Study In Greece

STUDY IN GREECE

WHY CHOOSE GREECE?
REQUIREMENTS
LIVING
COURSES
INSTITUTES
WHY CHOOSE GREECE?

WHY STUDY IN GREECE?

Greece: The birthplace of democracy

Greece is popular for its islands, historical sites, and other stunning places to visit. The affordable and excellent education system, pleasant weather and well-ranked universities are some of the reasons why Greece is famous among study abroad students. Let’s discover some amazing reasons to study in Greece.

1. Education system

Greece has private colleges and public universities that offer English-taught study programs. The duration of graduate degree programs is between 2-6 years, and post-graduation degree programs range between 1-2 years. Also, if you plan to study in Greece, you must remember that Greek universities will not accept three-year Bachelor’s degree programs when you apply for a Master’s degree. Therefore, you will have to enroll for the additional course as prescribed by your university to apply for the Master’s program. The duration of PhD programs will range between 5-6 years.

2. Some well-recognized universities

Greece is home to ~24 universities and 16 technical varsities that offer impeccable education. Here are some popular universities you can choose from if you plan to study in Greece:

National Technical University of Athens

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

University of Crete

University of Patras

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Harokopio University

Technical University of Crete

University of the Aegean

Athens University of Economics and Business

University of Ioannina

3. Some popular courses

Did you know that you can choose from 140+ courses if you study in Greece? You can opt for graduation, postgraduate and PhD degrees. Here are some popular courses:

International Business

Supply Chain Management

Tourism Management

Business Management

Banking and Finance

Marketing

Information Technology

Arts and Humanity

Computer Science

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4. Work opportunities

Did you know that Greece is buzzing with up and coming start-ups in the internet of things (IoT) arena? You will find a plethora of work opportunities in Greece. Also, since there is a huge demand for an English-speaking workforce in Greece, you have a bright chance to work while you study in Greece. As an international student, you can work up to 8 hours a day per week. If you wish to grab work opportunities post completion of your course, you will need a valid work permit.

5. Safety

Greece is safe for international students. Athens, Heraklion, KosRhodes, and Thessaloniki are some of the safest cities for students. Did you know that according to the Legatum Prosperity Index 2021, Greece ranked 43rd out of 167 countries? This ranking considers various parameters like governance, economic conditions, education, health and safety and security. If you plan to study in Greece, you don’t have to worry about your student life as Greece is the 31st safest country as per Legatum Prosperity Index, 2021.

6. Rich Cultural Heritage

Did you know that Greek culture dates back to the 8th century? Hence, it is surrounded by historic monuments like the Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Delphi, Minoan Palace of Knossos and more. When you study in Greece, you can experience their rich culture, Greek cuisine, and exciting festivals. When you visit Greece, Taramasalata, Moussaka, Honey & baklava, and Courgette balls are some must-try Greek dishes.

So, these are some of the many benefits of studying in Greece. If you plan to study in Greece and wish to fund your education independently without depending on your parents, you can opt for an overseas education loan. Although Greece is an affordable study abroad destination, you have to consider other expenses like airfare, living expenses, accommodation costs, study material costs and more.

At Avanse, we offer holistic education financing solutions that cover all the education-related costs. If you need any assistance to plan your journey to study in Greece, please connect with us, we will be glad to assist you.

REQUIREMENTS

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS TO STUDY IN GREEK UNIVERSITTIES

In order to apply to a Greek university, you have to first make sure that your educational background makes you eligible. The basic admission criteria for different degrees are:

Admission requirements for a Bachelor’s in Greece

a recognized secondary school certificate
minimum GPA (grade point average)
English language certificate for English-taught Bachelors (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, C1 Advanced)
Greek language certificate for all Bachelors. Greek universities require all their undergraduate students to know some Greek. If you are admitted to a Bachelor’s and you do not know Greek, you will have to take a one-year preparatory course.
Admission requirements for a Master’s in Greece
a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
2-4 years of work experience (applies only to MBA programmes)
English language certificate (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, C1 Advanced) with a minimum grade score of B or 7 on a scale from 1.0 to 9.0
GMAT scores of at least 500 (applies mostly to MBAs)
GPA of at least 7.5 on a scale from 1 to 10

Don’t worry if you don’t meet all these criteria. From one university to another, the admission criteria can vary significantly. If you invest enough time in your search, you’ll find degrees that have less strict admission processes.

apply to a university in Greece

Application process at Greek universities for Bachelor’s studies

As with the admission requirements, the application process varies according to the degree level you are applying to.

If you want to apply for a Bachelor’s degree, you will have to submit your application documents electronically through the national admission platform managed by the Hellenic Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs. The good news is that because the system is centralised, you can list in the online application as much as 20 undergraduate programmers to be considered for.

After that, you also have to print and send the documents to the same government authority. We have been talking about these application documents, but what do they contain exactly? Here is the essential list:

Application form
Photocopy of the certificate of equivalence of the candidate’s graduation diploma issued by the local Greek authority in your country (Embassy, Consulate)
Transcript of records with your GPA
Photocopy of the graduation certificate with an official Greek translation
ID card type photograph
Photocopy of passport or ID card
Proof of language skills (English, Greek)
The deadline for applying to a Bachelor’s degree in Greece is usually in July. You will be notified about the results through an announcement on the Ministry website.

Application process at Greek universities for Master’s studies

By comparison, applying to a Master’s degree in Greece is much simpler, especially if you are going for an English-taught programme. There is no centralized system, so you have to apply directly through the programme and university website.

The selection is also done by each university. This is why it’s important to become best friends with your chosen programme website by constantly reading and checking the admission procedure.

The application documents for a Master’s degree often include the following:

Online application form
Photograph
Application fee (50 EUR)
Academic records
Proof of English language skills ( if you’re not a native English speaker)
Personal statement
Scholarship request (optional). You can also check out the Studyportals Scholarship to get some help on financing your studies abroad.
Two reference letters (if employed, one must be from the current employer)
Additional requirements might be:

Research proposal
Academic writing samples
Essays
Your Bachelor’s thesis (translated into Greek or English)
Many graduate programmes in Greece accept applications on a rolling/ongoing basis. However, since most programmes start in autumn, typical application deadlines are in May-July.

LIVING

LIVING IN GREECE

The prospect of living in Greece is inviting for many expatriates. Greece is an extremely vibrant country that is famed throughout the world for its year-round good climate, detailed history, beautiful architecture, and unique culture. It was accepted into the EU in 1981, and since then, the country has grown from strength to strength.

Greece is generally a very safe place, and there is very little serious crime. They have one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union, although cities such as Athens are generally more expensive than the rest of the country. The standard of living is high, particularly if you are living in Greece on an expat contract to become digital nomad.

Greeks are famed for being exceptionally welcoming and friendly. The Greek Orthodox Church is an integral part of Greece, and 99% of the population follow this religion.

Living in Greece as an Expat

The acceptance of Greece into the EU in 1981 heralded the beginning of a more expat-friendly environment for overseas nationals. Before this, Greece had been very much a developing nation where ex-pats often faced a wait of over two years for a telephone line, and cars were rarely seen on the road.

However, membership in the EU changed the living standards dramatically, and life became easier, even if this may have been at the expense of Greece’s previous untouched nature.

To this day, Greece is not as popular amongst the expats as some of its European neighbors. This is largely down to the fact that there are not as many international companies located here. Before moving to Greece, you should know that the chance of furthering your career is perhaps not as easy as other destinations across Europe.

That said, the country does welcome foreign workers, and Greece’s heavy promotion of tourism means that there are usually opportunities in this industry, such as opening a business, becoming a tour guide, or managing hotels. For those considering relocating to this beautiful country, it is wise to secure a job before you do so as unemployment levels are fairly high; 9.5 percent. The destination guide can provide you with a list of valuable resources to help you with this process.

Cost of Living in Greece

Greece is a member of the European Union and shares the Euro. The cost of living in Greece is generally 30% less than many other European countries, but Greece’s average local salary is also lower. However, social security rates are also lower than those in the average EU country, so expats in Greece on a local salary will still be able to live quite comfortably.

Food products are extremely cheap in Greece, especially in Rhodes, where there are no import duties, which makes this a better place than many other European countries in terms of living costs. It is strongly anticipated that the cost of living in Greece will fall even more in the forthcoming months due to deflation caused by the economic crisis.

Our international relocation guides contain detailed living costs across different lifestyles and living options for many popular expatriate destinations. Because our guides are written by expats in Greece themselves, you can be assured that the information is accurate, up to date and reliable.

Living in Greece: Language

99% of the people living in Greece speak Greek. Other languages spoken are predominantly English and French.

Climate in Greece

Greece has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry days and cool and mild winters. There can be snowfall In some parts of Greece during the winter months, but this is mostly limited to the mainland’s mountainous regions.

Job and Career Opportunities for Expats in Greece

It can be difficult to get a job in Greece if you are not fluent in Modern Greek. However, jobs in teaching English, the tourist industry, child care, and manual or agricultural work exist for some expats. Many English speaking multinational companies may also consider employing none Greek-speaking expats.

Key Facts Every Expat Should Know Before Moving to Greece

Greece is notorious for having one of the worst healthcare systems in Europe, and there is no healthcare at all available to expatriates. Therefore, before moving to Greece you must have private healthcare insurance if you are considering living in Greece.

Every region in Greece has separate and unique construction rules, so what has worked for one expat may not work for another.

Before moving to Greece, you should know that payment in Greece is almost exclusively made with cash, in Euros. Hotels will usually accept credit cards, but most other local places such as tavernas, cafes, taxis, kiosks, street vendors, and other types of shops deal strictly in cash.

The majority of the sewerage systems in Greece are undeveloped, and, for this reason, you should not flush toilet roll down the toilet. It should be placed in a separate bin.

It is Tuesday the 13th that is unlucky in Greek culture and not Friday the 13th.

COURSES