University of Science, Malaysia

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), also known as the University of Science, Malaysia, is a public research university located in Penang, Malaysia.

The history of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) can be traced back to 1962, when the Penang State Legislative Council passed a resolution requesting the federal government to establish a university college in the state. The following year, the government announced its intention to establish a new university in Penang, and in 1967, the foundation stone for the new campus was laid by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.

The university was officially established on 1 June 1969 as the University of Penang (Universiti Pulau Pinang), with Professor Hamzah Sendut as its first Vice-Chancellor. The university initially operated on borrowed premises at the Malayan Teachers' Training College at Gelugor, with only 57 science-based students in the beginning. However, the new campus in Sungai Ara was completed and the university began operating from there in 1971.

The university was renamed Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in 1971, to reflect its focus on science and technology. USM quickly established itself as one of the leading universities in Malaysia.

In 1979, USM established a second campus in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. This campus is now known as the Health Campus, USM, and it houses the School of Medical Sciences, the School of Dental Sciences, and the School of Allied Health Sciences.

USM is a highly selective university, with an acceptance rate of around 20%. The university is committed to academic excellence and research innovation. USM has a strong track record of research, with a number of its research centers ranked among the best in the world.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2025, University of Science, Malaysia is positioned as the #146 top university in the world, which makes it the #3 top university in Malaysia. The university's global rank decreased by 9 points from last year.