Mercu Buana University Yogyakarta (UMBY) was established on June 1, 1984 under the name of Wangsa Manggala Agricultural Institute (IPW). As stated in the decree of the Minister of Education Decree No.01/SKEP/IST/YA/III/1986, this Institute was managed by the Argomulyo Foundation. Then it changed to Wangsa Manggala University on August 11, 1986 with the KOPERTIS Decree No: 0359/KOP.V/D.2/VIII/86 dated August 11, 1986.

HR Probosutedjo, the founder of this institution then officially declared October 1 as the university's anniversary (Decree of the Wangsa Manggala Foundation Number: 03/SKEP/KET/YWM/X/86, dated October 1, 1986). Since then, the university has celebrated October 1 as the "Dies Natalis" day. Based on the Decree of the Wangsa Manggala Foundation 02/Skep/Ket/YWM/IV/2008 number dated April 5, 2008, the name of the Wangsa Manggala University (UNWAMA) was changed to Mercu Buana Yogyakarta University (UMBY). The name together with the new logo was officially recognized by the Minister of National Education as seen in the Decree Number 102/D/O/2008 dated June 12, 2008.

The Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Mercu Buana University, Yogyakarta was established on October 15, 2009 with the Decree of the Minister of Education No. 859/D/T/2009, precisely on October 15, 2019.