If you are a citizen of the European Union then you do not need to acquire a visa in order to study in Greece, you may enter the country to live as part of the Schengen agreement between member states of the EU providing you have a valid passport and relevant travel documentation.
If you are not a citizen of a European Union member state then you must acquire a student visa in order to enter the country. In order to obtain this, you need to have an acceptance letter from an institution which is certified by the Greek Ministry of Education.
If you hold a valid passport you are able to enter Greece for a period of three months, which can be utilised within six months of initial entry.
There are an increasing number of private student accommodation companies in Greece, especially in the larger population centres which have a number of universities and schools to choose from.
There is the option for low-budget student accommodation in the form of dormitories that are offered by universities, although the standards of these are significantly lower than the private accommodation options available.
Many universities will help their international students find accommodation for their studies prior to entering the country.
In order to apply to a Greek university you must first be able to speak Greek to a certain extent – if you are applying to a university in Greece and you aren’t able to speak Greek at a basic level, you will need to take a preparatory course before your study starts.
For English taught bachelors, you must also be proficient in English and be able to prove this with a certificate.
The application process to Greek universities depends largely on the area and level of study, however, there is a centralised system in Greece that is run by the Hellenic Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs which allows you to apply for up to 20 programmes.
In order to apply, you must include: certificate of graduation certificate from relevant institutions (or the equivalent of, which can be issued by Greek Consulates and Embassies), transcript of records confirming GPA, passport or ID card and proof of proficiency in language.
The deadline for applications is a little earlier in Greece than in many European countries, with the deadline often in July.
International students from the European Union who are staying at Bachelor level are not required to pay tuition fees for studying in Greece, although for higher levels of study there may be some tuition fees applicable depending on what you study.
For non-EU students there is a tuition fee applicable which is usually an average of around €1,500 per year which also includes textbooks and other study materials.
It is worth studying in Greece as there are plenty of universities you can choose from. Based on student reviews on EDUopinions for Greece, the overall rating of schools here is 4.0.
Yes, you can study in English in Greece. For more information, visit EDUopinions page about Greece .
There are 48 universities and Business Schools on EDUopinions for Greece .
Based on student reviews, the best university in Greece is University of Crete, whose average rating on EDUopinions is 4.7.