FAQ

Welcome to the Sarawak FTES Knowledge Base

Navigating university admissions and state financial schemes can feel overwhelming, but securing your higher education shouldn’t be complicated.

This FAQ guide is designed to give Anak Sarawak—and their families—a clear, step-by-step roadmap to understanding the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES). Whether you are checking your baseline eligibility, planning your degree pathway, or figuring out how living allowances work, you will find quick, direct answers organized by category.

How to Use This FAQ Guide

Click on any category below to expand the questions and view official guidance. If you aren’t sure where your household stands financially, we recommend starting with our Interactive FTES Eligibility Calculator before browsing the answers.

Key Decision Factors to Consider Before Apply

While 100% tuition coverage sounds straightforward, FTES is more than just a financial grant—it is an academic path decision. As you explore the questions below, keep these critical factors in mind:

  • 🎓 Degree Level & Field Specifics: FTES exclusively targets first undergraduate degrees in approved strategic fields (like STEM, Medicine, Law, Business, and Finance). Foundation and Diploma programs are handled under separate state schemes.

  • 🏛️ University Choice: The scheme applies only to state-owned institutions (SIHL)—Swinburne Sarawak, Curtin Malaysia, UTS, i-CATS UC, and CENTEXS. Federal universities (like UNIMAS or UiTM) are governed under national policies and are not part of FTES.

  • 📑 The “No Double-Funding” Rule: You can apply for FTES while holding PTPTN or other loans/scholarships, but you cannot keep both. If approved for FTES, you must formally cancel your existing funding source.

  • 💰 Living Expense Allowance Thresholds: While tuition is free for all eligible Sarawakians regardless of income, the RM15,000 annual living stipend is specifically reserved for households with a monthly per capita income of RM1,500 or below.

 

Category of FAQ

Student Eligibility & Status Criteria

Yes. Holding a Malaysian MyKad with the ‘K’ indicator (denoting official Sarawakian status) is the primary baseline requirement to qualify for FTES.

If your MyKad does not feature the ‘K’ indicator, you must prove your Sarawakian status under official state policy definitions (such as providing official birth certificates verifying that at least one parent is a Sarawakian) during the university application and document verification process.

No. FTES is a state-funded initiative exclusively dedicated to Anak Sarawak. Non-Sarawakians, West Malaysians, Sabahans, and international students are not eligible for FTES and must pay standard university tuition or seek alternative funding options.

No. FTES strictly covers a student’s first undergraduate degree (bachelor’s degree). Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree, or those applying for postgraduate programs (Master’s or PhD), are not eligible.

Both newly admitted students and existing active students are eligible. Current full-time undergraduate students enrolled in approved courses at participating institutions can opt into FTES, provided they meet all other status criteria.

There is currently no age restriction set by the Sarawak Government for FTES. Any Sarawakian who meets university academic entry requirements and is pursuing their first degree may apply.

FTES specifically targets Bachelor’s Degree programs. Foundation and Diploma programs are not covered under FTES; however, pre-university students can explore other state initiatives, such as the Yayasan Sarawak BP40 Bursary Scheme or Yayasan Sarawak Local Education Loans.

Approved Institutions & Eligible Courses

FTES applies exclusively to the four Sarawak-owned higher education institutions (SIHL):

  • Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus

  • Curtin University Malaysia

  • University of Technology Sarawak (UTS)

  • i-CATS University College

The scheme covers 64 approved undergraduate degree courses across these participating institutions. Coverage focuses primarily on programs aligned with Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2030), including STEM fields, Business, Accounting, Finance, Law, Medicine, and Health Sciences.

No. UNIMAS and UiTM are federal public universities outside the financial and administrative jurisdiction of the Sarawak State Government. Because federal public universities already receive federal subsidies and charge minimal fees, FTES is strictly restricted to state-owned institutions.

No. FTES requires students to be enrolled as full-time, on-campus undergraduate students at one of the four participating Sarawak-owned institutions.

FTES covers tuition fees strictly for the duration of studies completed locally at the Sarawak campus. If a student chooses to participate in study-abroad exchange terms or transfer options to main overseas campuses (such as Curtin Bentley or Swinburne Hawthorn), the extra overseas tuition and travel costs must be borne by the student.

Yes. To ensure graduates support Sarawak’s strategic growth, FTES prioritizes key fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), Computer Science, Data Analytics, Medicine, Nursing, Accounting, Finance, Law, and Agrotechnology.

Financial Coverage & Living Stipend

The Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) fully covers 100% of core academic tuition fees for eligible degree programs. Basic mandatory university units—such as compulsory Mata Pelajaran Umum (MPU) subjects—are included. However, personal supplies, non-mandatory equipment, or additional fees incurred from failed/repeated modules must be paid by the student.

The household per capita income is calculated by taking your total gross monthly household income (the combined earnings of both parents/guardians) and dividing it by the total number of dependents residing in the household:

Per Capita Income =
Total Monthly Gross Household Income ÷ Total Household Members

The household per capita income is calculated by taking your total gross monthly household income (the combined earnings of both parents/guardians) and dividing it by the total number of dependents residing in the household:

If the calculated result is RM1,500 or below, the student qualifies for the full RM15,000 annual stipend in addition to 100% free tuition.

Total household income refers to the raw combined monthly income earned by all working members/parents in a home. Per capita income reflects the actual financial resources available per person by factoring in household size. For example, a total monthly family income of RM6,000 for a household of 5 members yields a per capita income of RM1,200 (qualifying for the stipend), whereas the same income for a household of 2 members yields RM3,000 per capita (qualifying for tuition-free status only).

The RM15,000 annual stipend is divided into two distinct components:

  • RM5,000 Accommodation Allowance: Channeled directly to the respective university’s residential/housing unit to manage on campus or approved off-campus lodging fees on your behalf.

  • RM10,000 Living Allowance: Disbursed directly to the student in scheduled payouts to help cover daily living costs, food, books, and study materials.

Yes. The RM10,000 living allowance portion is disbursed digitally directly into the recipient’s verified S PAY GLOBAL (formerly SarawakPay) account via the integrated Aid Wallet feature. Students must ensure their S PAY GLOBAL identity verification (eKYC) matches their official MyKad details.

No. The RM15,000 living stipend is an official non-repayable state financial grant. It is not a loan, incurs zero interest, and does not need to be repaid upon graduation.

Application, Documentation & Transition

Applications for FTES are submitted online directly through the student admissions and financial aid portal of your chosen participating university (Swinburne Sarawak, Curtin Malaysia, UTS, or i-CATS UC) upon accepting your formal admission offer. You do not need to apply through a separate central ministry portal; the universities coordinate eligibility verification with the Sarawak Government on your behalf.

You will need to upload clear, certified copies of:

  • Student’s MyKad (showing the ‘K’ indicator) and Birth Certificate

  • Parents’/Guardians’ MyKad copies and Birth Certificates

  • Official Academic Results (SPM, STPM, UEC, Foundation, or Matriculation certificates)

  • University Letter of Offer

  • Proof of Income (EA Form, latest pay slips, pension statements, or an official Income Verification Letter)

  • Bank Account Details / S PAY GLOBAL ID for living stipend processing

Yes! Existing PTPTN loan holders are fully eligible to apply for FTES. However, because double-funding is strictly prohibited, you cannot receive payouts from both sources simultaneously. Once your FTES application is officially approved, you must submit a loan termination request to PTPTN.

Upon receiving your official FTES Approval Letter, you must notify your current sponsor or loan provider (e.g., PTPTN, MARA, or Yayasan Sarawak) to formally cancel or transition your previous award. Your university’s Student Financial Advisory team will assist you with the necessary termination documentation to ensure a smooth transition.

Parents without formal pay slips or EA forms can submit an official Income Declaration Form (Surat Pengesahan Pendapatan). This form must be verified and stamped by an authorized authority, such as a District Officer (Pegawai Daerah), Gazetted Community Leader (Ketua Masyarakat, Tuai Rumah, or Kapitan), or a Commissioner for Oaths.

Applications are processed concurrently with university intake windows. Decisions are typically communicated directly to your official student portal or email prior to or during the census date (usually around Week 4 of your first semester). Tuition fee adjustments are reflected on your student statement once verified.

Academic Terms & Scheme Conditions

Students must maintain good academic standing according to their institution’s standard progression rules. Typically, this means maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 2.00 or above (or passing all enrolled core modules per semester). Falling under academic probation may result in a temporary suspension of FTES coverage until academic standing is restored.

No. FTES covers course fees for units taken for the first time only. If you fail a module and need to retake it, or if you repeat a subject to improve a grade, the retake fees must be paid out-of-pocket by the student.

Students are generally allowed one program change within the same university, subject to approval from both the faculty dean and the ministry coordinator. However, transferring FTES coverage between different participating universities (e.g., switching from Swinburne to UTS) is generally not permitted without forfeiting your current award and reapplying as a fresh candidate.

Yes. If you take an officially approved Leave of Absence (LOA) or deferment due to documented medical or personal reasons, your FTES funding will be temporarily frozen. Funding will automatically resume upon your official return and re-enrollment, provided your total duration of study remains within the maximum allowable timeframe for your degree.

Unlike traditional government scholarships, FTES is a state-funded tuition grant designed to increase tertiary education access rather than a bonded financial loan. While there is no restrictive financial penalty or forced service bond, recipients are strongly encouraged to contribute their talents toward Sarawak’s regional economic development post-graduation.

Alternative Funding & Secondary Options

If your household per capita income exceeds RM1,500, you are still eligible for 100% Free Tuition for approved undergraduate degree programs under FTES. The income threshold only applies to the additional RM15,000 annual living stipend. For daily expenses, students can explore part-time on-campus work, family support, or external laptop/book subsidies provided by state initiatives like Yayasan Sarawak.

Foundation and Diploma students can apply for the Yayasan Sarawak BP40 Bursary Scheme (which offers subsidized tuition rates equivalent to public university fees for B40/M40 Sarawakians), Yayasan Sarawak Local Education Loans, or internal merit-based entrance scholarships offered directly by Swinburne Sarawak, Curtin Malaysia, UTS, and i-CATS UC.

Non-Sarawakian Malaysian students enrolled at state-owned institutions can apply for national PTPTN education loans, MARA tertiary education loans/grants (for eligible Bumiputera students), state foundation loans from their home states, or corporate scholarships offered by private sector foundations (e.g., Yayasan PETRONAS, YTL Foundation).

You can apply directly through the official Yayasan Sarawak Client Portal (ys.sarawak.gov.my). These interest-free education loans are designed to assist Sarawakian students studying in approved certificate, diploma, or degree programs that may fall outside full scholarship coverage.

Yes. Participating institutions (Swinburne Sarawak, Curtin Malaysia, UTS, and i-CATS UC) offer independent Merit Scholarships and fee rebates based on outstanding academic achievement in SPM, STPM, UEC, or Matriculation exams. These can serve as financial support prior to enrolling in an FTES-eligible degree program.

Sign In

Don't have an account yet? Register

Forgot password?

Register

Reset Password

Please enter your username or email address, you will receive a link to create a new password via email.