The eight six-star achievers in the SETARA 2018/2019 are Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, International Medical University and Monash University of Malaysia.
A Rating System for the Malaysian Higher Education Institutions, SETARA is carried out using 38 indicators which comprise four core functions, namely, general, teaching and learning (PdP), research, and services. Universities in Malaysia are rated from one (below par) to six stars (excellent).
A total of 86 universities participated in SETARA 2018/2019. The results that were announced on 18 December 2020 showed that higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia delivered continual improvement in the provision of high quality and impactful education to their students.
In contrast, private colleges in Malaysia are rated using the Malaysian Quality Evaluation System for Private Colleges (MyQUEST). MyQUEST is carried out based on 35 indicators which focus five criteria: quality and diversity of students; resources and financial sustainability; quality management system; programme recognition; and graduate recognition and the college reputation.
Like SETARA, MyQUEST has a one- to six-star rating. Out of the 207 private colleges that participated in MyQUEST 2018/2019, 14 private colleges achieved six stars: SEGi College Subang Jaya, Sunway College (Kuala Lumpur), Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT), SEGi College Kota Damansara, Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Kuantan, SEGi College Penang, Putra International College, Equator College, Despark College, SEGi College Sarawak, IBS College, Kolej Integrasi Perkembangan Kemahiran (IPK), Kolej Hafiz and Institut Antarabangsa Sains Mantin.