The University of Presov was established by Act No. 361/1996 Coll. on the division of the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice with effect from January 1, 1997. This historical event completed the effort of Prešov to create its own university having lasted for several decades. They were bound to this by the long-standing tradition of higher education and research in our city, the beginnings of which are linked to the Evangelical College opened in 1667. Prešov, as the third largest city in Slovakia, is, together with Bratislava, Trnava and Košice, part of the four oldest centres of higher education in Slovakia.

The University of Presov has gone through dynamic institutional development. At the beginning, the university consisted of five faculties – the Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Arts, the Greek-Catholic Theological Faculty, the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology. The number of faculties gradually increased to eight. In 2002, the Faculty of Health Care was established and in 2004, there were established the Faculty of Management and the Faculty of Sports. Since 1997, the University of Presov has developed into a modern and dynamic university with education and research workplaces, equipped with modern information and communication systems.

Rectors of the University of Presov:
 

Dr. h. c. prof. PhDr. Peter Kónya, PhD.
(since 2015)

prof. RNDr. René Matlovič, PhD.
(2007 - 2015)

Dr. h.c. prof. PhDr. František Mihina, CSc.
(2003 - 2007)

prof. PhDr. Karol Feč, PhD.
(1997 - 2003)