1921: founded by Mr. Tan Kah Kee.

1937: became state-owned university.

1952: designated as a comprehensive university.

1963: designated as a national key university directly governed by the Chinese Ministry of Education.

1986: initial trial of XMU Graduate School.

1995: listed among the national “211 Project”.

2000: listed among the national “985 Project”.

2016: Xiamen University Malaysia launched,  making XMU the first Chinese university to open an independent campus overseas.

2017: selected into the national Double First-Class Initiative.