Where to study Media & Creative in Malaysia, and who funds it

If you draw, edit, film or design, there are public programmes in Malaysia built for exactly that, and some start from a 9-month skills course. This guide names real ones, from a graphic design course in Kota Kinabalu to a multimedia degree in Labuan, with how long each takes and where to check its entry rules. Then it shows who pays for creative study, which is less than for tech or engineering, and what to do about that.

Key facts

• Applications for the UP_TVET Perdana intake 1/2027, the main intake for public skills institutes, run from 1 October to 16 November 2026.^[1]
• ADTEC Nibong Tebal's 18-month graphic design course (SKM, the Malaysian Skills Certificate, Level 3) has free tuition, a hostel place, meals and RM100 a month, and takes Form 5 leavers with at least a G in Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah.^[2]
• For 2026/27, a polytechnic diploma asked for 3 SPM credits and a pass in Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah; a community college certificate asked for 1 credit and the same passes.^[3]
• ASWARA's film and video diploma and TVETMARA Rembau's digital film diploma both test you in person: an interview and audition at ASWARA, an interview or portfolio review at Rembau.^[4][5]
• JPA's B40 diploma grant (DB40), which covers polytechnic and ADTEC diplomas, took applications from 3 to 16 August 2026; the 2027 window was not announced on 23 October 2026.^[6][7]

Programmes to look at, by route

These twelve come from official listings fetched on 23 October 2026, across Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan and the peninsula. Entry rules are the 2026/27 ones, so check again for 2027/28. Where we looked a programme up on the MQR (the Malaysian Qualifications Register, MQA's public list of accredited programmes), we say what it showed. Where we did not, check it yourself: How to check a course is accredited shows how.

Skills certificates (SKM Level 3)

You apply through UP_TVET(opens in a new tab). The ADTEC and GIATMARA courses below are in the Perdana 1/2027 catalogue.^[8]

• ADTEC JTM Kampus Nibong Tebal, Penang: Sijil Teknologi Rekabentuk Grafik (SKM Level 3). 18 months, covering layout, colour, typography, image manipulation, illustration and final artwork. Form 5 with at least a G in Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah, or no formal qualification if you can read and write; ages 17 to 35. Free tuition, hostel and meals, RM100 a month and RM300 a month during practical training.^[2] Entry rules on UP_TVET(opens in a new tab)
• GIATMARA Kota Kinabalu, Sabah: Rekabentuk Grafik dan Pengiklanan (graphic design and advertising). 9 months, leading to a GIATMARA professional certificate and SKM Level 3, with intakes in January and July. Bumiputera applicants only; no formal qualification needed if you can read, write and count. The listing shows an allowance of RM200 a month, subject to conditions.^[9] Entry rules on UP_TVET(opens in a new tab)
• Pusat Pembangunan Kemahiran Sarawak (PPKS), Kuching: Rekabentuk Grafik (Digital), SKM Level 3. 15 months. Ages 16 to 45; it takes SPM leavers, SVM holders, or applicants without formal qualifications who pass an interview. Its listing names graphic designer, multimedia designer and storyboard artist among the jobs.^[10] It was not in the Perdana catalogue on 23 October 2026, so ask PPKS how it takes applications.^[8] Listing on UP_TVET(opens in a new tab)

Skills and MARA diplomas

• ADTEC JTM Kampus Kuala Langat, Selangor: Diploma Teknologi Multimedia Interaktif (DKM Level 4). 12 months, for holders of a related multimedia SKM Level 3; ages 17 to 35. Its listing names graphic designer, digital content creator, videographer, video editor and animator among the jobs.^[11] A DKM also counts as its own category (E1) when you later apply for a degree through UPU.^[12] Entry rules on UP_TVET(opens in a new tab)
• TVETMARA Rembau (Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA Rembau), Negeri Sembilan: Diploma Perfileman Digital. 36 months, for Bumiputera applicants only, covering screenwriting, directing, editing and animation production. You need SPM with 3 credits and passes in Bahasa Melayu, Sejarah, Mathematics and English, or a related SKM Level 3 in film or video, and you must pass MARA's interview or portfolio review.^[5] The MQR lists it as Diploma in Digital Film and Animation, MQA/FA0634, with full accreditation kept at a March 2023 review.^[13] Entry rules on UP_TVET(opens in a new tab)

Community college certificate

• Kolej Komuniti Kepala Batas, Penang: Sijil Animasi 2D. 4 semesters, ending with a portfolio. Its listing names storyboard artist, character designer, 2D animator and video editor among the jobs.^[14] The 2026/27 rule for a community college certificate was 1 SPM credit and a pass in Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah.^[3] Check it on the MQR. Listing on UP_TVET(opens in a new tab)

Polytechnic diplomas

You apply for polytechnic and community college places through UPU. The 2026/27 rule for a polytechnic diploma was 3 SPM credits and a pass in Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah, plus each programme's special requirements (syarat khas) in e-Panduan UPU(opens in a new tab).^[3]

• Politeknik Muadzam Shah, Pahang: Diploma Rekabentuk Grafik. 36 months: five academic semesters, then a semester of industrial training. It puts weight on your portfolio and on presenting your work.^[15] Check it on the MQR. Listing on UP_TVET(opens in a new tab)
• Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, Perlis: Diploma Teknologi Kreatif Digital Produksi Video. 30 months. Its listing names camera operator, scriptwriter, production manager and video editor among the jobs.^[16] The MQR lists it as MQA/FA16229, accredited from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2030.^[17] Listing on UP_TVET(opens in a new tab)
• Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, Pasir Gudang, Johor: Diploma Teknologi Kreatif Digital Animasi. 30 months. The last semester is work-based learning at a company, and you pitch your final project and showreel to industry.^[18] The MQR lists it as MQA/FA16175, accredited from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2030.^[19] Listing on UP_TVET(opens in a new tab)

Arts academy diploma

• ASWARA (Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan, the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage), Kuala Lumpur: Diploma Filem dan Video. 36 months. SPM with a credit in Bahasa Melayu and at least a D in Sejarah, or a related SKM Level 3, plus some experience in the field and a pass in ASWARA's interview and audition.^[4] The MQR lists it as MQA/FA0166, with full accreditation kept at a November 2023 review.^[20] Entry rules on UP_TVET(opens in a new tab)

Degrees, after matrikulasi, Form 6, asasi or a diploma

The 2026/27 UPU rules for SPM leavers cover asasi, diploma and certificate places, not degrees. You apply for a degree later, in the categories for STPM, matrikulasi, asasi or diploma holders.^[3][12]

• Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Labuan campus: Bachelor of Information Technology with Honours (Multimedia Technology), programme code UH6481003. 4 years (8 semesters), covering interactive media, graphics, audio, animation, video and publishing.^[21] The MQR lists it as MQA/FA10951, with full accreditation kept at a 25 November 2025 review.^[22] UMS programme page(opens in a new tab)
• Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP): Sarjana Muda Komunikasi Media Baharu dengan Kepujian (Bachelor of New Media Communication with Honours). 36 months. Its listing names public relations, journalism, graphic design and animation, and digital media production among the careers.^[23] The MQR lists it as MQA/FA3120, accredited from 11 May 2017.^[24] Listing on UP_TVET(opens in a new tab)

We have not listed private colleges here. Many creative programmes are private; if you look at one, ask for its fees in writing and find the programme on the MQR before you pay a deposit.

Who funds study in this area

None of the national and company sponsor pages we checked on 23 October 2026 (JPA, MARA, Yayasan TM, PETRONAS) sets places aside for creative study.^{[25][26][27][28][29]} So most creative students rely on support built into public courses, on grants and loans open to every field, and on their state. Scholarships and study loans after SPM explains how each kind works, and B40, M40 and study aid shows who qualifies and the cash you need before any aid arrives.

Support built into the course

• The ADTEC courses come with free tuition, a hostel place, meals and allowances, and GIATMARA Kota Kinabalu lists a monthly allowance subject to conditions.^[2][9]
• PTPK (Perbadanan Tabung Pembangunan Kemahiran, the Skills Development Fund Corporation) lists training loans for school leavers on its site.^[30]

Grants and loans open to creative fields

• JPA Dermasiswa B40 (DB40). A grant for diploma study, including TVET diplomas, at public universities, polytechnics, TVETMARA institutes, IKTBN and ADTEC. It is for households with per-capita income of RM5,249 a month or less, and asks for credits in Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah plus at least a C in three other subjects (one other subject for TVETMARA, IKTBN and ADTEC), and an offer from the institution.^[7] The 2026 round ran from 3 to 16 August 2026 for SPM 2025 leavers; the 2027 window was not announced on 23 October 2026.^[6][7]
• JPA LSPM. A merit-based convertible loan (PBU) for study in Malaysia that asks for at least 9A+ in SPM. It covers all fields except education, aviation, nursing, paramedical study, twinning programmes and professional certificates, so creative degrees are not excluded.^[26] The 2027 window was not announced on 23 October 2026.^[26]
• MARA Tertiary Education Loan (TESP). A loan for a diploma or first degree in fields and institutions MARA sets, for applicants who, with at least one parent, are Malaysian Bumiputera. Diploma applicants must be under 30, and B40 and M40 families get priority.^[27]
• PTPTN. The national study loan for most accredited programmes. PTPTN basics explains how it works and what repayment looks like.
• Yayasan TM, if you lean towards marketing or VR: its scholarship lists VR and marketing among the courses it covers. The 2026 round closed on 30 September 2026, and scholars hired by TM Group serve a bond of 5 years for local study.^[28]

Your state

• Sarawak. Yayasan Sarawak lends to anak jati Sarawak (at least one parent Sarawakian) for technical courses at skills institutes on its panel, and for diplomas and degrees at public universities entered through UPU.^[31]
• Sabah. The PTPS portal is where you apply for Sabah state sponsorship, including the State Government scholarship (BKNS) and the Yayasan Sabah Group; BKNS applications for 2026 closed on 31 August 2026.^[32]
• Other states. Scholarships and loans from your state lists each state foundation and what it asks for.

What this means for you

• Your portfolio is part of your application. ASWARA and TVETMARA Rembau test you in person, and the polytechnic courses build towards a portfolio or showreel, so start keeping your work and notes on what you changed now.
• A skills course is a real start. ADTEC, GIATMARA and PPKS take Form 5 leavers with low grades or none, and a related SKM Level 3 is one of the ways into ASWARA's film diploma and Rembau's diploma.
• Funding for creative study is thinner than for tech or engineering. Plan around DB40, PTPTN, MARA and your state foundation rather than hoping for a company scholarship.
• Some routes are for Bumiputera applicants only, including GIATMARA, TVETMARA and MARA's loan. ADTEC, PPKS, polytechnics, community colleges, ASWARA and universities have no such rule on these listings.
• Accreditation can change. The MQR records above were current on 23 October 2026; look each one up yourself before you enrol.

Your next step

1. Shortlist three programmes on different routes, for example one SKM course, one polytechnic or ASWARA diploma, and one degree to aim for later. Open each official listing above, check its entry rules, and look it up on the MQR(opens in a new tab).
2. Note one funding window. If a skills course fits, the UP_TVET Perdana intake closes on 16 November 2026. If you are aiming for a diploma, check the JPA sponsorship portal(opens in a new tab) weekly from June 2027 for the next DB40 round.