Teaser: Kuala Lumpur Guide!
This ain’t just another Asian city — it’s a full-on fever dream.
Think 3AM noodles, rooftop sunsets over the Petronas Towers, and weekend getaways to Bali for under €100. KL is loud, cheap, chaotic — and kinda magical. You won’t plan to fall in love with it… but you will.
🏠 Housing (Preview)
One spot felt like a student family with BBQs on the rooftop. Another was walking distance to the twin towers and had insane city views.
We break it all down: Coliv@Damai, hidden gems, where to live if you want peace, where to be if you want chaos.
“Staff was adorable. Events every week. Felt like home in a second.” — Charlotte, UM
“Only had class twice a week, so 1-hour commute was chill.” — Ilona, UM
📚 Uni Life
Want to surf Southeast Asia while still passing exams? KL’s uni life is chill, flexible, and travel-friendly.
We drop the best courses to pick (and the one to skip 👀), the difference between UM and UniKL, and how to plan your week like a boss.
“Campus was peaceful, but say yes to everything if you want a social life.” — Charlotte, UM
“Supply Chain and Tourism at UniKL were super hands-on.” — Marguerite, UniKL
🎉 Going Out
KL goes hard and high — rooftop bars, helipad parties, wild clubs at TREC.
We show you where to dance until sunrise, where to sip cocktails above the skyline, and which bars are expat-approved.
Heli Lounge, Pisco, Kyo, TREC… if you know, you know.
Warning: Some students got ear pain from the volume 😵 (yes, really).
✈️ Travel Life
KL is a gateway to everything:
Jungle hikes? ✅
Island beaches? ✅
Thailand, Vietnam, Bali? ✅✅✅
We’ll show you how to escape every weekend — even on a broke student budget.
“Took night buses to the islands, booked flights for €50. It’s way too easy.” — Eulalie, UM
Student Reviews
University of Malaya
🇲🇾 Exchange in Kuala Lumpur
🏠 Housing
I stayed at Coliv@Damai and would 100% do it again. I paid around €390/month for a private room in a 6-person flat. The vibe? Social without being chaotic. We had a rooftop with beanbags and skyline views, weekly BBQs organized by the staff, and common spaces that made it easy to meet people (especially during predrinks). It’s not next to campus, but it’s walking distance from the Petronas Towers — and that view never gets old.
🚗 Getting to Campus
Grab rides were about €3 and took 30–40 minutes depending on traffic. But honestly, I only had class twice a week, so it was never a problem. I grouped my classes to leave the rest of the week open for travel and chill.
✈️ Travel Life
KL is a travel jackpot. I spent weekends hopping between Penang, Taman Negara, and Perhentian Islands. Flights to Bali and Vietnam were cheaper than my train to Paris back home. Also: Malaysian buses are super comfy and night routes save on hotel nights.
🎉 Social Life
Coliv made it so easy to make friends. The building had a mix of students, remote workers, and young locals — we’d hang out on the rooftop or hit TREC for clubs, Heli Lounge for drinks with views, or just grab street food at Jalan Alor. I met most of my close friends the first week just by hanging out in the kitchen.
📚 Classes
I chose “Effective Oral Communication” and “Social Engagement” — both in English, project-based, and low stress. It gave me max flexibility to travel and still get my credits. Profs were friendly and used to exchange students.
🦙 Other
Download Grab, get a local SIM, and don’t overpack — you’ll live in flip-flops and oversized tees. KL is chaotic, spicy, and weird in the best way. If you want city energy with island escapes on the side, this is your spot.
🇲🇾 Exchange in Kuala Lumpur
🏠 Housing
I booked a room through Komune Living, another coliving spot like Coliv. It was slightly pricier (€530/month), but had a gym, rooftop pool, and shared kitchen where we always ended up cooking together or doing predrinks. I lived near Bangsar, a chill area with cafés and local food, less touristy, more real.
🚗 Getting to Campus
About 35 minutes door-to-door using Grab. I only had class on Mondays and Wednesdays, so I planned everything around that. Pro tip: set up a Grab Wallet to get bonus discounts, saved me like 30% over time.
✈️ Travel Life
Every Thursday night I packed my bag. Friday = off to Langkawi, Cameron Highlands, or even Thailand. Took a sleeper bus to Penang for €6, and a roundtrip to Bangkok for €85. KL is the travel cheat code of Southeast Asia.
🎉 Social Life
Met people through housing and group chats. We’d hit Pisco on Fridays, Zouk on Saturdays, and do night markets midweek. Food stalls at Jalan Alor turned into our unofficial post-party spot, $1 fried noodles at 3AM hits different.
📚 Classes
I took “Public Speaking” and “Social Engagement.” Chill professors, group projects, no heavy exams. Perfect combo for max freedom. Some local students were shy at first, but super warm once you talked to them.
🦙 Other
KL’s rhythm is addictive, it’s noisy, spicy, humid, and full of contrast. I came for the credits, stayed for the chaos. If you’re the type to say yes to last-minute plans, this place will treat you well.