Democritus University of Thrace

The Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH; Greek: Δημοκρίτειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θράκης), established in July 1973, is based in Komotini, Greece and has campuses in the Thracian cities of Xanthi, Komotini, Alexandroupoli and Orestiada.

The university today comprises eight schools — School of Humanities, Engineering School, Law School, School of Agricultural Sciences, School of Education Sciences, School of Economic and Social Sciences, School of Health Sciences and Physical Education and Sport Sciences and eighteen Departments.

As of 2020, there is a student population of 25,919 registered undergraduates and 5,071 registered postgraduate and PhD students, a research and teaching personnel of over 600 as well as approximately 300 administrative staff.[4] As a university it is state-owned and fully self-administered. It is thus supervised and subsidized by the Greek State and the Minister for National Education and Religious Affairs. The university plays an important role in strengthening the national and cultural identity of the region of Thrace, and contributes to the high level of education in Greece.

Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) was established in July 1973, with its first students attending just the Department of Law and the Department of Civil Engineering in 1974.

It was named after the ancient pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Democritus who was born in the city of Avdira. He is primarily remembered today for his formulation of an atomic theory of matter.

Its nucleus based in Komotini, Greece and two faculties and 20 departments in four Thracian cities - nine in Komotini, five in Xanthi, four in Alexandroupoli and two in Orestiada.

There are eight schools: school of humanities, engineering school, law school, school of agricultural sciences, school of education sciences, school of economic and social sciences, school of health sciences and physical education and sport sciences all covering 18 departments.

The total number of students is approximately 30,000, including 18,000 undergraduates. The research and teaching staff body is around 600, plus approximately 300 administrative staff.

Democritus University of Thrace is based in Komotini, a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece and is home to a sizeable Turkish-speaking Muslim minority.

It is one of the main administrative, financial and cultural centres of northeastern Greece, as well as a major administrative, financial and cultural centre of northeastern Greece.

The Democritus University’s presence makes Komotini home to thousands of both Greek and international students, and this factor, combined with the eclectic mix of Western and Oriental aspects of the city’s quotidian life, make it an increasingly attractive tourist destination.

Name and emblem

DUTH old logo

The emblem of the Democritus University of Thrace represents the influential Ancient Greek pre-Socratic philosopher Democritus. He was born in Abdera, Thrace and is primarily remembered today for his formulation of an atomic theory of matter.

History

The university was established in July 1973 and accepted its first students in the academic year 1974–1975. The first departments to operate were the Department of Law and the Department of Civil Engineering. It was named after Democritus, the ancient Greek philosopher who hailed from the town of Abdera in Thrace.