University of Patras


University of Patras is a public university in Patras, Greece. It is the third largest university in Greece with respect to the size of the student body, the staff, and the number of departments.
The University of Patras is considered one of the best universities in Greece and has been placed in the top 200 universities in subject areas.
In 2019, the student population was more than 33.000. It has 715 faculty members, 226 scientific staff members and 454 administrative personnel and comprises 7 Schools and 35 Departments.

History

The University of Patras was established on 11 November 1964 as a self-administered academic institution under the supervision of the Greek Government. It was housed in the city centre of Patras, Greece and later in a campus area of about 600 acres selected in 1968 and appropriated on behalf of the university, located in the adjacent municipality of Rio. Covering an area of 4.5 km2, it is one of the largest in the country.
In June 2013 the University of Western Greece was incorporated in the University of Patras. In 2019 the Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece was incorporated in the University of Patras. The University is situated in Patras, Messolonghi, Agrinio, Aigio, Pyrgos, Amaliada. The campus in Patras is located in the suburb of Rion.
Besides education, the University of Patras is involved in research in areas such as Environment, Health, Biotechnology, Mechanics, Electronics, Informatics and Basic Science. A number of the Departments, Laboratories and Clinics have been designated as Centres of Excellence, on the basis of International Assessment.

Emblem

The emblem of the university is Andrew the Apostle. Its opening took place on 30 November 1966 which is the date that the city of Patras celebrates its patron "Saint Andrew". This is the reason that the emblem of the University is an X cross which symbolises the one on which St. Andrew was crucified.

Academic profile

The University consists of seven Schools, thirty five Departments with undergraduate study programs leading to a degree.
Furthermore, the University of Patras offers Postgraduate programs, as well as Digital and Open Courses.

SchoolsDepartments
School of Agricultural Sciences
Founded in 2019.
School of Economics and Business Founded as School of Business Administration in 2013. Renamed to School of Economics and Business in 2019.
  • Department of Business Administration
  • Department of Business Administration of Food and Agricultural Enterprises
  • Department of Economics
  • Department of Management Science and Technology
  • Department of Tourism Management
School of Engineering Founded in 1967, it includes a Department of Engineering Sciences.
  • Department of Architecture
  • Department of Chemical Engineering
  • Department of Civil Engineering
  • Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics
  • Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Technology
  • Department of Environmental Engineering,
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics
School of Health Rehabilitation SciencesFounded in 2019.
  • Department of Nursing
  • Department of Physiotherapy
  • Department of Speech & Language Therapy
School of Health Sciences Founded as the Medicine School in 1977. Renamed to School of Health Sciences in 1983.
  • Department of Medicine
  • Department of Pharmacy
School of Humanities and Social Sciences Founded in 1989.
  • Department of Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education
  • Department of Education and Social Work
  • Department of History and Archaeology
  • Department of Museum Studies
  • Department of Philology
  • Department of Philosophy
  • Department of Theatre Studies
School of Natural Sciences Founded as the School of Mathematics and Physics on 19 October 1966. Renamed to the School of Natural Sciences in 1983.
  • Department of Biology
  • Department of Chemistry
  • Department of Geology
  • Department of Materials Science
  • Department of Mathematics
  • Department of Physics

Research

In its 161 laboratories, research is conducted by students and teaching staff members.
Apart from regular teaching and research activities, the laboratories are the focal points for the creation of national and international research consortia. The university participates in all major European research programmes.
The management of research projects is carried out by the Research Committee and its administration unit. The financial management of research projects with external funding produces resources for the University, which are used for specific educational and developmental activities, as well as funding of researchers. In recent years, over 2700 research projects, financed both by the State and the European Union have been carried out.

Academic evaluation

An external evaluation of all academic departments in Greek universities was conducted by the Hellenic Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency.
In 2015 the external evaluation committee gave University of Patras a Positive evaluation.

Location and campus

The Campuses of Patras are situated in the suburb Rion which is 7 km North East of the City of Patras within the Municipality of Patras, and at Koukouli, Patras. Departments of the University of Patras are located in the cities of: Messolonghi, Agrinio, Aigio, Pyrgos, Amaliada.
The campus of Rion is located next to the University Regional General Hospital of Patras. It is a self-contained campus.
The University's campus in Rion has four entrances. The track and field and sporting grounds are in the southern part.
The first buildings of the university campus of Rion were a unit of 20 small ground level pre-fabricated buildings, still housing some academic and administrative offices. In 1972 the construction of buildings "A" and "B" started. Building "A" houses the administrative services, the rectorship, the Senate's Conference Hall, the University's Ceremonial Hall, a teaching amphitheatre and seminar halls.
Following the master plan, 25 buildings were eventually built, along with a new Library, and many more are under construction for the housing of most of the Departments, a Museum of Science and Technology, a Botanical Garden, a new Student Centre. Within the campus there are also found the Students' Residence Hall, the Conference and Cultural Centre, a Restaurant, a Bank, a Bookstore, the University's Publishing House, cafeterias and kiosks. The University Conference Centre is the only building of the University outside the campus. It is located three kilometres west of the campus. The campus has not been completed yet.
Within the campus of Rion there is also the Regional University Teaching Hospital which functions both as the major regional medical centre and as a teaching facility for the Faculty of Medicine.
Concurrently there is a continuous effort to upgrade and improve the landscape within the campus, although extensive infrastructure projects, landscaping and athletic facilities have been completed. Several other facilities are available on campus including a gymnasium, a post-office, a swimming pool, a nursery school, a primary and secondary school for the children of the Academic Faculty and Administrrative Personnel.
In addition to constructing new buildings, new sites at the surroundings have been appropriated on behalf of the University. The campus of Rion has many open-spaces, green shady areas covered with characteristically Mediterranean olive groves.

Gallery

Notable alumni