The origins of the National University of Mongolia date to the ruling party's 10th Congress, held from March to April 1940.

According to the resolution passed on 5 April, there was a provision to "prepare for the establishment of an institution of higher learning", which would lay the groundwork for the NUM.

Part of its operation were supported by staff and materials provided by the Soviet Union, so much of the instruction was conducted in Russian.

In addition to these graduates, some teachers with Russian language skills were selected, with the first enrolment consisting of a total of 93 students.

Among Mongolians, those with sufficient Russian language skills were mostly of the Buryat ethnic group, many of which were the children of those purged in the 1930s.

That same year, the Faculty of Pedagogy became a separate Pedagogical Institute, now known as the Mongolian State University of Education.

The Faculty of Medicine also became a separate entity now known as the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences in the same year.

[11] The National University of Mongolia played a significant role in the Mongolian Revolution of 1990, serving as a gathering place for various secret groups advocating for democracy.

As a result, the university now operates with five main faculties, each specializing in distinct academic disciplines.

The National University of Mongolia is governed by an administrative structure that oversees its various faculties, branches, and affiliate institutions.Admission to the National University of Mongolia (NUM) is primarily determined by the Mongolian General Entrance Examination scores.

Prospective students are required to participate in this national examination, which assesses their knowledge and academic aptitude across various subjects.