1936年入读怡保Maxwell Primary School[10],1年后随著该校跟另一所官立英文小学Anderson School 合并而一同过渡[10],在Anderson School修毕小二至小五课程[10]。1941年12月太平洋战争马来亚战役[10],未几王赓武转学至 Ming Teh Primary School(明德小学)[10]。小六毕业后由父亲给予的初中教育[10],1945年才重返 Anderson School 入读中三年级[10]。及后,他于1946年报考英国剑桥中学文凭公开试(即普通教育文凭前身)[10],1947年入读中华民国南京国立中央大学历史系[1],1949年因国共内战国民政府失利而转入马来亚大学新加坡分校,毕业论文《Chinese Reformists and Revolutionaries in the Straits Settlements, 1900-1911》。1953年本科毕业后继续在马来亚大学攻读硕士[1],论文“The Nanhai Trade : a Study of the Early History of Chinese Trade in the South China Sea”[11][2]。1957年获英国伦敦大学亚非学院博士学位[1],论文为“The Structure of Power in North Chinese During the Five Dynasty”。1957年起先后任马来亚大学历史系讲师,1963年任教授兼系主任、文学院院长。1968年移民澳大利亚,任澳洲国立大学远东历史系主任与太平洋研究院院长。1986年至1996年任香港大学校长。1996年起任新加坡国立大学东亚研究所所长,曾获福冈亚洲文化奖─学术研究奖(学术部门)[1]。
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