The SETARA rating system, explained
SETARA (the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions) is Malaysia’s official government quality rating for universities and university colleges. It is administered by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) under the Ministry of Higher Education.
It measures the overall quality of teaching and learning at an institution and places it into one of six tiers, from Tier 1 (Weak) to Tier 6 (Outstanding).
The six tiers
| Tier | Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 6/6 | Outstanding | The highest rating — excellent quality across teaching, resources and outcomes. |
| 5/6 | Excellent | Very high quality institution. |
| 4/6 | Very Good | Strong, well-established quality. |
| 3/6 | Good | Sound quality that meets expectations. |
| 2/6 | Satisfactory | Adequate quality with room to grow. |
| 1/6 | Weak | Below the expected standard. |
What SETARA looks at
- Talent — the quality of students and academic staff.
- Ecosystem — resources, facilities and the learning environment.
- Outcomes — graduate quality and employability.
How we use it
On TopUniversitiesMalaysia, a university’s SETARA tier appears on its profile as e.g. “SETARA 6/6 ★”. It’s one of the signals in our ranking methodology, alongside QS World/Asia positions. Figures are indicative — always confirm the latest rating with MQA and the university.
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