Hi Jasperjones, 

Your assumption is right. The libmkl_VML_* library include both VML and VSL function (no libmkl_VSL * library) . So when you call VSL function, the library was needed.  

We introduced the symbol: mkl_serv_mkl_malloc in recent libmkl_VML library in MKL 10.2 version, that may why the error arise when you upgade to 10.2. But the symbol were defined in libmkl_core library

$ nm libmkl_core.so | grep mkl_serv_mkl_malloc
0000000000026e76 T mkl_serv_mkl_malloc

And in general, we always use the mkl libraries together. 
for example, 
$  ifort vslTest_main.F90 vslTest.F90 -lmkl_intel_lp64 -lmkl_intel_thread -lmkl_core -liomp5 

Thus, the symbol would be resolved automatically. 
So could you please check where your application or the matlab link the MKL library and in which way?  The key is to link to mkl_core library at the same time. 

Best Regards,
Ying