The critical shortage of Officers during the South African War (1899-1902) led to the establishment in 1908 of an Officer Training Corps as part of the Haldane Reforms.

Initially, the Corps was in 2 Divisions: a junior division in schools and a senior division in universities. Eight universities, including London, formed contingents of the OTC in 1908. All had previously formed volunteer detachments or militia companies in emergencies. The University of London initially consisted of an HQ (Kensington), 3 infantry Sections (University, Kings and East London Colleges), 2 medical sections (St Bartholomew's and Guy's Hospitals) and an Engineer company (Kensington). The first Adjutant, a Coldstream Guards Officer, designed the Contingent cap badge based upon the Garter Star. By 1909, ULOTC had a strength of 24 Officers and 783 Officer Cadets.

During the 1914-18 war, the OTCs became an Officer-producing corps and some 30,000 Officers passed through. With peace, the Corps reverted to the role of providing "a standard measure of elementary military training" for university students. The thirties saw an increase in OTC strength which reached a peak in 1938 at the time of the Munich crisis. After the outbreak of war, the OTC became concerned once again with the production of Officers.

In 1948 the Corps was reorganised as part of the Territorial Army (TA - a part-time volunteer force) and the first sub-units of the Women's Royal Army Corps were formed.

For the next 10 years the main function of the Contingent was to give pre-service training to students liable for National Service.

At the end of the National Service in 1960, the UOTCs adopted their present role of providing a practical link between the Army and universities, thereby fostering an interest in, and understanding of, the Army and its role as an instrument of defence policy. ULOTC is the largest in the country and women are fully integrated into all ULOTC activities.

ULOTC today operates like most TA units - with the exception that, apart from a two week summer camp, all formal training drill nights (held on Tuesdays) and weekend training (approximately once a month), takes place during term time. In addition, cadets take part in exercises and visits to many TA and Regular units, an annual exchange with the American equivalent (the ROTC), numerous adventure training expeditions in the UK and abroad and wide range of social activities.

ULOTC's strength is 18 Officers, 26 other ranks and 320 Officer Cadets. Each year approximately 20 ULOTC Cadets go on to be commissioned into the Regular Army and a further 5 into the TA.

ULOTC celebrated its centenary in 2009.