The Wellesley Programme was set up in 1989 as a joint venture between the University of Auckland and the Auckland Institute of Technology, and named after the street running between the two institutions. It was a year-long pre-degree programme to prepare students for tertiary studies. It quickly became an initiative run entirely by the University of Auckland, and was one of several options available in the general area of Foundation Studies. The Wellesley Programme proved to be very good preparation for university study for students who had been out of school for some time, and who needed to catch up on basic skills. Many students who completed the Wellesley Programme went on to finish degrees.

In 2002, the programme was granted CUAP approval, and this brought some changes. Firstly there was a new name: 'the University of Auckland Tertiary Foundation Certificate Programme'. Also the structure changed to fit into the universitys semester system, and the UoATFC Certificate became a formal qualification, providing entry to degree studies for students who successfully passed seven courses in the programme.