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Gain insights into the Greece higher education framework, academic culture, teaching methods, and grading system to prepare for your studies.
4 years (6 for medicine)
English-taught bachelor's courses run 8 semesters and 240 ECTS credits (the European credit system). Medicine runs 12 semesters.
1.5 years (3 semesters)
The official Greek name for a master's degree is Postgraduate Diploma of Specialization. It ends with a thesis.
Doctorate (PhD)
Research degree at a university department.
Greece has 24 public universities, including 4 polytechnic schools (universities for engineering and technology). Courses use ECTS credits, the European credit system.
Greek public universities offer bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
Public universities: 24, including 4 polytechnic schools.
•More than 200 international study programmes.
The first degree.
A specialised degree after a bachelor's.
Greek universities give each course a mark out of 10. You need at least 5 to pass a course.
| Letter Grade | Percentage | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Άριστα (Excellent) | Mark 8.5 to 10 | Excellent |
| Λίαν Καλώς (Very good) | Mark 6.5 to below 8.5 | Very good |
| Καλώς (Good) | Mark 5 to below 6.5 | Good, a pass |
| Fail | Mark below 5 | Fail |
Courses with more ECTS credits count more in the average. Ask your university how it calculates your final degree grade.
Example course A (6 ECTS credits), 6 credits, grade 8.0, 48 grade points
Example course B (6 ECTS credits), 6 credits, grade 6.0, 36 grade points
Example course C (6 ECTS credits), 6 credits, grade 7.0, 42 grade points
Total Grade Points: 126
Total Credits: 18
Semester GPA: 7
Greek universities have two semesters: winter and spring. These are the 2026-27 dates at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). Other universities may differ.
28 Sep 2026 to 8 Jan 2027, exams 18 Jan to 5 Feb
The first semester of the year.
Starts 8 Feb 2027, exams 31 May to 18 Jun
The second semester.
1 to 25 September
A second chance at exams you did not pass.
Each semester has classes, then an exam period.
Greek courses use ECTS, the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System.
The Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) checks the quality of Greek universities and their courses.
HAHE works on its own. The Minister of Education makes sure it follows the law.
Checks and approves universities and their courses.
Gives advice on how much government money universities get.
You can look up evaluations on HAHE's website.
Information on how courses are checked and approved.
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