Royal University of Phnom Penh

The Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) is the oldest and largest university in Cambodia.

The Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) was established in 1960 as the Royal Khmer University, during a period of intense growth in Cambodia. It was founded by then-Prince Norodom Sihanouk, who wanted to create a world-class university that would help to develop the country's human resources.

The university initially opened with six schools: a National Institute of Judicial and Economic Studies, a Royal School of Medicine, a National School of Commerce, a National Pedagogical Institute, a Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, and a Faculty of Science and Technology.

In the early years, RUPP was heavily influenced by France, which had been Cambodia's colonial ruler until 1953. The university's curriculum and teaching methods were based on the French model, and many of its faculty members were French nationals.

However, RUPP also began to develop its own unique identity. In 1965, the university established the Cambodian Language and Literature Institute, which was dedicated to the study and promotion of the Khmer language. RUPP also began to offer courses in Cambodian history and culture.

In the early 1970s, Cambodia was plunged into civil war. RUPP was closed down in 1975, when the Khmer Rouge took control of the country. During the Khmer Rouge regime, many of Cambodia's intellectuals, including many of RUPP's faculty members, were killed.

RUPP reopened in 1979, after the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. However, the university was severely damaged during the war and many of its resources had been destroyed. It took several years for RUPP to rebuild and regain its pre-war status.

In the 1990s, RUPP began to expand rapidly. New schools and faculties were established, and the university's enrollment increased significantly. RUPP also began to develop its international ties, and partnerships were established with universities around the world.

Today, RUPP is the oldest and largest university in Cambodia. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in fields such as sciences, humanities and social sciences, engineering, education, and foreign languages. RUPP is highly regarded internationally and is committed to providing high-quality education and research to its students.

Royal University of Phnom Penh is ranked as the #1 top university in Cambodia during 2025. The rank is improved by 1 point from last year.