Damanhour University (DU) as a scientific and economic establishment was started as branch of Alexandria University. At that time only 4 scientific institutions: Faculty of Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Arts,  and Faculty of Commerce that shaped the distinct identity of Damanhour University (DU). Three more faculties: Science, Nursing, and  Veterinary Medicine were added according to the presidential decrees. Also, the decrees of Alexandria University Council have added new branches for Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindergarten, and Law starting from the Academic Year 2007/2008.
Damanhour Branch of Alexandria University was established on the 1979/1980 academic year with Faculty of Education according to the presidential decree no. 507/1988. 
Then three years later, Faculty of Agriculture was established in the Academic year 1983/1984, and then became an independent faculty according to the presidential decree no. 50/1988. Faculty of Arts was started in Damanhour in 1984 as an extension for the Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University until it became an independent faculty according to the presidential decree 507/1988. Faculty of Commerce was established in Damanhour according to the presidential decree no. 507/1988. Faculty of Science and  Faculty of Veterinary Medicine were established in Damanhour according to the Presidential Decree # 87/2007. Afterwards, Faculty of Kindergarten and Faculty of Pharmacy were started in the academic year 2008/2009.  
Finally, the ex-president Mohamed Hosni Mubarak has issued a Presidential Decree in 26/10/2010 stating the establishment of Damanhour University as an academic scientific identity. This decree  included 12 faculties; Arts, Commerce, Agriculture, Education, Nursing, Sciences Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Kindergarten, Medicine, and Engineering.