Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang

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Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is the second oldest university in Malaysia. Its main campus is located at Minden in Gelugor, Penang. It has branch campuses in Seri Ampangan in Seberang Perai, and in Kelantan. With about 30,000 students, Universiti Sains Malaysia is one of the biggest universities in the country.

Institute of Post Graduate Studies, USM (8 December, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Universiti Sains Malaysia was founded in 1969. This followed a resolution approved in 1962 by the Penang State Legislative Council to establish a university in the state. The foundation stone was placed by the then prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj on 7 August, 1967. At that time, the area earmarked for the university was in Sungai Ara. It was originally to be known as Universiti Pulau Pinang.

The initial intake was 57 students. As the site in Sungai Ara was not yet ready, the Education Ministry loaned the university premises at the Malayan Teacher's Training College at Bukit Gelugor. Meanwhile, the site at Sungai Ara was deem unsuitable for future expansion of the university, and after further sourcing, it was decided that the university should be located in Minden, Gelugor. It is a 500 acre (240-hectare) site which was previously part of the Gelugor military camp. The university opened there in 1971.

In tandem with the mandate for the new university to provide, promote and develop learnings in the various fields of science, its name was changed to Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Lecture Hall, USM (8 December, 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Universiti Sains Malaysia is accessed through the western gate, at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, the south gate, at Jalan Sungai Dua, and the east gate, at Jalan Bukit Gambier.

Getting there

If you rely on public transport, you quite a distance to walk through the university campus. In any case, Rapid Penang Bus 301 and 303 pass through the main gate of USM at Jalan Sungai Dua.