Founded in Concepción in the Biobío region, the Universidad del Desarrollo was established in 1989 in order to expand educational options for young people and adults in the area. Later it expanded to Santiago, and currently has undergraduate and graduate programs, extension and training programs, and research centers.

For study abroad students, the university has exchange agreements with various educational institutions such as Universidad del Rosario in Colombia, Korea University in Korea and Universität Augsburg in Germany, among many others. It also offers various courses taught in both English and Spanish.