Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), one of Malaysia's leading public universities, is reviewing the admission documents of international students after complaints that some had submitted falsified English-language proficiency certificates, according to reports by The Star and Caixin on 29 October 2026.

More than 100 Chinese students, mostly in the university's MBA programme, have been unable to graduate on schedule while the review continues. The Star reported that the affected students enrolled in March and October 2025, and that some found they could not see their results on the university's online portal after completing their courses.

What the university has said

UKM said it had received reports that some English certificates were falsified and that it is verifying them with the organisations that run the tests, including IELTS and TOEFL. Students whose certificates are confirmed as falsified are being required to sit the university's own Higher Education English Test. Those who reach the required level will be allowed to graduate, the university said, describing the step as a way to make sure every candidate meets entry requirements.

The Star reported that more than 30 students lodged a police report in Kajang on 8 October and that students have met university and Chinese Embassy representatives. No findings have been announced about who produced or supplied any falsified certificates, and the review has not established wrongdoing by any individual student.

Why it matters

English test scores are a standard condition of admission for international students and are often also used in student visa applications. Forged or altered score reports are a known risk in international recruitment, particularly where agents handle applications on a student's behalf. Universities that accept a paper or PDF report without checking it can later face difficult decisions about students who have already completed their studies.

How to verify test results

The major English testing organisations offer online verification services that let institutions confirm a candidate's scores directly using a test reference number. Admissions offices can make that check a routine step before issuing an offer. Students should register and pay for tests only through official test centres, keep their own login to see results, and be wary of any agent offering a guaranteed score or a certificate without a test.

Sources

This News Desk report summarises information published by the sources above, written in our own words. Persons named in criminal matters are accused, not convicted, unless a court has ruled otherwise. To report an error, use our contact page.

MalaysiaInternational studentsEnglish proficiency testsAdmission documentsIELTS

More from the News Desk