Higher Education at affordable tuition fee and scholarships for international students in Greece,

Higher education,in Greece, is consist of academies, polytechnics, technological educational institutes (TEI), universities,and foreign affiliated educational institutes. No tuition fee is charged in public schools at all level and textbooks are provided free of cost  to all citizen students.The universities offer undergraduate program leading to a degree program spreading over a wide range of core and elective courses.The study programs, from short training seminars,e-learning education programs,conferences, to full-fledged bachelor's and master's degree programs are taught entirely in English, in Greek, or both languages. Some universities have a degree program with structured specialization pathways or ‘directions’; others offer opportunities for specialization through the elective courses.There are above 20 universities offering 223 postgraduate courses and 14 TEIs that cover a total of 81 specializations in the fields of graphic arts and art studies, management and economics, health and caring professions, applied technology, food technology and nutrition, agricultural technology and music technology  in Greece.

Bachelor degree (undergraduate courses) generally last for 4 years (240 ECTS) in most of the courses. It takes 5 years (300 ECTS) in programs of agronomics, engineering, dentistry, forestry, pharmacology, and some programs in fine arts. But duration of studies is 6 years (360 ECTS) in the field of medicine. Likewise postgraduate (MSc level) courses last from 1 to 2 years(60-120 ECTS) and doctorates (PhD covering 180-360 ECTS) from 3 to 6 years. Although Greece is a small country, its universities and technological institutes are spread over a huge geographical area (including many islands), often established for local political and economic reasons rather than real academic needs.The majority of higher education institutions of the country are located in  two cities, Athens and Thessaloniki. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have been  placed, among the Top 301-400 universities, in Academic Ranking of the World Universities in 2016.

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (ceremony hall)

University of Patras

National Technical University of Athens

University of Thessaly

International Hellenic University  (Library)

Athens University of Economics and Business

The Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs is responsible to regulate the education in Public & Private sector. Although tertiary institutions are autonomous to some extents but State allocates funds and distribute students  for undergraduate degree courses. The Ministry is not only responsible to validate degree awarding status of Public but also exercise control over some private institutions/colleges that are awarding degrees of foreign universities. An entrance qualification is necessary but students are required to take admission based testing to determine if the student can study at the school and, if so, what level of courses he or she needs to take. All university applicants including international  students, will need to take this test for entering into university.

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Academic Calendar

The academic year starts on September 1 every year and ends on August 31 of the following year.
The educational work of every academic year is organized in two semesters, the fall semester and the spring semester, each of which comprises 13 weeks of teaching and two or three weeks of exams.

• Fall semester courses start in the last week of September and end in late January, followed by the first exam period of the fall semester.
• Spring semester courses start in mid February and end at the end of May, followed by the first exam period of the spring semester.

Undergraduate Studies Applications

In Greece undergraduate students in all universities are conducted on the basis of the applicant's performance at national level entrance examinations (‘Pan-Hellenic’ exams).  These examinations are administered by the Ministry of Education and currently held once a year. Successful admission to a higher education institution is determined through the combination of:

 a) the candidate’s exam scores
 b) the candidate’s choices (by order of preference) of desired degree courses and academic institutions,
 c) the number of places available in each academic department.

The application and selection procedures for candidates to all undergraduate University programs in Greece are made centrally, through the Ministry of Education, and the number of students for each University and Department is also determined each year by the Ministry of Education.

International Students

International students wishing to study for an undergraduate degree in Greece should start by choosing a course and an institution. Applications are then made in July of each year through the Ministry of Education

Applications and admissions procedures differ for:
 (a) candidates of Greek descent,
 (b) for EU and non-EU students where neither they nor their parents hold Greek nationality or citizenship.

Candidates of Greek Descent

The Ministry of Education website provides detailed information about the special admission procedures which apply for candidates of Greek descent (in Greek).  Check this site for relevant announcements, guidelines, and application forms (Μηχανογραφικό). 

Nationals of EU- and non-EU countries

The Ministry of Education website provides detailed information about the application requirements for nationals of EU- and non-EU countries . Check this site for the latest announcements, guidelines, and application forms.  The guidelines (in Greek and English) for the latest available year (2015-16).

Language Proficiency

The language of instruction for undergraduate courses is Greek.

International candidates who have not graduated from a Greek or Cypriot high school (Lykeio) must have a  3^rd level or higher-level Certificate  of Proficiency in the Greek language before enrolling in the selected School or Department. 

 Postgraduate Applications

Applications for postgraduate studies (Masters and PhD) are made directly through the relevant academic department.   Prospective candidates can find all the necessary information on the application and selection procedures through the postgraduate program guides and/or through the website of the relevant department of the universities of choice.  

Calls inviting applications to a Masters program are announced through the University’s homepage and through the Department's sites.  Application deadlines probably are in February-March for Masters programs starting in October (beginning of the new academic year), but check the exact dates through the university's site

PhD candidates can submit applications at any time, but they should  make an application up to June for PhD studies that will begin in the new academic year (October). PhD candidates should contact the Department in question concerning specific requirements and deadlines.

Requirements

In the case of universities that offer postgraduate courses it is essential to have a post-graduate diploma in order to obtain a doctorate. Permission to prepare a doctoral dissertation at universities which do not offer regular post-graduate courses is granted to applicants who meet certain prerequisites. Certain university departments (e.g. the Polytechnic) award only a doctoral degree. The departments themselves lay down the admission requirements that may include:

• Candidates for the Masters programs must have a Bachelor Degree in a related field,
• PhD candidates are normally also required to hold a Masters degree.
• If the Bachelors or Masters degrees were obtained from a University outside Greece they need to be approved by the National Academic Recognition Center (NARIC). In this case the formal starting date for doctoral studies is the date of approval of the degrees by NARIC.

Fee & other cost

 As Public, HEI the Universities have no tuition or bench fees and relies on state funding to meet the bulk of its operational costs. Some Universities do charge fees to non-EU international students enrolled in undergraduate and joint master program courses etc. to cover a proportion of their study costs and textbooks. Most of the  universities now charge fees ranging from €3000 up through €10,000 per year of study. This is set by the schools, not by the government. However Master and Ph.D  are conducted free of cost and they have associated scholarship schemes. It is important to check fee schedule for the selected program before starting the admission process.

Grants, Loans or Scholarships

Admission to undergraduate courses and tuition are free so far, except for certain specific courses like MBAs. Meals and housing may also be provided, depending on the student’s family income and the pre-conditions set by each academic institution. Students are entitled to free medical care and a reduced fare on public transport. Those wishing to attend Greek language courses are expected to pay some fees, and foreign students may be required to make a financial contribution to cover the operating expenses of the study program they are attending (the contribution is fixed by the state).

- Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs

- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation

Visas for Students

Students from EU Member States need :

• Only a valid passport or Identity Card to enter Greece.
• If you are staying longer than three months, you are required to register with the Aliens Office at the Police Headquarters of the Municipality where you are living.

Students from non- EU Member States

Foreigners from non-EU countries (with certain exceptions) wishing to study in Greece will need to acquire a student visa (type D). The visas are issued by the Embassy, High Commission, or the Consulate of the Republic of Cyprus  in the home country of the applicants. If you have a visa issued by one of the Schengen countries, it is automatically valid for all other Schengen countries. In general, a student visa is issued on acceptance of students to an educational full time program of (at least of 12 credits in a semester) an accredited, recognized school  approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Besides the following standard documents required to submitted:

• Passport & 2 passport size  photographs,
• An affidavit of sponsorship or  proof of funds,
• Medical and police clearance certificates,
• Academic transcripts,
• Language Proficiency Certificates,
• Acceptance letter and other documents from the host institution in Greece,
• Applicants can expect to have an interview with consulate staff.

The list of universities.

Academies and schools

• CITY College, International Faculty of the University of Sheffield
• ALBA Graduate Business School
• Hellenic Air Force Academy
• University of Indianapolis - Athens Campus
• Hellenic Military Academy
• American College of Greece (Deree College)
• MBS College - College of Crete (in Heraklion)
• American College of Thessaloniki (Anatolia College)
• American Farm School (Perrotis College)
• Hellenic Naval Academy
• iCon College 

Technical Educational Institutes (TEI) /Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS)

• Technological Educational Institute of Western 
• Technological Educational Institute of Central Macedonia (campuses: Katerini, Kilkis, Serres)
• Technological Educational Institute of Crete (campuses: Heraklio, Chania, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra, Sitia)
• Technological Educational Institute of Western Macedonia (campuses: Kozani, Florina, Kastoria, Grevena and Ptolemaida)
• Technological Educational Institute of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (campuses: Kavala, Drama, Didymoteicho)
• Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese (campuses: Kalamata, Sparti)
• Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly (campuses: Larissa, Karditsa, Trikala)
• Piraeus University of Applied Sciences
• Technological Educational Institute of Epirus (campuses: Arta, Ioannina, Preveza, Igoumenitsa)
• Technological Educational Institute of the Ionian Islands (campuses: Lefkada, Argostoli, Lixouri, Zakynthos)
• Technological Educational Institute of Athens
• Technological Educational Institute of Central Greece (campuses: Amfissa, Chalkida, Karpenisi, Lamia, Thiva)
• Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki
• School of Pedagogical and Technological Education
• Greece (campuses:Patras, Missolonghi, Pyrgos, Aigio, Nafpaktos and Amaliada)

Universities & Technical Universities

• National and Kapodistrian University of Athens 301-400 (2016 ARWU)

• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki  301-400 (2016 ARWU)
• University of Peloponnese (campuses: Tripoli, Korinthos, Kalamata, Nafplio, Sparti)
• Agricultural University of Athens
• University of Ioannina
• International Hellenic University
• National Technical University of Athens
• Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
• Athens University of Economics and Business
• University of Western Macedonia (campuses: Florina, Kozani)
• University of Piraeus
• Harokopio University
• Hellenic Open University
• University of Macedonia
• Technical University of Crete
• Ionian University
• University of Crete (campuses: Heraklion, Rethymno)
• Athens School of Fine Arts
• University of Patras (campuses: Patras, Agrinio)
• Democritus University of Thrace (campuses: Komotini, Xanthi, Alexandroupoli, Orestiada)
• University of Thessaly (campuses: Larissa, Volos, Karditsa, Trikala, Lamia)
• University of the Aegean (campuses: Mytilene, Chios, Karlovasi, Rhodes, Ermoupoli, Myrina)