The National University (Indonesian: Universitas Nasional, UNAS) is the oldest private university in Jakarta and the second oldest in Indonesia. It was founded as the National Academy by several Indonesian scholars on October 15, 1949. UNAS has been accredited "A" by the National Accreditation Body for Higher Education (BAN-PT), and also credited by QS Star University Rating, having been awarded 4 stars during the evaluation.
 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. Noegroho, Drs. Adam Bakhtiar, Dr. Bahder Djohan, Dr. J. Leimena, Ir. Abd Karim, Prof. Dr. Soetomo Tjokronegoro, Mr. Ali Budiharjo, Poerwodarminta, Mr. Soetikno, Ir.TH. A. Resink, DR. Soemitro Djojohadikusumo, Noegroho, Soejatmiko, H.B. Jassin, Mochtar Avin, L. Damais, A.Djoehana, and Nona Roekmini Boediardjo Singgih.
 Studies were conducted in 1946 by two committees.
 The first committee, in charge of investigating how to invigorate life sciences in Indonesia, had the following members:
 The second committee, in charge of motivating stimulating business activity, consisted of:
 In late 1946 short courses were established. 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.
 The term academy, rather than university was chosen to avoid colonial words during the Indonesian war of independence. Lectures began on October 15, 1949. On December 22, 1949, the Ministry of Education and Culture, then located in Yogyakarta, provided full recognition for the National Academy.
 On 1 September 1954 through a deed by Mr. R. Soewandi, the National Academy was renamed the National University. For its support during the war of independence, in 1959, Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, bestowed the title "University Of Struggle" (Universitas Perjuangan).
 Campus at Pasar Minggu, located in South Jakarta, is the main campus, with faculties intended for undergraduate students.
 Serves as a laboratory.
 A secondary campus, focussing mainly on graduate students.
 The National University is organized into several schools and academies, each with a dean/director.  https://www.unas.ac.id/program-studi/
 UNAS has alumni including politicians, government officials, scientific experts, researchers, business professionals, artists and entrepreneurs. They include Manuel Kaisiepo and Syaifullah Yusuf both are former State Minister for Acceleration of Development of Disadvantaged Regions; Agus Suparmanto former State Minister of Trade; Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri former State Minister of Manpower; Mochtar Kusumaatmaja. former State Minister of Foreign Affairs; Former Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia, Hadi Wayarabi and Ukraine, Yuddy Chrisnadi. Then alumni who became the first Doctor of Political Sciences in Indonesia, namely Prof. Dr. Deliar Noer. Alumni who become experts, namely Doctor of biological sciences. Endang Suhara, APU, and Dr. M. Kasim Moosa, APU. Expert researcher in Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Dr. Sharif Hidayat, APU, Syamsuddin Haris, M. Si, APU. There are alumni who work as artists and comedians such as Ateng, Jimmy Gideon or Unang as well as many other figures. Alumni who became members of the House of Representatives include Arzeti Bilbina.