Study in Greece

Free public tuition for EU/EEA students, low fees for non-EU students, a growing list of English-taught programs at Athens and Thessaloniki, one of the cheapest costs of living in the EU, and 300 days of sun. The honest case for Greece.

• Public tuition is free for EU/EEA students; non-EU students pay only €1,500–7,000/year for English-taught programs.
• NKUA (Athens), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, NTUA, Patras, AUEB, and Crete lead a deep public system.
• A fast-growing set of English-taught Bachelor's and Master's — you do not need Greek to earn a degree at the big universities.
• Honest trade-off: most public Bachelor's are still Greek-taught and the graduate job market is small — but living costs and sunshine are unbeatable.

A clear roadmap for international students — from choosing your programme to enrolment in Athens, Thessaloniki, or Patras. Every step in order, with realistic timelines, the national (D) student visa, the residence permit, and arrival logistics.

• Start about 9-12 months before your intended intake; most English-taught programmes set deadlines in spring and summer for autumn entry.
• Public undergraduate study is free for EU/EEA students; non-EU students pay €1,500-7,000/year for English-taught programmes.
• Non-EU students need a national (D) student visa before travel, then a residence permit after arrival; EU students just register.
• Budget for proof of funds, health insurance, low tuition, and €500-900/month living costs — among the cheapest in the EU.

Compare Greece's public universities — NKUA (Athens), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, NTUA, Patras, AUEB, Crete, the Aegean — and the new private and affiliated colleges. Find English-taught Bachelor's and Master's.

• Around 24 public universities, all tuition-free for EU/EEA students, plus new private and international campuses from the 2025 reform.
• NKUA, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, NTUA, Patras, AUEB, and Crete lead the public system.
• A fast-growing set of English-taught Master's and a smaller number of English-taught Bachelor's, concentrated in Athens.
• All Greek degrees follow the European Bologna structure: 4-year Bachelor's (5 for engineering), 1-2-year Master's.

How to apply to study in Greece — the direct-to-university applications, deadlines for autumn intakes, the language of instruction, English and Greek requirements, documents, and the national (D) student visa process.

• Greece has no single central portal — you apply directly to each university, with deadlines set by the institution.
• Most English-taught deadlines fall in spring and summer for the following autumn intake.
• English requirement is typically IELTS 6.0–6.5 / TOEFL 79–92; Greek-taught public programs need a Greek proficiency exam.
• After your offer, non-EU students apply for the national (D) student visa, then a residence permit after arrival.

Budget your studies in Greece — free public tuition for EU/EEA students, €1,500–7,000/year for non-EU English programs, living costs €500–900/month, plus IKY and Onassis scholarships explained.

• Tuition: free at public universities for EU/EEA students; non-EU English programs run €1,500–7,000/year (some BA up to €9,000).
• Greece is one of the cheapest EU countries to live in — roughly €500–900/month all in, with ~300 sunny days a year.
• Living costs: €600–900/month in Athens; €500–750 in Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, and Ioannina.
• Scholarships: IKY (State Scholarships Foundation), the Onassis Foundation, university awards, and Erasmus+.

The Greek student visa, step by step — the national (D) visa, the residence permit (adeia diamonis), proof of funds, health insurance, and the AFM tax number you need on the ground.

• EU/EEA students enter freely and only register with the local authorities after arrival.
• Non-EU students need a national (D) visa before travel, then a residence permit (adeia diamonis) once in Greece.
• Requirements: acceptance letter, proof of funds, health insurance, and proof of accommodation.
• Decisions typically take 1–3 months — apply the moment you have your acceptance letter.

Daily life as a student in Greece — housing in Athens and Thessaloniki, banking, the honest truth about ~300 sunny days and hot summers, island life, and getting around on the metro, KTEL, and ferries.

• Living costs run €600–900/month in Athens, €500–750 in Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, and Ioannina.
• Greece enjoys ~300 sunny days a year — mild winters and hot, dry summers.
• Getting around is cheap with the academic ID (Πάσο): metro, buses, KTEL coaches, and island ferries.
• Greek hospitality (filoxenia) is real — and daily life runs at a warmer, slower Mediterranean pace.

The honest picture on working in Greece — up to 20 hours/week for non-EU students, full-time in holidays, and career paths in tourism, world-leading shipping/maritime, and the growing Athens tech scene.

• Non-EU students may work up to 20 hours per week during term with permission, and full-time in holidays.
• You need an AFM (tax number) and AMKA (social security number) before starting work.
• Strong sectors: tourism, world-leading shipping/maritime, agriculture/food, and a growing Athens tech and startup scene.
• EU/EEA students have no work restrictions; English-only candidates do best in tourism, shipping, and tech.