The forerunner of Udayana University (Unud) was the Udayana Faculty of Letters branch of Airlangga University which was inaugurated by P. J. M. President of the Republic of Indonesia Ir. Soekarno, opened by J. M. Minister P.P and K. Prof. DR. Prijono on September 29 1958 as written on the inscription at the Faculty of Letters on Jalan Nias Denpasar.

The Faculty of Letters was founded on the initiative of the Nusa Tenggara Faculties Foundation, which was known by Lt. Col. Minggoe and Deputy Chair I, Governor of Lesser Sunda, Teuku Mochamad Daoedsjah. This foundation collaborates with people who have special expertise in the field of literature, such as Dr. R. Goris, Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra and I Gusti Ketut Ranuh. These figures, apart from preparing things related to the physical aspect, also act as liaisons, to find people who will become lecturers (teaching staff), especially people who will become leaders of the Faculty that will be formed. The person who was successfully contacted, who will become the leader, is Prof. Dr. R.M. Ng. Poerbatjaraka, who at that time was Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Culture, Gadjah Mada University. The teaching staff who were contacted, especially staff who had doctoral degrees and had gained international fame because of their scientific achievements at that time, were (1) Prof. Dr. R.M. Ng. Poerbatjaraka, (2) Dr. R. Goris, (3) Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra, and (4) Prof. Dr. Swami Teachinganda.

At its inception (September - December 1958), the Udayana Faculty of Letters was managed by the Nusa Tenggara Faculties Foundation, but starting on January 1 1959 it officially became part of Airlangga University. Since then, the Udayana Faculty of Letters has changed its name to the Faculty of Letters.

This Udayana Faculty of Letters is the embryo of the founding of Udayana University, based on the Decree of the Minister of PTIP No. 104/1962, dated 9 August 1962, Udayana University was legally established on 17 August 1962. Because the University's birthday falls on the same day as the Proclamation of Independence Republic of Indonesia, then the celebration of Udayana University's birthday was moved to September 29, taking the date of the inauguration of the Faculty of Letters which was inaugurated on September 29 1958, but the de jure year of birth was 1962.

Decree on the Establishment of Udayana University

At the age of 62, Udayana University is led by 12 Chancellors consisting of: (1) Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra (1962-1970); (2) Prof. Dr. I Gst. Ngr. Gde Ngoerah (1970-1978); (3) Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Oka (1978-1986); (4) Prof. Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Putu Adnyana, (1986-1990); (5) Prof. Dr. Nyoman Sutawan (1990-1997); (6) Prof. Dr. Dr. Ketut Sukardika, Sp. M.K. (1997-2001); (7) Prof. Dr. Dr. I Wayan Wita, Sp. J.P. (2001-2005); (8) Prof. Dr. Dr. I Made Bakta, Sp. P.D. (K) (2005-2013); (9) Prof. Dr. dr. Ketut Suastika, Sp.PD-KEMD (2003-2017); (10) Prof. Dr. dr. A A. Raka Sudewi, Sp.S (K) (2017-2021); (11) Prof. Dr. Ir. I Nyoman Gde Antara, M.Eng., IPU (2021-2023); and (12) Prof. Ir. Ngakan Putu Gede Suardana, MT., Ph.D, IPU (2023-present).

Rector of Udayana University from time to time