The University of Crete is the principal higher education institution on the island of Crete, Greece.

The University was established in 1973 and started functioning in the academic year 1977-78. As a higher education institution, it is a legal person of public law, i.e. it operates under the supervision of the State. The seat of the University is in Rethymnon. The organisation and administration of research are based on the principle of autonomy.

The supreme administrative body of the University is the senate, which is presiding by the Rector of the University. Head of the University is the Rector who is assisted by two Vice-Rectors in the exercise of his duties; all three form together the institution's high authority. They are elected for a period of there years by the teaching staff and the representatives of the student body.

The University of Crete has 6,618 students (5,875 at the undergraduate level and 687 at the postgraduate level), more than 400 Faculty members and researchers as well as approximately 240 administrative staff, in Schools and their Departments in the cities of Rethymnon and Heraklion.

At Rethymnon, the School of Letters comprises the Departments of History, Archaeology, Philosophy and Social Studies and Philology. The School of Social Sciences comprises the Departments of Economics, Psychology, Sociology and Political Sciences while the School of Education comprises the Departments of Primary Education and Pre-Primary Education.

At Heraklion, the School of Sciences includes the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics, while the School of Health Sciences includes the faculty of Medicine.

Although still very young, the University of Crete has already shown its commitment in the evolving European process. It is currently coordinating and participating in European Union programs and activities such as ERASMUS, LINGUA, TEMPUS etc. and has important links and cooperations with other Mediterranean andEastern European countries as well as with many US Universities and Colleges, through international Programs.

External links

• Official Site (http://www.uoc.gr)

See also

• List of universities in Greece