At its inception in 1908 the then Transvaalse Universiteitskollege (Transvaal University College, TUC) boasted four professors and 32 students. Today more than 14 000 distance teaching students and 45 000 residential students receive quality education at seven campuses in Pretoria and Johannesburg.

When UP celebrates its birthday in 2025 these figures will have soared to 20 000 and 55 000 respectively. This anticipated increase in student numbers forms part of UP2025, the new strategic plan which will put the University in the lead of South African universities.