The Faculty of Physics at the Universitat de València traces its origins back to October 1961, when the Physics Section was established within the former Faculty of Sciences, located at number 13 on what was then Paseo de Valencia al Mar, now Avenida de Blasco Ibáñez. Until then, the Faculty of Sciences had consisted solely of the Chemistry Section. The subsequent establishment of the Mathematics and Biology Sections, together with the steady increase in student numbers, led to a reorganisation of science studies at the Universitat de València.

On 19 September 1977, the former Faculty of Sciences was divided into four separate faculties: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Biology. This marked the birth of the present-day Faculty of Physics, initially known as the Faculty of Physical Sciences. As part of this reorganisation, science studies were relocated to the new Burjassot Campus, where the Faculty has carried out its teaching and research activities ever since.

A major change took place in the 1993–1994 academic year, with the introduction of new degree programmes at the Universitat de València and the restructuring of existing specialisations offered by the Faculty. The former degree in Physical Sciences was replaced by a degree in Physics, while new programmes were introduced in Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Optics and Optometry, and Technical Telecommunications Engineering, specialising in Electronic Systems and Telematics. All these programmes were administered by the Faculty of Physics.

In 2003, the establishment of the School of Engineering (Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria) brought about a further reorganisation. From the 2003–2004 academic year onwards, the Departments of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, previously part of the Faculty of Physics, became part of the new School, together with their associated degree programmes. As a result, the Faculty of Physics progressively focused its academic activities on Physics and Optics and Optometry.

The adaptation to the European Higher Education Area brought further changes to university education, and the introduction of the new Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes began in the 2010–2011 academic year. Today, the Faculty is responsible for the Bachelor's degrees in Physics and Optics and Optometry, as well as the double degrees in Physics and Mathematics and in Physics and Chemistry. Its postgraduate programmes include Master's degrees in Advanced Physics, Medical Physics, Advanced Optometry and Vision Sciences, and Remote Sensing. The Faculty also participates in two interuniversity Master's programmes, in Quantum Technologies and Environmental Radiation Protection.

The internationalisation of education has also become an increasingly important part of the Faculty's activities. In addition to its numerous student mobility programmes with universities across Europe and beyond, the Faculty has recently introduced an international double degree programme in Physics in partnership with Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. This programme allows students to complete part of their studies in Valencia and part in Mainz and, upon successful completion of the joint Bachelor's and Master's study pathway, to obtain the corresponding degrees from both universities.

The Faculty of Physics is currently home to six departments: Astronomy and Astropysics; Applied Physics and Electromagnetism; Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics; Theoretical Physics; Earth Physics and Thermodynamics; and Optics, Optometry and Vision Sciences.

Alongside teaching, research is one of the Faculty's core missions. Academic and research staff are actively engaged in a wide range of fields within Physics and Optometry, spanning the study of elementary particles, gravitation, the Universe and the Earth, as well as nuclear physics, materials science, photonics, optics and vision sciences. Their work encompasses both fundamental research and scientific, technological and medical applications. These activities are carried out by numerous internationally recognised research groups, based both within the Faculty's departments and in research institutes and other research structures affiliated with the Universitat de València. These include the Instituto de Física Corpuscular (IFIC, a joint UV–CSIC research institute), the Institut de Ciència de Materials de la Universitat de València (ICMUV), the Observatori Astronòmic de la Universitat de València and the Laboratori de Processament d’Imatges (LPI).