On October 31, 1989 the Macarthur Institute of Higher Education became the University of Western Sydney, Macarthur.  The two other member universities being UWS Nepean and UWS, Hawkesbury.  New courses accredited in 1989 included: Bachelor of Social Science and Master of Social Administration.  Over $166,000 was allocated to encourage the development of Macarthur's research profile.  Thirty eight projects were funded involving 53 staff members.
UWS Macarthus has two campuses: Campbelltown and Bankstown (a site at Milperra).  The Campbelltown campus (166 hectares) was the administrative centre of UWS Macarthur and where the Member President is situated.  The Bankstown campus (22 hectares) is the original site of the Milperra College of Advanced Education, from which the Macarthur Institute of Higher Education was formed.
When the Milperra College of Advanced Education opened in 1975 there were 220 students.  In 1997 there were 9148 students enrolled at UWS Macarthur, including 310 international students.  Postgraduates diplomas have been offered since 1988, Master degrees since 1990 and PhDs since 1991.
As the result of a major restructure, UWS Macarthur became part of the University of Western Sydney which, from the start of 2001, operated as a single multi-campus university rather than as a federation.