In Greece you will study mainly at public universities. The official Study in Greece portal lists 24 universities – all of them public and accredited by the state. They include general universities and four technical universities. They teach humanities, sciences, medicine, engineering and economics, among other fields.
More and more universities also run joint and double degrees with foreign partners, as well as international programmes.
There are also private colleges – they are not universities under Greek law. They run programmes in cooperation with foreign universities, and the degree is usually awarded by the partner university. Before you enrol, check whether such a degree will be recognised in your home country or wherever you plan to work.
Greece follows the Bologna system:
You'll find all bachelor's and master's programmes in the Ministry of Education's search engine.
Greece – bachelor's programmes
Greece – integrated (single-cycle) programmes
Greece – master's programmes
Greece – doctoral programmes
Greek students get into university through national exams (Panelladikes). If you finished secondary school abroad and are not of Greek origin – whether you are an EU citizen or not – you apply in a separate category for foreigners (allodapoi-allogeneis). Your place depends on your school leaving grade average, with no exam.
How it works:
When you enrol, you must show a certificate of Greek (see: Language). If you need a visa, the timeline is tight – contact your university as soon as the results are out to get the acceptance letter you need for the visa application. For a master's degree you apply directly to the programme of your choice.
Applicants with a foreign school leaving certificate don't take entrance exams – the ministry ranks their applications by their secondary school grade average.
To enrol, however, you need Greek at level B2 or higher. Without a certificate you can't enrol straight away – you have to get one before the following academic year, or you lose your right to enrol. People with a Greek or Cypriot secondary school certificate, among others, are exempt.
Bachelor's programmes at public universities are taught in Greek. For a Greek-taught programme you need a certificate at level B2 or higher, issued by:
Exams take place twice a year. The universities themselves also run Greek courses.
According to Study in Europe, Greek universities offer more than 200 programmes in English – bachelor's, master's and joint programmes with foreign universities. These charge fees. For them, the university will usually ask for IELTS or TOEFL.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a visa – you enter with an ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 3 months, EU rules require you to register your residence with the authority responsible for your place of residence. Ask your university's international office about the current procedure. You will also need a Greek tax number (AFM), for example when renting a flat or signing a work contract.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a national (type D) visa for studies from the Greek embassy or consulate in their country before they travel, and then a residence permit for studies in Greece. You will need, among other things, an acceptance letter from a Greek higher education institution recognised by the Ministry of Education, proof that you have enough money to support yourself, proof that you have paid your fees (if your programme charges them) and health insurance. The residence permit is usually issued for one year and renewed each year (a permit for the whole programme is also possible); the fee is €150 a year. The embassy or consulate will give you the full list of documents and the amount of funds you must show.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). International students must have health insurance for the whole period of their studies.
Greek-taught bachelor's programmes at public universities are free – for Greek, EU and non-EU students alike (the Hellenic Open University is an exception).
What you do pay for are programmes taught in English and many master's programmes – each university sets the fee for each programme. Study in Europe gives these rates for students from outside the EU:
At public universities you also save on food: students who meet the criteria – e.g. those on a low income or with a scholarship – eat in the student canteens for free, and everyone else pays very low prices.
Study in Europe estimates that a student in Greece spends around €700–1,200 a month, depending on the city and lifestyle. To give you an idea, Study in Greece says a coffee costs €3–4, a souvlaki around €3.80 and a meal in a restaurant around €15.
Your options are:
In Athens, the ATH.ENA student card gives you discounts on public transport – you can apply for it online with the transport operator OASA.
There are few full scholarships for international students. Your options include:
Don't forget the free canteen meals for students who meet the criteria (see: Tuition fees).
Students in Greece can work while studying. EU/EEA citizens don't need a work permit.
Students from outside the EU/EEA with a residence permit for studies may work part-time only – up to 20 hours a week and outside class hours. When you work, Greek labour law applies to you: you pay social security contributions, file a tax return and so on. Note: some sources mention a separate part-time work permit, while the EU Immigration Portal and the University of Athens only give the hour limit – check with your university's international office before you start work.
Seasonal jobs in tourism, hotels and restaurants are the easiest to find, especially on the islands in summer. In other sectors, Greek matters. Start with your university's careers office.
Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.
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