The University has been named after Captain Awadhesh Pratap Singh, a distinguished son of the soil and a freedom fighter. The University was established on the 20th July 1968 and got UGC recognition in February 1972. It has membership of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and All Commonwealth Association of Universities (ACAU).
The APS University is a teaching-cum-affiliating University with its jurisdiction over 150 colleges situated in the districts of Rewa, Satna, Sidhi, Shahdol, Umariya and Singrauli.
The University is located on a 246.20 acres plot of land in the north of Rewa City, at a distance of about 5 kms, with its campus lying on either side of Rewa-Sirmour Road. Besides the over-looking administrative block, the University complex comprises of the departments of Environmental Biology, Physics, Science Block, Humanities Block (including its extension), Ambedkar Bhawan (Hindi Department), MBA Department, Tribal Centre, Computer Centre, Vikram Space Physics Centre, USIC, Central Library, Antarbharati, Arjun Chhatra Griha, Guest House, Yoga Hall Hostels for boys and girls, Auditorium, Stadium, and Staff Quarters. Besides, there are branches of Allahabad Bank, Employment Bureau and Indian Post Office as well as Medical dispensary within the campus. It also has a small meteorological observatory and plans are for a seismological observatory.