In 1938, the nucleus of the Alexandria University (formerly known as Farouk University) had its beginning in the form of two faculties of Fouad the First University. These were the faculties of Arts and Law. The faculty of Engineering was then established in 1941.

 In the light of the need for developing more disciplines for higher learning and with a view towards meeting the need of the people of Alexandria, Alexandria University became a separate entity in August 1942 with four additional faculties: Science, Commerce, Medicine and Agriculture.

 In 1952, it became "Alexandria University". Since then, the University witnessed growth and expansion in several fields: the number of Faculties and high institutes increased to 22. Some example of them are as follows:

• Faculty of Nursing, 1954 (formerly, High Institute of Nursing)
• Faculty of Pharmacy, 1956
• High Institute of Public Health, 1963
• Faculty of Education, 1969
• Faculty of Dentistry, 1971
• Medical Research Institute, 1971
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 1974
• Institute of Graduate Studies & Research, 1983
• Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, 1983

Alexandria University supervised the establishment of four faculties in the Nile Delta. Those were: Faculty of Medicine (1962) and Faculties of Science (1969) in Tanta (currently Tanta University), Education and Agriculture (1969) in Kafr-Elsheikh (currently Kafr-Elsheikh University).

 Seven other Faculties were established in Damanhour, the capital of Behera Governorate: the Faculty of Education (1980), the Faculties of Arts, Agriculture, and Commerce (1983), Science, Veterinary Medicine, and Nursing (2007).( currently Damanhour University)

In 1989, the Faculties and Institute affiliated to Helwan University and located in Alexandria joined the Alexandria University by a Presidential Decree: four Faculties of Physical Education for men,  Physical Education for women, fine Arts, and agriculture at Saba-Basha.

A Faculty of Basic Education was also established in 1991, faculty of tourism & Hotels, Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Nursing in Marsa-Matrouh Governorate, 300 Km west of Alexandria.

In 1998, two Faculties affiliated to the ministry of Higher Education, joined the Alexandria University: Kindergarten Teachers Training and Specific Education.

Believing in its role towards Arab and African countries, Alexandria University established in 1960 in Beirut, Lebanon, "Beirut Arab University" which is run and supervised by educational and administrative cadres from Alexandria University.

Recently, Alexandria University is working on the establishment of a branch in Juba, south of Sudan, and in N'djamena in Tchad.

Mansour Fahmy 1946 - 1944	Mohamed Sadek Gohar 1950 - 1946	Mostafa Amer 1953 - 1950	Mohamed Awad Mohamed 1954 - 1953	El-Sayed Mostafa 1958 - 1954	Mahmoud Samy 1958 - 1958	Abd El-Aziz El-Sayed 1961 - 1958	Aly Mohamed Shoaib 1963 - 1961
Mohamed Naguib Hashad 1964 - 1963	Hassan Baghdady 1971 - 1964	Mohamed Lotfy Dewedar 1976 - 1971	Aly Reda El-Henedy 1980 - 1976	Mahmoud El-Hadary 1984 - 1980	Farid Mostafa 1987 - 1984	Abd El-Aziz Abou Khedr 1988 - 1987	Said Abd El-Fattah 1992 - 1988
Essam Salem 1999 - 1992	Mohamed Nasr El-Din Dameer 2003 - 1999	Mohamed Abdellah 2006 - 2003	Hassan Nadir 2009 - 2006	Hind Hanafy 2011 - 2009	Dr. Osama Ibrahim 2014 - 2011	DR. Roushdy Zahran 2016 - 2014