Study in Greece
Although Greece is bound to offer you unforgettable memories and some amazing experiences, it’s more than just a place for a nice holiday. Who says you can’t also enjoy the Mediterranean weather, the delicious and fresh seafood and charming beaches as a foreign student living in Greece?
One of the oldest nations in the world, with an extraordinary history and culture, Greece has several universities that welcome thousands of international students each year. In Greece, you have the amazing opportunity to study your favourite discipline, visit remarkable sites from Ancient times and enjoy the most laid-back atmosphere you can imagine.
Why study in Greece?
1. Greece is famous for its hospitality
Greeks are some of the most hospitable people in the world. So even if you might suffer from a (minor) cultural shock, the friendly environment will soon make you feel right at home.
2. Greek universities provide modern high education standards
Greek universities have a long history in academics and an increasing number of international students have been enrolling in the past few years.
University classes are not typically formal, so you can expect open debates between students and professors. Courses usually combine theoretical knowledge with research, laboratory work, and internships.
3. Low tuition fees and living costs
Greek universities have affordable tuition fees for International students. On average, students pay a tuition fee of 5,000-13,000 EUR per year for international Bachelor’s degrees, and 1,000–8,000 EUR per year for Masters. Being one of the most affordable countries in Europe, you won’t spend a lot on accommodation in Greece. For instance, students with financial needs can often live in university residence halls for free. If you choose to live in an apartment, the rent is between 250 and 600 EUR/month. Monthly utilities can cost you around 80–120 EUR.
4. Relaxing sunny weather
If you love the sun and cannot get enough of it, then Greece is the right place for you. With a Mediterranean climate that involves warm summers, gentle winters, and beautiful beaches, you can forget about thick clothes, frozen fingers, and the especially frustrating runny nose.
5. Greece is the cradle of civilization
With a long history and stunning landmarks and monuments, it's no wonder that Greece is a major touristic attraction.
After you get tired of enjoying the sunny beaches and visiting the largest islands, don't forget to check out the Acropolis in Athens, Delphi, the Metéora Monasteries, the temple ruins of the Parthenon, the sacred site of Delos, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, etc.
Which universities and colleges to attend in Greece?
Greece has 24 public higher education institutions. Greek universities award Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degrees in a broad range of scientific disciplines from STEM to Arts and Humanities, Health Sciences, Economics and Business.
Here is a list of Greek universities to consider:
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Athens University of Economics and Business
- University of Piraeus
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- University of Patras
What is it like to study in Greece?
In Greek universities, the class atmosphere is generally very relaxed, and professors are friendly, encouraging students to ask questions. You will be surrounded by international students coming from all over the world, so you will enjoy a multicultural environment.
Generally, the class schedule is pretty busy, lectures start early in the morning and you would have to attend several lectures in a row. Practical exercises or laboratories always complement theoretical knowledge, regardless of your chosen study field.
In most university campuses, students frequently organise social activities like plays, painting exhibitions, or scientific lectures.
What to study in Greece?
Greece is known as the birthplace of democracy and the country had also had a major influence on early sciences such as mathematics and physics. Plus, many of the world’s best-known philosophers were known to teach around Ancient Athens: Socrates, Plato, or Aristotle – to name a few.
Due to this interesting legacy, you can’t go wrong if you choose to study history and philosophy, but you can also find many Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees specialising in fields like Archaeology, Finance, Communications, Shipping, and Business.
Here are some of the most popular study options in Greece
You can find more study programmes by browsing through this booklet.
Where to study in Greece?
A large portion of Greek universities are located in the country’s biggest cities, Athens and Thessaloniki; but you can also find other universities in Heraklion, Mytilini, Patras, and Volos.
In any student city you will choose, you will feel the relaxed atmosphere that everyone talks about in Greece. Major Greek cities are filled with cultural attractions, from old churches to castles and since all cities are surrounded by the sea, you can either enjoy walks on a beach or boat rides in your free time.
Check out some of these cities and learn more about what it is like to study there:
How to apply
Let's look at a few useful tips and tricks you can use during the university application process:
Apply for a Bachelor’s degree
You have to submit all required application documents online through the Hellenic Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs.
All of your documents must be translated into Greek and authenticated by a Greek diplomatic authority abroad or by the Translation Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Greece.
Apply for a Master’s or PhD degree
You have to apply online and send all of the required application documents to your chosen university.
Carefully check all the required application documents, making sure they are all translated into Greek. For instance, an internationally recognised Bachelor's degree or equivalent is the main requirement for enrolling in a Master’s degree at a university in Greece.
Make sure to know what the language requirements are, and whether you need to prove skills in English before enrolling in a degree programme.
Show how you performed as a student, and be sure to know what your Grade Point Average (GPA) was during your studies.
To help your chances of going to Greece, be sure to apply to more than one university!
You can submit your application using the @SiG platform
How to qualify for a Greek university?
Take Preparation Courses
These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes.
Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.
Improve your English through an English-language prep course
If you’re attending a degree programme in Greece, you will sometimes need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.
English-language tests
There are over 200 English-taught programmes in Greece.
Universities in Greece will want to see proof that you have good English-language skills so that you can easily succeed in their courses. Almost all Greek universities accept these official English exams:
Living in Greece
Let's take a closer look at tuition and living expenses in Greece:
Tuition fees in Greece
Higher Education degrees in Greece are cost-effective.
International students are charged affordable tuition fees. On average, students pay a tuition fee of 5,000-13,000 EUR per year for international Bachelor’s degrees, and 1,000–8,000 EUR per year for Masters.
Accommodation costs
Being one of the most affordable countries in Europe, you won’t spend a lot on accommodation in Greece. For instance, students with financial needs can often live in university residence halls for free.
If you choose to live in an apartment, the rent is between 250 and 600 EUR/month. Monthly utilities can cost you around 80–120 EUR.
Health care
EU citizens have free access to most healthcare services provided by public hospitals in Greece with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Students coming from some non-EU countries might benefit from free medical care due to reciprocal agreements with Greece. If this is not the case, you will need to arrange private health insurance before your departure to Greece. However, most hospitals that accept foreign insurance are those in Athens or Thessaloniki.
Food costs
Buying from local supermarkets would lead to food bills of around 200 EUR/month. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant is around 10 EUR, but you can also find cheap food for around 5 EUR.
At some university canteens, you can have 3 free meals per day with a student card that costs only 20 EUR per semester.
Overall, you should prepare about 400–600 EUR/month for living costs in Greece.
About Greece
Greece is located in south-eastern Europe, on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. Greece lies at the meeting point of three continents – Europe, Asia and Africa. Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning around 3,400 years. Athens is widely referred to as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy.
Greece is a democratic country with an advanced economy; some of the most important sectors include shipping, trade, education, healthcare, real estate, transport, finance, public administration and hospitality services.
Greek is the official language, but don’t worry! You shouldn’t encounter language barriers, as most young people in Greece speak English well.
Iconic places to visitWhile in Greece, you can learn about classical civilization, wander around ancient streets, witness the sites of “Colossus of Rhodes”, and soak in several monuments and archaeological sites from Byzantine churches, to unique villages and castles.
Some of the most popular attractions in Greece are:
- Acropolis of Athens
- Ancient Agora
- Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounio
- Temple of Delphi
- Ancient Mycenae & Epidaurus
- Mount Olympus
- Byzantine city of Thessaloniki
- Palace of Knossos in Crete
- Santorini Island
- Meteora Monasteries
- The famous saying “taking the bull by its horns” comes from the Greek myth of Hercules who saved Crete from a raging bull by seizing its horns.
- Athens is one of the oldest cities in Europe and it is known as the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, political science, major mathematical principles, and theatre traditions of tragedy and comedy.
- The blue colour of house roofs and church domes in Greece is used because of an ancient belief that this shade of blue keeps evil away.
- The name of Athens, the city’s capital originates from Greek mythology; Athena gave the city an olive tree as a gift, which gods considered extremely valuable.
- The Greeks greatly influenced the early concepts of science, and most symbols used in physics and higher mathematics are derived from Greek alphabet.
Universities, colleges and schools in Greece
Athens
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (34 Distance Learning courses)
- Alba Graduate Business School (1 Distance Learning course)
- ELGS - European Law and Governance School (10 Distance Learning courses)
- American College of Greece (6 Distance Learning courses)
- Business and Economics (5 Distance Learning courses)
- Business College of Athens (9 Distance Learning courses)
- Hellenic American College (6 Distance Learning courses)
- New York College (16 Distance Learning courses)
- The Heritage Management Organization (1 Distance Learning course)
- ICon College (1 Distance Learning course)
Glyfáda
- Alpine Center (16 Distance Learning courses)
Komotiní
- Democritus University of Thrace (1 Distance Learning course)
Lárisa
- University of Thessaly (2 Distance Learning courses)
Mytilíni
- University of the Aegean (2 Distance Learning courses)
Thessaloníki
- International Hellenic University (9 Distance Learning courses)
Tríkala
- University of Thessaly (2 Distance Learning courses)
How to Apply to a Master's in Greece
If you've decided to study a Master's degree at a university in Greece, you will have to gather the right documents to prove that you fit the university requirements. Provide complete personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement.
What documents do I need to provide to apply in Greece?
To apply to a university in Greece you will likely be asked to provide some of the following documents:
- birth certificate;
- recent photos;
- your passport or national identity card;
- one or more reference letters from past employers or teachers;
- copies of past diplomas or certificates, including your graduated Bachelor's degree;
- academic transcripts;
- letter of intent;
- Curriculum Vitae;
- Some form of proof that you can support your stay in the country during your studies.
Depending on the subject or specialization of your chosen Master's, you might also be asked to provide scores for additional tests like the GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Check if your programme requires any of these, or others.
The list of documents depends on the specific requirements of universities in Greece so you might be asked to include additional documents. It’s also likely you’ll have to provide official English translations of your documents, or translations in the local language.
Prove your English skills
Because you’ll study an international degree in English, you'll have to present a language certificate. Some popular options for international students are IELTS, TOEFL or C1 Advanced language certificates. You’ll have to meet a minimum language score set by the university, and your test scores shouldn’t be older than 1-2 years. If you don’t meet the minimum language requirements, you will have to improve your skills and scores by taking an English preparation course.
Application deadlines for Greece
The deadlines for applying to a Master's in Greece are usually during summer (June-July), or in winter (January-February). Keep in mind that some universities don’t have application deadlines, which means you can apply whenever you are ready.
To avoid delays or missed deadlines send your required documents with plenty of time in advance.
