Nursing courses were first provided in Tarragona in 1981 with the creation of the Joan XXIII University School of Nursing and in Tortosa in 1983 with the Verge de la Cinta University School of Nursing. These institutions were affiliated to the University of Barcelona. In 1991, the Joan XXIII University School of Nursing in Tarragona became part of the University of Barcelona and in 1992, the school was transferred with all the other programmes of the Tarragona division to the recently founded Universitat Rovira i Virgili.
In 1992, the Verge de la Cinta University School of Nursing in Tortosa also became part of the URV, and in 2005 the Terres de l'Ebre Campus was opened. In 2009, the Baix Penedès Campus, and in 2022 the new Vilafranca del Penedès Campus was created with its offer of nursing courses.
In February 2012, the University School of Nursing became the Faculty of Nursing (DOGC No. 60888, 15-03-2012).