Study in Athens, Greece

About Athens

Athens is the capital of Greece and the country's main centre for government, business, culture and higher education. The city combines the Acropolis and the ancient sites of the centre with dense modern neighbourhoods that stretch from the mountains to the port of Piraeus.

Students come to Athens for degrees at Greek public universities, for Greek language courses, for exchange semesters and for private and vocational training. According to Study in Greece, the official information portal of the Greek universities, the country has 24 higher education institutions, which offer more than 200 international study programmes.

Studying in Athens

Athens is home to Greece's oldest university. The University of Athens (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) was inaugurated on 3 May 1837; today it has 42 departments, about 100,000 students and doctoral candidates, and around 4,000 foreign students. It offers a medical degree taught in English and Modern Greek courses at every level from A1 to C2. Public Greek universities accept foreign students; their bachelor's and master's programmes are taught in Greek or in English, so it is worth checking the language of each programme first.

Our directory currently lists two schools in Athens. City Unity College was founded in 1999 as a branch of City University of Seattle and, since 2010, has operated as a post-secondary education centre licensed by the Ministry of Education. Its study areas include business administration, computer science, law, psychology, physical education, tourism and maritime studies, in cooperation with universities such as Cardiff Metropolitan University, London Metropolitan University and Coventry University. According to the college, graduates can have the professional rights of their degree recognised by the Greek state through the ATEEN procedure. The Nikos Amarantos hairdressing school, at Akadimias 78 in the centre, has trained hairdressers since 1960 and prepares students for the state certification exams of vocational training (SAEK).

Cost of living for students

Study in Greece estimates that apartment rents for students range from €250 to €600 a month, with €80 to €120 for monthly utilities. Tuition for international programmes averages €5,000 to €13,000 a year for bachelor's degrees and €1,000 to €8,000 a year for master's degrees. University dormitories are cheap or free, but places are limited and usually go first to students on low incomes or scholarships. University restaurants serve free meals to eligible students and low-priced meals to everyone else.

Public transport is inexpensive. According to OASA, the Athens transport authority, a 90-minute single ticket costs €1.20 and a 30-day pass for the city network costs €27 in 2026. Students with a Greek academic ID pay reduced fares (€0.50 per ticket and €13.50 for the 30-day pass) on a personalised ATH.ENA card.

Getting around and daily life

OASA's network covers buses, trolleybuses, trams and metro lines 1, 2 and 3. Metro line 3 runs to Athens International Airport; a metro airport ticket costs €9 (€4.50 reduced). Athens has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Visa and admission

Students from outside the EU need a student visa. Study in Greece explains that the first step is an official acceptance letter from a university or institution certified by the Greek Ministry of Education. For master's programmes, applicants contact the department's secretariat for deadlines and required documents.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Athens?

Yes, in programmes taught in English, such as the University of Athens' medical degree in English. Public universities teach their bachelor's and master's programmes in Greek or in English, so check the language of each programme.

How much does it cost to live in Athens as a student?

Study in Greece estimates €250 to €600 a month for rent and €80 to €120 for utilities. A 30-day transport pass costs €27, or €13.50 with a student academic ID.

Can I learn Greek in Athens?

Yes. The University of Athens runs a Modern Greek language teaching centre with courses at every level from A1 to C2.

Do I need a visa to study in Athens?

Students from outside the EU need a student visa, for which they first need an official acceptance letter from an institution certified by the Greek Ministry of Education.