DHE was formed as Universities Administrative Office in 1964.
In 1972, it was renamed as Department of High Education.
According to People's Assembly Law No(4) Department of High Education was formed as Department of Higher Education.
On 1 April 1998, it was divided into DHE (Upper Myanmar) in Mandalay and DHE (Lower Myanmar) in Yangon.
On 1 April 2015, it was reformed as Department of Higher Education.