National Sun Yat-sen University was founded in 1980 at Kaohsiung City. The university was named by the Founding Father of the Republic of China (ROC), Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

    The Department of Chemistry was formed in 1981 within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Until Aug. 1985, the College of Science was formally parted from the College of Liberal Arts and each became individual college. The Institute of Chemistry was set up at the same time. The College of Science included all departments of Marine Sciences. Until 1986, the College of Marine Sciences was established. In the same year, the Department of Physics was formed and subsequently the Departments of Applied Mathematics and Biological Sciences were established. The Institute of Biomedical Sciences began in 1999 and a doctorate program was added.

    International PhD Program for Synchrotron Radiation and Neutron Beam Applications started in the year of 2012 and after that the Institute of Medical Science and Technology was set up in 2014. For enhancing interdisciplinary studies, "International PhD Program for Synchrotron Radiation and Neutron Beam Applications" is renamed "International PhD Program for Science" in 2018. The Institute of BioPharmaceutical Sciences and the Insitute of Precision Medicine will start in 2019. There becomes the present College of Science.