Established more than 7 decades ago, this prestigious university holds the title of the oldest university in Malaysia.
Started as a humble institution, this university is now renowned for its academic excellence and global recognition.
Curious to know what the oldest university in Malaysia is? Stick around to gain some interesting facts.
History of The Oldest University in Malaysia
The University of Malaya (UM) is the oldest public university in Malaysia.
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The University of Malaysia was established in 1949 through merging King Edward VII College of Medicine (founded in 1905) and Raffles College (founded in 1928) in Singapore.
What started as a humble institution with campuses in both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, the university played a role in the development of higher education in the region.
In 1959, the Kuala Lumpur campus was developed to accommodate the high demand for higher education in Malaya.
Following the political separation of Malaysia and Singapore in 1962, the Kuala Lumpur campus became the official University of Malaya, while the Singapore campus evolved into the National University of Singapore (NUS).
University of Malaya (UM) Campus
Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the University of Malaya spreads over a huge land, with rich greenery and modern facilities that reflect its academic prestige and cultural significance.
Over time, the campus has grown into a leading institution in Southeast Asia, with a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in various faculties, including Medicine, Engineering, Law, and the Arts.
Academic Excellence at The Oldest University in Malaysia
The University of Malaya embraces 12 academic faculties and several research centers.
The faculties and centers offer diverse academic programmes such as medicine, engineering, arts, law, social sciences, and more.
A strong proof that The University of Malaya boosts academic excellence is its consistent high rankings in regional and global schemes.
For instance, in 2023, UM ranked the top university in Malaysia. UM also ranked in the top 100 universities in the world according to QS World University Rankings.
Check out the current ranking of UM on the official page of QS World University Rankings.
Student Life at The Oldest University in Malaysia
Student life at UM is supported by a wide variety of facilities that boost the academic pursuits and personal well-being of the students.
Some of these well-designed facilities include:
Student Accommodation: Accommodation is available on campus, offering comfortable living and a sense of student community.
Sports Arenas: The campus is equipped with sports facilities, such as the UM Arena, hosting an equipped gym, swimming pool, football pitches, and courts for basketball, tennis, and badminton.
Student Societies: UM runs about 80 student clubs and societies.
These clubs and societies capture the interests of students and allows them to practice creativity and task management.
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The Oldest Private University in Malaysia
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Taylor's University, established in 1969, holds the title of being thre oldest private university in Malaysia.
Originally founded as a college offering pre-university programs, it has grown into a university.
Since then, Taylor’s has risen to become the top private university in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, ranking 41st in the QS Asia University Rankings for 2024.
Looking to Join the Oldest Private University in Malaysia?
It is totally understandable that Taylor’s University attracts students from all over the world looking to pursue their higher education.
If you are one of those students, we encourage you to connect with us at YourUni Educational Consultancy.
We will guide you to know more about the university programmes, application procedures and all else you need.
Chat with our educational consultants and they will be with you step-by-step throughout your search.
