National Technical University of Athens facts for kids

The National (Metsovian) Technical University of Athens (NTUA) is one of the oldest and most respected universities in Greece. People sometimes call it Athens Polytechnic. It's famous for its engineering programs. The university is named "Metsovian" to honor its generous helpers: Nikolaos Stournaris, Eleni Tositsa, Michail Tositsas, and Georgios Averoff. They all came from a town called Metsovo in Epirus.

NTUA started in 1837 as a part-time school called the Royal School of Arts. It taught skills to craftsmen and builders. As Greece grew, this school became the only place to get an engineering degree until the 1950s.

The university has two main locations in Athens. Its original campus on Patission Avenue has beautiful old buildings. A newer campus, the Zografou Campus, was built in the 1980s.

NTUA has nine main schools. Eight of these teach different types of engineering, including architecture. One school focuses on applied sciences like mathematics and physics. Most courses for a first degree last five years.

Getting into NTUA is quite hard. Students need to get very high grades in the yearly Panhellenic Exams. Many top students in science and technology choose to study here.

The university has about 700 teachers and researchers, plus 140 scientific assistants and 260 staff members. Around 8,500 students are studying for their first degree, and about 1,500 are doing advanced studies. Most schools are at the Zografou Campus, but the School of Architecture is still at the Patission Complex.

History of NTUA

NTUA was officially started on December 31, 1836 (or January 21, 1837, by the modern calendar). It was first called the "Royal School of Arts." It began as a part-time school, open only on Sundays and holidays. It trained skilled workers like builders for the new country of Greece.

In 1840, the school became more popular. It was upgraded to a full-time technical school, working alongside the Sunday school. More courses were added, and the school moved into its own building on Pireos Street.

Changes and New Departments

In 1843, the school was reorganized. Three main parts were created:

• Part-Time Vocational School
• Daily School
• A new Higher School of Fine Arts

This new "Higher School of Fine Arts" taught both fine arts and engineering. It quickly grew into a major university. The word "arts" at that time meant both technical skills and fine arts. Even today, NTUA has an architecture school that is connected to fine arts.

The name Polytechnic was first used in 1862 when many new technical courses were added. This growth continued until 1873. The school had so many students that it needed to move to a bigger campus.

Moving to a New Campus

The historical Patission Street campus in a postcard of 1900.

The main facade of the Averof building today.

In 1873, NTUA moved to its new home on Patission Street. It became known as Metsovion Polytechnion (Metsovian Polytechnic). This name honored the people from Metsovo who paid for the campus buildings. Even though the Patission Street campus wasn't finished, the many students made the move urgent.

In 1887, the university was divided into three technical schools: Structural Engineering, Architecture, and Mechanical Engineering. All these programs lasted four years. At this time, the government officially recognized the institute as a technical education center. This was a big step for its growth.

In 1914, new schools were created, and the university was officially named Ethnicon Metsovion Polytechnion (National Metsovian Polytechnic). It came under the control of the Ministry of Public Works. By 1917, the old "School of Industrial Arts" was split into separate Higher Schools for Civil Engineering, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Surveying Engineering, and Architecture. Later, more schools were added, like Naval Engineering and Mining and Metallurgical Engineering. The Mechanical & Electrical Engineering school also split into two separate schools: Mechanical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering. This is mostly how the schools are set up today.

In 1923, former students of NTUA helped create the Technical Chamber of Greece. This group advises the Greek government on technical matters and gives licenses to engineers in Greece.

In 1930, the Athens School of Fine Arts became its own separate school. This allowed NTUA to focus purely on technical studies, while the other school focused on fine arts.

From 1941 to 1944, during the German occupation of Greece, NTUA played an important role. It became a center for the National Resistance in Athens, with many students taking part.

The Polytechnic Uprising

A very important event in NTUA's history is the Athens Polytechnic uprising on November 17, 1973. This event was a key step in ending Greece's military dictatorship.

From November 14 to 16, 1973, students stayed inside the university buildings. They started broadcasting a secret radio message, asking the people of Athens to protest. On the evening of November 17, a military tank broke through the main gate and entered the campus. The uprising ended, but it caused a huge public outcry against the dictatorship. The dictatorship fell in 1974. Since then, November 17 is celebrated as a day of freedom and democracy in Greece. All schools and universities close on this day.

NTUA's Emblem

The symbol of the National Technical University of Athens is Prometheus.

What You Can Study at NTUA

Schools and Departments

The National Technical University of Athens has nine main academic schools. These schools are further divided into 33 smaller departments.

Here are the main schools:

• School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences (Started in 1999)
• School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Started in 1975)
• School of Civil Engineering (Started in 1887)
• School of Mechanical Engineering (Started in 1982)
• School of Architecture (Started in 1917)
• School of Chemical Engineering (Started in 1917)
• School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering (Started in 1917)
• School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering (Started in 1946)
• School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (Started in 1969)

Departments by School

• School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences
  • Department of Mathematics
  • Department of Physics
  • Department of Mechanics
  • Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law
• School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Department of Signals, Controls and Robotics
  • Department of Computer Science
  • Department of Εlectric Power
  • Department of Electromagnetics, Electrooptics and Electronic Materials
  • Department of Industrial Electric Devices and Decision Systems
  • Department of Communications, Electronics and Information Systems
  • Department of Information Transmission Systems and Material Technology
• School of Civil Engineering
  • Department of Structural Engineering
  • Department of Water Resources, Hydraulic and Maritime Engineering
  • Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering
  • Department of Geotechnical Engineering
  • Department of Engineering Construction and Management

View of the School of Mechanical Engineering.

• School of Mechanical Engineering
  • Department of Fluid Mechanics Engineering
  • Department of Thermal Engineering
  • Department of Nuclear Engineering
  • Department of Mechanical Constructions and Automatic Control
  • Department of Manufacturing Technology
  • Department of Industrial Management and Operational Research
• School of Architecture
  • Department of Architectural Design
  • Department of Urban and Regional Planning
  • Department of Interior Design and Landscaping
  • Department of Building Technology-Structural Design and Mechanical Equipment
• School of Chemical Engineering
  • Department of Chemical Sciences
  • Department of Process and Systems Analysis, Design and Development
  • Department of Materials Science and Engineering
  • Department of Synthesis and Development of Industrial Processes
• School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering
  • Department of Topography
  • Department of Geography and Regional Planning
  • Department of Infrastructure and Rural Development
• School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering
  • Department of Geological Sciences
  • Department of Mining Engineering
  • Department of Metallurgy and Materials Technology
• School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
  • Department of Ship Design & Maritime Transport
  • Department of Ship Hydrodynamics
  • Department of Marine Engineering
  • Department of Marine Structures

How Studies Work

Studying for Your First Degree

The school year at NTUA has 10 semesters. Each semester lasts 18 weeks: 13 weeks of classes, a two-week break (for Christmas or Easter), and three weeks for exams. The tenth semester is for students to work on their final project, called a diploma thesis. This project must be related to one of their courses. Students have at least one full semester to complete it. After finishing, they take an oral exam.

Students can also do summer "training" projects at factories or production units. These are optional for some schools and can be partly paid for by the European Union.

Advanced Studies

NTUA offers 20 different advanced study programs. These programs lead to a special diploma and usually last at least 17 months. One program is in Business Administration, done with another university. NTUA also takes part in nine other advanced programs with other Greek universities. After getting this diploma, students can choose to work on a doctoral thesis to earn a PhD.

Research and New Ideas

NTUA is very active in research, as it believes research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Research is managed by staff, but students can also take part. There are several offices that help manage research, including:

• The Special Accounting for Research Office
• The Liaison Office
• The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Unit
• The Internship Programme
• The Office of Researchers
• The Interdisciplinary Research Center
• The Interdisciplinary Unit for Reusable Energy

Research at NTUA is paid for by the university itself or by money from public or private groups.

University Rankings

The National Technical University of Athens is highly ranked among universities worldwide. For example, it was ranked 338th globally by the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities. It was also ranked 116th in the European Union and third in Greece by the same group.

In 2012, the QS World University Rankings placed NTUA between 551st and 600th globally. For specific subjects, it was ranked 152nd for Engineering & Technology and 352nd for Natural Sciences. The National Taiwan University (NTU Ranking) also gave NTUA an "excellent" rating for its scientific papers in 2012.

NTUA also has a high "citation impact score" (0.88) among Greek universities. This means its research is often quoted by other scientists.

NTUA Campuses

Patission Complex

NTUA School of Architecture Library at the Patission Complex

The Averof building is a very important and beautiful building in central Athens. It's a great example of Neoclassical style, designed by architect Lysandros Kaftanzoglou. Its design was inspired by the ancient buildings on the Athenian Acropolis. Construction started in 1862 and finished in 1878.

For over 125 years, the Averof building was used continuously. It even housed the National Gallery and showed ancient items found by Heinrich Schliemann. Over time, the building needed a lot of repair. It was restored and updated, and it reopened in 2010 as an educational building. It even won a big award called the Europa Nostra grand prize in 2012.

Zografou Campus

View of the Zografou campus from Kalogeros hill

The main campus of NTUA is in the Zografou area of Athens. All the schools are here, except for the School of Architecture, which stays at the Patission Avenue location for historical reasons. The Zografou campus is very large, covering about 190 acres (that's like 140 football fields!). It's about 6 kilometers from the center of Athens.

The campus has many buildings with classrooms, labs, libraries, gyms, a main library, a computer center, and a medical center.

• The School of Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences is in the middle of the campus.
• The Mining and Metallurgical Engineering School is right next to it.
• The Civil Engineering School and the Rural and Surveying Engineering School are on the southwest side.
• Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Naval Engineering, and the new Electrical Engineering School are all near the center of the campus.

Getting Around Campus

The campus has roads that let you get to all buildings by bike or car. There are also internal buses that drive around the campus, stopping at eight different places. You can get to the campus through three main gates: Katechaki and Kokkinopoulou Gates in the north, and Zografou Gate in the west. There are 2,000 parking spots around the campus.

The campus is also close to the Katechaki metro station, so it's easy to reach from anywhere in Athens. Six different city buses also go to the campus from various parts of the city.

Central Library

Central Library of National Technical University of Athens

The NTUA Central Library is on the Zografou campus. It started in 1914 and was the first library in Greece with a full index system. Today, it's one of the biggest technical libraries in the country. It has over 215,000 books and 100,000 scientific magazines. The library is open to everyone for studying, and students, teachers, and researchers can borrow books.

The central library building also holds NTUA's historical library. This special collection is unique in Greece and important in Europe. It has about 60,000 old and rare books, pamphlets, maps, and encyclopedias from the 17th century until 1950.

Other Facilities

Lavrion Technological and Cultural Park (LTCP)

The Lavrion Technological and Cultural Park (LTCP) is a place for science, education, business, and culture. It was created in 1992 by NTUA, in the place of an old French mining company.

LTCP aims to connect scientific research from Athens with the needs of businesses. It also hosts cultural events to promote the history of the Lavreotiki area. The LTCP area itself is a special example of old industrial buildings and history.

Today, LTCP is the only technology park in Attica. It focuses on modern technologies like information technology, electronics, telecommunications, robotics, laser technology, environmental technology, energy, and shipbuilding.

Metsovion Interdisciplinary Research Center (MIRC)

MIRC facilities at Metsovo

The Metsovion Interdisciplinary Research Center (MIRC) was started in 1993. Its main goal is to help protect and develop mountain environments and local European cultures. It also offers continuing education.

MIRC conducts research, studies, seminars, and conferences related to its goals. It also works to create a European network with similar organizations. The center aims to help Metsovo become a European hub for NTUA's educational, research, and cultural activities.

Student Life and Culture

Music Department

The NTUA Music Department started in 1960. It has a mixed choir, a string orchestra, and offers free lessons for instruments like piano, guitar, bouzouki, and cello. The music groups often perform for the public at the university and other places.

Dancing Department

The Dancing Department was created in 1990. It's run by students and has different groups, including:

• Greek traditional and Cretan folk dances
• European and Latin Ballroom dances
• Salsa and tango

The groups meet weekly and perform regularly. Dancing lessons are free for students, alumni, teachers, and even people not connected to the university. The dancing department is located near the center of the main campus.

Theatrical Group

The Theatrical Group started in 1991. It's a student-run group that teaches acting and often performs for the public. Joining the group is free for students. The theatrical group is also near the center of the main campus and has a separate percussion lessons group.

Sports

NTUA has great sports facilities at its Sports Center, covering about 3,500 square meters. The campus has tennis and soccer courts, a field for running, a sauna, ping pong tables, and more.

There are over 40 sports teams, and students can practice many activities, including:

• Aerobics
• yoga
• Pilates
• basketball
• volleyball
• soccer
• handball
• ping pong
• tennis
• martial arts

Outside the campus, students can also do swimming, polo, rowing, yachting, rappelling, rafting, squash, wind surfing, and equestrianism.

Every year, different schools within the university compete in championships. NTUA student teams have won many awards in national university games and international competitions.

Open Source Software

There's a student group that promotes the use of open source software at the university and beyond. NTUA officially supports open source software by using it in its labs and hosting copies of major open source projects.

Foreign Languages

NTUA teaches four languages: English, French, German, and Italian. Students who are not on exchange programs must choose one of these as a required foreign language course. For students from other countries, NTUA offers free Greek language courses throughout the school year. These courses help foreign students learn basic Greek to communicate well in Greece.

International Connections

NTUA is part of several international organizations:

• CESAER – Conference of European Schools for advanced Engineering, Education and Research
• EEGECS – Network on European Education in Geodetic Engineering, Cartography and Surveying
• SEFI – Societe Europeene pour la Formation des Ingenieurs (European Society for Engineering Education)
• TIME – Top Industrial Managers Europe

Student Groups

NTUA has many active student groups:

• NTUA Students' Formula Team
• Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, NTUA
• Athens Local BEST Group
• Electrical Engineering STudent's European Association Local Committee of Athens (EESTEC)
• Euroavia Athens, NTUA
• International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers Student Chapter (AIChE)

Famous People Who Studied at NTUA

Many notable people have studied at the National Technical University of Athens, including:

• Nicholas Ambraseys – a professor of engineering seismology.
• Dimitris Anastassiou – helped create the MPEG-2 algorithm for video.
• John Argyris – one of the founders of the finite element method in engineering.
• Dimitri Bertsekas – a professor of engineering at MIT.
• Charalambos Bouras – a historian and architect.
• Georges Candilis – a famous architect and urban planner.
• Giorgio de Chirico – a Greek-born Italian artist and writer.
• Constantinos Daskalakis – a computer scientist and professor at MIT.
• John Iliopoulos – helped create the Standard Model of particle physics.
• Paris Kanellakis – a computer scientist and professor at Brown University.
• Linda P. B. Katehi – a former Chancellor of UC Davis.
• Emmanouil Korres – a professor, writer, and restoration architect.
• Max Nikias – a former President of the University of Southern California.
• Constantine Papadakis – a former president of Drexel University.
• Christos Papadimitriou – a computer scientist who won the Knuth Prize.
• Nicholas A. Peppas – a professor in engineering.
• Dimitris Pikionis – an architect and painter.
• George Prokopiou – a billionaire shipowner.
• Joseph Sifakis – a computer scientist who won the Turing Award.
• Alexis Tsipras – a former Prime Minister of Greece.
• Iannis Xenakis – a very important composer and architect.
• Mihalis Yannakakis – a computer scientist who won the Knuth Prize.

Images for kids

• 

  President of Drexel University Constantine Papadakis, Civil '69

• 

  Computational Complexity author Christos Papadimitriou, ECE '72

• 

  Nicholas A. Peppas, Chemical '71

• 

  Knuth Prize 2005 winner Mihalis Yannakakis, ECE '75

See also

In Spanish: Universidad Politécnica Nacional de Atenas para niños

• Athens Polytechnic uprising
• Polytechnic (Greece)
• List of universities in Greece
• Top Industrial Managers for Europe
• Open access in Greece