At least 15 people were killed when a bus carrying university students smashed into a minivan in northern Malaysia early on Monday, local rescue services said.

Thirteen people died at the scene near the Thai border, on the busy East-West Highway, while two died in hospital.

Thirty-one others were injured.

"The bus overturned and the minivan slid into a ditch," the Perak state disaster management authority said.

"Some victims managed to get out on their own, some victims were thrown out while others were still [trapped] in the bus," the statement added.

The bus was carrying students from the Sultan Idris Education University, north of Kuala Lumpur, when it collided with the minivan at around 1 am on Monday.

Rescue services said a hydraulic cutter was needed to rescue and retrieve some of the victims in the bus. (AFP)