[1] The religious origins can be seen in many of BUAP's buildings in Puebla city centre, which were once colonial-era churches.

[3] The university was founded as a Jesuit college under the name Colegio del Espíritu Santo in 1578 and ran until the expulsion of the order in 1767.

It then became the Real Colegio Carolino in 1790, after a period when the buildings were used for diverse purposes, including a military barracks.

However, it was not until almost twenty years later that it gained autonomy from government control as Universidad Autónoma de Puebla under legislation passed on 23 November 1956.

Along with them, the University has nine regional sections which operate in some of the biggest cities in Puebla State, and are: Acatzingo, Atlixco, Chiautla, Chignahuapan, Cuetzalan, Libres, Tehuacán, Tetela de Ocampo and Zacapoaxtla.

Finally, the BUAP has three "foreign academic units", which act almost autonomously, located in the cities of Tecamachalco, La Magdalena Tlatlauquitepec and Teziutlan.