KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — University Malaya confirmed that is increasing tuition rates for foreign undergraduates by up to RM4,500 a semester.

In a statement reported by The Star Online, the university acknowledged the rise, but declined to state when this will come into effect.

It also did not share the reason for the move.

"The new fee structure remains very much lower than the actual cost of running the programme at the faculties,” UM said in the statement.

The statement was reportedly issued in response to a report by The Star’s R.AGE unit highlighting the grievances of foreign students who would be affected by the increase.

In the R.AGE report, 15 international students at UM complained that they were only notified of the increase after arriving in Malaysia to register for their studies.

The Star quoted the National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) senior legal and policy manager Shabana Naseer Ahmad saying that the affected students could lodge a complaint with NCCC or the Higher Education Ministry.