UNPAR has the motto Bakuning Hyang Mrih Guna Santyaya Bhakti which means "Based on the belief in God, pursuing knowledge in devotion to the community".

Parahyangan Catholic University was established on 17 January 1955, under the name of Commerce Academy, as a collaboration between the Bishop of Bandung, Pierre Marin Arntz, O.S.C.

Then the Institute of Scientific Investigations was established to support the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Universities in general.

On 1 September 1989, equalisation status was set back for three years, with the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Number 0527/0/1989.

6 September, with the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Number 0560/0/1989, the status of the Faculty of Philosophy was increased to be recognised for four years.

On 23 November 1990, the NTA-58 Project was inaugurated, a collaborative project between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of Belgium, with the implementation of three parties (the University of Indonesia - Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Parahyangan Catholic University) to hold Postgraduate education in the fields of Administrative Science and Economic Development Studies.

The registered status for the two new faculties was obtained through a Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture Number 34 / D / O / 1993 dated 20 April 1993.

On 3 February 1994, with the enactment of a new regulation that the Faculty of Law is no longer familiar with the department, but rather a specialisation program, then with the Decree of the Director-General of Higher Education Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Number 62 / DIKTI / Kep / 1994 the status is equalised at the Faculty of Law UNPAR, which is valid for three years.

On 12 May 1995, the Diploma III programme was opened with registered status obtained through a Decree of the Ministry of Education and Culture No.

The symbol of Parahyangan Catholic University takes the form of a lotus that symbolises the supreme divinity and reads the slogan "Bakuning Hyang Mrih Guna Santyaya Bhakti", which means based on the belief in God, pursuing knowledge in devotion to the community.

The PMDK is the program provided for prospective students in Diploma and Bachelor level of study with the ability both academically and talent above average who choose UNPAR as the only university choice.

The Entrance Sieve Examination is a test held at several predetermined locations such as the Ciumbuleuit Campus and High School Partners.

In August 2015, the team from PILS was chosen to represent Indonesia in the 2015 Asia Cup International Law Moot Court Competition in Tokyo, Japan.

The team defeated opponents from across Asia, including Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, and emerged as the third-place winner in the competition.

Almost every year, the representative of International Relations Department students for PNMHII (Pertemuan Nasional Mahasiswa Hubungan Internasional se-Indonesia) achieved the award of Best Delegation for their performance in the Short Diplomatic Course.