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 View
  • 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