It became a publicly funded post-secondary college in 1979 and was upgraded to a degree-awarding institution in 1992. In 1999, Lingnan College was retitled Lingnan University on commencement of its new ordinance.

• 岭南原为私立院校，一九七九年转为政府资助的专上学院，一九九二年升格为可颁授学位的院校，并于一九九九年根据新订条例改名为岭南大学。