1936年入讀怡保Maxwell Primary School[10],1年後隨著該校跟另一所官立英文小學Anderson School 合併而一同過渡[10],在Anderson School修畢小二至小五課程[10]。1941年12月太平洋戰爭馬來亞戰役[10],未幾王賡武轉學至 Ming Teh Primary School(明德小學)[10]。小六畢業後由父親給予的初中教育[10],1945年才重返 Anderson School 入讀中三年級[10]。及後,他於1946年報考英國劍橋中學文憑公開試(即普通教育文憑前身)[10],1947年入讀中華民國南京國立中央大學歷史系[1],1949年因国共内战國民政府失利而转入馬來亞大學新加坡分校,畢業論文《Chinese Reformists and Revolutionaries in the Straits Settlements, 1900-1911》。1953年本科畢業後繼續在馬來亞大學攻讀碩士[1],論文“The Nanhai Trade : a Study of the Early History of Chinese Trade in the South China Sea”[11][2]。1957年获英国伦敦大学亞非學院博士学位[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年移民澳大利亞,任澳洲國立大學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,曾獲福岡亞洲文化獎─學術研究獎(學術部門)[1]。
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