Nelson Mandela University was founded through a merger of three institutions in January 2005, but its history dates back to 1882, with the foundation of the Port Elizabeth Art School.

A number of courses include workplace experience as part of the curriculum at Nelson Mandela University.

Rolf Stumpf was the first vice-chancellor and chief executive officer of the university, and was succeeded by Professor Derrick Swartz on 1 January 2008.

[1] Saasveld Forestry College was founded as the Tokai School for Forest Apprentices in 1912 in Cape Town.

The institution's last Chancellor was former Speaker of Parliament Frene Ginwala, the last Vice-Chancellor Prof Hennie Snyman and the last Chair of Council being Mr Clive Stanton.

Built on 830 ha of land donated by the then Port Elizabeth City Council, the campus was declared a nature reserve in 1983.

The last Chancellor was Brigalia Bam, the last Vice-Chancellor Prof Nthabiseng Ogude and the last Chair of Council Mr Trevor Jennings.

Subsequently, seven decentralised contact tuition campuses were established, centred on township areas where the need for accessible and affordable higher education was most urgent.

In 1982 the Port Elizabeth campus consisted of a small, prefabricated building patched between the national road to Uitenhage and the edge of Zwide township.

Later additions, such as the Conference Hall and Arena, provided accessible facilities for the surrounding community for large events.

Initially focused on the upgrading of teachers through its Education Faculty, in its subsequent growth Vista far surpassed the narrow field of expertise cut out for it, producing graduates in business, law, science and the humanities.

At the time of the merger, Vista PE had approximately 2 000 students and was led by Acting Campus Principal Prof Miemie Struwig.

The South, North, Second Avenue and Ocean Sciences campuses are all situated in Summerstrand, Gqeberha close to the beach.