The University of Patras was founded in the city of Patras in 1964 and it began functioning in the Academic year 1966-67. The establishment of the University contributed vastly to the decentralization of Academic Education in Greece. In June 2013 the University of Western Greece was incorporated in the University of Patras.
In 2014, the University of Patras celebrates 50 years of Academic operation, marked by continuous development and constantly emerging new achievements. The University presently stands well ahead of its original goal, which was to set “a firm model of an Academic institution providing Greece with a highly qualified Alumnae contributing to the society’s development and growth”. Today, the University of Patras enjoys recognition as an Academic Institution with a worldwide impact, attracting thousands of students and a large number of Academic and Research Personnel actively involved in the cutting-of-edge science, Innovation and Excellence.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics offers a broad-based education for engineering, encompassing professional disciplines associated with current and future needs as well as with developments in both Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering. It was founded in 1967, providing curricula in Mechanical Engineering since 1972, on a five-year course basis and preparing graduates for industry, government, education and research both at home and abroad. Since 1995 the Department has been expanded and started offering curricula in Aeronautics in both undergraduate and post-graduate levels. The Department covers a variety of career objectives sought by its graduates, leading to a Diploma degree, equivalent to the MS of Engineering, after a five- year study and the successful accomplishment of a Diploma Thesis, equivalent to Masters Thesis.