WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF EDUCATION IN GREECE?
Education at public universities in Greece is FREE OF CHARGE for non-Greek nationals. Applicants are admitted to universities under the State Programme of Preferential Education for Foreigners on the basis of a competitive examination, without having to be present in Greece.
Only the compulsory Greek language courses are paid for - they cost 670-720 euros for an 8-month course, as well as the residence permit - 150 euros and medical insurance - around 200 euros. Later, the student's main costs are: rent, food and living expenses.
WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION IN GREECE?
All universities and colleges in Greece teach in Greek. Exceptions are the faculties of philology, which partly teach in the language of the chosen faculty (English, German, Spanish, etc.).
CAN I APPLY TO A UNIVERSITY IN GREECE WITHOUT KNOWING GREEK?
Yes, you can be admitted to a university in Greece without knowing the Greek language, because those who do not know the Greek language must learn it and pass an exam before beginning their studies.
If you do not know the language, you have the opportunity to learn it through courses during your first year in Greece. In May of the following year, after completing the language course, there will be a language exam and if the exam is passed, the student will be able to start studying at the university in September.
If you know the language, you will have to take a language exam on arrival in Greece in September and if you pass, you will be able to start your studies in the first year of your stay in Greece.
IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT FOR ADMISSION TO GREECE?
There is no age limit for admission. Regardless of previous education, applicants are admitted to higher education in Greece on the basis of their high school diploma. The same rule applies to applicants who are minors.
WHAT ARE THE GUARANTEES FOR ADMISSION TO GREEK UNIVERSITIES?
Admission to a university is guaranteed by the fact that it is possible to apply to several institutions at the same time (up to 20 faculties in the same field of study). If your GPA does not allow you to win the competition for admission to a university, several other admission options will be selected for you.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE FACULTY AFTER ENROLMENT?
It is important that you can change your course in your first year if you realise that you have made a wrong choice. In this case, once you have passed the language exam, you will resubmit your documents for a change of department in the summer. The application package will be the same. It is advisable to utilize this opportunity, as attempting to change faculties at a later time will require withdrawing from the university and forfeiting your residence permit.
CAN I WORK OFFICIALLY AS A STUDENT?
If you have a student permit, you are entitled to work officially for four hours a day. This will be part-time during the school year and full-time during the summer.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT THE TIMETABLE OF CLASSES AND DO I HAVE TO ATTEND ALL OF THEM WHILE I AM STUDING IN GREECE?
In the Faculties of Humanities and Economics it is not compulsory to attend all classes, the timetable is available at the beginning of the year from the Dean's Office and is also published on the University's website. At medical faculties, attendance at all practical classes is compulsory. At technical and technological faculties it depends on the programme, but it is usually better to attend all practical classes, lectures are not compulsory.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF GETTING A ROOM IN A STUDENT HALL OF RESIDENCE AND WHAT ARE THE LIVING CONDITIONS LIKE?
The situation regarding halls of residence in Greece is complicated. You have the right to apply for a room in a student hall of residence, but it is not easy to get one. So do not count on it. This difficulty is due to the fact that the number of Greek and foreign students is very high each year, and students are allowed to study in Greece for 6-10 years, so there is simply not enough room.
Living conditions vary. There are new buildings with excellent conditions and modern renovations, and there are older buildings with less comfortable conditions.
An application for a hall of residence is made to the Dean's Office of the university. The committee will consider each applicant on a general basis and will allocate a hall of residence to the student, subject to availability.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP?
Unfortunately, citizens of Russia cannot obtain a scholarship to study in Greece, citizens of Ukraine and Belarus have this possibility in theory, but in practice it is associated with certain difficulties and depends on the number of quotas allocated for scholarships for each year.
WHAT ARE THE APPLICATION DEADLINES?
Please note that the collection and preparation of documents for studying in Greece takes place in several stages: in the applicant's home country and in Greece. Therefore, although the actual submission of the final documents to the Greek Ministry of Education takes place in July, in practice the deadline for processing the documents is 1 month, but a comfortable deadline (where you do not pay extra fees for urgency) is 2 months or more.
IN WHAT LANGUAGE SHOULD DOCUMENTS BE SENT TO GREECE?
The documents you send must be in the original language, i.e. in the same language as the original, and no prior translation is required.
WHAT IF MY COUNTRY DOES NOT HAVE AN APOSTILLE STAMP? ON DOCUMENTS?
In this case, the original documents will bear the internationally recognised legalisation seal. We recommend that you contact the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country for full advice on legalising documents for use outside your country.
WHAT IS AN APOSTILLE?
An Apostille is a special stamp which, under Article 5 of the 1961 Hague Convention, is affixed to public documents of contracting states so that they do not require diplomatic or consular legalisation. An Apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature and title of the person signing the document, as well as the authenticity of the seal or stamp used to authenticate the document.
WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ON SELF-FILING? WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED?
You can obtain this information from the Greek Ministry of Education at the end of May each year. A list of all faculties can be found on the official website of the Greek Ministry of Education.
HOW CAN I LEGALISE MY STUDIES IN GREECE?
You can study for 4 to 6 years plus one year of language study, which gives you 6-7 years of legal residence in Greece. You can also enroll in a Master's programme, get married or find an employer who will extend your residence permit. In any of these cases, you will be in the country legally. The important thing is that you have the will and desire to find solutions.
If an applicant's main objective is not to study but to legalise or work in Greece, he/she should remember that in the first year of his/her stay in Greece he/she is obliged to take a language course and pass an exam. Thereafter, in order to renew his/her student card, he/she will have to present a copy of his/her academic transcript showing that he/she has passed at least 2 exams per semester. For this category of applicants, we find either very simple faculties or faculties that correspond to his or her previous education (programme and subjects that he or she can easily pass).
CAN I CHOOSE IN ADVANCE WHERE I WANT TO STUDY IN GREECE?
Admission to universities in Greece is determined by competitive examinations, with the location of the institution also influenced by the degree program. Higher degree programs increase the likelihood of placement in Athens or Thessaloniki, while lower degree programs may result in placement at universities further from central Greece. However, there is no need to be apprehensive about attending a university in a smaller town or on an island. In Greece, the primary difference between these locations and major cities is their size, as their infrastructure is equally well-developed.
OBTAINING VISAS
Students from EU countries do not need a visa to study in Greece. All other foreign students require a student visa. To obtain a visa, students must have a letter of enrolment from the university where they will be studying, health insurance and a document confirming that they have sufficient funds to stay in Greece for the duration of their studies. The student must also have a medical certificate stating that he/she does not have any infectious diseases. Once the student has all the above documents, he/she should apply for a visa at the local Greek Embassy or Consulate.
WHAT IS THE ACADEMIC YEAR IN GREECE?
The academic year in Greece consists of two semesters, usually of 16 weeks each (13 weeks of classes and 3 weeks of exams). However, some universities use a quarterly system. The academic year usually begins in October and ends in June.
WHAT ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS MAY THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE REQUIRE?
In addition, the Admissions Office has the right to request documents such as proof of any of the documents submitted if there is any doubt as to their legality or if clarification of the documents is required as additional information. These documents must be submitted within 10 days of the request.
WHAT UNFORESEEN SITUATIONS MIGHT ARISE?
You may not be granted a student visa if, for example, you are seriously ill or have a criminal record. You will also not be allowed to enter Greece if you have been previously deported, if you have not paid a fine for being in Greece illegally, or if your documents are incorrect or inaccurate (e.g. a word is missing or has been mistranslated). Such documents will simply not be accepted.
IS A STUDENT CONSIDERED TO BE A FULL STUDENT IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF STUDY, I.E. WHILE TAKING A GREEK COURSE? DOES HE/SHE HAVE A STUDENT CARD, FREE MEALS, HEALTH CARE AND TRAVEL BENEFITS?
Yes, but only partially. Students receive a student card with preferential rates for travel and theatres, as well as free entry to libraries, museums and archaeological sites. Reduced rates are also available for student bookings. Students on Greek courses receive three free meals a day at the university where they are enrolled. Health insurance is paid for the duration of the language course and is free of charge from the first year of study.
WHAT DOES THE HEALTH INSURANCE COVER?
The health insurance that you will receive from the University (once you have passed the language exam) will guarantee you free medical care and treatment for the entire duration of your studies.
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STUDENT AND THE MILITARY REGISTRATION AND ENLISTMENT OFFICE IN THE COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE?
If the applicant is already a conscript and has a conscription certificate, he/she must present a certificate of enrolment in a higher education institution in Greece to the Military Registration and Enlistment Office before leaving his/her country in order to be de-registered for the duration of his/her studies. If the student returns to his or her country of origin to work after completing his or her studies in Greece, he or she must register with the Military Enlistment Office. He/she will be conscripted according to the legislation of the country from which he/she left to study.
CAN I GO TO GREECE TO STUDY GREEK?
Yes, of course you can. The only requirement for those wishing to attend the course, and not for those wishing to enter higher education, is to have a visa for the entire duration of the course. The list of documents required remains the same.
FINANCIAL AUTONOMY IN OBTAINING A VISA
Students have the right to work in Greece, but you cannot rely on your future earnings when applying for a visa. You must have a bank account in Greece of at least 4,500 euros at the time of opening your visa.