Universiti Utara Malaysia

Public university in Kedah, Malaysia

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Universiti Utara Malaysia" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Northern University of Malaysia

Universiti Utara Malaysia (Malay)
اونيۏرسيتي اوتارا مليسيا (Malay)
马来西亚北方大学 (Chinese)
மலேசியாவின் வடக்குப் பல்கலைக்கழகம் (Tamil)

Seal

Motto| Ilmu, Budi, Bakti[1]

Motto in English

| Knowledge, Virtue, Service[2]
Type| Public
Established| 1984; 41 years ago (1984)
Chancellor| HRH Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah
Vice-Chancellor| Ybrs. Prof. Dato' Dr. Fo'ad bin Sakdan
Students| 33,658[3] (October 2022)
Undergraduates| 27,732 (October 2022)
Postgraduates| 5,926 (October 2022)
Address|

Sintok, 06010 Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah, Malaysia

Sintok, Kedah

Malaysia

6°27′28″N 100°30′20″E﻿ / ﻿6.45778°N 100.50556°E﻿ / 6.45778; 100.50556
Campus| Sintok (Rural, main campus)
Kuala Lumpur (Urban, postgraduate campus)
Darul Aman, Jitra (Former, provisional)
Anthem| "Biru Warna"
("Colour Blue")
Colours| Blue and Yellow

Affiliations| ASAIHL, ACU,[4] FUIW,[5] AUN[6]
Website| uum.edu.my

Universiti Utara Malaysia (literally meaning Northern University of Malaysia, abbreviated as UUM or UNIUTAMA) is a public management university in Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia. It also has a branch campus in Kuala Lumpur.[7] Its main campus, which is situated in a rural area, is commonly referred to as "The University in a Green Forest".[citation needed]

Established on 16 February 1984 through Universiti Utara Malaysia Order, UUM was ranked 481 in the QS World University Rankings 2023.[8] UUM also ranked 99 in Times Higher Education (THE) 2023 rankings, reaching top 100, thus placing third place nationwide.[9]

## History

[edit]

The construction planning began in August 1983 when the Ministry of Education began to plan the university. On 19 October 1983, the Cabinet gave its approval for this project in Kedah. At that time, the project was called "The Sixth University Project". Several months later, the temporary office of the Sixth University, officially named Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), was officially opened on 15 February 1984 in Jitra.[7]

Four months after its official opening, the UUM office was relocated to the provisional Darul Aman Campus in Jitra, in June 1984, when the first phase of the project had been completed. The first academic year began in June 1984. The Darul Aman Campus was on a 62-acre tract of land in Bandar Darulaman. It was 18 km north of Alor Setar and 4.8 km from Jitra.[10]

Meanwhile, the planning of a permanent campus had begun. It was to be built on an area of 1,061 hectares in Sintok (in the district of Kubang Pasu), 48 km north of Alor Setar and 10 km east of Changlun, a small town along the North-South Highway, near the Malaysia-Thai border.

The permanent UUM campus, referred to as the Sintok Campus, began operations on 15 September 1990.[citation needed] In a former tin mining area, it is in a valley of lush tropical forests, embraced by blue hills, and watered by two rivers that flow along the middle of the campus. The rivers are Sungai Sintok and Sungai Badak.

The MYR580 million Sintok Campus was opened on 17 February 2004 by the Royal Chancellor, His Royal Highness Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah. The main buildings are the Sultanah Bahiyah Library, the Chancellery (present-day Sultan Sallehudin Chancellery), the Sultan Badlishah Mosque, the Mu’adzam Shah Hall, the Tan Sri Othman Hall, the Sports Complex, the Varsity Mall, the Budi Siswa building, the Convention Complex, and the buildings that house the departments of the academic colleges.[10]

## Campuses

[edit]

### Sintok Campus

[edit]

The main campus is on a 1,061-hectare (4.10 sq mi) site in Sintok, Kedah. The campus is 48 km north of Alor Setar and 10 km south of the Bukit Kayu Hitam and are near the Malaysia-Thailand border. Other towns near UUM are Jitra and Changlun.

Due to its vast land area, the university has used 107 hectares of forest to develop facilities open for use by outsiders. Thus the campus has evolved into an open campus where outsiders and tourists visit. Among the facilities are a picnic area, a deer farm, a nine-hole golf course, a go-kart circuit, a shooting and archery range, and an ostrich farm.

The training base and facilities for the Malaysian National Service Programme (PLKN) was on the campus.[11]

### Kuala Lumpur Campus

[edit]

UUMKL Campus is the first UUM fully owned study centre outside Sintok and operated directly by UUM, catering postgraduate studies . It is a non-residential campus which occupies a nine-storey building in the city center along Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz in the Kampung Baru area and adjacent to Chow Kit.[12]

## Academics

[edit]

QS World University Rankings[13] Year  | World  | Asia

|
|

2016  | 701+  | \-
2017  | 701+  | \-
2018  | 701-750  | \-
2019  | 601-650  | \-
2020  | 591-600  | \-
2021  | 531-540  | \-
2022  | 511-520  | \-
2023  | 481  | 21
2024  | 538  | 101  |
2025  | 554  |
2026  | 491  |

In January 2008, a restructuring of the university academic system was undertaken. Thirteen faculties were merged and streamed into three main academic colleges:[14]

* College of Arts and Science
* College of Business
* College of Law, Government and International Studies

2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject Subject  | Score  | World

|
|

Accounting & Finance  | \-  | 151-200
Social Sciences & Management  | \-  | 266
Business & Management Studies  | \-  | 201-250
Communication and Media Studies  | \-  | 201-250
Computer Science & Information Systems  | –  | 601-650
Economics and Econometrics  | –  | 201-250
University rankings

Global – Overall
QS World[15]| 491 (2026)
THE World[16]| 401-500 (2025)
Regional – Overall
QS Asia[17]| 108 (2023)
THE Asia[18]| 99 (2023)

## Facilities

[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

### Student Residential Halls (Inapan Siswa)

[edit]

The university houses 17 residential halls (15 in-campus including 2 in Kachi zone, 2 off-campus), each divided by four lanes A, B, C and D (Informally named after bus routes). Many residential halls have their own basic facilities, such as a food court, student lounge and laundry services. Currently Petronas Student Residential Hall and TM Student Residential Hall (UUM labels their residential halls by names of corporations, initially via numbering system) are designated as disabled-friendly Student Residential Halls with several purposely-modified rooms.[19] The residential hall administration and Student Development and Leadership Committee (Jawatankuasa Pembangunan dan Kepimpinan Siswa, JKPS) which were separate for each residential hall while for off-campus accommodations (Persisiran Sintok and Taman Univeristi) a secretariat serves the same functions of the JKPS for the aforementioned accommodations. There are several residential halls that are reserved for students who take particular courses, based on accessibility (For instance, two blocks from TNB and Malaysia Airlines Student Residential Halls were reserved for UUM Foundations in Management course students).

1. Tradewinds Student Residential Hall
2. Proton Student Residential Hall
3. TNB Student Residential Hall (Several blocks were reserved for Management Foundations students hostel)
4. Malaysia Airlines Student Residential Hall (Several blocks were reserved for Management Foundations students hostel)

1. Petronas Student Residential Hall
2. Bank Islam Student Residential Hall (Formerly EON Student Residential Hall, later Grantt Student Residential Hall till 2024)
3. BSN Student Residential Hall (Formerly Perwaja Student Residential Hall)
4. MISC Student Residential Hall
5. Sime Darby Student Residential Hall
6. TM Student Residential Hall
7. Yayasan Al-Bukhary Student Residential Hall (National Golf Academy and PALAPES students hostel)
8. Bank Muamalat Student Residential Hall (National Golf Academy and PALAPES students hostel)
9. Bank Rakyat Student Residential Hall (Formerly Kachi Student Residental Hall No.1, some rooms were allocated for postgraduate students)
10. SME Bank Student Residential Hall (Formerly Kachi Student Residental Hall No.2)
11. Maybank Student Residential Hall (Formerly known as university apartments, houses international and postgraduate students)
12. Sisiran Naib Canselor (similar with Sisiran Sintok and Taman Universiti but inside campus, compromises of the official residences of the vice-chancellor and deputies)
13. Sisiran Sintok (off-campus limits, mainly serves as university staffs accommodation)
14. Taman Universiti (off-campus limits, mainly houses international and postgraduate students)

### Halls

[edit]

* Dewan Mu'adzam Shah (Grand Hall)
* Dewan Tan Sri Othman
* Panggung Eksperimen (Experimental Theatre)
* Dewan Kachi

### Museums and Galleries

[edit]

* UUM Management Museum
* Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad Gallery (Located in the new block of Sultanah Bahiyah Library)

### Research Facilities and Institutes

[edit]

* Tun Dr Mahathir Institute of Thinking
* Economical and Financial Policy Institute (ECoFI)
* Institute of Quality Management
* Institute for Advanced and Smart Digital Opportunities (IASDO)
* PERMAI Independent Living Centre (ILC), under patronage of the Malaysian Department of Social Welfare

### Libraries

[edit]

* Sultanah Bahiyah Library
* Sultan Badlishah Mosque Library

## Notable alumni

[edit]

This is a list of notable people associated with the Universiti Utara Malaysia in Sintok, Kedah. This list includes both alumni and faculty members.

* Tomok \- Malaysian singer
* Fattah Amin \- Malaysian actor
* Amir Masdi \- Malaysian singer[20]
* Pekin Ibrahim \- Malaysian actor
* Dato' Sri Dr. Shahidan Kassim \- Former Minister of Federal Territories and current Member of Parliament for Arau
* Dato' Sri Dr. Wee Jeck Seng \- Member of Parliament for Tanjung Piai

## Gallery

[edit]

* Dewan Kuliah Gugusan 6 UUM

* Mu'adzam Shah Hall in 2023

## See also

[edit]

Sintok Campus of UUM

* List of Islamic educational institutions
* List of universities in Malaysia
* Education in Malaysia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Falsafah". UUM. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
2. ^ "Philosophy". UUM. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
3. ^ "Students as of October 2022". Retrieved 3 March 2023.
4. ^ "Member Search". Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
5. ^ "Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World". Archived from the original on 26 January 2005. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
6. ^ "ASEAN University Network Membership". Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
7. ^ a b "Institution Profile UUM". Study Malaysia. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
8. ^ "About Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)". Quacquarelli Symonds. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
9. ^ "UUM breaks into top 100 Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings". 23 June 2023.
10. ^ a b "About UUM". UUM. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
11. ^ "PLKN Sintok Camp". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
12. ^ "About Us". Retrieved 23 January 2014.
13. ^ "Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)". Top Universities. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
14. ^ "Universiti Utara Malaysia". Retrieved 23 January 2014.
15. ^ "UUM 500 top world" (in Malay). Retrieved 3 March 2023.
16. ^ "UUM 500 top world (THE)". 11 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
17. ^ "QS Asia University Rankings 2023". UUM. 2023.
18. ^ "UUM breaks into top 100 Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings". 23 June 2023.
19. ^ "Student Affairs Department, Universiti Utara Malaysia – Student Support And Service Division". hep.uum.edu.my. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
20. ^ "Fattah Amin, Tomok, Pekin Ibrahim antara 28 penggiat seni berjaya tamat pengajian di UUM, siap dapat anugerah dekan!". mStar (in Malay). 27 October 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2025.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Northern University of Malaysia.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Universities in Malaysia

List of universities in Malaysia

Public universities and polytechnics

| Research universities|

* University of Malaya
* National University of Malaysia
* University of Putra Malaysia
* University of Science Malaysia
* University of Technology Malaysia

|

Comprehensive universities|

* MARA Technological University
* Universiti Malaysia Sabah
* Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Focused universities|

* Sultan Idris Education University (Education)
* Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (Science and Technology)
* National Defence University of Malaysia (Military)
* Universiti Utara Malaysia (Management)
* Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (Entrepreneurship)

Technical universities|

* Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah
* Universiti Malaysia Perlis
* Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia
* Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

Islamic universities|

* Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin
* International Islamic University Malaysia
* Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

Polytechnics|

* Ungku Omar Polytechnic
* Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah
* Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
* Politeknik Kota Bharu
* Politeknik Kuching
* Politeknik Port Dickson
* Politeknik Kota Kinabalu
* Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
* Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan
* Politeknik Seberang Perai
* Politeknik Melaka
* Politeknik Kuala Terengganu
* Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin
* Politeknik Merlimau
* Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah
* Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah
* Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah
* Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin
* Politeknik Muadzam Shah
* Politeknik Mukah
* Politeknik Balik Pulau
* Politeknik Jeli
* Politeknik Nilai
* Politeknik Banting
* Politeknik Mersing
* Politeknik Hulu Terengganu
* Politeknik Sandakan
* Politeknik METrO Kuala Lumpur
* Politeknik METrO Kuantan
* Politeknik METrO Johor Bahru
* Politeknik METrO Betong
* Politeknik METrO Tasek Gelugor
* Politeknik Tun Syed Nasir Syed Ismail

Private universities, university colleges and colleges

| Universities|

| Homegrown
universities|

* AIMST University
* Al-Madinah International University
* Asia e University
* Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation
* Asia School of Business
* City University Malaysia
* DRB-HICOM University Of Automotive Malaysia
* GlobalNxt University
* HELP University
* Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur
* INTI International University
* International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance
* Limkokwing University of Creative Technology
* International Medical University
* Malaysia University of Science & Technology
* Management & Science University
* MILA University
* MISI University
* Multimedia University
* Nilai University
* Open University Malaysia
* Perdana University
* Raffles University
* SEGi University and Colleges
* Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah International Islamic University
* Sunway University
* Taylor's University
* Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology
* UCSI University
* Universiti Islam Malaysia
* University of Kuala Lumpur
* University of Cyberjaya
* University of Malaya-Wales
* University of Selangor
* University of Technology Sarawak
* Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah
* Universiti Teknologi Petronas
* Universiti Tenaga Nasional
* Universiti Tun Abdul Razak
* Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
* Wawasan Open University
* UNITAR International University

|

Foreign university
branch campuses|

* Curtin University Malaysia
* Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
* Monash University Malaysia
* Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia
* RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus
* Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus
* University of Nottingham Malaysia
* University of Reading Malaysia
* University of Southampton Malaysia Campus
* University of Wollongong Malaysia
* Xiamen University Malaysia

University colleges|

* Berjaya University College
* First City University College
* GMI-University College of Applied Sciences
* Han Chiang University College
* Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University College
* Lincoln University College
* Linton University College
* New Era University College
* Selangor Islamic University
* Southern University College
* TATI University College
* Twintech International University College of Technology
* Widad University College

Colleges|

* Adventist College of Nursing and Health Sciences
* Aseana College
* Brickfields Asia College
* Crescendo International College
* DISTED College
* INTEC Education College
* International Islamic College
* INTI International Colleges
* Jati College
* Kirkby International College
* Lam Wah Ee Nursing College
* Malaysian Han Studies
* Malaysian Institute of Art
* Mantin College
* Mantissa College
* Methodist College Kuala Lumpur
* MSU College
* Kolej Yayasan UEM
* KTG Education Group#Group of Colleges
* Peninsula College
* Portman College
* President College
* Raffles College of Higher Education
* SEGi College
* Sentral College Penang
* Sunway College
* TAR EC College
* Taylor's College
* The One Academy
* Tung Shin Academy of Nursing
* Victoria International College
* VTAR Institute

Military, law enforcement and fire academies

| Military academies|

* Air Force Academy
* Army Academy
* KD Sultan Idris I
* Military Training Academy
* Royal Military College

|

Police academies|

* Royal Malaysian Police College Kuala Lumpur
* Malaysian Police Training Centre

Coast Guard academy|

* Sultan Ahmad Shah Maritime Academy

Fire academy|

* Fire and Rescue Academy of Malaysia

University alliances

* Malaysian Technical University Network
* University System of Tunku Abdul Rahman

Universities and colleges in Malaysia \- Malaysian university leaders \- Rankings of universities in Malaysia \- Ministry of Higher Education \- Education in Malaysia

* v
* t
* e

ASEAN University Network

Brunei|

* Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD)

Cambodia|

* Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE)
* Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP)

Indonesia|

* Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB)
* Airlangga University (UNAIR)
* Gadjah Mada University (UGM)
* University of Indonesia (UI)

Laos|

* National University of Laos (NUOL)

Malaysia|

* National University of Malaysia (UKM)
* University of Malaya (UM)
* Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
* Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
* Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)

Myanmar|

* Mandalay University (MU)
* University of Yangon (UY)
* Yangon University of Economics (YUE)

Philippines|

* Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU)
* De La Salle University (DLSU)
* University of the Philippines (UP)

Singapore|

* Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
* National University of Singapore (NUS)
* Singapore Management University (SMU)

Thailand|

* Burapha University (BUU)
* Chiang Mai University (CMU)
* Chulalongkorn University (CU)
* Mahidol University (MU)
* Prince of Songkla University (PSU)

Vietnam|

* Can Tho University (CTU)
* Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi)
* Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM)

* v
* t
* e

Northern Corridor Economic Region

NCER Perlis|

* Kangar
* Padang Besar
* Perlis Seed Centre

NCER Kedah|

* Alor Setar
* Anak Bukit
* Langkawi
* Bukit Kayu Hitam
* Universiti Utara Malaysia
* Sultan Abdul Halim Airport
* Alor Setar Tower
* Trans Eastern Kedah Interland Highway
* Paddy Museum
* Gurun
* Sungai Petani Halal Hub
* Kulim Hi-Tech Park
* South Kedah Expressway

NCER Penang|

* Bayan Lepas LRT
* Butterworth
* Butterworth Outer Ring Road
* George Town
* Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway
* Jelutong Expressway
* KOMTAR
* Penang Bridge
* Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge (Penang Second Bridge)
* Penang Sentral
* Penang International Airport
* Penang Global City Centre
* Penang Outer Ring Road
* Penang Undersea Tunnel
* Port of Penang
* Rapid Ferry
* Rapid Penang
* Universiti Sains Malaysia

NCER Perak|

* Belum-Temengor (Temenggor Lake, Temenggor Dam, Banding Island, Lake Temenggor Bridge)
* East-West Highway
* Gerik
* Pengkalan Hulu
* Lenggong
* Universiti Teknologi Petronas
* Jelas Expressway
* West Coast Expressway

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States

Other|

* IdRef
* Yale LUX

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template