Greek public universities now run a growing number of English-taught master's programmes, priced modestly by European standards, in a country where living costs remain low. The state scholarship foundation, IKY, administers awards for both Greek and international candidates.
Administration is paper-heavy and slower than northern Europe, so early document preparation matters more than elsewhere.
At a glance
| Language | Greek for most programmes; English-taught master's at the larger universities |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Public master's roughly €1,500–€5,000 in total for the programme |
| Living costs for the visa | Around €600 a month evidenced |
| Main intake | September–October |
| Where you apply | Directly to the department |
| After graduation | At least 9 months under EU rules |
What they require
- Bachelor's recognised through DOATAP where required
- IELTS 6.5 for English-taught programmes; Greek proficiency otherwise
- Motivation letter, CV and references
- Interview at some departments
How admission actually works
Departmental committees rank on degree grade, relevant coursework, language and interview. DOATAP recognition of the foreign degree is often needed for public-sector purposes later.
How much does a supervisor matter?
Not needed for master's. Required for doctorate.
Doctoral admission requires a supervising professor and departmental approval of a research proposal; funding usually comes through research projects.
When applications open and close
The pattern below is what these systems normally do. Every programme sets its own dates, so treat this as the planning shape and confirm on the official portal linked at the end.
Funding that genuinely exists here
State scholarships foundation programmes, including awards for foreign nationals.
Fee reductions for strong applicants.
For graduate study and research in Greece by non-Greek nationals.
Documents this country asks for
- Degree and transcripts, apostilled and translated
- DOATAP recognition where needed
- Motivation letter, CV and references
- Proof of funds and insurance for the visa
Visa and permit
National student visa followed by a residence permit application in Greece. Allow extra time: the process involves several in-person steps.
After you graduate
At least 9 months under EU rules
Greece implements the EU students and researchers directive, giving graduates a minimum of nine months to look for work. Confirm the current national procedure, which has changed more than once.
What they favour
- Applicants with a clear academic reason for Greece
- Language preparation for longer stays
- Complete apostilled documents
Where applications fail
- Assuming every programme is taught in English
- Underestimating DOATAP timelines
- Late consular appointments
Official sources
Rules and dates change, sometimes mid-cycle. These are the pages that carry the authoritative version; if anything here disagrees with them, they are right. Reviewed September 2026.