The University of Crete (Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης) is the principal higher education institution on the island of Crete, Greece, and one of the country's most academically acclaimed Universities. The University ranked first in Greece in the Times Higher Education (THE) 2021 World University Ranking, and =76 worldwide in the THE Young University Ranking of top universities founded in the past 50 years. There are over 18,000 undergraduates and 3,000 postgraduates students registered here. They are educated by an outward-looking academic faculty of around 450 members, supported by adjunct lecturers, post-doctoral researchers, laboratory staff and instructors, as well as around 300 technical and administrative staff. The Natural History Museum of Crete, the Skinakas Observatory, and the Finokalia Atmospheric Monitoring Station are among the facilities of the University of Crete. Research and research training at all levels also benefits from the de facto regional cluster of research institutions i.e. the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture (IMBBC), the University General Hospital (PagNi) as well as the other HEIs in Crete. Although still young, the University has shown its commitment to the evolving process of European integration through the European Research and Education Area, and participates in a range of ERASMUS+, Horizon and other EC programmes. The University of Crete is organized into Schools, which are composed of Departments with related disciplines. University of Crete has 2 campuses in Rethymnon & Heraklion.