The department was created on September 10, 1991 on the basis of Ukrainian and Russian Languages Section that was part of the Department of Foreign Languages. Initially, it was called the Department of Russian and Ukrainian languages. The first foreign students who came to SSU were citizens of Palestine, Syria and Jordan.

Viktor A. Zavhorodnii became the first Head of the department. During the period of his work he managed to create functional and creative team of co-thinkers that carried out multi-aspect activities aimed at training and education of foreign nationals.

Due to broadening of the fields of work, the department was renamed as the Department of Language Training for Foreign Citizens in April, 2009. In 2009-2012 Maryna S. Kazandzhyieva, Associate Professor, Candidate of Pedagogic sciences worked as an Acting Head of the Department.

In 2012-2015, the department was headed by Viktor B. Zvagelskyi, Associate Professor, Candidate of Philology.

Since April, 2015, the department has been headed by Associate Professor,Сandidate of Pedagogic Sciences Larysa V. Bidenko.

During its work, more than 12,000 foreigners from more than 50 countries have received language training at the department.