The School of Music Studies was founded in 1984 as a part of the School of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University by the issue of Π.Δ. 169/1984 and commenced operation the next academic year 1985/86. It is the first university music department which has operated in Greece and in general it is the first tertiary music studies institution in the history of modern Greece. 
During its operation, the School of Music Studies has designated three honorary doctorates: to the composers Mikis Theodorakis and Iannis Xenakis† and to the musicologist, Professor Emeritus of University of Hamburg, Konstantinos Floros.