The University of Livingstonia is a private owned institution by the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia. It started in 2003 in fulfilment of Rev. Dr Robert Laws??? dream to establish an institution of higher learning. It is started at the place where Dr Laws founded the Overtoun Institute, which was known at the time as the ???Greatest Achievement??? in Central Africa, specifically in relation to the offering of quality education and other social services.

The first Campus of University of Livingstonia is occupying the same buildings of Overtuon Institute at Khondowe. The place was characterized by these facilities, such as the church, schools, hospitals, medical school, houses, pipe water and first grid electricity in Central Africa. The schools that were built catered for students from different parts of the country, and neighbouring countries, such as Zambia and Tanzania.