[1] It was founded by the Catholic Bishops of Tanzania in 1998 (accredited in 2002) as a secular, nonprofit, private institution.

The university attracts students from Tanzania and elsewhere, particularly Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, Malawi, Zambia, and recently Germany and other foreign nations.

SAUT extends over 600 acres (2.4 km2) in the Nyegezi-Malimbe area, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Mwanza on the shores of Lake Victoria.

The Malimbe campus, located one km away, is home to the Faculty of Law, Social Sciences, Engineering, Business Administration, Education and Mass Communication.

St. Augustine University of Tanzania retained the Advanced Diploma and Certificate Programs offered by its predecessor, the Nyegezi Social Training Institute, and in addition offers a bachelors and a masters program within a number of faculties.