[1] In November 1902 twenty students from Hartley University College raised a company, sanctioned by the War Office, which formed part of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment.

[2][3] Following the Haldane Reforms, and the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908, the Company retained its identity as part of the 5th Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment.

On 1 October 1937, the relationship with the Hampshire Regiment discontinued, with the formation of the University College Southampton Senior OTC.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, OTCs were replaced with Senior Training Corps, member of which were part of the Home Guard.

However, numbers fell and the University Training Corps was placed in suspended animation in April 1951.