Admissions & Application in Greece - Study in Greece

Admissions & Application in Greece

Applying to Greece is decentralised: unlike many destinations, there is no single national portal for international students. You apply directly to each university's own admissions system, with deadlines set by the institution — typically in spring and summer for the following autumn intake. The first thing to settle is the language of instruction: most public Bachelor's are still Greek-taught, while English-taught Master's and a smaller set of Bachelor's are growing fast. This guide walks you through the application route, the entrance tests, the entry requirements, the documents, and how the application connects to your national (D) student visa so you do not lose a semester to a missed step.

How You Apply: Directly to Each University

Greece has no central portal like some countries. For the vast majority of English-taught Bachelor's and Master's, you apply through the individual university's online admissions system. The typical flow:

1. Research programs on each university's official site and shortlist your options
2. Confirm the language of instruction (English) and that you meet the entry requirements
3. Submit your application by each program's deadline (often spring to summer)
4. Take any required entrance test or interview (varies by program)
5. Receive your offer over the summer
6. Accept by the stated deadline
7. Apply for the national (D) student visa yourself (non-EU/EEA students)
8. Submit your final results (if you applied with predicted grades) by the stated deadline

Some public undergraduate routes for EU students run through national procedures, and private colleges (Deree and others) have their own rolling admissions. Compare your options first in the programs and universities guide.

The Application Windows

Because there is no central system, dates differ by university and program. Always confirm exact deadlines on the official program page — and apply well before the deadline to allow for the slow Greek visa and document process.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements

• Bachelor's: a recognised upper-secondary / high-school qualification (such as a high-school diploma, A-Levels, IB, or equivalent) meeting the program's subject requirements
• Master's: a relevant Bachelor's degree (240 ECTS or equivalent) in a related field, often with a minimum grade requirement
• PhD: a relevant Master's degree, plus a research proposal and a willing supervisor

Where your school system does not directly qualify, options include applying to a private college, entering an English-taught Bachelor's with different requirements, or recognising your qualification through the Greek body (DOATAP) where required.

Language requirement

For English-taught programs:

Exemptions are common if your prior education was entirely in English — but you must prove it with an official certification from the previous institution. For Greek-taught public programs, you instead need to demonstrate Greek proficiency, usually through the official Greek language certification exam (the Certificate of Attainment in Greek).

Subject-specific requirements

Engineering, computing, and science programs usually demand specific prior subjects (maths, physics). Business and economics programs often require maths at school level. Medicine requires Greek language proficiency, as it is taught in Greek at the public universities. Map your transcript against each program before applying.

Entrance Tests and Selection

Selection methods in Greece vary widely by program and institution:

• Grades, motivation letter, and CV — used by many English-taught Master's, with no exam
• Entrance test or interview — used by some competitive Bachelor's and specialist programs
• National selection procedures + Greek proficiency exam — for Greek-taught public undergraduate places
• Grades, essays, and sometimes SAT — used by private colleges (Deree and others)

Test and interview dates, where they apply, are set by each university and often fall after the application closes. Always check the selection method on the official program page when you shortlist — an unexpected test or interview can derail your plans.

Documents You Will Need

Assemble these early — certified translations, apostilles, and bank statements take time in Greece:

• Passport copy, valid for the whole study period
• Academic transcripts and certificates — high-school results (Bachelor's) or Bachelor's degree and transcript (Master's)
• English test certificate (IELTS / TOEFL / PTE / CAE) or proof of exemption — or a Greek proficiency certificate for Greek-taught programs
• Motivation letter (program-dependent)
• CV / résumé (most Master's programs)
• Letters of recommendation (some Master's programs)
• Portfolio (architecture, design, the arts)
• Research proposal (PhD applications)
• Certified translations of any document not in Greek or English
• Apostille / consular legalisation for documents from your home country
• DOATAP recognition of your prior qualification (where required by the program)

Each program publishes its exact list on its official page — follow it precisely, as missing or incorrectly translated documents are the most common reason for rejection in Greece.

Conditional Offers and Final Results

Many Greek universities issue a conditional offer if you apply with predicted or interim results, then confirm it once your final transcript and certificate arrive. This lets you apply in your final school or Bachelor's year. The deadline for submitting final documents is set by each program — confirm the exact date in your offer letter. Missing it can cost you the place, so plan around your results date and chase your school or previous university early.

The Application–Visa Link: The National (D) Visa

In Greece, you apply for the student visa yourself (not via the university). Once you accept your offer, non-EU/EEA students:

1. Pay any tuition deposit (for fee-paying programs)
2. Gather your acceptance letter, proof of funds, and health insurance
3. Book an appointment at the Greek embassy or consulate in your home country
4. Apply for the national (D) student visa, submitting your documents in person
5. Wait several weeks to a couple of months for the decision
6. Travel to Greece on the visa
7. Apply for a residence permit for study (adeia diamonis) at the local immigration authority after arrival

EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa before arrival but must register their residence in Greece and obtain an AFM (tax number) and AMKA (social security number). The full walkthrough is in our student visa guide.

Timeline: When Things Happen

Work backwards from your intake (assume late September/October start):

• Winter–spring: research, shortlist, prepare documents and translations
• Spring–summer: apply directly to each university by its deadline
• Spring–summer: entrance tests or interviews (where required)
• Summer: receive offers and accept
• Summer: apply for the national (D) visa at the Greek consulate
• Before travel: submit final results (if you applied with predicted grades)
• August–September: secure housing, book flights
• Late September / early October: arrive, register, start the residence permit (non-EU), enrol, orient

Treat your acceptance as the starting gun for the visa, housing, and travel all at once. Greek processing is slow, so early application matters.

After You Are Admitted

Getting the offer is not the finish line — a few time-sensitive steps follow:

1. Accept your offer by the stated deadline
2. Pay any tuition deposit (fee-paying programs)
3. Apply for the national (D) visa promptly at the Greek consulate (non-EU students)
4. Arrange housing — university dorms (estia) are limited, so most students rent privately
5. Arrange proof of funds for the consulate — see the costs and funding guide
6. Take out health insurance — required for the visa and residence permit (non-EU)
7. Submit final results by the stated deadline (if you applied with predicted grades)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming a central portal exists — there is none; you must apply to each university directly
• Missing program-specific deadlines — they differ by university, with no single date
• Skipping certified translations or the apostille — Greek institutions routinely reject uncertified documents
• Leaving the national (D) visa too late — several weeks to a couple of months of processing means early application matters
• Applying to a Greek-taught program without Greek — confirm the language of instruction first
• Not securing housing early — dorms are scarce, and rooms near Athens and Thessaloniki campuses go fast

Practical Tips for the Application

A few small habits make the application meaningfully easier:

• Start early in winter, not in spring — gathering certified translations, ordering an apostille, and sitting an IELTS/TOEFL test all take weeks
• Verify the language of instruction first — it is the single biggest filter for international applicants in Greece
• Tailor the motivation letter — even a short adjustment per program shows admissions you actually want their course, not just Greece
• Keep digital copies of everything — a clean PDF set saved in cloud storage saves stress when the consulate later asks for the same documents
• Track each program's deadline and selection method in a simple spreadsheet — with no central portal, this is where applicants drop a place by accident
• Contact the international office directly — in Greece, the university's international office is your best and most reliable source
• Reply promptly to any document request — silence is often treated as withdrawal

After You Arrive in Greece

The first 1–2 weeks are admin-heavy, and Greek bureaucracy is slow. Plan to:

1. Get your AFM (tax number) — almost nothing works without it
2. Get your AMKA (social security number) — needed for healthcare and work
3. Apply for the residence permit for study (non-EU students) at the local immigration authority
4. Open a Greek bank account — most banks accept students once you have your AFM
5. Get a Greek SIM — Cosmote, Vodafone, or Nova
6. Activate your student card and transport pass — for discounts and travel
7. Attend orientation and Erasmus events — universities and student societies run thorough intros

This sequence is well-trodden — your university's international office and student buddies will walk you through it.

Next Steps

1. Student visa — the national (D) visa and residence permit, step by step
2. Costs and funding — tuition, living costs, IKY and Onassis scholarships
3. Programs and universities — if you are still building your shortlist
4. Why study in Greece — the honest case, if you are still deciding

Estimate your full budget first with our cost-of-study calculator.