Greece : Postgraduate study

How does the higher education system work?

Public higher education is divided into universities, polytechnic schools, the Higher School of Fine Arts and the Hellenic Open University. Students are admitted on the basis of their performance at national level examinations in the second and third grades of Lykeio (high school). In addition, potential students who reach the age of 22 are admitted to the Hellenic Open University by drawing lots.

Taught postgraduate courses are not as widely available in Greece as in the UK. However, recent years have seen a steady growth in postgraduate courses, both at Masters and PhD level.

What courses are available?

PhD courses are often modelled on the US Doctorate and include taught courses. These are primarily in technical areas such as IT, engineering and food technology. The main source of information is the university prospectus, usually in Greek, but some course information is available on the internet.

There are comparatively few students from other European countries studying in Greece, apart from a few doing classical studies. Some UK students do their Doctoral research in Greece, especially in classics and archaeology, whether or not they are students of a Greek university.

Masters programmes usually last two years and Doctoral degrees take a minimum of five years.

Where can I study?

A full list of Greek universities is available from the Greek Ministry of Education or Universities Worldwide.

What are the entry requirements for postgraduate study?

Admissions tutors will usually decide on eligibility but, in general, a Masters degree will be required for entry to a Doctoral programme at a Greek university. The Greek first degree, or Ptichio, is officially regarded as being equivalent to a UK Masters degree.

Universities usually teach in Greek. Greek language requirements for students who are not native speakers vary between universities and departments. Some courses are taught in other languages, including English, but these are usually run by organisations representing universities from other countries.

When do I apply?

Candidates should contact their postgraduate study programme of choice for information on closing dates.

How do I apply?

Admission procedures vary between institutions, so contact the department you are interested in joining. As well as submitting an application form, you may have to take an oral and/or written entrance examination. Selection criteria vary from programme to programme, but may include: the grade you attained in your first degree; your performance in undergraduate courses related to your chosen postgraduate study programme; knowledge of foreign languages; your undergraduate dissertation and/or your experience of research and writing.

For admission to a Doctoral programme, candidates should usually have successfully completed a Masters degree. You should submit your application, together with your CV, a report on your work and/or a copy of your postgraduate degree certificate as required. Holders of postgraduate degrees from outside Greece should have their degrees recognised by the appropriate national authorities.

Further advice is available from the Greek Ministry of Education.

How much will it cost?

The Greek Constitution states that higher education should be provided free of charge. However, fees may be set for some postgraduate study programmes. Contact individual institutions for information about fees.

Are any scholarships available?

Only a few postgraduate scholarships are available through the Embassy of Greece in London, The British Council and individual universities, so be prepared to fund yourself. Fees are usually lower than in the UK.

Are there any exchange programmes?

UK students on undergraduate degree programmes or postgraduate Masters and some PhD programmes may be interested in spending time studying in Greece through the Erasmus scheme. Check with your university’s Erasmus coordinator (usually based in the international office) to find out what possibilities are available.

Will my qualification be recognised in the UK?

Candidates should contact ENIC-NARIC to enquire whether the qualification they want to study for in Greece will be recognised in the UK.