View source for University of Malaya

{{Short description|Public university in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia}}
{{Academic booster|date=August 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Universiti Malaya
 | native_name            = {{nobold|{{native name|en|University of Malaya}}}} <br> اونيۏرسيتي ملايا ([[Jawi alphabet|Jawi]]) <br> {{nobold|{{native name|zh|馬來亞大學}}}} <br> {{nobold|{{native name|ta|மலாயா பல்கலைக்கழகம்}}}}
 | former_name            = [[King Edward VII College of Medicine]] <br> Raffles College <br> University of Malaya in Singapore
 | image_name             = 
 | image_size             = 
 | caption                = 
 | motto                  = Ilmu Puncha Kemajuan (Malay)
 | mottoeng               = ''Knowledge is the Source of Progress''
 | established            = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1905|9|28}}<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.um.edu.my/about-um/our-history|title=Our History|website=um.edu.my|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908055311/http://um.edu.my:80/about-um/our-history|archivedate=2017-09-08|access-date=25 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="malaysiacentral.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.malaysiacentral.com/information-directory/university-of-malaya-the-oldest-university-in-malaysia/#sthash.QperHYtQ.dpbs|title=University of Malaya – The oldest university in Malaysia |date=6 June 2008|website=Malaysia Central |access-date=25 September 2017}}</ref>
 | type                   = [[Public university|Public]] [[research university]]
 | affiliation            = 
 | endowment              = [[Malaysian ringgit|MYR]]633 million (2021)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.um.edu.my/images/Laporan-Tahunan-Universiti-Malaya-2021_unlocked.pdf |page=339 |title=Financial Report 2021 |publisher = Universiti Malaya |date = 2021}}</ref><br /> (US$135 million)
 | chancellor             = [[Nazrin Shah of Perak]]
 | vice_chancellor        = Dato' Seri Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman
 | head_label             = Pro-Chancellors
 | head                   = {{Plainlist|Toh Puan Dato' Seri Dr. Hajah Aishah Ong <br /> Tan Sri Datuk Zainun Ali <br /> [[Ramli Ngah Talib|Tan Sri Dato' Seri Diraja Ramli Ngah Talib]]}}
 | students               = 36,444 (September 2024)<ref name="fact-sheet">{{cite web|url=https://www.um.edu.my/about-um/um-fact-sheet|title=UM Fact Sheet|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418045133/http://www.um.edu.my/about-um/um-fact-sheet|archivedate=2018-04-18|website=um.edu.my}}</ref>
 | undergrad              = 19,134 (September 2024)<ref name="fact-sheet"/>
 | postgrad               = 17,310 (September 2024)<ref name="fact-sheet"/>
 | address                = Universiti Malaya, 50603
 | city                   = [[Kuala Lumpur]]
 | state                  = 
 | province               = 
 | country                = [[Malaysia]]
 | coor                   = {{coord|3|07|15|N|101|39|23|E|region:MY_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
 | colours                = [[Red (colour)|Red]], [[Gold (colour)|gold]] and [[Blue (colour)|blue]]<br />{{color box|#ff0000}} {{color box| #FCC200}} {{color box|#0000FF}}
 | website                = {{URL|https://www.um.edu.my/}}
 | logo                   = File:University of Malaya logo.svg
 | footnotes              = 
 | affiliations           = [[Association of Commonwealth Universities|ACU]], [[Association of Pacific Rim Universities|APRU]], [[Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning|ASAIHL]], [[ASEAN University Network|AUN]], [[Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World|FUIW]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fuiw.org/universities.php?l%3D1%26p%3D1%26cc%3Dmy |title=Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World |access-date=16 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050126075634/http://www.fuiw.org/universities.php?l=1&p=1&cc=my |archive-date=26 January 2005 }}</ref> [http://apucen.usm.my/ APUCEN], [[University Alliance in Talent Education Development|UAiTED]]
}}

The '''Universiti Malaya''' ({{Literal translation|'''University of Malaya'''}}; abbreviated '''UM''') is a [[public university|public]] [[research university]] located in [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Malaysia]]. It is the oldest Malaysian institution of higher education,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2019/world-ranking|title=World University Rankings|date=2018-09-26|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|language=en|access-date=2019-05-11}}</ref><ref name="QSUM">{{Cite web |title=Universiti Malaya (UM) |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/universiti-malaya-um |access-date=31 July 2018 |publisher=QS Top Universities}}</ref> and was the only university in newly independent Malaya.<ref name="Success stories">{{cite news|url=https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2021/11/743311/learning-universiti-malayas-success-stories|title=Learning from Universiti Malaya's success stories|work=[[The New Straits Times]]|date=8 November 2021|accessdate=4 May 2022}}</ref>

The predecessor of the university, [[King Edward VII College of Medicine]], was established on 28 September 1905 in Singapore, then a territory of the [[British Empire]]. In October 1949, the merger of the King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College created the university. Rapid growth during its first decade caused the university to organise as two autonomous divisions on 15 January 1959, one located in Singapore and the other in Kuala Lumpur. In 1960, the governments of [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] and Singapore indicated that these two divisions should become autonomous and separate national universities. One branch was located in Singapore, becoming the [[University of Singapore]] (merging into the National University of Singapore in 1980) after the independence of Singapore from Malaysia, and the other branch was located in Kuala Lumpur, retaining the name ''Universiti Malaya''. Legislation was passed in 1961 and the Universiti Malaya was established on 1 January 1962.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.um.edu.my/about-um/um-fact-sheet|title=UM Fact Sheet|last=humans.txt|website=um.edu.my|access-date=23 July 2018|archive-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720175856/http://www.um.edu.my/about-um/um-fact-sheet|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/nusbiodata/history.htm |title=Our Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors : A biographical sketch : NUS History |access-date=2017-04-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620012218/http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/nusbiodata/history.htm |archive-date=20 June 2016 }}</ref><ref name="malaysiacentral.com"/> In 2012, UM was granted autonomy by the [[Ministry of Higher Education (Malaysia)|Ministry of Higher Education]].<ref>{{cite web|last=AMINUDDIN|first=MOHSIN|title=UM set for autonomy|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/23/nation/10314089&sec=nation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126040711/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/23/nation/10314089&sec=nation|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2012|work=The Star|access-date=10 February 2012}}</ref> The university also collaborated with the [[University of Wales]] in 2013 to establish [[International University of Malaya-Wales|International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW)]], a private university in Malaysia.

Today, UM has more than 2,300 faculty members<ref name="fact-sheet"/> and is divided into fourteen faculties, two academies, three institutes and two academic centres.

== History ==
[[File:University of Malaya - UM Letters.jpg|thumb|The Universiti Malaya is commonly referred to as "UM"]]

===King Edward VII College of Medicine===
{{main|King Edward VII College of Medicine}}
The establishment of the university began with the issue of a shortage of medical assistants in [[Singapore]] and [[Penang]] during the late 1890s.{{r|Khoo|r={{cite book |last=Khoo |first=Kay Kim |title=100 Years: The University of Malaya |year=2005 |publisher=University of Malaya Press |location=Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |isbn=983-100-323-3 }}|pp=1–2}} The problem was addressed in a report published by the Education Commission in April 1902. The report stated that the commission was in favour of establishing a medical school to fulfil the demand for medical assistants in government hospitals. However, such a view was not in favour among the European community.{{r|Khoo|pp=3–4}}

Legislation was passed by the [[Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements|Straits Legislative Council]] in June 1905 under Ordinance No. XV 1905. The school opened on 3 July 1905 and began functioning in September. On 28 September 1905, Sir [[John Anderson (colonial administrator)|John Anderson]] officiated the school under the name 'The Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School.'{{r|Khoo|p=6}}
[[File:Malaya University Faculty of Laws Building.jpg|thumb|Faculty of Laws Building]]
The school was located in the old Female Lunatic Asylum near the [[Singapore General Hospital]] at Sepoy Lines off [[New Bridge Road]], where four of the asylum buildings were converted into a medical school. In 1907, a lecture hall and laboratory were added. There was no library and room to keep pathological specimens.{{r|Khoo|p=6}}

In 1905, there were 17 medical students, four students attending the hospital assistant course. Five years later, the enrolments increased to 90 medical students and 30 trainee hospital assistants. The school had only one permanent staff, which was the Principal; the teaching staff were employed on a part-time basis. The Principal was Dr Gerald Dudley Freer, who previously served as Senior Colonial Surgeon Resident of Penang.{{r|Khoo|pp=6–9}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Cheah |first=Jin Seng |author2=TM Ho |author3=BY Ng |title=Annals Academy of Medicine|url=http://www.annals.edu.sg/pdf/34VolNo6200506/V34N6p19C.pdf |series=6 |volume=34 |date= July 2005 |publisher=National University of Singapore |location=Singapore  |pages=19C |chapter=The First Graduates in 1910}}</ref>

The School Council wanted to gain recognition of its Diploma by the [[General Medical Council|General Council of Medical Education]] in the United Kingdom to ensure that the Licentiate of Medicine and Surgery Diploma offered by the school would gain worldwide recognition. In 1916, the GCME recognised the Licentiate of Medicine and Surgery Diploma offered by the school. The licentiates were placed on the General Council's Colonial List of the British Medical Register and were entitled to practise anywhere within the [[British Empire]].{{r|Khoo|p=10}}

[[File:Tan Teck Guan Building, Aug 07.JPG|thumb|upright=1|left|[[Tan Teck Guan Building]]]]

In 1910, Dr Robert Donald Keith became the second Principal of the School. The first two years of the five-year course were devoted to pure science studies. Physics, biology, and chemistry were taught in the first year, followed by physiology and elementary anatomy in the second year. The remaining three years were attachment to clinical clerkships in medicine, surgery, and midwifery, which covered pathology, hygiene, and medical jurisprudence. [[Materia Medica]] was integrated into the fourth year, where practical pharmacy was taught.{{r|Khoo|p=7}}

Students were posted to several hospitals, initially at the Singapore General Hospital. From 1908 onwards, attachments were made to [[Tan Tock Seng Hospital]] (for medicine and surgery) and [[Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital|Kandang Kerbau Maternity Hospital]] (for midwifery).{{r|Khoo|p=7}}

[[File:Fakulti Bahasa & Linguistik UM 2021 mural.jpg|thumb|upright|Artwork on The Faculty of Languages and Linguistics building]]

In 1912, the medical school received a [[financial endowment|endowment]] of $120,000 from the [[King Edward VII]] Memorial Fund, started by Dr [[Lim Boon Keng]]. Subsequently, on 18 November 1913, the name of the school was changed to the King Edward VII School of Medicine.{{r|Khoo|pp=11–12}}

In the first batch of 16 students of 1905, only seven made it to the final and graduated in May 1910, while the remaining six students graduated four months later, and others resigned from the school. In 1919, the drop-out rate had risen to 35%, while in 1939 the number of students who failed in their final examinations stood at 44%.{{r|Khoo|p=10}}

At this time, a hostel was built to accommodate 72 male students from the Federated Malay States.

In 1921, the school was elevated in status to a college. Between 1920 and 1930, the college went through a series of transformations, by replacing the old teaching staff with a younger generation of professionals and also nine new Chairs were created, the first in Anatomy in 1920, followed by Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery & Gynaecology in 1922 and Clinical Surgery, Bacteriology, Biology, Bio-Chemistry, and Dental Surgery in 1926. And the tenth chair for Pathology was created in 1935.{{r|Khoo|pp=12–14}}

In 1923, the college's new building at [[Outram, Singapore|Outram Road]] was commenced. It was completed in November 1925 and officially opened by Sir [[Laurence Guillemard]] in February 1926. During the opening ceremony, the college conferred Honorary Diplomas on Sir [[David James Galloway]], Dr [[Malcolm Watson]] and Dr [[Lim Boon Keng]].{{r|Khoo|p=14}}

In 1929, [[George Vance Allen|Dr George V. Allen]], the new principal, took the helm, succeeding his predecessor, Dr MacAlister.

===Raffles College===
The establishment of Raffles College was a brainchild of Sir Stamford Raffles and Dr Robert Morison. Sir Stamford had some knowledge of the Malay language and culture, while Morison was a distinguished Sinologist missionary. Both men wanted to establish a centre dedicated to the study of Malays and Chinese at the tertiary level.{{r|Khoo|p=23}}

On 5 June 1823, a site designated for an educational institution had its foundation stone laid by Sir Stamford. Soon after that, Raffles left for England and Morrison left for China, thus the establishment of the school never happened. The school building was revived as an English school named the [[Raffles Institution (Secondary)|Raffles Institution]].{{r|Khoo|p=23}}

[[File:University of Malaya Library Building.jpg|thumb|left|Library Building]]

In 1918, Sir [[William George Maxwell]], the Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements, chaired the Maxwell Committee to review the scheme to commemorate the centenary of the founding of Singapore by Sir Stamford. The committee members were [[Roland Braddell]], [[A.W. Still]], [[Seah Ling Seah]], Dr [[Lim Boon Keng]], [[Mohammed Yusoff bin Mohammed]], [[N.V. Samy]], and [[Mannesseh Meyer]].  The working committee, headed by H.W. Firmstone, recommended the establishment of a college for tertiary education to commemorate the centenary founding of Singapore.{{r|Khoo|p=25}} On 12 July 1919, the Government decided to undertake the construction of the building with a cost not more than $1,000,000 and would contribute $50,000 as annual recurrent expenditure as soon as the Centenary Committee had collected $2,000,000 for the Raffles College Endowment Fund. On 31 August 1920, the committee had achieved the figure, amounting to $2,391,040.{{r|Khoo|p=26}} On 31 May 1920, [[Richard Olaf Winstedt]] was appointed as the Acting Principal of Raffles College. The course offered was on a three-year basis. The establishment of the school was seen far more systematically compared to the King Edward VII Medical College. The school was situated at a site called the Economic Gardens and was designed by [[Cyril Farey]] and Graham Dawbarn. And the construction took place in 1926.{{r|Khoo|p=27}}

Following the completion of the first hostel, [[Raffles College]] was opened informally to students on 12 June 1928.<ref name="singaporefp-1928.07.05">{{cite news |title=Raffles College: Progress of Building Operations – Forty-three Students |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19280705-1.2.57 |work=Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser |date=5 July 1928 |page=9 |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref> Of the first 43 students, nine were private students, and the rest were government-funded; there were two women among this first cohort.<ref name="singaporefp-1928.07.05"/> On 22 July 1929, Raffles College was formally established. Its students studied either arts or sciences and graduated with a diploma after three years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ling |first1=Guay Ee |last2=Tang |first2=Joanna H. S. |title=Raffles College |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1797_2011-03-15.html |website=Singapore Infopedia |publisher=[[National Library Board]] |access-date=12 May 2022 |date=2016}}</ref> Science students were permitted to use the labs of the King Edward VII College.<ref name="singaporefp-1928.07.05"/> Four years later, the College Council proposed changes in the curriculum so that the Diploma could be furthered to a Degree through external examinations in collaboration with universities in England.

In 1937, Sir [[Shenton Thomas]] declared the college would have a full-time principal. The college had its fourth principal, [[Alexander Keir]], succeeding [[Frederick Joseph Morten]]. By 1939, war was waged in Europe and had put a halt to the development of the college. The war in Europe came to Asia, and Singapore was invaded by the [[Japanese invasion of Singapore|Japanese]] in February 1942.

After the war, the school was reopened, and W.E. Dyer was the principal. The future of Raffles College was uncertain until 1948 when [[George Vance Allen|Dr George V. Allen]] (later Sir), who was formerly the principal of King Edward VII Medical College, posted as the last principal of Raffles College. The college was amalgamated with the former to establish a university for the Malays.

===Universiti Malaya (1949–1962)===
[[File:Evolution of the University of Malaya.png|thumb|left|The evolution of the Universiti Malaya]]

In 1938, the government appointed a commission under the chairmanship of [[William McLean (civil servant)|Sir William McLean]] to study the higher education potential and progress in Malaya. The Commission concluded that Malaya was not ready to have a university and that a university college would be more suitable.

In 1943, [[Oliver Stanley]], the [[Secretary of State for the Colonies]], appointed a commission of inquiry chaired by [[Cyril Asquith, Baron Asquith of Bishopstone|Cyril Asquith]] to consider the development of higher education in the colonies across the British Empire.<ref>{{Cite Hansard |title=Colonial Affairs |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1943-07-13/debates/8aaa9fbf-b24f-4bcb-9383-bbced70def96/ColonialAffairs#contribution-5407191f-bd56-4551-808e-56e33b50e7d8 |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |house=House of Commons |date=13 July 1943 |column=51 |access-date=28 April 2022}}</ref> The Asquith Commission, reporting in 1945, endorsed the McLean Commission's recommendations for Malaya.<ref>{{Cite book |author=[[Colonial Office]] |title=Report of the Commission on Higher Education in the Colonies |date=June 1945 |publisher=HM Stationery Office |location=London |id=Cmd. 6647 |url=https://www.bcn.cl/catalogo/detalle_libro?bib=213787 |access-date=27 April 2022 |via=[[Library of Congress of Chile]]}}</ref>

In 1946, [[Raymond Priestley]], the Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham University and member of the previous Asquith Commission, was invited by the British Malaya Government to visit and discuss the application of the Asquith Commission's recommendations to Singapore and Malaya.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Talks About University |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitsbudget19460905-1.2.20 |access-date=28 April 2022 |work=Straits Budget |location=Singapore |date=5 September 1946 |page=7 |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Higher Education: Report Tomorrow |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/morningtribune19460912-1.2.17 |access-date=28 April 2022 |work=Morning Tribune |location=Singapore |date=12 September 1946 |page=2 |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref> Priestley again recommended the establishment of a university college as a first step.<ref>{{cite news |title=University College for Malaya |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/freepress19460914-1.2.45 |access-date=28 April 2022 |work=Singapore Free Press |date=14 September 1946 |page=5 |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Raffles to Be University College?: Dr Priestley's Warning to Move 'Fairly Fast' |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19460914-1.2.56 |access-date=28 April 2022 |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |date=14 September 1946 |page=5 |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Degrees Instead of Diplomas |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19460916-1.2.45 |access-date=28 April 2022 |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |date=16 September 1946 |page=4 |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref>

In January 1947, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, now Arthur Creech Jones, appointed Alexander Carr-Saunders, Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders, to chair a commission determining the details of establishing a university college in Malaya.<ref>{{Cite Hansard |title=Higher Education |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1947-01-29/debates/3810b096-cee9-4549-801a-8d86a9b3d7d7/HigherEducation |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |house=House of Commons |date=29 January 1947 |access-date=26 April 2022}}</ref> In March of the same year, the other members of the commission were announced, and George Allen, principal of King George VII College, was appointed principal-designate of the planned university college.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dr Allen to Head New College |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19470315-1.2.9 |access-date=28 April 2022 |work=The Straits Times |date=15 March 1947 |location=Singapore |page=1 |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Higher Education Commission to Plan University College of Malaya |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/indiandailymail19470317-1.2.48 |access-date=28 April 2022 |work=Indian Daily Mail |date=17 March 1947 |location=Singapore |page=4 |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref> Carr-Saunders listened to the thoughts of the alumni association and students' union of King Edward VII College; he was impressed with the ideas of the president of the students' union, [[Kanagaratnam Shanmugaratnam]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Low |first1=S. W. |last2=Gan |first2=W. T. |last3=Tan |title=A Century of Medical Students' Activities (Medical College Union/Medical Society) |journal= Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore|date=2005 |volume=34 |issue=6 |pages=152C–154C |doi=10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.V34N6p152C |pmid=16010398 |url=https://annals.edu.sg/a-century-of-medical-students-activities-medical-college-union-medical-society/ |access-date=28 April 2022|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Remembering Emeritus Professor K. Shanmugaratnam |url=https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/remembering-emeritus-professor-k-shanmugaratnam/ |website=NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine |publisher=National University of Singapore |access-date=28 April 2022 |date=30 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last2=Zaccheus |first2=Melody |author1=Ng Keng Gene |title=Founder of Singapore Cancer Registry K. Shanmugaratnam dies aged 97 |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/founder-of-singapore-cancer-registry-k-shanmugaratnam-dies-aged-97 |access-date=28 April 2022 |work=The Straits Times |date=30 July 2018 |location=Singapore}}</ref> In 1948, the Carr-Saunders Commission recommended the immediate establishment of a full university, bypassing the intermediate step of a university college recommended by previous commissions.<ref>{{Cite Hansard |title=Malaya |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/1948-11-10/debates/ccabf301-5cc6-4612-9e54-3e842f648179/Malaya |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |house=House of Lords |date=10 November 1948 |access-date=26 April 2022}}</ref>

[[File:University of Malaya City View.jpg|thumb|A view of several nearby office buildings from the centre of the UM's campus]]

As a result, the institution named the Universiti Malaya was chartered under the Carr-Saunders Commission in 1949. The formation of the Universiti Malaya on 8 October 1949 in Bukit Timah Campus (Former site of Raffles College), Singapore came from the merger of King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College, which had been established in 1905 and 1929, respectively.<ref>{{Cite report |title=Federation of Malaya: Annual Report 1957 |date= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MksgAQAAMAAJ |issue= |doi= |volume= |pmid= |access-date=2024-11-27 |publisher=[[The Stationery Office]] |page=258 |language=English}}</ref>

In the Carr-Saunders Commission's report in 1949, it was stated that "the university shall act as a single medium of mingle for enhancing the understanding among the multi-ethnics and religions in the back of Malaya. The University too should be modelled after the tertiary education in the United Kingdom of Great Britain in terms of academic system and administration structure".{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The Carr-Saunders Commission postulates "the principle that all children who show the necessary capacity should enjoy an equal chance of reaching the University; and, in particular, that no able child should be handicapped in climbing the educational ladder by race, religion, rural domicile, or lack of means."{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

In 1959, the university was divided into two autonomous campuses, one in Singapore, known as '''University of Malaya in Singapore''', and the other in Kuala Lumpur ('''Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur''').

===Universiti Malaya (re-established 1962)===
[[File:Universiti Malaya KL gate.jpg|thumb|A view of the UM's Kuala Lumpur gate from the road]]

In 1961, the governments of Malaysia and Singapore passed laws to split the Universiti Malaya into two national universities. As a result, on 1 January 1962, the Universiti Malaya was re-established on the 309-hectare campus in Kuala Lumpur, retaining its original name and becoming the only university in the post-independent Malaya.<ref name="Success stories"/> The Bukit Timah campus in Singapore became the University of Singapore (today theNational University of Singapore).

On 16 June 1962, the newly independent university in Kuala Lumpur celebrated the installation of its first [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]], [[Tunku Abdul Rahman]], Malaysia's first [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Prime Minister]]. The first [[Vice-Chancellor]] was former Dean of Arts, [[Alexander Oppenheim|Sir Alexander Oppenheim]], the mathematician who formulated the [[Oppenheim conjecture]] in 1929.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-sir-alexander-oppenheim-1289007.html |work=[[The Independent]] |title=Obituary: Sir Alexander Oppenheim |date=15 December 1997 |first=Richard |last=Greenfield |accessdate=11 March 2021}}</ref> When Oppenheim left in 1965 with no successor in sight, [[Rayson Huang]] who later became the Vice Chancellor of Nanyang University, Singapore in 1969 and in 1972 went on to become the first Asian Vice-Chancellor of the [[University of Hong Kong]],<ref>University of Hong Kong: [http://www.hku.hk/convocat/newsletter/web_0101/con_huang.htm A Lifetime of Memories – Dr Rayson Huang Book Launch] (retrieved 11 June 2008)</ref> was asked to take over as the Acting Vice-Chancellor. He served in that capacity for 12 months but declined reappointment to return to academic pursuits.<ref>{{cite book |last=Huang |first=Rayson |author-link=Rayson Huang |title=A Lifetime in Academia: An Autobiography by Rayson Huang |year=2000 |publisher=Hong Kong University Press |location=Hong Kong, China |isbn=962-209-518-6 |pages=81–83 |chapter=A New University in a New Country }}</ref>

[[Chin Fung Kee]], an authority in [[geotechnical engineering]],<ref>Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society: [http://www.seags.ait.ac.th/history.htm A Brief History of the SEAGS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420071113/http://www.seags.ait.ac.th/history.htm |date=20 April 2008 }}</ref> replaced Huang as Acting Vice-Chancellor until the university filled the position in 1967 by the appointment of [[James H.E. Griffiths]]. A distinguished physicist and a fellow of [[Magdalen College, Oxford]], Griffiths was also the former head of [[Clarendon Laboratory]] of [[University of Oxford]], and one of the discoverers of [[ferromagnetic resonance]].

UM remained Malaysia's primary public university until 1 June 1969, when the nation's second public university – [[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] was established in [[Gelugor]] on [[Penang Island]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ideas.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-History-of-University-Autonomy-in-Malaysia-.pdf|title=The History of University Autonomy in Malaysia|author=Chang Da Wan|publisher=Institute For Democracy and Economic Affairs}}</ref>

On 1 March 1997, UM became the first university in Malaysia to be corporatised, in a move intended by the Federal Government to decentralise and transform public universities to become more effective and competitive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ceROAAAAIBAJ&dq=university+corporatisation+march&pg=PA17&article_id=4290,3138136|title=Commitment to produce high achievers|date=8 October 1999|author=Hanizah Hashim|publisher=[[New Straits Times]]}}</ref>

==Coat of arms==
[[File:The University of Malaya Silver Mace.jpg|thumb|The Universiti Malaya Silver Mace]]
The UM's coat of arms was designed under a council established in 1961, chaired by Tan Sri Y.C. Foo. The members of the committee involved in the design were the chairman of the council, Y.C. Foo, Professor A. Oppenheim (the vice-chancellor) and Professor Ungku Aziz (later regius professor). The coat of arms was officially chartered in April 1962 by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the university's first chancellor.{{r|Khoo|p=ii}}

The coat of arms is divided into two parts, namely the chief (upper part) and the base (the remainder). The chief is a bundle of seventeen strips of the leaves of ''[[Borassus flabellifer]]'' or the Palmrya palm. These strips were used as printed material for ancient books by the Malays, long before paper was invented. On the centre of these seventeen strips is the university's motto 'Ilmu Puncha Kemajuan'. The motto consists of 'Ilmu' derived from Arabic, 'Puncha' from [[Sanskrit]] ([[Za'aba Spelling]] for 'Punca'), and 'Kemajuan' from Malay. These words mean knowledge is the source of progress.{{r|Khoo|p=ii}}

In the centre of the arms is a Bunga Raya or [[hibiscus rosa-sinensis]] species encircled by three Malayan tigers. The tigers symbolise the three main races in Malaysia (Malays, Chinese and Indians), who work hand-in-hand to protect the nation and uphold the duty to serve the country.{{r|Khoo|p=ii}} It is [[blazon]]ed:

{{blockquote|Azure, fimbriated and parted per fess by a line Or. In base a Bunga Raya (hibiscus flower) between three tigers passant regardant two and one all proper; and in Chief a bundle of seventeen strips of the leaves of Palmyra Palm Or inscribed with the words 'ILMU PUNCHA KEMAJUAN'.}}

The current arms design was derived from the original arms in 1949, which was blazoned as such:
{{blockquote|Tierced per fess Argent and Azure, in base a tiger passant reguardant proper; in chief an open book also proper, bound, edged and clasped Or.}}

==Academic profile==
{{Infobox university rankings
| QS_W          = 58     | QS_W_year       = 2025 | QS_W_ref = <ref>[https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings?page=3 QS World University Rankings 2025]</ref>
| ARWU_W        = 401–500 | ARWU_W_year     = 2024 | ARWU_W_ref = <ref>[https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities 2024]</ref>
| THE_W         = 251–300 | THE_W_year      = 2025 | THE_W_ref = <ref>[https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2025/world-ranking#!/length/25/locations/MYS/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats THE World University Rankings 2025]</ref>
| CWTS_W        = 293     | CWTS_W_year     = 2024 | CWTS_W_ref = <ref>[https://www.leidenranking.com/ranking/2024/list CWTS World University Rankings 2024]</ref>
| USNWR_W       = 281     | USNWR_W_year    = 2024 | USNWR_W_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/universiti-malaya-501730|title=2024-2025 Best Global Universities Rankings}}</ref>
| QS_Asia       = 11       | QS_Asia_year    = 2024 | QS_Asia_ref = <ref>[https://www.topuniversities.com/asia-university-rankings QS Asia University Rankings 2024]</ref>
| USNWR_Asia    = 60      | USNWR_Asia_year = 2024 | USNWR_Asia_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/asia|title=2024-2025 Best Global Universities in Asia}}</ref>
| THE_Asia      = 65      | THE_Asia_year   = 2024 | THE_Asia_ref = <ref>[https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-asia THE Asia University Rankings 2024]</ref>
| QS_N          = 1       | QS_N_year   = 2024     | QS_N_ref = <ref>[https://www.topuniversities.com/where-to-study/asia/malaysia/top-universities-malaysia QS Malaysian University Rankings 2024]</ref>
}}

Currently UM is ranked 60th in the world in the [[QS World University Rankings]] 2025, 281th in the [[USNWR]] 2024 global rankings, 293rd in the 2024 [[CWTS Leiden Ranking]], and among the top 300 universities in the [[Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

In 2015, it has been ranked 54th in [[Engineering|Engineering & Technology]] in ''[[Quacquarelli Symonds|QS]]'' world ranking. UM rose to the top 100 universities in the [[QS World University Rankings]] 2019, and has consistently increased in ranking to 59th in the world and 9th in Asia in the 2021 series. In 2021,'' [[U.S. News & World Report]]'' ranked UM 17th and 87th in the world in [[Engineering]] and [[Computer science|Computer Science]] respectively by its subject ranking.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US News Ranking|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/university-of-malaya-501730#rankings}}</ref>

The business school of UM has achieved two international accreditations i.e. Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ([[Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business|AACSB]]) and Association of MBAs ([[Association of MBAs|AMBA]]).

The Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Japanese Language and Linguistic Course was awarded the [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Japan)|Japanese Foreign Minister]]'s Commendation for their contributions to promotion of Japanese language education in Malaysia on 1 December 2020.<ref>[https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press6e_000255.html Foreign Minister's Commendations for FY 2020 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan]</ref><ref>[https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/100120947.pdf Foreign Minister's Commendations for FY 2020 (Groups) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan]</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ranking
!2024
!2023
!2022
!2021
!2020
!2019
!2018
|-
|[[Academic Ranking of World Universities]]
|401-500
|401-450
|301-400
|301-400
|301-400
|301-400
|301-400
|-
|[[QS World University Rankings]]
|65
|70
|65
|59
|70
|87
|114
|-
|[[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]]
|251-300
|351-400
|301-350
|301-350
|301-350
|301-350
|351-400
|}

[[File:University of Malaya Campus Signage.jpg|thumb|upright|Street signage]]

[[File:Covered walkway from Universiti LRT Station to UM KL gate.jpg|thumb|Covered walkway from Universiti LRT Station to UM KL gate]]
[[File:MRT Feeder Bus Route T815 at 12RC (230329) 03.jpg|thumb|MRT Feeder Bus Route T815 to Phileo Damansara station]]

[[File:University of Malaya Bus Terminal (230404).jpg|thumb|Shuttle Bus Terminal]]

==Organisation and administration==

===Vice-chancellors===
{{transcluded section|source=List of vice-chancellors of the University of Malaya}}

{{trim|{{#section-h:List of vice-chancellors of the University of Malaya}}}}

==Student life==
===Student bodies===
The UM's campus student bodies, known as Universiti Malaya Students' Union (UMSU) are elected by the students to have representatives engaging in policies and matters relating to student affairs. As such the elections, known as 'PRKUM' which is acronym for ''Pilihanraya Kampus Universiti Malaya'' in Malay language is seen as a precursor to a student leader.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/357276|title=A recap of the Universiti Malaya campus elections|website=Malaysiakini|date=29 September 2016|language=en|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> Whilst prior elections before 2019 was organised by the Student Affairs Department of the university, the first election managed by the students<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/02/22/students-to-run-um-campus-polls/|title=Students to run UM campus polls|last=Menon|first=Sandhya|date=22 February 2019|work=The Star|access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> was conducted on 4 March 2019, marking a historic first whereby an all student affair made the elections a milestone. Suara Siswa, a pro-student group won the elections which saw 61% of 13,671 students cast their votes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/03/05/pro-student-group-wins-majority-of-seats-in-um-polls/|title=Pro Student Group wins majority of seats in UM Polls|last=Chin|first=Christina|date=5 March 2019|work=The Star|access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> UM also has its own radio station, UMalaya Radio which is under the auspices of its Student & Alumni Affairs Division.

==Facilities==
[[File:Gambar Dewan Tunku Canselor, Universiti Malaya.jpg|thumb|Dewan Tunku Canselor]]
[[File:UMAG (University of Malaya Art Gallery).jpg|thumb|Malaya Art Gallery]]
[[File:RIMBA ILMU02.JPG|thumb|[[Rimba Ilmu]] building, Universiti Malaya]]
The university houses 13 residential colleges (11 in-campus, 2 off-campus), an Olympic-sized swimming pool, the [[Rimba Ilmu Botanical Gardens]], the UM Arena which boasts a full course running track, several museums of different fields as well as numerous sports facilities (gymnasiums, courts and fields) in the campus. The university's teaching hospital, [[University Malaya Medical Centre|Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)]] is located at the boundaries of UM near the [[Petaling Jaya]] gate.

=== Residential colleges ===
Unlike other global universities, colleges in UM does not function as accommodation and institution. They are only functioned as hostels for students.

During the pandemic, all colleges were at limited capacity or closed. In September 2021, they were in the process of being reopened in conjunction with the loosening of pandemic measures by the government.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2021/09/864628/um-sedia-terima-kepulangan-10000-pelajar |language=Malay |title=UM Sedia Terima Kepulangan 10,000 Pelajar |date=15 September 2021 |accessdate=17 June 2022 |publisher=Berita Harian}}</ref> Many colleges have their own basic facilities, such as a restaurant. In the 12th college (UM labels their residential colleges by name and dedicated number) lies a well known hipster cafe called He and She Coffee.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kosmo.com.my/2021/06/02/kafe-hipster-dalam-kampus/ |title=Kafe Hipster dalam Kampus |language=Malay |date=2 June 2021 |accessdate=17 June 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617172053/https://www.kosmo.com.my/2021/06/02/kafe-hipster-dalam-kampus/ |archivedate=17 June 2022}}</ref>

==In the media==
UM became a subject matter in the 1987 documentary film, ''Dari Desa Ke Kampus'' (lit. ''From the Countryside to the Campus''), produced by [[Filem Negara Malaysia]].<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Dari Desa Ke Kampus|publisher=Filem Negara Malaysia|location=Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia|year=1987|type=Motion picture|language=ms}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
{{Main list|List of University of Malaya people}}{{Multiple image
| image1            = Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad.jpg
| caption1          = [[Mahathir Mohamad]] <br />'53 Medicine
| image2            = Abdullah Badawi (cropped, 4to3 format, closeup).jpg
| caption2          = [[Abdullah Ahmad Badawi]] <br />'64 Social Science
| image3            = Muhyiddin_Yassin_(51087589446)_(cropped).jpg
| image4            = Ismail Sabri Fumio Kishida 2022 (cropped).jpg
| image5            = PM Kishida meeting with PM Ibrahim of Malaysia (cropped, 3to4 portrait).jpg
| caption3          = [[Muhyiddin Yassin|Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin]] <br />'71 Economics
| caption4          = [[Ismail Sabri Yaakob]] <br />'80 Law
| caption5          = [[Anwar Ibrahim]] <br />'71 Social Science
| total_width       = 700
| direction         = horizontal
| align             = center
| caption_align     = center
| header            = Prime Ministers of Malaysia
}}

Multiple alumni of UM were noted to have played significant role in the development of [[Malaysia]], and its graduates have been notable in various fields within the country. Five out of nine [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Malaysian Prime Ministers]] were UM alumni, with [[Mahathir Mohamad]] becoming the only prime minister to be elected twice. Numerous UM graduates have been elected as members of parliament to the [[Dewan Rakyat]], senators to the [[Dewan Negara]], members of the [[State legislative assemblies of Malaysia|State Legislative Assembly]], as well as being ministers of the federal cabinet, chief ministers, governors, and speakers to both houses of representatives. Notable politicians include current [[Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat]] [[Johari Abdul]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2022 |title=Johari Abdul: Dari kerusi Parlimen ke Yang Dipertua |url=https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2022/12/1041433/johari-abdul-dari-kerusi-parlimen-ke-yang-dipertua |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Berita Harian |language=ms}}</ref> former [[president of the Dewan Negara]] [[Vigneswaran Sanasee]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2016 |title=PROMULGATION OF THE 17TH PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE |url=https://www.parlimen.gov.my/yang_di-pertua_dewan_negara_dimasyhurkan.html?&lang=en |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Malaysian Parliament |language=}}</ref> former Minister of Finance [[Daim Zainuddin]] who finished his doctoral thesis at UM,<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2019 |title=Daim gets PhD 11 years later |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/10/529497/daim-gets-phd-11-years-later |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=New Straits Times |language=en}}</ref> former [[Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca]] and [[Menteri Besar of Pahang]] [[Mohd Khalil Yaakob]],<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Tun Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Mohd Khalil Bin Yaakob |url=https://klip.my/overseers/tun-datuk-seri-utama-dr-mohd-khalil-yaakob/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Klip.my |language=en}}</ref> and Member of Parliament for [[Sungai Buloh]] and [[Rhodes Scholar]] [[Sivarasa Rasiah]].<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Sivarasa A/L K. Rasiah |url=https://www.mymp.org.my/p/sivarasa-a-l-k-rasiah?locale=en |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=MYMP.org |language=en}}</ref>

UM has also produced a large number of lawyers, diplomats and public servants that have hold top posts within their respective fields. In diplomacy and foreign affairs, 51st [[President of the United Nations General Assembly]] [[Razali Ismail]],<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Profile of Directors |url=https://salcon.listedcompany.com/misc/ar2005/ar200500010.html |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Salcon Listed Company |language=en}}</ref> and 8th [[Secretary General of the ASEAN]] [[:ms:Ajit Singh|Ajit Singh]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=India sampaikan anugerah tertinggi kepada Ajit Singh |url=http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=0111&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_10.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112075813/http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=0111&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_10.htm |archive-date=2011-01-12 |access-date=2023-10-26}}</ref> both studied at UM for their undergraduate degrees. More than half of the [[Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia]] has been a graduate from UM where out of fifteen of them, eight has studied at UM, where [[Ismail Bakar]] is the most recent alumnus to hold the post.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Tan Sri Dr Ismail Bakar |url=https://vrienspartners.com/team/tan-sri-dr-ismail-bakar/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Vriens and Partners |language=en}}</ref> Two former [[Inspector-General of Police (Malaysia)|Inspector-General of the Royal Malaysian Police]] [[Norian Mai]] and [[Mohamad Fuzi Harun]]<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Tan Sri Dato' Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun |url=https://www.rmp.gov.my/infor-korporate/ketua-polis-negara/tan-sri-dato'-seri-mohamad-fuzi-harun |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Royal Malaysian Police |language=ms}}</ref> also attended UM. In law, two [[Chief Justice of Malaysia]], three [[President of the Court of Appeal of Malaysia]], three [[Attorney General of Malaysia]], three [[Chief Judge of Malaya]] and one [[Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak]] have all attended UM Law School.

Four governors of the Malaysian central bank, [[Bank Negara Malaysia]], [[:ms:Ali Abul Hassan bin Sulaiman|Ali Abul Hassan bin Sulaiman]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2013 |title=Bekas Gabenor Bank negara Dr Ali Abul Hassan Sulaiman meninggal Dunia |url=https://www.mstar.com.my/lokal/semasa/2013/03/25/bekas-gabenor-bank-negara-dr-ali-abul-hassan-sulaiman-meninggal-dunia |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=MStar |language=ms}}</ref> [[Zeti Akhtar Aziz]],<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Zeti Akhtar Aziz |url=https://asb.edu.my/about/board-of-governors/zeti-akhtar-aziz |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Asia School of Business |language=en}}</ref> [[Muhammad bin Ibrahim]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Dato' Muhammad bin Ibrahim |url=http://www.kwap.gov.my/EN/Aboutkwap/OurPeople/Pages/DatoMuhammadBinIbrahim.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927151432/http://www.kwap.gov.my/EN/Aboutkwap/OurPeople/Pages/DatoMuhammadBinIbrahim.aspx |archive-date=2015-09-27 |accessdate=26 October 2023 |website=KWAP |publisher=Kumpulan Wang Amanah Persaraan}}</ref> and [[Shaik Abdul Rasheed Abdul Ghaffour]] all studied commerce at UM.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Datuk Shaik Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour |url=https://www.pidm.gov.my/my/who-we-are/board-of-directors/datuk-shaik-abdul-rasheed-ghaffour |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=PIDM |language=ms}}</ref> Business people include billionaires such as the founder and chairman of [[Top Glove Corporation Bhd]], [[Lim Wee-Chai]],<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Lim Wee Chai |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/lim-wee-chai/?sh=765b227735cb |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> CEO of Westports Holdings [[G. Gnanalingam]],<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=G. Gnanalingam |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/g-gnanalingam/?sh=72ccdd1534b5 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> founder and chairman of [[Public Bank Berhad]] [[Teh Hong Piow]],<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Teh Hong Piow |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/teh-hong-piow/?sh=547dfa256fd6 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> and founder of NagaCorp Ltd [[Chen Lip Keong]].<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chen Lip Keong |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/chen-lip-keong/?sh=deed65455cad |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

Various corporate figures such as the former chairman, president and CEO of [[Petronas]] [[Azizan Zainul Abidin]],<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Azizan Obituary Azizan, Man of Quiet and Humble Disposition despite Prominence |url=https://lib.perdana.org.my/PLF/Digital_Content/Prominent_Leaders/Mahathir/News_1968-2004/2001-2005/ber04aj/azizan%20man%20of%20quiet%20&%20humble%20.pdf |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Perdana Leadership Foundation |language=en}}</ref> president and CEO of [[Maybank]] [[Amirsham Abdul Aziz]],<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Tan Sri Amirsham Bin A Aziz |url=https://www.hapsengplantations.com.my/bod-tan-sri-amirsham.html |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Hap Seng Plantations |language=en}}</ref> co-founder of [[AirAsia]] [[:ms:Pahamin Rajab|Pahamin Rajab]],<ref>{{cite news |author=Omar Zin |date=10 July 2023 |title=Pahamin Rajab: Dari Bachok ke AirAsia |url=https://www.utusan.com.my/nasional/2023/07/pahamin-rajab-dari-bachok-ke-airasia/ |accessdate=26 October 2023 |work=[[Utusan Malaysia]]}}</ref> and former CEO of [[Permodalan Nasional Berhad]] [[Khalid Ibrahim]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 August 2022 |title=Remembering political, corporate maverick Khalid Ibrahim |url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/67334/remembering-political-corporate-maverick-khalid-ibrahim |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Vibes |language=en}}</ref>

Two of Malaysia's only [[regius professor]]s [[Ungku Aziz]] and [[Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas]] have been affiliated with UM during the early years of the university. All four out of five [[distinguished professor]]s in Malaysia which include [[:ms:Shamsul Amri Baharuddin|Shamsul Amri Baharuddin]], [[Mohd Kamal Hassan]], Harith Ahmad, and Looi Lai Meng have all studied at the university with the exception of Rajah Rasiah who is currently affiliated with UM.

In literature and the arts, five [[Malaysian National Laureate]]s have studied in UM which include writer and Tokoh Akademi Negara [[:ms:Muhammad Haji Salleh|Muhammad Haji Salleh]],<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Muhammad Haji Salleh |url=https://bookcafe.com.my/muhammad-haji-salleh/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Book Cafe |language=ms}}</ref> novelists [[:ms:Anwar Ridhwan|Anwar Ridhwan]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 September 2023 |title=Anwar Ridhwan Pengerusi Lembaga Pengelola DBP yang baharu |url=https://www.utusan.com.my/nasional/2023/09/anwar-ridhwan-pengerusi-lembaga-pengelola-dbp-yang-baharu/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Utusan Malaysia |language=ms}}</ref> and [[Siti Zainon Ismail]],<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Siti Zainon Ismail – Sasterawan Negara Ke-14 (2019) |url=https://klikweb.dbp.my/?p=18454 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927024826/http://klikweb.dbp.my/?p=18454 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=DBP.my |language=ms}}</ref> writer [[:ms:Baha Zain|Baha Zain]]<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Baha Zain – Sasterawan Negara Ke-12 (2013) |url=https://klikweb.dbp.my/?p=4825 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927045138/http://klikweb.dbp.my/?p=4825 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=DBP.my |language=ms}}</ref> and the first female recipient of the award, [[Zurinah Hassan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Zurinah Hassan – Sasterawan Negara Ke-13 (2016) |url=https://klikweb.dbp.my/?p=18442 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927043808/http://klikweb.dbp.my/?p=18442 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=DBP.my |language=ms}}</ref> Moreover, various UM alumnus have won the [[S.E.A. Write Award|Southeast Asian Writers Award]], including novelist [[Malim Ghozali PK]]<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=DR. MOHAMED GHOZALI BIN HAJI ABDUL RASHID |url=https://pemetaanbudaya.jkkn.gov.my/en/culture/dis/753 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=JKKN.gov.my |language=en}}</ref> and author [[Adibah Amin]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 August 2021 |title=Malaysia in Adibah Amin's eyes |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2021/08/01/malaysia-in-adibah-amins-eyes/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=FreeMalaysiaToday |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Malaysia|Education}}
*[[The National University of Malaysia]]
*[[List of Islamic educational institutions]]
*[[Universiti Malaya Medical Centre]]
*[[UM Specialist Centre]]
*[[Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya|Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya]]
*[[Centre for Foundation Studies, University of Malaya|Centre for Foundation Studies, Universiti Malaya]]
*[[Rimba ilmu|UM Botanical Gardens Rimba Ilmu]]
*[[National University of Singapore]]
*[[International University of Malaya-Wales]]
*[[UM-Damansara United]]

{{clear right}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|University of Malaya}}
* {{official website|http://www.um.edu.my/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080411224320/http://www.nus.edu.sg/identity/intro/evolution.htm Coats of arms of the National University of Singapore and its predecessors]

{{University of Malaya}}
{{Universities in Malaysia}}
{{ASEAN University Network}}
{{APRU}}
{{University Alliance in Talent Education Development}}
{{ASAIHL}}
{{Asian Universities Alliance}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Malaya, University of}}
[[Category:University of Malaya| ]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Kuala Lumpur]]
[[Category:Public universities in Malaysia]]
[[Category:ASEAN University Network]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1905]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1949]]
[[Category:Law schools in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Business schools in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Engineering universities and colleges in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Information technology schools in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Medical schools in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Nursing schools in Malaysia]]
[[Category:1905 establishments in British Malaya]]
[[Category:1949 establishments in Malaya]]
[[Category:Winners of the Nikkei Asia Prize]]
[[Category:Educational institutions in Malaysia]]