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.
At public universities, students from the European Union or the European Economic Area don't usually pay any fee for most Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Non-EU/EEA internationals do pay tuition, but the rates are competitive ranging from 1,000 EUR per academic year, up to 13,000 EUR for medical students.
In terms of living costs, you won't need more than 400–750 EUR per month, but this also depends on your lifestyle.
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.
Higher education in Greece is divided as follows:
Greece has 24 public higher education institutions.
Examples of higher education institutions in Greece:
Within Greek universities, the class atmosphere is generally very relaxed and professors are very 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, Economics, or Business Administration.
Here are some of the most popular study options in Greece
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!
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:
At most public universities in Greece, EU and EEA students can pursue both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees for free. The only exception are a few Master’s programmes in specialised fields, such as Business and Medicine.
Non-EU/EEA students are charged affordable tuition fees. On average, non-EU students pay a tuition fee of 1,500–2,000 EUR per year, which also includes textbooks for the chosen courses and the university housing.
At private universities, tuition costs can go over 10,000 EUR per academic year.
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 210 and 650 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 450–750 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 trade, education, healthcare, real estate, transport, finance, public administration and hospitality services as the most important sectors.
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:
Numerous education initiatives in the world were formed to promote international cooperation and academic exchange between universities as well as attract students and staff worldwide. This focus on international student education provides high quality programmes in various fields of study and prepares students for future careers anywhere in the world.
Studying, for instance, in Australia, Asia, Europe or America represents a wide range of opportunities to see the world and interact with other students from different countries. Different study options allow students to hold a job during their study years in order to pay for their education, if they wish to do so. Online programmes help you get an international education without having to leave home.
The number of English-taught short courses in Asia, Australia, Europe and The United States are continuously rising in popularity in the last few years. Many countries offer English-taught study programmes, including: Australia, China, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States and more. Other English short courses may be found in the rest of the European countries as well.
Short courses offer a great variety of subjects for a short and fixed period. This period can vary between a week to six weeks, depending on country, institution and course. This is an excellent opportunity to gain academic, cultural and social experience if you are not able to access long-term study opportunities. A wide variety of countries and institutions offer summer and short courses in all kinds of subject areas. It is a great opportunity to get some background information for your own research, to learn a language or to gain knowledge on a related topic.
Sometimes summer and short courses provide students with short-term housing. Therefore, it is useful to find out if housing is included in the fee of the summer or short course you wish to apply for.
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