Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has a plan to build a RM120 million branch campus in Sandakan to cater for the need to expand higher learning education in the East Coast.

The off campus programme of UMS in Sandakan was started in 1996 by renting a building that belonged to Sabah Forestry Education Institute (formerly Sabah Forestry Training Institute). Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) the Sabah Government agreed to build the School of Agriculture facility in Sandakan that include hostels, a library, lecture halls and IT facilities.

The School of Agriculture, he said, would have three branches of studies, namely Livestock Production, Crop Production and Horticulture and Landscape.

UMS is also built new branches in other parts of Sabah such as Tawau similar to its branch in Labuan.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah has a mission to strives to achieve academic excellence in various fields by gaining international recognition through teaching and learning, research and publication, social services and a balanced specialization of knowledge and personality development of students resulting in high productivity and quality in the context of the society and the nation.

An education that is based upon the principle of the belief in God and in the development of students who are progressive, disciplined, integrated and balanced in their intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual outlook, and who will contribute towards the well being of the society and the nation.

Postgraduate and Undergraduate courses offered by the various schools of UMS :

> School Of Science And Technology

• Aquaculture • Biotechnology • Conservation Biology • Environmental Science • Geology • Industrial Chemistry • Marine Science* • Mathematics with Economics • Physics with Electronics • Plant Technology • Mathematics with Computer Graphics * These programmes are conducted by Borneo Marine Research Institute.

> School Of International Tropical Forestry

• International Tropical Forestry • Nature Parks and Recreation • Wood Fiber Technology and Industry • Plantation and Agro Forestry

> School Of Food Science And Nutrition

• Food Science and Nutrition • Food Technology and Bioprocessing

> School Of Engineering And Information Technology • Civil Engineering • Electrical and Electronic Engineering • Chemical Engineering • Mechanical Engineering • Computer Engineering • Software Engineering • System Management

> School Of Social Sciences

• History • Geography • Sociology and Anthropology • Communication • Industrial Relations • International Relations > School Of Psychology And Social Work

• Industrial and Organizational Psychology • Youth and Community Development • Counseling Psychology • Child and Family Psychology • Social Work

> School Of Education And Social Development

• Education with Science • Education with Social Science • Education with Economics • Education with TESL* • Sports Science * TESL = Teaching of English as a Second Language

• Music Studies • Creative Art Studies • Visual Arts Studies

> School Of Business And Economics

• International Business • Entrepreneurship • Finance Management and Banking • Hotel Management • Marketing • Accountancy • Economic Planning and Development • Monetary Economics • Human Resource Economics

> School Of Medicine

• Medicine

> School Of Sustainable Agriculture

• Horticulture and Landscape • Crop Production • Livestock production

> Labuan School Of International Business And Finance

• International Finance • Offshore and International Banking • International Marketing • International Financial Economics • Islamic Financial

> Labuan School Of Informatic Sciences

• Multimedia Technology • E-Commerce

Research Institutes  

• Borneo Marine Research Institute Research Focus

- Marine Conservation

- Physical Oceanography

- Marine Aquaculture

- Seaweed Farming

- Marine Biotechnology

- Mariculture (Seaweed)

DURATION OF STUDY

Masters Programme/Master of Philosophy
1. Full-time student is two (2) to six (6) semesters.
2. Part-time student is four (4) to ten (10) semesters.

Doctorate/Doctor of Philosophy Programme
1. Full-time student is six (6) to twelve (12) semesters.
2. Part-time student is eight (8) to fourteen (14) semesters.

TYPES OF PROGRAMMES

1 - The types of programmes offered include

(1) Thesis Preparation,

(2) Coursework and Research, and

(3) Coursework only.

2 - To qualify for the degree, a candidate must fulfill a minimum of 30 credit hours of thesis for the Masters/Master of Philosophy programme, and 60 credit hours of thesis for the Doctorate/Doctor of Philosophy, in addition to having passed all examinations.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Masters Programme/Master of Philosophy
a) Bachelor degree with Honors from any institution of higher learning recognized by the Senate; or

b) Other qualifications equivalent to the Bachelor degree and relevant experience recognized by the Senate

2. Doctorate/Doctor of Philosophy Programme
a) Masters degree from any institution of higher learning recognized by the Senate; or

b) Other qualifications equivalent to the Masters degree and relevant experience recognized by the Senate;

- Biosystematics and Biodiversity - Ecological Processes - Bioprospecting and Natural Product Chemistry - Nature Tourism - Taxonomy (Biosystematics) - Conservation Biology - Natural Resources

• Biotechnology Research Institute

- Molecular Biology - Microbiology - Environmental Conservation - Nutraceuticals - Pharmaceuticals - Plant Biotechnology - Marine Biotechnology - Food Biotechnology - Medical Biotechnology - Other areas in collaboration with relevant facilities and research centres

• Centre for Postgraduate Studies • Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning • Centre for Cocurriculum and Student Development • Centre for Management of Research and Conferences • Centre for Research and Entrepreneurial Development • Centre for Consultancy Services and Training • Centre for Natural Disaster Studies • Centre for Material and Minerals • Centre for Student Information Systems • Centre for Artificial Intelligence • Centre for Academic Advancement

• Centre for Rural Development and Education • Centre for Remote Sensing and GIS

• Psychology and Social Health Research Unit • Ethnography and Development Research Unit • Media and Education Technology Unit • UMS External Fund Management Unit

• Library

The general library is 20,000 square meters large with a collection of 200,000 books and increasing. In addition, the library also subscribes to more than 26 online databases (Digital Collection). These consist of about 320,389 journals, magazines, handbooks and proceedings. Besides the digital collection, the library also subscribes to 75 electronic journals.

• Co-Curriculum Facilities

Universiti Malaysia Sabah has an impressive sports complex. It caters for the recreational and sporting needs of students and staff alike. Facilities are available for tennis, soccer, rugby, netball, hockey, badminton, basketball, volleyball, racing, jogging, athletics and aerobics.

Bank facilities are available on campus. A branch of Bumiputra-Commerce Bank Berhad is located at the heart of the University and Maybank is located at "Kampung E" with ATM facilities.

• One Stop Centre (OSC)

The one Stop Centre (OSC) houses the academic, bursar and student affairs service counters under one roof to provide convenient and systematic services to students, It is strategically located near the bus-stop, lecture halls, bank, library, stationery outlets and cafeteria.

• Universiti Malaysia Sabah-Outdoor Development Centre (UMS-ODEC)

University Malaysia Sabah UMS-ODEC provides its clients with a variety of adventure-based experiential learning programmes for people to discover their true potential, to understand the real meaning of teamwork and to test their skills in leading and managing people in a 'real world' situation.