The University

The University of Crete was founded in 1973 and began operating in the academic year 1977-78. Today, more than 20,000 students are enrolled. The School of Philosophy, the School of Social Sciences and the School of Education operate in Rethymnon, while in Heraklion the School of Medicine and the School of Sciences and Engineering (SSE) operate.
The SSE consists of the Departments of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Materials Science and Technology. The departments of Heraklion are located in the Voutes Campus.

The already established and well organized Departments of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Medicine at the University of Crete, with internationally acclaimed personnel, laid the foundation of the Department of Materials Science and Technology on an interdisciplinary basis. Its establishment and growth resulted in the strengthening of our new and dynamic regional University. The Department, equal and complementary to the other Departments, contributes to the development of the University of Crete into an Education Center, not only for Greece but also for the whole of Southeast Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

The Department

The aim of the Department of Materials Science and Technology is to grow into a modern, pioneering and dynamic center for the development of a cutting-edge research field, which will meet the needs of modern industry and economy. It also seeks to participate in modern developments in the field of science and technology in a field with continuous and rapid growth on a medium- and long-term basis.

Research activities internationally focus on the development of new materials through the understanding of the composition-structure-processing-properties relationship. The Department sought to develop in this direction postgraduate studies in the field. The postgraduate program leads both to the acquisition of a Master’s Degree and to the preparation of doctoral theses (Ph.D.). The development of postgraduate studies was based on the long experience of organized postgraduate programs of the existing Departments of the School.

The accommodation and support of the other Departments to the new Department during the first years of its operation is reciprocated through the new courses offered to all University students and also through interdepartmental collaborations at the level of joint research and postgraduate programs. Also, students from other Departments can continue their education at a postgraduate level in the Department.

The Department started operating the undergraduate program from the academic year 2001-2002 when its first 50 students enrolled. Its master’s program commenced in the academic year 2003-2004. The seat of the Department is the Voutes campus. In addition, the research laboratories of the adjacent Foundation for Research and Technology (microelectronics, polymers, semiconductors, superconductors, surfaces, biochemistry, biomaterials, medical applications, laser applications for material processing) are used to carry out the diploma and postgraduate theses of students.
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