Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (Undiksha) was established based on Presidential Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 11 of 2006, dated May 11, 2006. Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha has a long history and it is closely related to the history of teacher education in Indonesia. In the 1950s, in Indonesia, B-I and B-II Course were established in order for educating prospective high school teachers. Related to this policy, in 1955 in Singaraja, the Indonesian Language B-I Course was established which was followed by the establishment of B-I Course for Trading in 1957.

In addition to B-I and B-II courses as teacher education institutions, the government also established Teacher Education Colleges (PTPG) in four cities, such as: Malang, Bandung, Batusangkar and Tondano in 1954. In 1958, PTPG was changed to the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) and became part of a university. In order to avoid the dualism of institutions dealing with teacher education issues, since January 1, 1960 all B-I and B-II courses in Indonesia were integrated into the FKIP (Faculty of Teacher Training and Education) at the nearest university.

In line with the government’s policy, since January 1, 1962, the Indonesian Language B-I Course and the Trading B-I Course were integrated to the Branch of FKIP Universitas Airlangga Surabaya. Then, after the opening of Udayana University in Denpasar on August 9, 1962, the Branch of FKIP Airlangga University was released from Airlangga University and subsequently integrated into Udayana University becoming FKIP of Udayana University.

The existence of FKIP as an institution that handled teacher education issues had been challenged by a group of people who established teacher education institution called the Teacher Education Institute (IPG). Avoiding this issue, President Soekarno took a policy of integrating FKIP and IPG into the Institute of Teacher Training and Education (IKIP) based on Presidential Decree No. 1 of 1963. Thus, on that year also FKIP Udayana University was released and integrated into IKIP Malang, becoming IKIP Malang Singaraja Branch.

In fact, IKIP Malang Singaraja Branch only lasted about five years since in 1968 IKIP Malang Singaraja Branch was re-integrated into Udayana University into two faculties, namely the Faculty of Teacher Training (FKg) and the Faculty of Educational Science (FIP). It was happened because of the government’s policy to reintegrate all IKIP Branches in Indonesia to the nearest State University or Institute, as stated in the Decree of the Director General  of Higher Education No. l61 in 1967. Up to 1979, the Faculty of Teacher Training at Udayana University had 9 (nine) departments, namely: 1) Department of Indonesian Language Education, 2) Department of English Education, 3) Department of Mathematics Education, 4) Department of Physics Education, 5) Department of Biology Education, 6) Department of Economics Education, 7) Department of History Education, 8) Department of Geography Education, and 9) Department of Civil Law. In 1980 the Faculty of Teacher Training added one more department, namely the Department of Chemistry Education. Meanwhile, at the same time, the Faculty of Educational Science (FIP) of Udayana University manages 2 (two) departments, namely the Department of Counseling Guidance (BP) and the Department of Informal Education (PLS).

Referring to the government’s new policy to reorganize Indonesian State Universities and Institutes as stated in Government Regulation No. 5 of 1980, Government Regulation No. 27 of 1981, and the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture No. 0174/0/1983, based on Presidential Decree No. 62 of 1982 on February 12, 1983, the Faculty of Teacher Training (FKg) and the Faculty of Educational Science (FIP) of Udayana University were merged into the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) of Udayana University. At that time, FKIP Udayana University had four majors, such as:

1. Department of Educational Science was in charge of:
   1. Study Program of Educational Psychology and Guidance (PPB),
   2. Study Program of Informal Education (PLS);
2. The Department of Language and Arts Education was in charge of:
   1. Study Program of Indonesian Language and Literature Education,
   2. Study Program of English Education;
3. The Department of Social Studies Education was in charge of:
   1. Study Program of Economic Enterprise Education,
   2. Study Program of History Education,
   3. Study Program of Geography Education,
   4. Study Program of Pancasila and Moral Education;
4. The Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences was in charge of:
   1. Study Program of Mathematics Education;
   2. Study Program of Physics Education;
   3. Study Program of Biology Education;
   4. Study Program of Chemistry Education.