The University of Malaya was initially set up in Singapore in 1949 as an amalgamation of the two premier institutions of higher education in colonial Malaya and Singapore,

Raffles College and King Edward VII College of Medicine to serve the needs of the colony.

Following independence of Malaya in 1957, two autonomous divisions of the university, one in Singapore and one in Kuala Lumpur, were established in 1959. The government of Malaya expressed a desire to change the status of the Kuala Lumpur division to a national University and following appropriate legislation, the University of Malaya was established in 1962. The Singapore Division was renamed the University of Singapore.

In 1961, the Board of Education, University Malaya had proposed that a medical institution be established to cater to the shortages of medical doctors in Malaya at that time.The first Faculty of Medicine in Malaysia was established in the University of Malaya in 1963. Instruction started in 1964 with the first batch of students.

On 5th August 1968, the spanking new University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) was officially opened by His Majesty the Yang Dipertuan Agung, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agung Tuanku Ismail Nasarudin Shah Ibni Alharmahum Sultan Zainal Abidin.

The University motto, "Ilmu Punca Kemajuan" (Knowledge is the Key to Success) and the UMMC and Faculty of Medicine continues to strive to the best of ability to live up to this ideal. University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) is one of the organisations in the Ministry of Higher Education. Main objectives of UMMC are health services, learning and research.

UMMC strive to provide the best services and treatment. Efforts that are ongoing are to provide medical services, learning and research with the best efficiency to our customer.