Page 64 - Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences

Universiti Malaya was established on 8 October 1949 as a national institution to serve the higher educational needs of
the Federation of Malaya and of Singapore. In 1960, the Government of the Federation of Malaya indicated that the
Kuala Lumpur Division of the Universiti Malaya should become the national University in the Federation with effect from
the beginning session 1962/63. Likewise, the Singapore Division should become the national University of Singapore.
Steps to achieve the establishment of these two separate universities were finalized during the year 1961 and Universiti
st
Malaya was established on 1 January 1962. The student population at that time was about 330. Since then, the University
has grown and developed rapidly. Today, the student population has grown to almost 30,000.

Establishment of the Faculty of Medicine at Universiti Malaya

Up to the 1950’s, the Faculty of Medicine, University of Singapore, known previously as King Edward VII College of Medicine,
had been the only medical school in Malaya and Singapore. The output of doctors at that time was small: 60 per year. Many
Malaysians had to go overseas to seek undergraduate medical education. It was not until 1960 that a determined effort was
made to double the intake of students to 120 per year in Singapore. In 1960, a board of scholars at Universiti Malaya was
appointed to study the feasibility of establishing a medical school with its own teaching hospital. The board recommended
the establishment of both.
To this end, the Ministries of Education and of Health provided the necessary capital funds. In 1962, the first Dean for the
Faculty of Medicine was appointed.

FIRST BATCH- 1969

Page | 64 Biomedical Science Programme Guidebook 2023/24