The centre was founded by historian Aubrey Newman in 1990 and is the oldest Holocaust research facility at a British university.

It was renamed the Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies in 2011, with an expanded focus on other cases of mass violence in Europe and its colonies from the 19th to the 21st century.

Speakers have included Yehuda Bauer, Deborah Lipstadt, Richard Overy, Martin Gilbert, David Cesarani and Christopher Browning.

Each year, the centre holds a "Holocaust Awareness Week", with films, seminars and public lectures.

The centre also operates outreach programs in the local community to raise awareness of the Holocaust.