The Ionian University was founded at the same time with the Universities of the Aegean and Thessaly, in accordance with Presidential Decree 83/1984 as amended by P.D. 302/1985. It is governed by a 17-member Governing Committee, of which 9 members are appointed by the Minister of Education and 8 members represent the University.

Departments Established

• Department of History
  (Began operating in the academic year 1985-1986)
• Department of Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpreting
  (Began operating in the academic year 1986-1987)
• Department of Music Studies
  (Began operating in the academic year 1992-1993)
• Department of Arhives and Library Sciences
  (Began operating in the academic year 1993-1994)