Full sponsorship of tuition fees and living expenses incl. accommodation during entire duration of studies
The Program Penajaan Nasional (PPN) is a sponsorship scheme by JPA for top‑performing Malaysian students who have just completed Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). It supports selected students to pursue preparatory courses and further studies leading to a first university degree at leading universities worldwide.
Applicants typically must have outstanding SPM results (among the highest in the cohort) and meet strict academic criteria. The programme especially targets candidates with consistent excellence across core subjects, and often expects high grades in multiple subjects.
Through PPN, selected students have the opportunity to study at top-tier international universities through a structured two-tier programme: * Preparatory Level: A 24-month A-Level programme at Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar (KTJ), Kolej Yayasan UEM (KYUEM), or Taylor’s College (Taylor’s). * Bachelor’s Degree Level: Study at leading universities worldwide, based on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings either among the top 20 institutions overall or the top 10 by subject area.
Scholarship Requirements
- Malaysian citizen;
- Has been listed among the students eligible to apply for PPN by JPA (please click the link below to check).
- Applicants are required to be free from chronic/infectious diseases/diseases that require follow-up treatment and are able to follow their studies until completion, as well as being certified healthy to continue their studies;
- The mother and/or father and/or applicant are not blacklisted by the JPA or are currently in legal action by the JPA;
- If successfully offered JPA sponsorship, the applicant is not allowed to receive financial assistance/sponsorship from any party at the same level of study;
- Sitting the SPM examination for the first time at any secondary school or private candidates;
- Not yet 19 years of age (20 years for transfer students) on 31 December of the year the SPM examination is taken; and
- Preference is given to candidates from family backgrounds with income categories B40 and M40. In addition, students with good command of Mandarin are also given priority for sponsorship purposes to the People's Republic of China.
- Applicants who have been subject to sponsorship termination action for breach of agreement terms by the JPA are not eligible to apply;
Award Details
Full sponsorship of tuition fees and living expenses incl. accommodation during entire duration of studies.
Note that PPN is offered in the form of a convertible loan (Pinjaman Boleh Ubah, PBU), which may be converted to a full scholarship under certain conditions.
Application Process
- Please check out JPA website for the online submission, which is only open from 3 April - 16 April 2026: https://penajaan.jpa.gov.my/pengumuman-tawaran-terkini/pengumuman-pelajar/program-penajaan-nasional-ppn-tahun-2026.html
- Applicants would need to check if they are shortlisted for further assessment and when the interview appointment is set.
- Shortlisted candidates would then undergo an interview plus student assessment.
About Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA)
Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) is the Public Service Department of Malaysia, responsible for managing human‑resource planning and public‑service excellence in the country. As part of its mission, JPA provides scholarship and sponsorship programmes for qualified Malaysian students — aiming to nurture future professionals and meet national human‑resource needs.
JPA’s sponsorship programmes support studies at different levels (pre‑university, undergraduate, and postgraduate) at approved local or overseas institutions. The programmes cover fields deemed important for the nation — such as science, technology, engineering, health‑related disciplines, and other strategic areas.
Through these scholarships or sponsorships, JPA offers financial assistance (tuition fees, possibly allowances or living costs depending on the type of sponsorship), enabling recipients to pursue higher education. In many cases, the support is provided as a loan or “convertible loan”, which may become a full scholarship under certain conditions (e.g. after fulfilling required service/bond obligations).
JPA plays an important role in helping Malaysian students — especially those with strong academic standing — gain access to tertiary or overseas education, while aligning the outcomes with national public‑service and workforce development goals.
