Admission to Higher Education in Greece for Foreign Nationals – Persons of Non-Greek Origin and Graduates of Secondary Schools of EU Member States

The admission of foreign nationals and persons of non-Greek origin to Greek universities is governed by special provisions that apply both to graduates of secondary schools outside the European Union and to those who have graduated from schools in EU member states. These categories have specific conditions, procedures, and required documents, which are defined in detail by the Ministry of Education.

Category A: Foreign Nationals – Non-Greek Origin (Graduates of Secondary Schools outside the European Union)

For applicants coming from countries outside the European Union, Greek legislation provides for the possibility of admission to higher education under certain conditions. The graduation certificate must grant the right of access to universities either in the country where it was obtained or in the country whose educational program the school follows. Moreover, at least one of the parents must not be of Greek origin, and the applicant must have completed full and continuous attendance in the last two years of secondary education abroad.

This category also includes graduates of foreign schools legally operating in Greece that follow the educational curriculum of a country outside the European Union. These applicants must hold a secondary school diploma granting them the right of admission to higher education institutions in the country whose curriculum is applied, and they must prove that neither they nor their two parents are of Greek origin. Full attendance in the last two grades is also required, as well as official recognition of the school’s lawful operation by the competent Directorate of Secondary Education.

Category B: Graduates of Secondary Schools or Equivalent Schools of EU Member States

The second category concerns applicants who have graduated from secondary schools or equivalent institutions in EU member states. To be eligible, their diploma or equivalent certificate must grant the right of admission to a university either in the country of graduation or in the country whose curriculum the school follows. In addition, at least one parent must not be of Greek origin, and full attendance during the last two school years must have taken place abroad.

A special provision applies to graduates of secondary schools in the Republic of Cyprus. They may be included in this category provided that one of their parents is of Cypriot or foreign origin, they have participated in the Pan-Cyprian examinations, and they possess the current year’s certificate of access. Their applications are submitted directly in Cyprus according to the deadlines set by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth of the Republic of Cyprus.

This category also includes graduates of foreign schools of EU member states that are legally operating in Greece. These applicants must hold a diploma that provides access to universities in the country of the program, prove that neither they nor their two parents are of Greek origin, and have completed full attendance in the last two grades. Such schools must have officially recognized legal status by the competent Directorate of Secondary Education.

General Restrictions

Beyond the special conditions for each category, certain general rules apply. It is not permitted to have attended more than one school grade within the same academic or calendar year under an accelerated or condensed program. Diplomas obtained exclusively through distance learning are also rejected.

Holders of foreign Secondary Technical Vocational Education diplomas must provide an equivalence decision from E.O.P.P.E.P. (the Greek National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance) and a certificate from the competent authority of their country stating that the diploma grants access to university education.

It should also be noted that graduates of Greek schools located in Greece cannot benefit from the special provisions, while those who have already graduated from a Greek Higher Education Institution as “Foreign Nationals – Non-Greek Origin” are not entitled to reapply under the same category.

File of Supporting Documents

To submit an application for admission, a complete file of supporting documents is required. The main graduation certificate must be issued by the competent educational authority and, in the case of a foreign school, must be accompanied by an official translation into Greek. Depending on the country, the certificate must bear either the Apostille stamp or consular legalization.

Additionally, submission of an equivalence and correspondence certificate, as well as a grade conversion document where applicable, is mandatory. These must be issued by the relevant services of the Ministry of Education, the local Directorates of Secondary Education, or Education Coordinators at Greek diplomatic missions.

For diplomas of foreign technical or vocational education, recognition of equivalence by E.O.P.P.E.P. must precede the grade conversion. In the case of foreign schools operating in Greece, additional recognition of equivalence by a domestic Directorate of Secondary Education is required.

The file must also include:

– A certificate stating that the diploma grants access to higher education institutions;
– A declaration of the school’s curriculum;

– A certificate of full attendance in the last two grades;

– Proof of the applicant’s and parents’ origin;

– Two recent photographs;

– A clear copy of a passport or residence permit;

– A solemn declaration containing the required attestations.

Authentication and Translation

All documents issued abroad must bear authentication of the signature, either by a Greek consular authority or by a foreign authority, followed by legalization by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unless the country is a party to the Hague Convention, in which case the Apostille stamp is sufficient.

In certain countries with reservations or special status (such as Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tunisia), authentication by a Greek consular authority abroad is always required. For some EU member states, certain certificates are accepted without additional legalization, provided they bear the issuing authority’s signature and seal.

Translations may be carried out by translators registered in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Registry, by Greek consular authorities, by lawyers with certified language proficiency, or by graduates of the Department of Foreign Languages, Translation, and Interpreting of the Ionian University, provided that the required validation is present.

For foreign schools operating in Greece, additional validation of the school’s legal operation by the competent Directorate of Secondary Education is required.

Instructions for Successful Applicants

The admission of applicants to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is decided by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports. The Department or Faculty in which each successful candidate is placed is determined by the electronic application (computerized form) submitted.

The selection process is conducted without entrance examinations; the criterion is the general access grade for graduates of Cypriot secondary schools, or the graduation grade for candidates from other foreign educational systems.

To complete enrollment, successful candidates must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Greek language. The required certification may be issued by the University of Athens, the University of Thessaloniki, or the Centre for the Greek Language, at a minimum level of B2.

Those who do not possess this certificate at the time of registration may obtain it and enroll in the following academic year; otherwise, they permanently lose their right to enroll.

Greek language certification exams are held twice a year:
– In Athens, around May and September, at the Modern Greek Language Teaching Centre of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens;
– In Thessaloniki, in June and October, at the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki;
– Through the Centre for the Greek Language every May.

Applicants are advised to contact the relevant institutions well in advance — at least one month before the desired examination — to be informed of any possible changes in dates or procedures.

The obligation to present a language proficiency certificate does not apply to those with one Greek parent, to graduates of Greek or Cypriot secondary schools, or to graduates of foreign schools where Greek language instruction and successful examination in the subject have taken place.

Students who believe their knowledge of Greek is insufficient may attend Greek language courses during the first academic year and, after obtaining the relevant certificate, complete their enrollment the following year.

Residence permits for study purposes in Greece are issued exclusively by the competent departments of the Regional Authorities (Foreigners and Immigration Offices), provided that the applicant has been accepted to higher education and no disqualifying conditions apply.

Finally, a change of Department is permitted only up to the immediately following year after initial admission.