Students that are interested in studying in Greece, may find it difficult at times to see which universities are public and which are private. We will go through and divide a few higher education institutions down the middle so students can see what type of academic programs and courses are provided by each public institutions. And a quick fact, all higher education universities in Greece are open to the public!
Greece is known for it’s ever incredible history that involves emperors and dynasties that lasted hundreds of years. They also left a lasting mark on the world. Because of this historic reason, many students make Greece their study and major destination to learn more about the language, the history and the culture.
Table of Contents
- Why Should an International Student Choose Aristotle University of Thessaloniki?
- University Of Patras
- Athens University of Economics and Business
- International Hellenic University
- University of Macedonia
- University of the Aegean
- University of Thessaly
- University of Piraeus
- Harokopio University
- National Technical University of Athens
- Getting a Student Visa to Study in Greece
To first open up this list, international students that go to Greece to study as an undergraduate will be happy to know that all foreign undergraduates will only need to pay 1,500 EUR for their entire first year. With that worry out of the way, students have an automatic understanding of how much needs to be saved for their first year of college.
Students will also be happy about how much normal cost of living can be budgeted to a low 300 EUR or to a higher 900 EUR. But this depends on the lifestyle of the student as well.
Why Should an International Student Choose Aristotle University of Thessaloniki?
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is among the top ten oldest institutions of higher education in Greece. For a student to visualize the mass scale of how big this campus is, would be to look at Google maps because the university is spread out over 230,000 square meters.
Since 2014, the student population has steadily increased past 40,000. More than half of that student population is made up of active undergraduates who live either on or very near campus. Since the establishment of this great public institution in 1925, students have been able to come from all over the world to enjoy the academic programs provided by the university.
These academic programs include:
- School of Mathematics
- School of Physics
- School of Biology
- School of Chemistry
- School of Geology
- School of Informatics
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- School of Mechanical Engineering
- School of Architecture
- School of Civil Engineering
- School of Chemical Engineering
- School of Rural and Surveying Engineering
- School of Spatial Planning and Development Engineering
- School of Medicine
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Dentistry
- School of Veterinary Medicine
- School of Philology
- School of History and Archaeology
- School of Philosophy and Pedagogy
- School of English Language and Literature
- School of French Language and Literature
- School of German Language and Literature
- School of Italian Language and Literature
- School of Psychology
- School of Law
- School of Agriculture
- School of Forestry and Natural Environment
- School of Early Childhood Education
- School of Primary Education
- School of Economics
- School of Political Sciences
- School of Journalism and Mass Communications
- School of Theater
- School of Film Studies
- School of Music Studies
- School of Visual and Applied Arts
- School of Physical Education and Sports Sciences
- School of Theology
- School of Pastoral and Social Theology
There are still a few academic programs that have not been listed above that are available for undergraduate students to send in admissions for and to wait for their letter of acceptance.
With the list provided above, it is important to say “school of” because that is how spread out this university happens to be. Each of these subjects relatively has their own school section within the campus grounds. For example a single building will be dedicated to nothing but the ‘School of Architecture.’ However, the building that sits adjacent would be a whole separate study subject.
As a matter of fact, the school of Philosophy is taught in conjunction with Pedagogy, unlike the rest of the subjects taught at Aristotle University.
Classes can be taught in English, French, Spanish, and German. However, most classes are taught in Greek.
University Of Patras
This university is in the top three largest in Greece. While the massive grounds that surround the university are to be looked at in wonderment, this university also holds the top title for being one of the best higher education systems in Europe. Even a few European colleges have modeled their own philosophy classes after the University of Patras.
The University of Patras is where all major domestic and international research discoveries happen. With over 160 research lab and present, the university has become a haven for biological and biotechnology researchers.
Students can opt to study with this university digitally or through their online learning programs.
Available academics:
- Animal Production, Fisheries & Aquaculture
- Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering
- Food Science & Technology
- Crop Science
- Business Administration of Food and Agricultural Enterprises
- Economics
- Management Science and Technology
- Tourism Management
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering and Informatics (CEID)
- Environmental Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics
- Nursing
- Physiotherapy
- Speech & Language Therapy
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education
- Education and Social Work
- History and Archaeology
- Museum Studies
- Philology
- Philosophy
- Theater Studies
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Geology
- Materials Science
- Physics
- Mathematics
Students should understand that this is a difficult university to get into, when admissions time is happening. This is a highly competitive institution that only accepts the best and brightest students from all over the world. A student should make sure their grade point average is the best it can be, and that they have adequate research projects as part of their academic education.
Classes can be taught in English, but it is suggested that students should take an introductory course to understanding the Greek language.
Athens University of Economics and Business
This public university has been the number one School of Business and Economics since 1920. Most if not every political figure has spent at least one course here that has lived in Europe.
Courses are offered in German, English, and French. But students should know to succeed at the Athens University of Economics and Business present an undergraduates award that is equal to at least 4-years of college study. This means a student has to undergo and complete eight semesters to be deemed eligible for an undergraduate graduation. This is one of the toughest business institutions in the world.
Academic programs:
- Business Administration
- Marketing and Communication
- Management Science and Technology
- International and European Economic Studies
- Economics
- Accounting and Finance
- Statistics
- Informatics
- Data Science
- International Shipping, Finance and Management
- Business Analytics
International Hellenic University
Since 2005, the International Hellenic University was deemed the first fully English taught institution in Greece. The government in Greece created a university to help foreign students to better identify what studies they wanted to commence in Greece.
The academic programs list below, students will be able to see what the International Hellenic University has done to stand out from other universities. There progressive and forward approach to clean energy has several programs available the teach the basics of energy law and cybersecurity measures.
This university is funded by both the Greek state and the European Union, which students will be able to see based on the courses being taught in Oxford English.
Academic programs:
- Forestry & Natural Environment
- Physiotherapy
- Nursing
- Agricultural Biotechnology and Oenology
- Food Science and Technology
- Agriculture
- Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics
- Biomedical Sciences
- Interior Architecture
- Creative Design and Clothing
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Computer Science
- Library, Archive and Information Science
- Supply Chain Management
- Business Administration, Marketing and Tourism
- Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Information and Electronic Engineering
- Industrial Engineering and Management
- Accounting and Information Systems
- Transnational and European Commercial Law, Banking Law, Arbitration/Mediation
- International Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Management
- Hospitality
- Black Sea & Eastern Mediterranean Studies
- Biotechnology and Law
- Sustainable Agriculture and Business
- Energy Law, Business, Regulation and Policy
- Orthodox Ecumenical Theology
- Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia
- Data Sciences
- Strategic Product Design
- Energy Building Design
- Smart Cities and Communities
- Cybersecurity
- ICT Systems
- e-Business and Digital Marketing
- Mobile and Web Computing
University of Macedonia
The University of Macedonia is for all intense purposes mainly a business college. However, the well known Ceremonial Amphitheatre which puts on some of the universities best art and theater productions in Greece. This amphitheater is not only an important symbol for the university student body community, but major art installations have been shown here as well.
The campus is large enough to accommodate every student that wishes to study here. Also, students that come from low income circumstances can attend the university café where they can receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is a card that students receive upon becoming an accepted student of the university, so they can use to ensure that they will not go hungry. This is part of the countries incentive to help low income students to available and healthy food.
Academic programs:
- Economics
- Accounting and Finance
- Applied Informatics
- Business Administration
- Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies
- Educational and Social Policy
- Music Science and Art
- International and European Studies
University of the Aegean
What may be strange to students when they read about the University of the Aegean, is that the Aegean is a series of islands. So the thought that a university could be spread across these islands seems like an ambitious idea. However, the university campus and classes is spread through out the six islands of the Aegean Sea.
The student population has grown to accommodate over 10,000 in population. The University of the Aegean is not necessarily a competition university, however, some students have found it difficult to acquire entry within admissions.
This university has outstanding research programs, for example the Department of Environment Studies conducted a research look on non-native fish fauna in the inland ecosystems of Greece. This was to establish the study on the fauna’s habitat, evolution, and understanding what the next steps could be in their evolutionary life cycle.
What about the eligibility to send in admissions to the university?
For Master’s degrees, the admission eligibility requires international students to show that they have taken a equivalent of courses that measure up to their system. Also, the university will ask for an undergraduate thesis, overall undergraduate grades, and all official documents that are needed to ensure that the student who wishes to study in Greece has passed all of the essentially general programs.
Academic programs:
- Tourism Economics and Management
- Food Science and Nutrition
- Social Anthropology and History
- Shipping, Trade and Transport
- Sociology
- Marine Sciences
- Product and Systems Design Engineering
- Environment
- Cultural Technology and Communication
- Geography
- Business Administration
- Financial and Management Engineering
- Track in Mathematics
- Statistics and Actuarial-Financial Mathematics
- Information and Communication Systems Engineering
- Primary Education
- Mediterranean Studies
- Pre-school Education and Educational Design
University of Thessaly
Students do have the option to receive programs taught in English, French, German, or Greek. We do suggest that any student traveling to study in Greece, should learn some of the basic formations of the Greek language. Because the University of Thessaly will take a percentage off of tuition if a student shows encouragement and study towards the Greek language.
There very on Department of Special Education has put into place the Laboratory of Psychology and Educational Applications to help students who may be struggling mentally, emotionally, or physically to there newly relocated country. The University of Thessaly is spoken out on helping foreign students to intergrate into Greek life but while helping the through counseling as well.
Academic programs:
- Economics
- Business Management
- Accounting and Finance
- Environment
- Digital Systems
- Energy Technologies
- Forestry, Wood Sciences, and Design
- Science of Animal Production
- Science of Foods and Nutrition
- Mechanical Engineering
- Planning and Regional Development
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Physical Education and Sport Science
- Mathematics
- Computer Science and Telecommunications
- Physics
- Biomedical Informatics
- Veterinary Science (a total of 5 years of college is needed before graduating to Master’s)
- Medicine (a total of 6 years of college is needed before graduating to Master’s)
- Nursing
- Physicotherapy
- Biochemistry and Biotechnology
- Public and Community Health
University of Piraeus
The University of Piraeus is the 2nd oldest and one of the largest institutions that focuses on business economics in Greece. Since the university’s creation in 1938, as a private banking and accounting educational school. It would not be until the 1960’s that the university would be restated as a public institution that introduced maritime studies.
This university also works with the Erasmus exchange student program, where students can come from all over the world to utilize and spend a few weeks taking a research lab program. This institution is in coalition with the European Research Association.
Academic programs:
- Maritime Studies
- Banking and Financial Management
- Business Administration
- Economics
- Statistics and Insurance Science
- Digital Systems
- Industrial Management and Technology
- Informatics
- Tourism Studies
- International and European Studies
Harokopio University
This university was actually deemed the successor to a prior institution called the Harokopios Higher School of Home Economics.
Harokopio University is extremely active with the ERASMUS educational exchange program, as well as, providing adequate research centers to establish a look at the environment and sustainable city planning.
Academic programs:
- Sustainable Development
- Education and Culture
- Sustainable Tourism Development
- Geography and Spatial Planning
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Informatics
- Telematics
National Technical University of Athens
The student population with active students who attend classes everyday is around 10,000 plus. This higher education institution has a fantastic academic calendar that students should check out. For example, the National Technical University of Athens dedicates every 10th semester to the research and productivity of writing a thesis. Which is essential if a student wishes to pass their major at the current level they are at. So this means if a student is an undergraduate, writing and researching a thesis, is the the essential last grade that says either they pass or they fail.
Academic programs:
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Mining and Metallurgical Engineering
- Applied Mathematical & Physical Science
- Architecture
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Rural and Surveying Engineering
Undergraduates students can also take part in the research labs from the five different centers, they are:
- Interdisciplinary Research Center
- Special Accounting for Research Office
- Office of Researchers
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship Unit
- Interdisciplinary Unit for Reusable Energy
- Liaison Office
- Internship Program
Getting a Student Visa to Study in Greece
Every international student that decides to study outside of their native home country, should inquire about a student visa. Student visa’s help college students to maintain a legal status in a country. Also, the misconception that students can receive a student visa after they have traveled to the university they are enrolled in, that happens to be in a different country… is a myth. All students have to receive their student visa before they decide to travel to the destination country’s where their university is located.
State officials are the border, will check over the student visa to ensure that the student is following all of the legal protocols and is in fact, not staying in that country illegally.
Each student must send in an admissions application to the Greek institution of their choice. Afterwards, students will experience a waiting period before the institution either sends them an acceptance letter or a letter that explains that the student do not fit the criteria.
When a student receives an acceptance letter, this is the time where the student can then send in their proper information to the government to inquire about a student visa to study in Greece. The acceptance letter acts as proof of reason to go to the country.
The next step is waiting for the student visa application to go through and wait for either an e-mail or a post letter that describes the acceptance of the application or the rejection of the application. The only reason an application for student visa would be rejected is because the student has a criminal record, or the host country is experiencing distress.
I really wish to study in Greece. God, help me to go back to school.
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