A. 2000 - 2004: Start-up
In August 2000, the university signed an agreement with the People's Government of the former Nanhai City (now Nanhai District in Foshan) to jointly establish Nanhai College of South China Normal University (SCNU). In September 2001, it began to enroll students at the junior college level. In September 2002, it began to enroll students at the second batch undergraduate level.
B. 2004 - 2013: Exploration and Development
In June 2004, the 13th Party Congress of the university officially positioned Nanhai College as one of the three campuses of the university and renamed it Nanhai Campus of South China Normal University. In September 2005, it began enrolling students for key undergraduate programs, with a separate enrollment code. In September 2006, it was included in the unified enrollment code of the university.
C. 2013 - 2017: Integrated Development of “One School, Three Campuses”
In April 2013, the Nanhai Campus underwent comprehensive reforms and decided to enroll the last cohort of junior college students in the same year. The organizational structure was adjusted in accordance with the requirements of "vertical management by the university’s functional departments, with the campus management responsible for coordination".
In September 2017, postgraduate majors were offered for the first time.
D. 2018 - Present: Transformation and Upgrading
In 2018, the new development orientation of the campus was determined as providing "internationalized, emerging engineering, interdisciplinary, and application-oriented" education.
In 2019, the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, the Foshan Municipal People's Government, the People's Government of Nanhai District, Foshan and South China Normal University signed an agreement to jointly build the Campus.
In September 2021, doctoral programs were offered for the first time.
In October 2021, the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, the Foshan Municipal People's Government, the People's Government of Nanhai District, Foshan and South China Normal University signed an agreement to jointly build the Engineering Department on campus.
In 2022, the campus was renamed Foshan Nanhai Campus of South China Normal University
In 2023, the campus-running orientation was adjusted to "new engineering, internationalization, and new business".
In September 2000, the Department of Education of Guangdong Province officially approved the establishment of Nanhai College of South China Normal University.