Name and Address of the Institution

University of Crete: Rethymnon Campus, 74100 Rethymnon,Crete

It has a population of 6,123 students (5,133 at undergraduate level and 990 at post graduate level) trained by approximately 400 members of teaching and research staff.

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

In Heraklion, the School of Sciences includes the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics, while the School of Health Sciences comprises the Faculty of Medicine.

The Schools and Departments located in Rethymnon are situated in the area of Gallos, four kilometres away from the city.

The School of Health Sciences and the Departments of Physics and Biology are situated in the area of Voutes, five kilometres away from Heraklion, near the University Hospital. In the same area, the premises of the remaining Departments of the School of Science are being built.

However, for the time being, these Departments are housed in pre-fabricated buildings in the area of Knossos.

Students from partner Universities who plan to move to the University under a SOCRATES/ERASMUS grant should send directly to the International Relations Office the following:

a) Student application form and learning agreement (provided by the Home University).

b) Two passport photographs.

c) Verified transcript of academic record.

The completed forms should be sent:

By the end of June, for students wishing to come for the winter semester.

By the end of November, for students wishing to come for the spring semester.

Incoming students who have submitted the required documents in time and have been accepted by the University of Crete will receive their student cards upon arrival.

The Office is situated in the School of Sciences, at Knossou ave., (White Building, room B210).

Staff:

Ms Anastasia Diakatou: Student exchanges, tel +30 81-393180, Fax +30 81-210073

Ms Sophia Toufexi: Student grants, administration: Tel: +30 81-393176, Fax: +30 81-210073,

2. Practical Information

Route to Heraklion

There are also frequent flights connecting Heraklion with other Greek cities (e.g. Athens, Thessaloniki, and Rhodes) throughout the year, as well as direct flights to European destinations for most of the year.

University medical insurance can be provided (i.e. free medical services, hospitalisation, dental care, diagnostic tests and medical treatment at public hospitals).

If you do not come on the date you have stated, the reservation will be cancelled, unless you have notified the Office of International Relations in advance. Any change of address during your stay must be reported to the Office of International Relations. Upon arrival, all students should be prepared to pay a deposit equivalent to one month's rent and the month's rent in advance. In Heraklion the Accommodation Department manages a certain number of double rooms in hotels situated in various parts of the town. The rooms are furnished and heated, with private bathroom. All locations are to be found within a short distance from the University premises and are linked by frequent public transport (~ 15 to 20 minutes). The University’s policy for incoming Erasmus students, is to limit the cost of rooms at the very low price of 25,000 drh* (~ 82 EURO) per month, for each person (utility charges included), payable in the beginning of each month. The first month's rent is due upon the first week of arrival, regardless to the length of the student's stay.

Private houses’ rent can vary from 30,000-70,000 drh (~ 100–230 EURO) per month and do not usually include utility charges (electricity, water, etc.) All negotiations are to be held between the tenant (student) and the landlord.

accommodation 60,000 drh (~200 EURO)

catering 45,000 drh (~150 EURO, self-catered)

other expenses 50,000 drh (~165 EURO)

Study Facilities

Libraries

The libraries of the University of Crete in Rethymnon and Heraklion have an on-line connection through an Integrated Library System called PTOLEMEOS II, which has been the result of close co-operation between the Library and the Computer Centre of the University. PTOLEMEOS II is one of the most popular library systems in Greece and has been installed in six other Universities and Research Institutions all over the country

The libraries, like all other University Departments and Institutes, have access to the Internet.

In Heraklion the University’s library operates through three branches: One is serving the Science Department situated in the old campus in the South East part of the town, the second one serving the Medical Faculty and the last one, the Department of Physics in the new campus, in the west part of the town. The Heraklion branches subscribe to about 700 periodical titles and purchase about 1,200 titles of monographs per year. They accommodate 120 readers and are open from 8.00 to 17.00 during weekdays and from 9.00 to 14.00 on Saturdays. A focal point of electronic information operates in the Science branch and gives researchers and students on line access to most of the existing databases.

In each of the campuses there are rooms fully equipped with computers (PC’s Macintosh, X-terminals and workstations) where students can be trained 6 days per week from 9.00-21.00. Visiting students may have access to INTERNET during their study period at the University of Crete.

Greek Language Courses

The city of Heraklion

History connects the place with antiquity and ... Europe. It was in Crete that, according to Greek Mythology, Zeus -the Father of Gods- brought the beautiful young lady called Europe with who he had fallen in love. Their romance gave birth to a son, Minos, whose name was carried by all subsequent kings of Crete.

During the Minoan era, Heraklion was probably a port town for Knossos, the cradle of Minoan civilisation (2,000-1,450 B.C.). Ancient historians such as Strabo made references to Heraklion. In his writings (of the first century A.D.) he refers to the port town of Knossos as Herakleium, obviously named so in honour of Hercules (Heracles) who had come over to Crete to capture a wild bull (the seventh of his Twelve Labours).

The most important events in the history of the city are the following:

- During the 9^th century AD the Arabs occupied Crete and founded at the site of Heraklion a new city called Rabdh al Khandak ("Castle of the ditch"), - the name "Handakas" is still used by the older residents of Heraklion.

- In the 10^th century the Byzantine took control of the island and managed to stay in power till the beginning of the 13^th century.

- During the 13^th century (1,204) the city fell in the hands of the Venetian. The Venetian period covers four and a half centuries and was a period of great progress for the city in terms of trade, architecture, literature and art. The world famous painter Dominicos Theotocopoulos (El Greco) was born in Heraklion where he first began painting. Many Venetian monuments still remain in Heraklion, such as the old walls, which surround the old part of the city, the port fortress (Koules), the Loggia, Morozini’s fountain, etc.

- After the legendary siege of Heraklion by the Turks (it started in 1,648 and lasted for about 25 years) the Venetian were forced to surrender and thus the period of Turkish rule started.

- Cretans revolted many times against the Ottoman Turks, in 1,770, 1,821, 1,866 and 1,895. In 1,898 the island of Crete was granted a status of autonomy by the Ottoman Empire and in 1,912, the island was eventually united to Greece.

Visitors to Heraklion almost invariably visit the Minoan antiquities. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion exhibits findings from the Neolithic period (5,000 BC) to the Roman period (4^th century AD) and it is unique in the world for the variety of its exhibits. On the outskirts of Heraklion (5 Km from the city centre) lie the reconstructed remains of the Knossos Palaces.

There is also an excellent Historical and Ethnographic Museum with exhibit relics from the post-Roman period, Byzantine, Venetian Turkish and Modern Greek periods.

For those who love literature, Heraklion is connected with the name of Nikes Kazantzakis, one of the most famous Greek writers of the 20^th century. He was born and raised in this town where he lived for several years. He is buried at the promontory of the Venetian walls, not far from the centre of the city. An interesting place to visit is the museum dedicated to him at his ancestral village of Myrtia (15 kilometres from Heraklion).

Contemporary Heraklion is a cosmopolitan city, the third port of the country and one of the major Mediterranean harbours. Its ideal location (at the crossroad of East and West) and its mild climate made the city, as well as the whole island, a major tourist centre. The city hosts cultural activities with a local, European and international dimension and appeal: art exhibitions, theatre performances, cultural events, international conferences, scientific meetings, etc. Finally, in recent years the University and its research institutions have made the island a centre of Greek academic life, and a respected participant of international science.

1 Xanthoudidou str tel. +30-81- 244463, or,

Student Unions

There are many restaurants throughout the city preparing take away or/and free home delivery with a minimum charge of a 1,000 drh the order. You can find many leaflets with full-length description of dishes and prices. Restaurants close to the University tend to be cheaper. Near the city centre you can find restaurants with traditional Greek or Cretan food, Italian, Chinese and Mexican food. Lion's Square, in the city centre, is packed with little shops that sell snacks or souvlaki. These are open 24 hours a day.

Cultural Life

Cultural teams in Heraklion consist of:

The University chorus "Fragiskos Leontaritis", a Theatrical team, a Photographers team, Music teams, a Painters team, a biker’s club and a cinema club.

Sports