The Advanced Studies were set up at Foon Yew High School opening up access to further education for high school graduates.

Formal application of the establishment of a college was proposed to the Ministry of Education by the Board of Directors of Foon Yew High School.

The application was approved. The new library of Foon Yew High School was used as temporary premises for the commencement of college courses.

The college was relocated to the present address at which the land was donated by a philanthropist, Mr. Siow Wan Heong.

The college was officially opened on the 15th of October by the Deputy Prime Minister Y. A. B. Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi. Thereafter, the college has been celebrating its anniversary on the 15th of October.

In conjunction with the 15th Anniversary of Southern College, the Board of Directors and the Board of Governors have decided to fix “Self-Renewal, Virtue and Nature” which is extracted from an ancient Chinese book called “Yi Jing” as the motto of this College. Art the same time, the first issue of “Southern College Journal” was published to place a milestone on the road toward a University.

The first “Southern Arts, Humanity & Culture Festival” was launched and Mr. Tan Swie Hian was awarded the Inaugural Southern Humanity Spirit Award.

The launching of the stone of the Great Learning Way has marked the inauguration of the culture-based college and the vision of upgrading it to a University-College.

The Multi-Purpose Hall was established, while the inaugural use of the Dato’ Seri Joseph Chong Hall was for the 17th graduation ceremony.

The 3+0 twinning degree program of Accounting and Finance with University of Wales, UK was officially launched and 10 diploma courses received Accreditation from Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

Setting up the Traditional Chinese programmes and raising fund for the construction of TCM building, Southern College is in celebration of the 20th anniversary and in complete of upgrading to University-College.