Student Housing Near JB Universities (2026)

By Jason Lim, REN 84424 · IQI Realty · Checked on 4 November 2026

This guide is for parents in Singapore, Indonesia, India, China and elsewhere whose child will study in Johor Bahru. The short answer: EduCity students in Iskandar Puteri mostly live in furnished student residences or rent studios in Medini and Eco Botanic, while UTM and Southern University College students in Skudai have cheaper on-campus colleges and rooms. Rent for courses of three years or less; buying makes sense only for a longer stay, and foreigners face a RM1 million minimum price in most of Johor, with Medini near EduCity the main exception.

Quick answer

Two student clusters: EduCity and Eco Botanic in Iskandar Puteri (Newcastle, Reading, Southampton and others), and Skudai (UTM and Southern University College).
Cheapest option: UTM residential colleges at RM10 to RM20 a day for international students in 2026/2027, if places remain after local students.
EduCity residences: NUMed lists EcoNest rooms at RM319 to RM467 a week for 2026/2027, utilities included up to a cap.
Private rooms: about RM350 to RM800 a month in Skudai and RM260 to RM1,000 around Gelang Patah, asking, November 2026.
Furnished studios: about RM1,800 to RM1,900 a month asking in Medini and Eco Botanic, November 2026.
Buying: foreigners generally need RM1 million or more in Johor; Medini is exempt from that floor.

The main campuses and where they are

Johor Bahru’s tertiary campuses sit in two clusters on the west side of the city, so pick housing by campus first. I checked each institution’s own website in November 2026.

Campus	Area	Status, November 2026	Housing nearby
Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed)	EduCity, Iskandar Puteri	Operating; 2026/2027 accommodation prices published	EcoNest Residence (managed for NUMed students)
University of Reading Malaysia	EduCity, Persiaran Graduan, Iskandar Puteri	Operating from its EduCity campus	Hako Village, EcoNest, Hijauan Medini
University of Southampton Malaysia	Eco Botanic, Iskandar Puteri (moved from EduCity in late 2021)	Operating	EcoNest, EduCity Village
Raffles University, Netherlands Maritime University College, Kolej MDIS, EduCity International College	EduCity, Iskandar Puteri	Listed as EduCity partner institutions	EduCity Village, Medini and Gelang Patah rentals
Raffles American School (pre-K to grade 12)	Jalan Raffles, Iskandar Puteri	Operating; offers boarding	On-site boarding, or family rentals nearby
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)	Skudai, Johor Bahru	Operating	Ten residential colleges; Taman Universiti and nearby estates
Southern University College	Skudai, Johor Bahru	Operating	Rooms and apartments in Skudai

Sources: NUMed, University of Reading Malaysia, University of Southampton Malaysia, EduCity Iskandar, Raffles American School, UTM and EMGS institution pages, accessed November 2026. Confirm intake dates and campus with the institution.

EduCity and Eco Botanic, Iskandar Puteri

EduCity is a shared campus off the Second Link Expressway in Iskandar Puteri. NUMed says its campus is about 1 km from the Gelang Patah interchange and 8 km from the Second Crossing to Singapore. Southampton is not at EduCity any more: it moved to a new campus in Eco Botanic in late 2021, which The Edge reported was formally launched in June 2022. Its student options are EcoNest and EduCity Village, both on a free shuttle, according to the university’s accommodation page.

For families, this side of JB also has international schools, Medini’s serviced apartments and the Second Link to Tuas. My Iskandar Puteri area guide covers prices and projects.

UTM and Southern University College, Skudai

UTM’s main campus is in Skudai, north-west of the city. It runs ten residential colleges and campus buses. Southern University College is also in Skudai. Around both, students rent rooms in older estates such as Taman Universiti and in condos along the Skudai corridor. My Skudai, Tampoi and Kempas guide covers the area, and there is a separate page for Taman Universiti.

One catch at UTM: for session 2026/2027, international students could apply for a college room only from 6 to 8 July 2026, and only if places remained after local students. Several blocks were closed for upgrading, and offers last one session. Plan for private housing as a backup.

What students pay: on-campus, rooms and whole units

Johor has no official student-rent index. The table combines published university rates with portal asking rents. These are asking figures, not agreed rents.

Option	Where	Price	Source and date
UTM residential college, international student	UTM, Skudai	RM10 to RM20 a day (roughly RM300 to RM600 a month); executive single RM30 a day	UTM 2026/2027 notice, June 2026
EcoNest Residence, NUMed students	Eco Botanic, near EduCity	RM319 to RM467 a week (about RM1,380 to RM2,020 a month); RM12,441 to RM18,213 for a 39-week undergraduate year	NUMed 2026/2027 price list
EduCity Village	EduCity	RM350 to RM1,100 a month by room type	Southampton Malaysia page, undated, accessed November 2026
Private room, Skudai	Skudai, near UTM and Southern UC	About RM350 to RM450 (basic single), RM550 to RM800 (master), RM800 to RM1,200 (studio-style)	SPEEDHOME Skudai guide, accessed November 2026
Private room, Iskandar Puteri side	Gelang Patah, Taman Nusantara, Bukit Indah	About RM260 to RM1,000; Bukit Indah RM450 to RM700	Mudah.my, 4 November 2026
Furnished studio	Medini and Eco Botanic	About RM1,800 to RM1,900 a month	EdgeProp, November 2026
3-bedroom condo	Iskandar Puteri (Medini, Nusa Sentral)	About RM2,500 to RM4,200 a month	Mudah.my and EdgeProp, November 2026
3-bedroom condo	Skudai	About RM1,700 to RM2,800 a month in priced listings	EdgeProp, November 2026 (small sample)

My conversions from daily and weekly rates. Across Johor, the first 40 of 1,689 room listings on Mudah.my had a median asking rent of RM700 on 4 November 2026. Portal samples change daily; a guide, not a valuation.

Purpose-built residences usually include utilities up to a cap, for example RM500 a month per unit at EcoNest for NUMed students, with any excess shared. A private room or flat usually adds electricity, water and internet, plus the usual deposits. My guide to renting in JB as a foreigner explains deposits and stamp duty.

Finding a place near campus?

Tell me the university, your budget and the start month. I’ll send rooms or units near the campus with their asking rents and deposits.

WhatsApp Jason

Furnished units: what to expect and what to check

Student housing in JB is almost always let furnished. University of Reading Malaysia lists all three of its recommended options as fully furnished, with a bed, wardrobe, desk, air-conditioning and internet. Private studios in Medini and Eco Botanic are mostly advertised the same way. Before you pay, check:

The inventory. Get a signed list with photos of every item, attached to the agreement. It protects the deposit at move-out.
Study basics. A real desk and chair, good light, reliable Wi-Fi and enough sockets.
Air-conditioning and water heater. Ask when the air-conditioner was last serviced and who pays for servicing.
What the rent includes. Utilities, internet, cleaning, laundry or shuttle. Hijauan Medini, for example, charges a separate RM300 a month for its weekday shuttle.
Room-sharing rules. In shared units, confirm who else lives there, house rules and how bills are split.
The agreement term. Match it to the academic year and ask for a clause covering an early end if your child changes course.

If you buy a unit for your child, furnish it simply and keep receipts. Simple furniture is easy to replace, and the unit is easier to let to the next student later.

Rent or buy? A guide for parents

Parents often ask whether buying a small unit beats paying rent for three to five years. It depends on how long you need it and who you are.

Foreign parents: the RM1 million floor and Medini

Price floor. Johor generally lets foreigners buy residential property only from RM1 million. Most studios and 2-bedroom condos near the campuses cost less, so they are out of reach (New Straits Times, April 2026). See my guide to Johor’s foreigner minimum price.
Medini exception. The same report says Medini, a few minutes’ drive from EduCity in Iskandar Puteri, is exempt from the floor. That makes Medini the usual starting point for foreign parents near EduCity. My Medini property guide lists the projects.
Resale limits. Foreign owners of units below RM1 million can generally resell only to Malaysians, which narrows the pool of buyers when your child graduates.
Higher costs. Since 1 January 2026, transfers of residential property to foreign buyers carry 8% stamp duty, and Johor state consent and a levy apply on top (November 2025).

Malaysian parents

Malaysians face no price floor, so a resale flat or terrace in Skudai is possible. IQI’s shared network listed 135 subsale homes in Skudai, Tampoi and Kempas at a median asking price of RM509,000 on 31 October 2026, with flats from under RM200,000. Some parents let the spare rooms to other students, but count on vacant months between academic years.

A simple rule of thumb

Situation	Usually better
Course of 3 years or less, one child	Rent a furnished room or studio
Medicine or a 4 to 5-year programme, or younger siblings following	Compare buying in Medini (foreigners) or Skudai (Malaysians) with renting
You want a family base in JB for weekends or later retirement	Buying can fit; choose the area for the family, not only the campus
You may need to sell soon after graduation	Rent; buying and selling costs eat into a short hold

My general view, not financial advice. Include stamp duty, legal fees, furnishing, maintenance fees and RPGT on a sale within five years.

Before you decide, run the numbers with my buying costs calculator and read the legal steps of buying in Johor and the RPGT guide.

Student pass basics

International students at Malaysian universities and colleges apply for a student pass through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), usually with the institution’s help. In brief:

Offer first. The online application can be made only after the student has an offer letter, and proof of English proficiency should be uploaded with it.
Processing. EMGS’s client charter is 14 working days for a complete application.
Passport. For a new application, the passport should be valid for at least 18 months.
On arrival. A post-arrival medical screening is compulsory, at an EMGS panel clinic or, for public universities, the campus clinic.
Renewal. The pass is usually valid for up to one year; EMGS recommends renewing as early as three months before expiry. Renewal expects a CGPA of at least 2.0 and 80% attendance, or an explanation letter from the institution.
Work. Students may work up to 20 hours a week during semester breaks, with prior Immigration Department approval.
Parents. Postgraduate students may apply for dependant passes for immediate family, including parents; undergraduates qualify only if they come from listed countries.

For a school-age child at Raffles American School or another international school, ask the school which pass applies to the child and to any accompanying parent. Parents who want to live in Malaysia long term can also look at MM2H: I coordinate with a MOTAC-licensed MM2H agent, and approval is decided by the authorities. Start with the MM2H eligibility checker.

Safety and getting around

Distance and transport matter more than the address when you choose a place for a student without a car.

Shuttles. EduCity residences run shuttles: an EcoWorld shuttle between EcoNest and EduCity, and the free bus Southampton lists for EcoNest and EduCity Village. Ask for the timetable, including evenings and weekends.
UTM campus buses. UTM runs buses inside the campus. Off-campus students in Taman Universiti and nearby estates usually rely on e-hailing, a motorbike or a lift, so test the trip at class times.
City buses. The BAS.MY 30-day unlimited pass was cut to RM30 in November 2025 and covers Johor Bahru. Check that a route stops near the home.
Arrival. NUMed meets international students at Senai International Airport and brings them to EcoNest. Ask your child’s institution whether it offers the same.
Building security. Prefer guarded buildings with access cards, CCTV and lit walkways. Student residences such as EcoNest and Hako Village advertise 24-hour security.
Late-night return. Walk the route from the bus stop or drop-off point after dark before you sign, and agree a check-in habit with your child.
Scams. Never pay a deposit before a viewing or a live video call, and pay traceably. If money is lost, call the National Scam Response Centre on 997. My guide to property scams in JB has more.

Where to rent or buy if this matters to you

Iskandar Puteri: EduCity, Eco Botanic, Puteri Harbour and the Second Link.
Medini: serviced apartments close to EduCity, and exempt from Johor’s RM1 million floor for foreign buyers.
Bukit Indah and Gelang Patah: cheaper rooms and family homes a short drive from EduCity.
Skudai, Tampoi and Kempas: UTM and Southern University College, with lower rents and resale prices.
Taman Universiti: an older estate near UTM with shops, a market and rooms for rent.
Mount Austin: east-side cafes and condos, a longer drive to either cluster.

Compare them on my JB property map.

More Johor living guides: Cost of living in JB · Best areas to live in JB · Renting in JB as a foreigner · Schools and family life in JB

Frequently asked questions

How much is student accommodation near UTM in Johor Bahru?

UTM’s 2026/2027 residential college rates for international students are RM10 to RM20 a day, roughly RM300 to RM600 a month, but rooms are offered only if places remain after local students. Private rooms in Skudai were commonly advertised at about RM350 to RM800 a month in November 2026.

Where do EduCity students usually live?

Most live in purpose-built residences such as EcoNest at Eco Botanic, Hako Village at EduCity or EduCity Village, or rent rooms and studios in Medini, Eco Botanic and Gelang Patah. NUMed’s 2026/2027 EcoNest rates are RM319 to RM467 a week, with utilities included up to a cap.

Can a foreign parent buy a condo in Johor for a child studying there?

Yes, but Johor generally sets a RM1 million minimum price for foreign buyers of residential property, and most student-area condos cost less. Medini in Iskandar Puteri, near EduCity, is exempt from that floor (New Straits Times, April 2026). State consent and 8% stamp duty for foreign buyers apply.

Is it better to rent or buy student housing in JB?

For a course of three years or less, renting is usually simpler and cheaper once buying costs are counted. Buying can make sense for a longer stay, for siblings who will follow, or for Malaysian parents who would keep the home afterwards. Run the numbers with a lawyer and a costs calculator first.

Do international students in Malaysia need a student pass?

Yes. Applications go through EMGS after the student has an offer letter. EMGS’s client charter is 14 working days for a complete application, the pass is usually valid for up to a year, and renewals can be filed up to three months before expiry.

Are student rentals in JB usually furnished?

Purpose-built student residences are furnished, and most studios and rooms marketed to students in Medini, Eco Botanic and Skudai are advertised as furnished. Whole houses and older apartments are often only partly furnished, so check the inventory before you pay a deposit.

Need a place near your child’s campus?

Tell me the university, the start month, your budget and whether you want to rent or buy. I will shortlist rooms or units near the campus with asking rents and deposits, check the agreement with you and, if you are thinking of buying, show you what foreigners can buy in Medini. You can book an appointment for viewings, or a Zoom consultation if you are still abroad.

Ask Jason on WhatsApp

Jason Lim, REN 84424, IQI Realty Sdn. Bhd. E (1) 1584/6. General information checked on 4 November 2026, not legal, tax, immigration or financial advice. University fees, rules and asking rents change; confirm with the institution, EMGS, the Immigration Department, your lawyer and the landlord before you commit.

Student housing near Johor Bahru universities (2026): where to rent or buy for your child