Founded by the community

Founded by the community for the community

We started out as a modest medical school with 23 students in 1905, founded by a determined group of businessmen led by Tan Jiak Kim, to serve the needs of the local community. Today, more than 100 years on, as Singapore’s flagship university, we continue to be in service of country and society. Learn more about our rich heritage and leaders of this institution.

History

	1905	The Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School is established.
	1913	The School is renamed King Edward VII Medical School, making it the first institution of higher learning in Singapore.
	1921	The status of the Medical School is elevated to become King Edward VII College of Medicine.
	1928	Raffles College is established to provide tertiary education in the arts and sciences.
	1949	Raffles College merges with King Edward VII College of Medicine to form the University of Malaya, the very first university for the people of Singapore and the Federation of Malaya.
	1955	Nanyang University, a privately funded Chinese university, opens its doors.
	1962	The Singapore campus of the University of Malaya becomes an autonomous institution known as the University of Singapore.
	1980	The National University of Singapore is established with the merger of the University of Singapore and Nanyang University.

1905

The Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School is established.

1913

The School is renamed King Edward VII Medical School, making it the first institution of higher learning in Singapore.

1921

The status of the Medical School is elevated to become King Edward VII College of Medicine.

1928

Raffles College is established to provide tertiary education in the arts and sciences.

1949

Raffles College merges with King Edward VII College of Medicine to form the University of Malaya, the very first university for the people of Singapore and the Federation of Malaya.

1955

Nanyang University, a privately funded Chinese university, opens its doors.

1962

The Singapore campus of the University of Malaya becomes an autonomous institution known as the University of Singapore.

1980

The National University of Singapore is established with the merger of the University of Singapore and Nanyang University.

Chancellors

National University of Singapore

2023 - Present
Tharman Shanmugaratnam
2017 - 2023
Halimah Yacob View
2011 - 2017
Tony Tan Keng Yam View
1999 - 2011
S R Nathan View
1993 - 1999
Ong Teng Cheong View
1985 - 1993
Wee Kim Wee View
1981 - 1985
C V Devan Nair View

University of Singapore / National University of Singapore

1971 - 1981
Benjamin Henry Sheares View
1965 - 1970
Yusof Bin Ishak View
1962 - 1965
Lee Kong Chian View

University of Malaya

1949 - 1961
Malcolm John MacDonald View

Vice Chancellors & Presidents

National University of Singapore

2018
Tan Eng Chye View
2008 - 2017
Tan Chorh Chuan View
2000 - 2008
Shih Choon Fong View
1981 - 2000
Lim Pin View
1980 - 1981
Tony Tan Keng Yam View

University of Singapore

1975 - 1980
Kwan Sai Kheong View
1968 - 1975
Toh Chin Chye View
1963 - 1967
Lim Tay Boh View
1962 - 1963
Baratham Ramaswamy Sreenivasan View

University of Malaya (Singapore Division)

1961 - 1962
Baratham Ramaswamy Sreenivasan View
1960 - 1961
Alexander Oppenheim View
1959 - 1960
Arthur Anantharaj Sandosham View

University of Malaya

1957 - 1962
Alexander Oppenheim View
1952 - 1956
Sydney Caine View
1949 - 1952
George V Allen View

Raffles College

1948 - 1949
George V Allen View
1946 - 1948
W E Dyer View
1938 - 1941
George McOwan View
1937 - 1938
Alexander Keir View
1935 - 1937
Frederick Joseph Morten View
1932 - 1934
James Watson View
1928 - 1931
Richard O Winstedt View

King Edward VII College of Medicine

1947 - 1949
Desmond William George Faris View
1929 - 1947
George V Allen View
1918 - 1929
George Hugh K MacAlister View
1909 - 1918
Robert Donald Keith View
1905 - 1909
Gerald Dudley Freer View

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