[3][4]: 7  In 1966 the Mission reported back, recommending the establishment of "fully autonomous university comprehending within itself, as well as Faculties of Arts and Science, the Fiji School of Medicine, the School of Agriculture in Fiji, a College for the education and training of secondary teachers, the Pacific Theological College, and, in so far its activities in the field of diploma courses are concerned, the Derrick Technical Institute".

[4]: 24  The former Royal New Zealand Air Force seaplane base at Laucala Bay in Fiji was recommended as a suitable location.

[3][6] A subsequent report by Norman Alexander fleshed out the proposal, and in 1967 the Fijian government passed an ordinance establishing the university's interim council.

[5] Initially teaching was limited to preliminary courses, the equivalent of New Zealand's School Certificate and University Entrance.

[5] In the 1970s the university began establishing regional extension centres to deliver continuing education, correspondence and extramural courses.

[13] In 1989 it opened the Emalus campus in Vanuatu,[10]: 103  which since 1996 has hosted the university's law school and the Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute.

[18] An independent University Grants Committee meets every three years to advise member and donor countries on funding levels.

[20] An investigation by New Zealand accounting firm BDO substantiated the allegations, and the report was subsequently leaked online.

[21] In June 2020, a special council meeting led by Pro-Chancellor Winston Thompson suspended Ahluwalia for unspecified "misconduct".

[33] Following Ahluwalia's deportation, Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi announced that Samoa would be willing to provide a new home for the university.

[34] On 25 May the university's council issued a new three-year contract to Ahluwalia and relocate the vice-chancellor's office to the Alafua Campus in Apia, Samoa.

[36] Following the 2022 Fijian general election, the new government led by Sitiveni Rabuka revoked the prohibition order on Ahluwalia[37] and reinstated funding to USP.

The region served by USP covers 33 million km2 of the Pacific Ocean, an area more than three times the size of Europe.

USP has a large Contemporary Pacific Art collection, including works by Rennie Peyroux, Mike Tavioni, Eruera Nia, Ian George, Kay George, Mahiriki Tangaroa, Apii Rongo, Varu Samuel, Krick Barraud, Joan Gragg, Nanette Lela’ulu, Johnny Penisula, Filipe Tohi, Sam Thomas and Dominique Crocombe.