Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Pengkalan Chepa, commonly known as MRSM Pengkalan Chepa (formerly known as MRSM Kota Bharu) is one of the pioneer junior science colleges set up by Majlis Amanah Rakyat or MARA in Malaysia. The college was established in 1973[citation needed] when it admitted its 149 pioneer students who completed their Malaysian Certificate of Examination in 1977. This college is now known as Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Pengkalan Chepa as the college was built on a 17 acres (69,000 m2) land in Pengkalan Chepa, a suburb located at the outskirt of Kota Bharu. MRSM Kota Bharu was inaugurated on 12 August 1975 by Sultan Yahya Petra.