Greek Universities: Choosing the Best and Admission Requirements

Where in Europe can a foreigner get a free higher education? In Greece! We will tell you how to enroll in one of the Greek universities and what kind of education they provide.

What universities are there in Greece?

All higher education institutions in Greece are state-owned. They have approximately the same admission and study conditions for foreigners.

• Universities operate according to the Bologna system.
• Bachelor’s programs in Greek are free for foreigners. English-language programs are paid and there are few of them.
• Each university sets its own conditions for accepting master’s students. Master’s programs for foreigners are usually fee-based.

Bachelor’s degree programs last on average 4 years, and master’s degree programs last 1-2 years.  

A diploma from a Greek state university does not require confirmation in other European countries: you can attach it to your application for a master’s program at a European university or to your CV for a potential employer. In the USA, a Greek diploma must be confirmed.

In Greece, there are conditionally private universities – branches of colleges and universities from other countries. For example, a branch of the College of New York offers American-style programs, taught in English. Such higher education is paid by both foreigners and Greeks. Sometimes foreigners choose this type of education due to the low cost of living in Greece, especially compared to the United States and Great Britain. But there are no branches of the world’s leading universities in Greece. Commercial universities are small and do not occupy high places in the national educational ranking.

What do you need to study in Greece?

In order to study at a Greek university for free, a foreigner must know Greek at a minimum level of B2 and submit documents within the allotted time. You can also learn the language at special courses at the university, but they are paid – about €600 per year.

The Ministry of Education accepts documents from applicants to all state universities for only one week in July. If the documents are not filled out correctly, you will have to wait for a new window next year.

To apply for a bachelor’s degree programme you must:

• Apostille a school certificate
• Translate personal documents and school education data into Greek
• Obtain a Greek Tax Identification Number (TIN) in order to pay the fee for processing documents
• Submit documents in Greek to a special division of the Ministry of Education
• Receive a grade point average recalculated according to local standards and a certificate of compliance of the education received with them

To apply for admission, the applicant attaches a recalculated average grade, a list of 20 priority faculties in any state universities. The competition is held only on the basis of the average grade of the certificate. Around August, the lucky applicants will receive information about the faculty to which they were enrolled based on the results of the competition.

Even on a free programme, students must pay around €800 a year. This money is used to finance libraries and campus infrastructure, discounts in canteens and on transport. But the education itself is free.

Ranking of Greek Universities

Education received at a Greek university meets European standards. Universities offer programmes in tourism and hospitality, engineering, medicine, law, economics and other sectors.

Almost all large universities have a universal profile: they teach art, medicine, and computer science. There are no separate pedagogical or medical institutes.

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

The largest Greek university offering education in the fields of exact and social sciences, arts. There are more than 33 bachelor’s degree programs here – medicine, law, pedagogy, directing, civil engineering, philology and many others.

Place in the international QS ranking: 508.

Advantages:

• Excellent material base – own clinics, laboratories, farms, a large library and 3 dormitories
• Established international connections – students can go to another European country on an exchange programme

Athens Polytechnic University

It occupies the best positions in international rankings among all Greek universities. It offers high-quality education in the field of construction and architecture, applied physics and mathematics, chemistry, and computer technology.

Place in the international QS ranking: 321.

Advantages:

• The teachers are internationally recognized research scientists
• Hostel complex of 15+ buildings
• Participation in an international exchange programme
• Opportunities for implementing applied projects – there are research centers on the university campus that help preserve local culture and solve business problems.

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

The university offers training in various programs – medicine, computer technology, history and archeology. But the leading direction of training remains medicine.

The university includes more than 200 clinics and laboratories where medical students conduct practical classes.

The university offers a fee-paying Bachelor of Medicine program in English. Tuition fees start from €15,000 per year.

Place in the international QS ranking: 393.

Advantages:

• Location – some of the faculties are nestled in the center of Athens, near the walls of the Acropolis
• Care for international students – a special support department helps them complete the necessary documents and adapt to university life
• Participation in European exchange programmes, international research projects – students immediately become part of the global scientific community.

University of Crete

A relatively young state university, but already managed to receive the title of the best in the country several years ago. Offers undergraduate degrees in pedagogy, computer science, medicine, engineering, as well as many master’s programs.

Place in the international QS ranking: 601.

Advantages:

• Location on a quiet, beautiful island – life here is a little cheaper than in Athens, but there are no fewer entertainment and recreational opportunities.
• Decent material base – the young university has its own observatory, one of the largest libraries in Greece.

University of Patras

Another young university with a modern approach to education. One of the first in Greece to begin voluntary certification for compliance with European quality standards in education.

Offers undergraduate degrees in pedagogy, geology, aircraft engineering, philosophy, and medicine—more than 20 programs.

Place in the international QS ranking: 761.

Advantages:

• Located on the coast of the Peloponnese – in a green area with many attractions and entertainment, direct ferry service to Italy.
• New classrooms, laboratories and campus infrastructure.
• The faculty includes many international professors, providing connections to the global academic community.
• The university participates in exchange programmes and international research projects.

What kind of visa do you need to study at a Greek university?

Students receive a 1-year residence permit based on a certificate of enrollment. Resident status can be extended until the end of their studies + for a year after receiving a diploma to find a job.

Residencies are issued on the territory of the country. To enter, you need to obtain a long-term visa D at the Greek consulate in your home country. The student will require:

• Letter from the university
• Financial guarantees – a sponsorship letter from parents, a certificate of their salary, a bank statement showing savings covering expenses from €415 per month
• Results of the medical examination

The Greek student residence permit does not lead to citizenship by naturalization, as it is not counted in the total period of residence. After graduation, graduates need to find an employer who agrees to hire a foreigner, otherwise – leave the country. And competition in the Greek labor market is very high.

For families who want to move to Europe, it is more profitable to obtain a Greek residence permit for real estate purchase. Expenses for the whole family will amount to €250,000. Having lived in the country for 7 years and learned the language, holders of an investment residence permit and their children can apply for Greek citizenship.

Astons does not provide consultations on admission to universities abroad. But our experts know everything about the available programs for obtaining a residence permit and citizenship by investment. If you are interested in obtaining a Golden visa in Greece or other countries, contact our specialists for a free consultation.