The Reality of Relocating to Malaysia for Kids' Education: 6 Years In

Q: Can we move without speaking English?

English is one of Malaysia's official languages and gets you a long way in daily life — part of why families choose it. That said, choosing a school and getting through the paperwork both take research, so it helps to have someone at home who can carry that.

Q: How should we choose an international school?

Fees and atmosphere differ enormously between schools, so the single most useful thing we did was visit in person and check it fitted our family's approach. The school makes or breaks the move. A practical tip: settle the school first, then look for housing within reach of it.

Q: Is the MM2H visa still available?

For long stays, MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) remains an option, but the programme and its requirements change often, and conditions have tightened in places. It differs a great deal depending on when you go, so always check the latest official information.

Q: Can any family choose boarding?

It depends on your visa. At Epsom College Malaysia, an international student on a student visa could choose only Day or Full Boarder; the Weekday Boarder programme was for Malaysian, Singaporean and MM2H families. Rules differ by school, so if boarding is part of your plan, ask your target school before you settle on a visa route.

Q: Which families does it suit?

It tends to fit families who want an international education, can enjoy change, and do not demand perfection. If you require exactly Japan's standard of living, or want quick results, think it through carefully first.

Q: What was good, and what was hard?

The good: a well-supported international education, English close at hand, and getting to spend a large part of raising our children abroad. The hard: the weight of the fees, and the moments when expecting Japan's exact standard of living left us stuck. After six years, the honest answer is that it was both.

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"Moving abroad for the children's education"—you hear it more and more these days. Our family did exactly that, living in Malaysia for about six years, from 2019 to the summer of 2025. This article shares the "reality you only see once you live there"—the good and the hard—honestly.

What you'll learn

Why many families choose Malaysia
The reality of international schools, the visa (MM2H), and costs
Who it suits, and who should think twice

1. Why Malaysia?

A few reasons families pick Malaysia for education:

English environment: English is one of the official languages and widely understood day to day
Plenty of international schools: many follow Western curricula
A balance of cost of living: more realistic budgeting than moving to the West (tuition aside)
Distance and time difference from Japan: relatively light on both flights and jet lag

*Directly beneath the towers. This was where we were going to live.*

2. The reality of international schools

Our children attended a local international school. The caring environment and international friendships are a real asset. On the other hand, tuition varies widely by school and is by no means cheap (it changes by campus, curriculum, and grade). In our case, fees at Epsom College Malaysia went from RM25,400 a term (Year 4, 2020) to RM41,700 a term (Year 9, 2025). With three terms a year, that final year came to roughly RM125,000. But it did not rise every year — some years were held flat, and others jumped because of boarding or activities outside the classroom. Since the school makes or breaks the move, it's important to visit in person and check it fits your family's approach.

*A school concert—an event where you really feel your child growing*

*The walk to school runs through a lot of greenery.*

3. Thinking about the visa (MM2H) and costs

For long stays, a visa such as MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) is one option. But the program and its requirements change from time to time, and conditions have tightened compared with when we moved. Always check the latest official information.

Costs center on "tuition + housing (a condo, etc.) + living expenses." The total shifts a lot with the grade of school and housing you choose.

One thing that is easy to miss: your visa type decides which boarding options the school will let you take. At Epsom College Malaysia, an international student on a student visa may choose only Day or Full Boarder — the Weekday Boarder programme is not open to them. Weekday boarding is for Malaysian, Singaporean and MM2H families (this is set out on the school's own programme transfer form). You will not find it by reading the fee schedule alone, so if boarding is part of your plan, ask the school before you commit to a visa route.

💡 Tip: Visa, school, and housing are closely linked. It's easier to decide the school first, then look for housing within commuting range.

4. The reality of daily life (the hard parts)

Here's the "gap" you don't see on a holiday, told honestly.

Tap water: it can come out yellowish, so bottled water and water dispensers are the norm for drinking
Home construction: unexpected issues like leaks can happen
Delivery and service quality: Japan's "normal" doesn't always apply

*Inside our condo. Until life found its shape, this room was the whole of it*

A "when in Rome" mindset goes a long way toward reducing stress.

5. Who it suits—and who should think twice

Suits you if: you want an international education / you can enjoy change / you don't demand perfection
Think carefully if: you require exactly Japan's standard of living / you want quick results

Looking back on six years, there was plenty that was hard—but spending such a big part of raising our kids abroad was an irreplaceable experience for our family.

📌 Last updated: July 2026. Visa rules, tuition, and living info change. Always confirm the latest details on official sources when considering a move.

6. Moving to Malaysia for school: common questions

Q. What does moving to Malaysia for school actually cost? A. The core of it is "tuition + housing (a condo, etc.) + living expenses," and the total shifts a lot with the grade of school and housing you choose. Everyday prices are far more manageable than a move to Europe or North America — tuition is the exception, and it is not cheap. For us, Epsom College Malaysia ran from RM25,400 a term (Year 4, 2020) to RM41,700 a term (Year 9, 2025), three terms a year. It varies by school, curriculum and year group, so start gathering figures early.

Q. Can we move without speaking English? A. English is one of Malaysia's official languages and gets you a long way in daily life — part of why families choose it. That said, choosing a school and getting through the paperwork both take research, so it helps to have someone at home who can carry that.

Q. How should we choose an international school? A. Fees and atmosphere differ enormously between schools, so the single most useful thing we did was visit in person and check it fitted our family's approach. The school makes or breaks the move. A practical tip: settle the school first, then look for housing within reach of it.

Q. Is the MM2H visa still available? A. For long stays, MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) remains an option, but the programme and its requirements change often, and conditions have tightened in places. It differs a great deal depending on when you go, so always check the latest official information.

Q. Can any family choose boarding? A. It depends on your visa. At Epsom College Malaysia, an international student on a student visa could choose only Day or Full Boarder; the Weekday Boarder programme was for Malaysian, Singaporean and MM2H families. Rules differ by school, so if boarding is part of your plan, ask your target school before you settle on a visa route.

Q. Which families does it suit? A. It tends to fit families who want an international education, can enjoy change, and do not demand perfection. If you require exactly Japan's standard of living, or want quick results, think it through carefully first.

Q. What was good, and what was hard? A. The good: a well-supported international education, English close at hand, and getting to spend a large part of raising our children abroad. The hard: the weight of the fees, and the moments when expecting Japan's exact standard of living left us stuck. After six years, the honest answer is that it was both.