There are three phases in the development of Hangzhou Dianzi University.

Zhejiang Electrical College

Hangzhou Dianzi University, initially known as Aviation Industry Finance School, was established in March 1956, and it was affiliated with the Second Ministry of Machine Building.

In June 1958, the school changed its name to Hangzhou Aviation Industry School, under the administration of the First Ministry of Machine Building.

In December 1958, the school was assigned to Zhejiang province, and it merged with the Motor Division of Zhejiang Machinery College (now Zhejiang Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering) into Zhejiang Electrical College, under the administration Zhejiang Provincial Machinery Agency.

In April 1961, the school changed its name to Zhejiang Machinery Industry School, under the administration of Zhejiang Provincial Machinery Department.

In November 1962, the Central government reclaimed the administration of the school, under the administration of the Third Ministry of Machine Building.

In March 1963, the school is assigned to under the administration of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building.

In January 1965, the school changed its name to Hangzhou Wireless Industry Management School, under the administration of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building.

In February 1970, the school was changed to be a factory, with its name being Xuejun Machine Factory, under the administration of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building.

In May 1973, approved by the central government, the school recovered with the name of Hangzhou Wireless Industry School, under the administration of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building.

Hangzhou Institute of Electronic Industry

On May 8, 1980, the State Council formally approved the establishment of Hangzhou Institute of Electronics Industry, and it is managed under the guideline of "Under the dual administration of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building and Zhejiang Province, with Ministry administration being primary and provincial administration being supplementary."

In 1981, the institute began to recruit master's students.

In 1990, the institute was entitled to a grant master's degrees.

In 1996, the institute was approved to entitled to grant doctor's degree of "circuit and system" doctoral jointly with the former Hangzhou University.

In 1997, the Ministry of the Electronics Industry (China) and Zhejiang Province signed an agreement to co-build Hangzhou Institute of Electronic Industry.

May 2000, the school management system witnessed major changes. It became under the "provincial and ministerial co-administration, province-based" management system and, it was listed as a key construction teaching research university in Zhejiang Province.

In 2003, the former Hangzhou Publishing School was incorporated into the school. Approved by the Ministry of Education, the school was entitled to jointly grant doctoral degrees.

Hangzhou Dianzi University

In May 2004, Hangzhou Institute of Electronic Industry changed its name to Hangzhou Dianzi University.

In 2007, the Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (the predecessor of the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense) and Zhejiang Provincial Government signed an agreement for the first time to co-build Hangzhou Dianzi University.

In 2009, the university became doctoral degree conferring institutions.

In March 2011, Zhejiang Provincial Government signed an agreement with the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense to continue building Hangzhou Dianzi University during the "12th Five-Year Plan" period.

In 2015, it was listed in the first group of the 5 universities with prior development by Zhengjiang Provincial Government.

In 2016, the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and Zhejiang Provincial People's Government continued to co-build Hangzhou Dianzi University during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period.

In August 2017, the university was listed as one of the universities being able to recommend graduate students for admission to graduate schools without entrance exams. It was also chosen to be listed in the Plan 111.