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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Examples of higher education institutions 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.
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.
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:
Let's look at a few useful tips and tricks you can use during the university application process:
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.
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
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.
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.
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:
Let's take a closer look at tuition and living expenses 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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Education initiatives created in the past years greatly encourage university international cooperation and academic exchange attracting Bachelors degree students and staff from all over the world. These policies also facilitate mobility of students, graduates and higher education staff. Specialized institutions help prepare students for their future careers and, most importantly, they offer broad global access to high-quality higher education.
The possibility to study worldwide, for instance in Australia, Asia, Europe or North America, opens up opportunities to see more of the world. Not just because you would have the opportunity to travel, but also because it is becoming increasingly easier to go abroad to follow a semester at a different university. There is a wide range of different study options, and one of them can prove to be your dream Bachelors degree programme.
The number of English-taught Bachelors degrees in the world has increased explosively in the last couple of years. Some of the countries with the most English-taught study programmes include Australia, Belgium, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States. However, higher education is often delivered in English in many other countries as well. From highly ranked research universities to smaller, specialised universities, the choices are endless.
A bachelors degree is an academic degree earned for an undergraduate course of study that could range in length of time. This depends on the country, discipline and sometimes the education institution. There is usually a difference between professional and academic bachelor programmes. A professional bachelor?s degree usually takes 4 to 5 years to complete, while an academic bachelor is 3 years long, in most countries. Although this is not always a general rule.
Bachelors degrees exist in almost every country in the world. The study programmes mainly lead to degrees such as: Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Law (LL.B.), Bachelor of Business (B.BA), amongst others.
A one-year honours degree can be achieved after the completion of a regular Bachelors degree in the same field. Sometimes, this means one year of research culminating with a written thesis. It is usually available only to students who achieve high scores in their previous years of undergraduate studies.
At some universities, you have the option of a joint honours degree. This requires at least half of the credits required for each of the respective majors (two subject areas). The subject areas do not have to be highly related, but they usually overlap both faculties and subjects.
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