Our History

As one of the entities within the Sunway Education Group, Sunway University has rapidly grown into a leading brand name in Malaysia’s higher education sector, gaining a name for itself as a high-quality private not-for-profit institution.
2019
- Sunway University enters the QS World Rankings 2020 for the first time and achieves a ranking within the range of 751–780
- Sunway University is ranked within the top 150 young universities for the first time in the QS Top 50 Under 50 2020 and the Next 100
2018
- Sunway University is placed 232nd in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings, placing it in the top 2% universities in Asia
- Launch of Sunway University Press, the academic publishing arm of Sunway University
- Launch of iLABS Makerspace at Sunway University
- Sunway University becomes the first non-governmental linked private university to attain a 5 Star QS Rating
2017
- Sunway University gained its first international ranking in the QS Asia University Rankings, placing it in the top 2.5% of universities in Asia
- Sunway University became one of only eight universities in Malaysia to be awarded the status of Premier Digital Technology University
- Attained ISO 9001:2015 certification
- Awarded SETARA 5-star rating in the “Emerging University” category
- Partnership with Lancaster University extended for further ten years
- The total number of enrolled students surpassed 7,000
2016
- Launch of the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development at Sunway University
- Inaugural Cambridge-Oxford-Sunway Biomedical Symposium held at Sunway University
2015
- Official opening of Sunway University’s new 12-storey campus building
- Sunway University achieved its first international rating as an overall 4-star university with top 5-star ratings for teaching, facilities and employability by the QS ranking and rating agency
- The total number of enrolled students surpassed 5,000
2014
- Establishment of the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia at Sunway University
2011
- Sunway University College officially upgraded to full university status by the Ministry of Education of Malaysia and renamed as Sunway University
- The total number of enrolled students surpassed 2,500
2010
- Launch of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, a charitable not-for-profit body taking ownership of institutions under the Sunway Education Group including Sunway University College
- Sunway University College established partnership with Le Cordon Bleu International, which grants professional certification to graduates from the former’s hospitality programme
2009
- Sunway University College received a 5-star “excellent” rating in the first official rating system for Malaysian universities and university colleges known as SETARA; the University continues to receive 5-star ratings in all subsequent SETARA exercises
2008
- First cohort of graduates with dual degrees from both Sunway University College and Lancaster University
2006
- Sunway University College established partnership with Lancaster University, UK, through which graduates can receive dual degrees from both institutions
2004
- The establishment of Sunway University College as an independent degree-awarding institution of the Sunway Education Group