While university rowing at Manchester has earlier origins, the present-day club was founded in 1932, and has been based on the Bridgewater Canal since 1963.

[5] Additionally MUBC has an erg room located at the university's Armitage Sports Centre at the Fallowfield Campus.

[6] Rowing at the predecessor institutions of the University of Manchester began in 1862 with a coxed four race between Owens College and the Physical Laboratory.

In 1889 the Owens College Boat Club was established, which was reconstituted as a member of the new Victoria University of Manchester Athletic Union in 1907.

[11] In 1994 UMIST was granted a royal charter as an independent university and began rowing separately.

In 2008 it was affiliated with British Rowing, allowing members to race at Henley Royal Regatta.

[33] Since 2005 Nemesis has challenged MUBC for the Bridgewater Cup, which takes place on the day of the Two Cities Boat Race.