UTeM was established on 1 December 2000 as Kolej Universiti Teknikal Kebangsaan Malaysia (National Technical University College of Malaysia, abbreviated as KUTKM), under Section 20 of the University and University College Act 1971 (Act 30) under the Orders of Kolej Universiti Teknikal Kebangsaan Malaysia (Incorporated) 2001. On 1 February 2007, KUTKM was upgraded into a full-fledged technical university and got its present name.
