Palmerston North University College

The scope of tertiary education in the Manawatū was broadened at the beginning of 1960 when Victoria University of Wellington planted the seed for distance education and education in the Arts in the region, by establishing a branch college, the Palmerston North University College (PNUC), in Palmerston North.

As a constituent college of Victoria University, PNUC was administered by a Principal. The lecturers in each department of the college were members of the corresponding departments of Victoria University. The subjects taught at the college were taught to the prescriptions of Victoria University and the final examinations were conducted by that university.

The base for developing a fully fledged university in the Manawatū was laid in 1962 by the Massey University College of Manawatu Act 1962, which amalgamated PNUC and Massey College as from 1 January 1963. PNUC then became the Faculty of General Studies of the new Massey University College of Manawatu.

The Massey University College of Manawatu would in turn become Massey University of Manawatu on 1 January 1964.