Universities in Greece

Universities in Greece are, by the Constitution, public institutions. According to Eurydice, the EU's network on education systems, higher education in Greece is public and free of charge, and it is provided by universities, polytechnic schools, the Higher School of Fine Arts and the School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE). Study in Greece, the official national portal, counts 24 public universities, including 4 polytechnic schools, and more than 200 international study programmes.

Alongside the state system, a 2024 law (l. 5094/2024) allows foreign universities to open branches in Greece as University Legal Entities (ULE), which award degrees equivalent to those of Greek public universities. American-style colleges also teach in Greece, often with degrees validated or accredited abroad. For an international student, the main choice is between a Greek-taught degree at a public university, an English-taught programme, and a private college.

How it works

Studies follow the three Bologna cycles and ECTS credits, with 60 credits per academic year:

• First cycle (bachelor's degree, ptychio): at least 4 years for most subjects, 5 years at polytechnics and in fields such as agronomy, forestry, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and some arts, and 6 years for medicine
• Second cycle (master's degree, diploma metaptychiakon spoudon): at least two semesters and 60 credits; some first-cycle programmes lead directly to an integrated master's degree
• Third cycle (doctorate): a thesis, with 3 full calendar years to complete the programme

All universities must meet the quality standards of the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE). The 24 state universities teach more than 1,000 undergraduate programmes in Greek. English-taught bachelor's degrees are fewer and are listed by Study in Greece; examples include the Bachelor of Laws at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the International Program in Medicine at the University of Crete. Most international programmes are at master's level.

Examples from our directory: the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (founded in 1925) and the Democritus University of Thrace (1973, based in Komotini) are state universities; the International Hellenic University (IHU) runs English-taught programmes through its University Center of International Programmes of Studies in Thessaloniki. The American College of Thessaloniki (ACT) currently operates under Anatolia American University, which the recognition body DOATAP lists as a non-state university. Deree – The American College of Greece, City Unity College and the Paros-based Hellenic International Studies in the Arts are private institutions with their own links to foreign universities.

Admission

Greek students enter state universities through the national pan-Hellenic exams. Foreign students apply instead as a special category of candidates through the Ministry of Education, provided that neither they nor their parents hold Greek nationality. For the 2026-27 academic year the online application ran from 2 July to 9 July 2026; results usually come out in late August. Documents need an Apostille stamp (or consular validation) and an official translation into Greek. These programmes are taught in Greek, so a good level of the language is needed before you start.

English-taught master's degrees are applied for directly at the university. Each programme sets its own admission requirements, selection criteria and fees; candidates are usually chosen through a selection process and/or oral or written exams. According to DOATAP, holders of a foreign degree do not need to have it recognised by DOATAP before applying for a master's or PhD: the university assesses the degree itself. Private colleges have their own admission rules, so check them with the college.

Costs and funding

According to Study in Greece:

• Greek-taught undergraduate programmes at public universities are free
• English-taught bachelor's programmes cost 5,000 to 15,000 EUR per year
• master's programmes cost on average 3,000 to 7,000 EUR per year and usually last three semesters
• renting an apartment costs 250 to 600 EUR per month; students with financial needs can often live in university residence halls for free

The State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) is the national scholarship body and also runs Erasmus+ in Greece; its calls include IKY-Fulbright scholarships for US researchers. Students at European universities can also spend a semester in Greece through Erasmus+ agreements between their home university and a Greek university.

How to choose

• Language: Greek-taught degrees are free but require fluent Greek; English-taught programmes charge tuition fees
• Type of qualification: a degree from a Greek state university or ULE, or a degree validated by a foreign university at a private college; check how it is recognised in your country
• Level: most English-taught options are master's programmes; English-taught bachelor's degrees are concentrated in a few fields such as medicine, law and engineering
• Location: Athens and Thessaloniki have the most universities; regional universities such as Democritus in Thrace have campuses in smaller cities
• Exchange: if you only want a semester, ask your home university about Erasmus+ or partner agreements

Frequently asked questions

Are universities in Greece free for international students?

Greek-taught undergraduate programmes at public universities are free. English-taught bachelor's programmes cost 5,000 to 15,000 EUR per year, and master's programmes on average 3,000 to 7,000 EUR per year, according to Study in Greece.

Can I study in English in Greece?

Yes. Greek universities offer more than 200 international programmes, mostly at master's level, and a smaller number of English-taught bachelor's degrees, for example in medicine and law.

How do foreign students apply to a Greek-taught bachelor's degree?

Through the Ministry of Education's special category for foreign candidates whose parents are not Greek. For 2026-27 the online application ran from 2 to 9 July 2026, with results usually announced in late August.

Do I need DOATAP recognition to start a master's in Greece?

No. Under law 4957/2022 you apply directly to the university, which assesses your foreign degree itself.