[4][5] UNAS laid its foundation in 1946 by members of the Association for the Advancement of Science and Culture (Indonesian: Perkumpulan Memajukan Ilmu dan Kebudayaan, PMIK).

The founders were R. Teguh Suhardjo Sastrosuwingnyo, Mr. Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, Mr. Soedjono Hardjosoediro, Prof. Sarwono Prawirohardjo, Mr. Prajitno Soewondo, Hazil, Kwari Katjabrata, Prof. Dr. R. M. Djoehana Wiradikarta, R. M. Soebagio, Ny.

On around October 1949, in response to demand from 400 high school graduates in Jakarta who did not want to attended Universiteit Indonesia of the Dutch colonial government, PMIK announced the opening of a National Academy comprising five faculties: Social Studies, Economics and Politics; Biology, Mathematics and Physics, Letters, and English Literature.

For its support during the war of independence, in 1959, Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, bestowed the title "University Of Struggle" (Universitas Perjuangan).

[16] https://www.unas.ac.id/program-studi/ UNAS has alumni including politicians, government officials, scientific experts, researchers, business professionals, artists and entrepreneurs.

[25][26] former State Minister of Foreign Affairs; Former Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia, Hadi Wayarabi[27] and Ukraine, Yuddy Chrisnadi.