The first attempt to establish the University was made at the end of the 19th century, when a tsar’s decree was issued. The idea was embodied in 1918 owing to the efforts of domestic intellectuals and the support of Ukrainian scientists. It initially had four faculties: historical-philological, juridical, medical and physical-mathematical.

Owing to the efforts of the leading scientists and all personnel of professors and teachers, well-known scientific schools in the sphere of mathematics, mechanics, radio physics and radio electronics, rocket-space technics, neurocybernetics, biotechnologies, inorganic chemistry, historiography and source study, history of Ukraine, archaeology, Germanic studies, study of literature and linguistics etc. were established and are successfully developing. The achievements of the University scientists are marked with numerous national and branch awards, prizes, grants of foreign scientific-educational establishments.

In the Dnipropetrovs'k national university – in one of leading classical universities of Ukraine, the balanced system of the organisation and providing of fundamental and applied researches, research-design works, scientific, scientific and technical and innovative forms of activity which is caused by requirements of development of a science for the state and educational process is created.

Work of a research part of university organizationally and methodically structured according to types of research works.