Malaysia: History, Culture and Environment

Please access the information presentation via UoR Yuja. This covers the same information delivered in the UoRM summer school briefings.

NB: We are working on getting the captions to function. If you require assistance due to this, please email studyabroad@reading.ac.uk and we will try to support you.

Provisional dates: Saturday 27 June 2026 (travel from UK) – Sunday 12 July 2026 (arrive in UK) (to be confirmed based on flight availability)

Topics within the summer School: There will lectures and learning opportunities about:

• Malaysian Culture and Traditions
• Malaysian Society & Innovation
• Social Responsibility & Sustainable Development
• Environment and Natural Resources in Malaysia
• Smart City Johor Bahru, Sustainability & Community
• Malay Language and Communication

Participants are expected to attend all sessions, and complete a mini-project at UoRM during the summer school – this will contribute towards completion of the RED Global Engagement award.

Travel: Students are required to travel to and from Malaysia together as part of a UoR group. Flights will to be booked via UoR. Transport to and from KL international Airport to accommodation will be provided by UoRM, as well as daily transport to UoRM campus and transport for the trips. Participants cannot book their own travel to / from Malaysia.

• Planned Trips: Various locations including planned day-trips to Singapore, Melaka (historic, colourful coastal city known for its heritage architecture), Desaru (coastal location listed by Times magazine one of the world’s 100 greatest places (2021)), and cultural visits to places in and around Johor Bahru.
• Housing: Shared twin room with another UoR student in a Johor Bahru hotel (no single occupancy rooms).
• Meals: On campus lunches during the week, including meals that reflect Malaysia’s mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Indigenous peoples.
• Social activities: Organised by RUMSA, and a trip to Sunway x-park.
• Lectures: Based on the topics listed above.

Details are correct at the time of publication, but are subject to change.

• A generous contribution to cost of living will be available (c.£1k), which will include funds awarded via the Turing Scheme:
• Financial support is to help cover the costs of accommodation, trips, meals, in-country transportation, and programme registrations. Participants will need to meet some costs themselves (i.e. the financial support will not cover all costs to be incurred participating in the UoR Summer School).
• Participants will need to cover the cost of flights (costs to be confirmed).
  • Students defined by Turing within the ‘disadvantaged’ priority group (including household income under £25k) can receive an additional travel grant of up to £905 towards the cost of return flights (to be booked via the University of Reading).
• Up to 90% of the available cost of living funding available will be provided to participants before departure, once pre-programme requirements are met; any remaining eligible funds will be paid upon completion of the summer school and its requirements.
• Further information will be available in our in-person and online information sessions. Please contact studyabroad@reading.ac.uk if you have any specific questions.
• NB: Turing priority groups defined as disadvantaged (and eligible for the higher grant rate and additional travel grant) are:
  • student with an annual household income of £25,000 or less (Student Finance evidenced)
  • student with experience of being in care or who is a care leaver – including anyone who is or has been in care, or from a looked after background, at any stage of their life
  • a carer, meaning anyone who both:
    • looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, and cannot cope without their support
    • is not paid for this care
  • student who is estranged – including anyone who has had no contact with their biological or adoptive parents for 12 months or more, or the relationship with their parents has broken down within the last 12 months
  • student who is a refugee or an asylum seeker.
• Turing groups defined as under-represented (and prioritised for the standard grant rate, but no travel grant) are:
  • Students with have a recognised disability / registered with DAS.
  • Students with an ethnic minority background
  • Part-time students.

The UoRM summer school is open to:

• Students who are fully enrolled at the University of Reading:
  • Postgraduate and final year UG students will be considered, but will be a lower priority for places than Part 1 and Part 2 undergraduate students (NB: Exams results day for finalists is Monday 29 June 2026)
• Students from any academic discipline (not just those taught at UoRM).
• Please note that:
  • Students who have studied at UoRM previously (either as part of their UoR or UoRM degree) will not be eligible to participate / receive funding.
  • Students must be in good academic and behavioural standing at time of application, and participation.
  • Students selected to participate will need to sign contractual documentation accepting their offer and the relevant terms and conditions, and will be required to complete certain compulsory documentation.
  • Students must be willing to share a twin room with another UoR student.
• Full terms and conditions of participation will be provided at the offer of a place.

By participating on the UoRM summer school, participants will be able to:

• Critically reflect multicultural nature of modern Malaysian society and its traditions from a global perspective.
• Have demonstrated an ability to adapt to international study contexts in order to achieve the required academic outcomes as determined by the host institution.
• Gained new knowledge and / or a different perspective on a subject related or aligned to their degree subject.
• Experienced different and distinctive cultures through connecting with students from different countries and engaging in social and cultural activities provided by the host institution.

Students must complete an internal application. Deadline is 11am Friday 10 April 2026. No student is guaranteed a place on the UoRM Summer School.

Successful applicants will be nominated by the Study Abroad Office to UoRM. UoRM has the final say over applicant selection.

The following factors will be taken into consideration in relation to selection:

• Academic performance (i.e., average grade of 50% or above at time of application – Part 1 applicants based on current submodular grades; Part 2 applicants based on Part 1 grades)
• Students, from the following Turing defined disadvantaged groups (higher grant rate):
  • low-household income backgrounds (as evidenced by UoR Student Finance).
  • care givers, care-leavers or care-experienced.
  • Estranged, and
  • Refugee or an asylum seeker (see Funding available section)
• Students from the following Turing defined under-represented groups (standard grant rate):
  • have a recognised disability / registered with DAS.
  • identify as an ethnic minority.
• Students who have not participated (or are not due to participate) in study abroad or summer schools previously.
• Personal statement.
• Study Abroad Coordinator comments (based on the application).
• Spread of subjects.

Please note that a minimum number of participants and a minimum number of participants considered to be disadvantaged (Turing definition) are needed for the UoRM summer school to take place.

Participants are expected to:

• Be in possession of a passport that will enable them to travel to and from Malaysia.
• Be in good academic and behavioural standing at time of participation.
• Attend compulsory pre-departure briefings (as requested).
• Complete any documentation required, including the relevant risk assessment.
• Complete in a timely manner whatever requirements UoRM stipulates being a requirement for entry into Malaysia or related to logistic matters in Malaysia.
• Check to ensure any inoculations or vaccinations required for Malaysia are up to date. See FCDO Malaysia website
• Travel to and from Malaysia together as part of a UoR group in order to be cleared through Malaysian immigration. Flights will to be booked via UoR.
• Share a twin room with another UoR student.
• Indicate any dietary requirements well in advance (catering purposes).
• Highlight any additional needs that UoRM should be aware of.
• Attend all academic sessions provided as part of the UoRM summer school.
• Complete a mini-project at UoRM that will lead to the RED Global Engagement award (T&Cs to be shared in the future).
• Contribute toward digital media content to help promote UoRM and the UoRM summer school in the future (details to be confirmed).
• Students who receive funds in advance of the summer school but do not participate will be expected to repay back any summer school funds suppled.

Full terms and conditions will be provided at offer stage.

Please contact the Study Abroad Office via studyabroad@reading.ac.uk .