The birthplace of democracy, the Iliad, the Parthenon – but also great beaches, island hopping, and delicious food. Not to mention an unparalleled academic heritage and direct access to ancient history. These are just some of the things Greece is associated with! But it’s not only a country for tourists: with a low cost of living and growing numbers of English-taught degrees, Greece should be on any international student’s map.

Universities

Greece is part of the European Higher Education Area, which means that degrees completed in Greece are recognised all over the EU. You will find universities, and technical universities – or polytechnics – which mostly focus on engineering and sciences and can be compared to what in other countries are called universities of applied sciences.

Among the highest-ranked higher education institutions in the country, in Athens you will find Harokopio University, the National Technical University of Athens, and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The latter has 7200 international students, 11% of its student body. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the University of Crete are also among the top institutions in the country.

An attractive aspect of studying in Greece is that higher education is more affordable compared to other European destinations. EU and EEA students do not pay fees in state universities, while non-EU students will pay around €1,500 a year. Costs will rise substantially for master’s degrees and for all degrees at private universities.

There are a lot of English-taught programmes on offer in the Greek higher education landscape, although they are substantially more common for postgraduate degrees than for undergraduate courses.

Student life

University life in Greece could entail different scenarios. You could study in one of its cities, such as Athens or Thessaloniki, and soak up the buzz while exploring their incredible past. Or, perhaps, you could choose island life in Crete! Whatever your choice, you won’t be short of things to do or to visit.

The cost of life in Greece is also lower than in some other European destinations. You will find accommodation for a monthly rent between €200 and €500 a month, while a thirty-day public transport card will be around €15 with a student discount. International students can work up to 20 hours a week, while EU and EEA students do not have any restrictions.