The university was approved by Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso in May 2013.

[4] Classes commenced on October 24, 2016, under the direction of Dr. Mohammad Tahir Shah, former professor of geology at University of Peshawar.

[5] FATA University is temporarily located within a portion of the Government Degree College Dara Adam Khel on the Indus Valley Highway from Peshawar to Kohat.

[6] The university plans to open sub-campuses at Khar, Miran Shah, and Parachinar in addition to the current Akhorwal campus.

Student Organization president Zia Afridi and Vice President Dilawar Khan of Shangla reported that the University Finance Officer, Asad Jan, had illegally appointed his relatives to posts intended to be filled by residents of the tribal areas.