UTAR freshmen were welcomed in the first of four registration sessions starting on May 22, 2003.

"This is historic as it is the first time we are welcoming TAR College students into our degree programmes. For the last 33 years, TAR College graduates could only go up to the advanced diploma level but now they can opt to complete an honours degree," UTAR President Datuk Dr Ng Lay Swee said.

She also said the university had made provision for two other faculties, namely engineering and science, and medicine and health science, as well as an institute of postgraduate studies and a centre for extension education.

She added that international students would be joining the university soon to further promote cross-cultural interaction.

During the student registration, a booth manned by university staff had been set up to take students' temperatures to ensure that the campus was SARS-free.