Faculty of Vocational Studies Universitas Airlangga is the 14th faculty in Universitas Airlangga based on the Statute of Universitas Airlangga established through Government Regulation Number 30 Year 2014 on May 14, 2014. This was strengthened by the Rector Decree of Universitas Airlangga No. 1539/UN3/2014 on the Adjustment of the Mention of Vocational School as Faculty of Vocational Studies and Determination of the Flag of Faculty of Vocational Studies on June 4, 2014.

The establishment of the Faculty of Vocational Studies is in accordance with the mandate of Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 20 of 2003 concerning the National Education System, Law No. 12 of 2012 concerning Higher Education, Government Regulation No. 30 of 2006 concerning the Determination of Universitas Airlangga as a State-Owned Legal Entity, as well as the Articles of Association and Bylaws of Universitas Airlangga, which states that Universitas Airlangga organizes higher education for academic, professional and vocational education types.

Prior to the establishment of the Faculty of Vocational Studies, the organization of diploma education (which is now under the coordination of the Faculty of Vocational Studies) was entrusted to academic faculties in eight faculties that had been developing diplomas, namely: Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, and Faculty of Science and Technology. With the establishment of the Faculty of Vocational Studies, the type of vocational education at Universitas Airlangga will be more focused and is expected to become a pioneer Faculty of Vocational Studies in Indonesia, parallel to the types of academic and professional education that have developed earlier, and become a driving force for applied research at the diploma, applied bachelor, applied master, and applied doctoral levels in Indonesia.

Based on Indonesian Law no 12 of 2012 in article 16 (1) Vocational education is a Higher Education diploma program that prepares students for jobs with certain applied expertise up to applied bachelor programs (2) Vocational education as referred to in paragraph (1) can be developed by the Government up to applied master programs or applied doctoral programs (3) Guidance, coordination, and supervision of vocational education are under the responsibility of the Ministry.

The forerunner of the Faculty of Vocational Studies at Universitas Airlangga has been running since 1984. At that time, it organized diploma programs managed by academic faculties. At that time, Faculty of Medicine held a diploma III Medical Analyst, Physiotherapy, Radiology and Traditional Medicine (BATTRA) program; Faculty of Dentistry held a diploma III Dental Health Engineering program; Faculty of Public Health held a diploma III Hyperhealth and Occupational Safety program; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine held a diploma III Integrated Animal Health program; Faculty of Economics and Business organizes diploma III programs in Accounting, Taxation, Marketing Management, Banking Management, Secretarial and Office Management, and Hospitality Management; Faculty of Social and Political Sciences organizes diploma III programs in Library Engineering and Tourism/BinaWisata; Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences organizes diploma III programs in English; Faculty of Science and Technology organizes diploma III programs in Information Systems and Instrumentation System Automation.

On January 27, 2012, the Rector established the establishment of Vocational School of Universitas Airlangga through Rector Decree Number 983/H3/KR/2012. At that time, the organizational structure of the Vocational School was not yet established. The new Vocational School leadership was inaugurated on March 28, 2014 through the Decree of the Rector of Universitas Airlangga Number 850/UN3/2014. According to the Decree, the Rector appointed Dr. Dian Agustia, S.E., M.Si, Ak, CMA, CA as the Dean; Dr. Imam Subadi, dr, Sp.KFR as the Vice Dean 1; Dr. Heru Tjaraka, SE, MSi, Ak, BKP,, CA as Vice Dean 2 and Dr. Retna Apsari, M.Si as Vice Dean 3. With the enactment of UNAIR Statute and with the Decree of Rector of Universitas Airlangga No. 1539/UN3/2014 on the Adjustment of the Mention of Vocational School as Faculty of Vocational Studies and Determination of the Flag of Faculty of Vocational Studies and Decree of Rector of Universitas Airlangga No. 1530/UN3/2014 on Determination of Transfer of Management of Diploma 3 (D3) Program from Faculties to Faculty of Vocational Studies, Faculty of Vocational Studies is legally formal and ready to realize excellence with morality together with academic faculties and professional faculties in Universitas Airlangga.