Its foundation was first proposed on March 1, 1692, at the urging and support of Pope Innocent XII.

The document in which Pope Innocent XII sponsored the founding of the university was signed in Madrid, Spain by King Charles II on June 1, 1692, thus becoming Cusco's principal and oldest university.

The university was authorized to confer the bachelors, licentiate, masters, and doctorate degrees.

UNSAAC is commemorated in the scientific name of a species of lizard, Proctoporus unsaacae,[2] which is endemic to Peru.

This Peruvian university, college, or tertiary institution related article is a stub.