Ho Chi Minh City University of Science (abbreviation: HCMUS; a.k.a.: University of Natural Sciences, HCMUNS) was founded in March 1996 following a split from Ho Chi Minh City University. The school has since been a member university of Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City. It is entrusted with providing education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and undertaking scientific research as well as technological transfer. The school was originally a department from the Indochina College of Science, which began operating in 1946. In 1956, this department was renamed "Science department" and merged to form Saigon University. In 1977, it merged with several other school and colleges to form the Commons University. In March 1996, the university reformed HCMUNS is a separate instutituion again, as a member of the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM).