The Ministry can change them for the next intake, so the offer letter is the final word for your year.
The allowance: BSHP
The allowance is officially called Bantuan Sara Hidup Pelajar (BSHP).
- Amount: RM2,500 for one year of study, stated in the FAQ as RM250 a month.
- Who gets it: the FAQ says it is given to students "who are eligible". It does not set out the eligibility test, so do not assume it is automatic. Check your offer letter and ask the college.
- How it is paid: directly into the student's bank account, on dates set after your documentation is complete.
That last point matters for your first weeks. The payment comes after paperwork, not on registration day. Bring enough money to cover the gap.
What the government pays
The FAQ states that tuition fees and accommodation charges are borne in full by the Government of Malaysia. Staying in the hostel is compulsory for all students.
What you pay
There is a registration fee, paid at a Bank Simpanan Nasional counter or online when you accept the offer.
| Item | Science (SDS, and SES semester I) | Science SES (semester III) | Engineering | Accounting | JPPro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registration fee | RM499 | RM334 | RM499 | RM446 | RM446 |
| MUET fee | RM150 | RM150 | RM150 | RM150 | RM150 |
| ACCA books | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | RM600 |
| ACCA examination fee | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | RM2,034 |
Four things to know about that table:
- Computer Science is not listed as its own column in the FAQ's fee table. Take the figure from your offer letter.
- Four-semester Science students pay twice: RM499 in semester I and RM334 in semester III.
- The JPPro ACCA examination fee is marked as variable. The FAQ says it depends on the exchange rate at the time and on UiTM.
- MARA colleges set their own registration fee. For Kolej MARA Kuala Nerang and Kolej MARA Kulim, the details are in the offer letter.
The MUET fee does not have to come out of your own pocket on day one. The FAQ says students may pay it after receiving their first BSHP payment.
What it adds up to
For a one-year Science student who receives BSHP, the published figures are:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| BSHP for the year | RM2,500 |
| Registration fee | RM499 |
| MUET fee | RM150 |
The registration fee and MUET fee together are RM649. What you spend on food, transport and supplies is on top of that and is not something the FAQ puts a number on, so we will not either. Ask current students at your college.
If you do not register, or you leave
Refund of the registration fee. If you pay and then do not register in person, the fee can be refunded, subject to terms and conditions. This does not apply to the two MARA colleges.
Penalty for quitting. Students sign a financing agreement. If you withdraw or leave before completing the programme without government approval, you must pay a penalty equal to the BSHP you have received. This is the cost to weigh if a UPU or scholarship offer arrives after you have started. Read holding a matriculation and UPU offer before you decide.
Flights for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan students
Students from Sabah, Sarawak and W.P. Labuan who are placed in the Peninsula can claim one return flight for the year of study. You buy the ticket first and claim at your college afterwards. Students from those states who are placed at KM Sarawak or KM Labuan are not eligible. See the list of colleges.
Is matriculation the cheapest route?
It is one of the cheapest, but compare the whole route, not just the first year. Look at low-cost pathways after SPM and the matriculation pathway page. BSHP is an allowance, not a scholarship for your degree, so start looking at scholarships for the years after. Entry grades are in matriculation requirements.
Source: Soalan Lazim Program Matrikulasi Kementerian Pendidikan (Bahagian Matrikulasi KPM, updated 6 January 2026), sections on fees and welfare. All amounts are for the 2026/2027 session and may change. Your offer letter and matrikulasi.moe.gov.my are the final reference.
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the matriculation allowance?
- For the 2026/2027 session, eligible students receive Bantuan Sara Hidup Pelajar (BSHP) of RM2,500 for one year of study, stated in the official FAQ as RM250 a month. It is paid into the student's bank account after documentation is complete.
- Is matriculation free?
- Tuition and accommodation are borne by the government, but you pay a registration fee: RM499 for Science and Engineering and RM446 for Accounting and JPPro in 2026/2027, plus RM150 for MUET. JPPro students also pay for ACCA books and examinations.
- Do I have to pay back the allowance if I quit matriculation?
- Yes. The FAQ says a student who withdraws or leaves before completing the programme without government approval must pay a penalty equal to the BSHP received, under the student financing agreement.
- Do all matriculation students get the allowance?
- The official FAQ says BSHP is given to students who are eligible, without listing the criteria. Check your offer letter and confirm with the college rather than assuming you will receive it.
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