University of Crete

University of Crete

Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης
Established	1973
Rector	Odysseas Zoras
Academic staff	548
Administrative staff	420
Undergraduates	14,688
Postgraduates	2,099
Location	Rethymnon and Heraklion, island of Crete, Greece
Campus	Voutes-Heraklion, Galos-Rethymnon
Affiliations	FORTH[6]
Website	http://www.uoc.gr

The University of Crete (UoC; Greek: Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης) is the principal higher education institution on the island of Crete, Greece, and one of the country's most academically acclaimed and reputable ones. The University ranked 51st in the The Times Higher Education (THE) annual list of the top 100 universities founded in the past 50 years.

The University of Crete, is a multi-disciplinary, research-oriented institution, located in the cities of Rethymnon (official seat) and Heraklion, in the island of Crete. It is a University well known both nationally and internationally for its state of the art research, undergraduate curricula, and graduate programmes. It is considered one of the best universities in Greece mainly due to its research influence: it ranks in the top 400 Universities of the World by The Times Higher Education list, and also in the top 100 universities under 50 years by the QS World University Rankings. It is notable that it achieves this distinction although it has less than 30% of the faculty members in comparison to other larger academic institutions in Greece.

The University of Crete was established in 1973 and started functioning in the academic year 1977-78. As all Universities in Greece, it is a public university and as such it operates under the supervision of the State and all its educational activities, as well as a part of its research activities, rely upon government funding. The supreme administrative body of the University is the senate, which is presided over by the Rector of the University. The Head of the University is the Rector who is assisted by three Vice-Rectors in the exercise of his duties; all four together form the institution's high authority. They are elected for a period of four years by the teaching staff and representatives of the student body. The current rector is Prof. Odysseas Zoras.

As of 2014, there is a student population of approximately 12,000 active students enrolled at the university (10,000 at the undergraduate level and 2,000 at the postgraduate level), more than 540 Faculty members as well as approximately 420 administrative staff.