In 1984, the University Arturo Prat (UNAP) obtained, from Public Education Ministry the authorisation to be created. The following year is established as a Public Law Corporation dedicated to education and culture of arts, letters, and sciences (S.O. N° 1 of 1985), Also is integrated to the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities, CRUCH (Law Nº 18.368)

Its history, however, dates back to 1962, when a group of graduates of University of Chile proposes to the then Rector of this university, Juan Gómez Milla, to initiate higher education in Iquique, Tarapacá Region. And so, in 1965 they created the Office for the Coordination of University Centres. In 1966, in Iquique, is founded the University Centre of the University of Chile. Around 1988, is establish the Campus of the University of Chile in Iquique and, in 1971 began the construction of the Campus Playa Brava, physical space in which nowadays works the Central House At the beginning of the 1980s, regional campuses of the University of Chile began experimenting changes as a result of a centralization process that, finally, causes the campus closing in the province. In 1981, when the new University Law was enacted, and the Professional Institute was created, the former Campus of the University of Chile located in Tarapacá, became the Professional Institute of Iquique

Currently, the Central House of Iquique has a Campus in Victoria, city of Araucanía Region: and four Educational and Linking Centres located in Arica, Arica y Parinacota Region; in Antofagasta and Calama, both in Antofagasta Region; and in Santiago, Metropolitan Region. In the internal organisation of its matrix stand out the presence of Business Faculties, Human Sciences, Legal and Politics Sciences, Health Sciences, Engineering and Architecture and Renewable Natural Resources. The development of institutional activities is based in the Strategic Plan 2014-2020 and, in the guidelines of Regional Development Strategies. Consistent with that, UNAP complements the traditional academic pattern of undergraduate, and it is distinguished by providing an offer according to the needs of workers, strengthening in this way the continuous education, from the technical careers of the superior level to the postgraduate programs.