International Medical University (IMU)

Institution Overview

Background of institution

The International Medical University (IMU) was established in 1992 as the International Medical College (IMC), Malaysia’s first private medical college. An institutiony wholly specialising in medicine, health sciences and complementary medicine programmes with all resources devoted to excellence in this area of education, it attained university status in 1999. The university remained true to the key elements of the IMC vision, which are to widen access to professional healthcare education, and to use innovative, integrated and student-centred means in providing that education.

IMU is part of IMU Health, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IHH Healthcare Berhad (IHH). IHH is a leading international provider of premium healthcare services. Known as the World’s second largest listed healthcare operator, IHH presently operates close to 10,000 licensed beds in 49 hospitals across their home markets of Singapore, Malaysia and Turkey, and key markets of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and India. IHH is also present in Brunei, UAE, Macedonia and Iraq.

Academic strength

IMU pioneered the partner university model. This provides students of the majority of its undergraduate programmes with credit transfer options to one of its 33 internationally recognised higher education institution in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Ireland, China and the UK. Such an option proves that IMU’s curriculum for these programmes is benchmarked to international standards. Students also have the option to complete their entire degree in IMU.

IMU’s learning philosophy is grounded on its core values, which fosters students’ development into knowledgeable, competent and caring healthcare professionals who are critical thinkers, reflective and yet proactive. Active involvement in the community allows students to translate knowledge gained in classrooms into health education to the public, enhance communication skills and strengthen professional and technical skills in real world environments. All these combine to create graduates who are committed to lifelong learning and imbued with a sense of good citizenship, leadership and ethical behaviour.

Programme outline

IMU’s main campus is located in Bukit Jalil with clinical campuses in Seremban, Batu Pahat, Kluang and Kuala Pilah. The university prides itself on its state-of-the-art facilities which are extensive and equipped with the latest technology. In recent years, the course line-up has evolved to meet Malaysia’s growing need for healthcare staff in multiple disciplines.

At IMU, students will have relevant clinical exposure and/or industrial placements which better prepares students to become a healthcare professional, giving them an advantage in the employment market. In addition, students will study alongside a diverse population of students and practitioners from all healthcare fields. This inter-professional learning allows them to appreciate how the different fields in healthcare practice relate and complement each other, which better prepares them for employment. Students will also have the chance to develop strong friendships amongst peers that will be the foundation of an extensive professional network upon graduation which will facilitate their career development.

All programmes are government-accredited; the MBBS degree is recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council, the dentistry degree by the Malaysian Dental Council, and the pharmacy degree by the Malaysian Pharmacy Board.

Student Support Services & Student Development Activities

IMU has more than 4,000 students on-campus and that number is steadily growing. Most students are from Malaysia and the international students hail from Singapore, Japan, Sri Lanka, USA, Mauritius, South Korea and Maldives. IMU has more than 400 international students from 40 countries.

There are more than 300 highly-qualified and experienced teaching staff who are from Malaysia, USA, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and many more. Most of them are involved in supervised undergraduate and postgraduate research and dissertations, conduct workshops and are actively involved in their own research. Through exclusive arrangements with our partner universities, senior faculty members from those universities participate in yearly quality assurance reviews which ensures that IMU benchmarks global standards. Some also come as visiting lecturers to teach specialised subjects on a rotational basis at IMU.

Scholarships / Financial aid

IMU also offers financial assistance such as the IMU Scholarships, FiS Scholarships and National Higher Education Fund study loans.

Academic Facilities and Resources

At IMU, students enjoy state-of-the-art facilities including the Learning Resource Centre which combines the resources of the library, e-learning and medical museum. Its Bukit Jalil campus in Kuala Lumpur is equipped with a gymnasium, student lounge, dance floor and a café for relaxation and to encourage student interaction.

Four research thrust areas have been identified under the Institute for Research, Development and Innovation, namely, environmental and population health, bioactive molecules and drug discovery, cancer and stem cell research, and health professional education research.

The university’s Healthcare Centres, which serve as a teaching site for IMU students, bring the disciplines of allopathic (Western) medicine and those of complementary and alternative medicine together under one roof.

So far, more than 9000 students have passed through IMU’s doors. Graduates can look forward to careers in Malaysia’s public and private healthcare institutions or industries, or opportunities to undertake postgraduate studies locally or overseas.