Sarawak allocates RM200 million for Free Tertiary Education Scheme

The Sarawak government has allocated RM200 million for its Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) under Budget 2027. The initiative aims to benefit up to 10,600 students by covering tuition fees for 64 approved undergraduate degree programmes at four state-owned higher education institutions.

As of June 30, 2026, 192 students holding the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) had already received offers under the scheme. These students are distributed across Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), Curtin University Malaysia, and i-CATS University College.

Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee, clarified that UEC holders are eligible for the scheme provided they meet specific academic requirements, such as obtaining at least five Grade Bs in the upper secondary UEC examination. Additionally, UEC applicants are not required to pass Bahasa Melayu to access the funding or enter the participating universities.